Oklahoma City Thunder
Unfortunately, the geographical upheaval will do little to improve the team's fortunes.
Kevin Durant is talented but too soft, too limited and too defenseless to carry the Thunder to respectability. Chris Wilcox's electric skills are frequently short-circuited by a lack of zeal. Nick Collison is earnest but undersized in the middle. Earl Watson is spectacularly erratic. Ditto for Damien Wilkins. Jeff Green is prone to making poor decisions, but he's young and is definitely a comer. Johan Petro is lucky to be earning a big-league salary.
There's little reason to expect that the Thunder's team (and individual) defense will improve, that their center play (what's Robert Swift's latest injury?) will be better than awful, and that scoring points will come any easier than it did last season.
The best that can be hoped for: To beat out Memphis and avoid being the worst team in the league.
Portland Trail Blazers
There are plenty of holdover reasons why the Blazers should be vastly improved: Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw (who will do an excellent job until Martell Webster returns) and Steve Blake. Also, Channing Frye (scoring) and Joel Przybilla (defense) are capable second-liners.
Of the newcomers, Rudy Fernandez will need the least time to adjust to the NBA game — and he'll eventually be a prime-time player. Jerryd Bayless will pay his rookie dues and suffer his rookie blues.
Even though he looks like he could easily be 40 years old, Greg Oden is the most important new face. He's been rehabbing and wood shedding for a year, but when last seen in "real" competition, he was an outstanding shot-blocker with impressive range and discipline. His shortcomings, however, included an ignorance of how to play effective straight-up defense in the paint and precious few offensive skills — an accurate, if unprotected right-handed jump-hook, a shaky left-handed jump hook, and little else. For sure, he'll score on ball movement, put-backs and sometimes even on the run. Still, he won't give the Blazers one thing that they absolutely need — a go-to interior scorer who will attract double-teams. At least not yet.
What else does this team need to become legitimate contenders? Better patience on offense, which will hopefully translate into better shots and more points. But everything depends on Oden's learning curve.
The best that can be hoped for: Webster heals, Fernandez adjusts, Oden develops in time for the Blazers to survive at least two playoff series.
Utah Jazz
This is a savvy, veteran team that can bang with anybody. Their certified bruisers include Carlos Boozer, Matt Harpring, Mehmet Okur, Paul Millsap and even Deron Williams.
Last season's biggest surprise was just how easily the Lakers managed to finesse the Jazz during the traditionally ultra-physical playoffs. And indeed, team speed and quickness, along with all-around athleticism, are Utah's most glaring weaknesses. Kyle Korver can shoot but can't run. Ronnie Brewer and Andre Kirilenko can run but can't shoot. The only player who sports both power and speed is the remarkable Williams.
Bully-boy strength is extremely useful, but you can't bully the bad guys if you can't catch them.
The best that can be hoped for: Avoiding the speed teams (Lakers, Blazers and Hornets) in the playoffs and thereby advancing into the conference finals.
