After bottoming out post-Kevin Love, the Timberwolves are now stocked with a deep and talented roster mixed with talented youngsters and vets. Read more »

The NBA uses different rules for International and non-International players. Read more »

A spread offense works the same for a PG as it does for a QB. Andre Drummond is the big-time WR who commands a double team and creates openings for everyone else, making Reggie Jackson capable of playing over his head. Read more »

Mike Malone is a blue-collar, defense first coach who likes to stick with bigger frontcourts, but the Nuggets' best lineup combinations to use their homecourt advantage may be going small. Read more »

The "Utah to the playoffs" bandwagon thinned out some after Dante Exum's ACL tear. But the Jazz remain an intriguing team with Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward. Read more »

SMU might as well appeal the postseason ban because it's going to be hard for Larry Brown to assemble a group like this again, given the recruiting restrictions he will face, his ever increasing age and the NCAA microscope the program will be under going forward. Read more »

With a new coach and the future of Kevin Durant -- from both a health and contract standpoint -- up in the air, the Thunder may be the most intriguing team in the NBA this season. Read more »

On the health of a fragile core, three-point shooting, replacing Tyson Chandler, mixing in young players and Dirk Nowitzki's contributions. Read more »

How Damian Lillard responds to his increased burden is the key story for the Blazers. If he keeps up his gunning ways, we will likely see his scoring numbers go way up while his efficiency takes a major hit. But if Lillard learns the art of controlling games without taking oodles of shots to do it, you will see an All-Star-level talent evolve into an even more complete player. Read more »

With all their offseason additions and the return to health of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks have enough talent on the roster to contend for a playoff spot, particularly in the NBA's weaker conference. Read more »

Jared Sullinger spent the offseason working out with John Lucas in Houston to address his fitness issues. Read more »

Despite setting a franchise record with 49 wins last season, the Raptors hardly seemed content with the status quo this offseason. Though their core trio of Demar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas remained unchanged, the supporting cast around them will have a few fresh faces. Read more »

Keeping both Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson will be difficult for the Cavs financially and due to limited available minutes. Which of the two is more essential becomes an interesting dilemma. Read more »

The 76ers could become a 25-win team if Nerlens Noel continues his progress as a defender and pick-and-roll finisher, Jahlil Okafor has a productive rookie season and they get stability in the backcourt. Read more »

The Nets could remain a playoff team if Brook Lopez stays healthy, Lionel Hollins is able to salvage what could be a woeful bench unit with clever rotation management and Brooklyn cobbles together a respectable defense. Read more »

The longevity of Kobe Bryant, for better or worse, shouldn't impact our overall evaluation of whether he's one of the 10 greatest players of all-time. Read more »

Harrison Barnes is a 3-and-D player who can serve as a complementary piece on both sides of the ball. That doesn't register as a $15M per year player, but he also allows the Warriors to play small. Read more »

It could have been a passing of the torch from one generation to the next. Instead, the 35-year-old showed the 23-year-old just how much more he still has to learn. Read more »

Brad Stevens has shown a unique ability to mix and match his in-game matchups and put his team in the best position to succeed. But this group, especially with their defensive limitations, will test Boston's pragmatic head coach. Read more »

Canada is set in the backcourt. The real question is what happens upfront, as they have a huge number of fringe NBA big men who are all trying to figure out who they are at the next level and what type of players they will become. Read more »