* – indicates playoffs
(R) – indicates rookie
# – indicates new to team
MVP – LeBron James – Cavaliers
Rookie – Tyreke Evans – Kings
Coach – Nate McMillan – Blazers
Defensive Player – Dwight Howard – Magic
Most Improved – Josh Smith – Hawks
Sixth Man – Ben Gordon – Pistons
Executive – Ernie Grunfeld – Wizards

Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers*
2. Boston Celtics*
3. Orlando Magic*
4. Washington Wizards*
5. Atlanta Hawks*
6. Toronto Raptors*
7. Philadelphia 76ers*
8. Miami Heat*
9. Detroit Pistons
10. Chicago Bulls
11. Charlotte Bobcats
12. Indiana Pacers
13. New York Knicks
14. Milwaukee Bucks
15. New Jersey Nets

Cavaliers – 1st in Central
Projected Starters
C Shaquille O’Neal#
F Anderson Varejao
F LeBron James
G Anthony Parker#
G Mo Williams
Three man rotation
F Jamario Moon#, C Zydrunas Ilgauskas, G Delonte West

The best in the east last year have gotten considerably deeper this year. Parker and Moon are good players that will help against bigger lineups eg: Orlando. Shaq has now found his newest best friend in LeBron who both expect nothing short of a championship. Is this LeBron’s last year in C-town?

Celtics – 1st in Atlantic
Projected Starters
C Kendrick Perkins
F Kevin Garnett
F Paul Pierce
G Ray Allen
G Rajon Rondo
Three Man Rotation
F Rasheed Wallace#, F Glen Davis, G Eddie House

The Celtics really didn’t, but had to improve to keep up with the other contenders moves. Bringing in Rasheed was the right move, yes I said it. He brings more front court depth to a team that needed it last year with the injury to Garnett. Oh and KG is healthy too.

Magic – 1st in Southeast
Projected Starters
C Dwight Howard
F Brandon Bass#
F Rashard Lewis
G Vince Carter#
G Jameer Nelson
Three man rotation
G Mickael Pietrus, F Matt Barnes#, C Marcin Gortat

The defending champs of the Eastern Conference dropped off a little bit. It’s hard to believe, but Hedo Turkoglu (Raptors) is a better fit than Carter. This team is still formidable with Howard and a healthy Nelson. Bringing back Gortat was big and Barnes was a nice pickup to strengthen the bench.

Wizards – 2nd in Southeast
Projected Starters
C Brendan Haywood
F Antawn Jamison
F Caron Butler
G Mike Miller#
G Gilbert Arenas
Three man rotation
G Randy Foye#, G DeShawn Steveson, F JaVale McGee

This team got better with one trade. Getting Miller and Foye for four players that wouldn’t have done much for the Wizards was the steal of the offseason. New coach Flip Saunders has those two plus a healthy Arenas to work with. The Wizards will give the top three in the east nightmares before the season ends.

Hawks – 3rd in Southeast
Projected Starters
C Al Horford
F Marvin Williams
F Josh Smith
G Joe Johnson
G Mike Bibby
Three man rotation
G Jamal Crawford#, G Maurice Evans, C Zaza Pachulia

It’s time for this team to come into it’s own this year. Last year they realized with a good bench to complement the starters, they could be a top four contender. They improved the bench with the acquisition of Crawford from Golden State. Smith is looking to bounce back this year and bringing back Bibby will help keep the balance on offense.

Raptors – 2nd in Atlantic
Projected Starters
C Andrea Bargnani
F Chris Bosh
F Hedo Turkoglu#
G DeMar DeRozan (R)
G Jose Calderon
Three man rotation
G Jarrett Jack#, G Antoine Wright#, F Amir Johnson#

Toronto can go with a big lineup or a small lineup and either would still work. The bench has a lot of new faces, but getting Jack was big. He can spell Calderon on the point and can be counted on to score as well. Turkoglu is a big piece missing that will help take pressure of Bosh. Being in a contract year, will Bosh perform to standards before he tests the market?

76ers – 3rd in Atlantic
Projected Starters
C Samuel Dalembert
F Elton Brand
F Thaddeus Young
G Andre Iguodala
G Louis Williams
Three man rotation
G Willie Green, F Jason Kapono#, F Marreese Speights

They went back to the classic logo and are looking to make some noise in the conference. Brand has to be healthy to do that. Kapono was a great addition to the bench. His 3 point shot will be a welcome sight. At the point is Williams who is not a traditional point guard, but can score when needed. Iguodala must build on last season emerging as the team leader.

Heat – 4th in Southeast
Projected Starters
C Jermaine O’Neal
F Udonis Haslem
F Quentin Richardson#
G Dwayne Wade
G Mario Chalmers
Three man rotation
F James Jones, F Michael Beasley, G Daequan Cook

With Wade the Heat will always be contenders, but can he really do it without a legitimate number two with him? O’Neal is no longer in his prime, but can still contribute. Richardson was acquired for his scoring ability and his expiring contract. Will Beasley emerge after a tumultuous offseason? That could be the deciding factor in the free agent class in 2010.

Pistons – 2nd in Central
Projected Starters
C Kwame Brown
F Charlie Villanueva#
F Tayshaun Prince
G Richard Hamilton
G Rodney Stuckey
Three man rotation
G Ben Gordon#, C Chris Wilcox#, F Jason Maxiell

Besides the Wizards, the Pistons have improved drastically with their moves. Gone are Rasheed and Iverson. In are Villanueva and Gordon. Wilcox and Ben Wallace were great additions that will shore up the depth in the frontcourt. This is the make or break year for Stuckey to prove he is the point guard now and for the future. Prince and Hamilton are the constants that will not disappoint.

Bulls – 3rd in Central
Projected Starters
C Joakim Noah
F Tyrus Thomas
F Luol Deng
G John Salmons
G Derrick Rose
Three man rotation
G Kirk Hinrich, C Brad Miller, G Jannero Pargo#

It’s the same team from last season and that’s why they’re hear. Everyone above them made moves, but the Bulls made their move last year acquiring Miller and Salmons at the deadline in February. Signing Pargo was a nice move, but they will miss Gordon (Pistons). Hinrich will have to accept his role or start looking for a new residence this February.

Bobcats – 5th in Southeast
Projected Starters
C Tyson Chandler#
F Boris Diaw
F Gerald Wallace
G Raja Bell
G Raymond Felton
Three man rotation
G D.J. Augustin, F Vladimir Radmanovic, G Gerald Henderson (R)

Usually by the second year, if it gets to that, Larry Brown has found his rotation that suits his style. He might have found it this year. Unfortunately it won’t get them far in a deep conference. Chandler is a nice player, but now they don’t have a low post scoring option (Okafor). The bench has depth, but Henderson and Radmanovic can’t be counted on as the lone scoring options.

Pacers – 4th in Central
Projected Starters
C Roy Hibbert
F Troy Murphy
F Danny Granger
G Dahntay Jones#
G T.J. Ford
Three man rotation
G Mike Dunleavy, C Jeff Foster, G Earl Watson#

This is actually one of the deeper teams in the east. The only things lacking are experience and chemistry. Bringing in Jones will ignite them on the defensive side. Bringing in a veteran point in Watson was the right move. Granger should continue to develop into one of the rising stars in this league. Dunleavy be will out for the first two months, but should be a great bench play for the Pacers.

Knicks – 4th in Atlantic
Projected Starters
C David Lee
F Al Harrington
F Jared Jeffries
G Wilson Chandler
G Chris Duhon
Three man rotation
G Nate Robinson, G Larry Hughes, C Darko Milicic#

It will be amazing to see the over turn this roster will see next season. For now though they have to rely on Duhon and Harrington to ignite the offense. Mike D’Antoni has no defensive stoppers and has to outscore to win games. Robinson is a great bench player, but the rotation will suffer because not many players can keep up in the uptempo system in place.

Bucks – 5th in Central
Projected Starters
C Andrew Bogut
F Hakim Warrick#
F Luc Mbah a Moute
G Michael Redd
G Luke Ridnour
Three man rotation
G Charlie Bell, F Kurt Thomas, G Brandon Jennings (R)

You would think that any team that gets its two best players back would be primed for a great season. Not for Milwaukee which is still in rebuilding mode. Bogut and Redd will be back to their old selves, but who will carry the load? Warrick was a nice find, but not what they needed. Bell is great being the sixth man, but will Scott Skiles give rookie point guard Jennings the time to develop into the player this team needs?

Nets – 5th in Atlantic
Projected Starters
C Brook Lopez
F Yi Jianlian
F Bobby Simmons
G Courtney Lee#
G Devin Harris
Three man rotation
G Rafer Alston#, C Tony Battie#, G Chris Douglas-Roberts

The pieces are in place for the future. It won’t be this year for the Nets. Harris and Lopez are potential All-Stars on this team. That’s as far as you go though. Lee was a nice addition in the Vince Carter trade, but Alston and Battie will probably not be around long enough to make an impact. Douglas-Roberts could emerge this year as a great perimeter player.

Lakers – 1st in Pacific
Projected Starters
C Andrew Bynum
F Pau Gasol
F Ron Artest#
G Kobe Bryant
G Derek Fisher
Three man rotation
F Lamar Odom, F Luke Walton, G Shannon Brown

The defending champs have actually gotten better. That’s hard to say now a days in the NBA. Gone is Ariza and in is Artest. Age is the big difference between the two. So is attitude, but Artest should fit in nicely with the rotation of Odom and Walton at forward. Kobe and Phil Jackson have their work cut out for them, but in Phil’s last season they really don’t have to do much.

Spurs – 1st in Southwest
Projected Starters
C Matt Bonner
F Tim Duncan
F Richard Jefferson#
G Roger Mason Jr.
G Tony Parker
Three man rotation
G Manu Ginobili, F Antonio McDyess#, G Michael Finley, exception(F DeJuan Blair (R)

If the Lakers didn’t bring back Odom, the Spurs would be the favorites. That’s how good these guys are. When the Spurs got bounced from the playoffs by Dallas, everyone including me wrote the Spurs off as contenders. Oops. Jefferson was a great acquisition. As was McDyess, but how did they end up with Blair in the second round of the draft? Parker and Duncan have new toys and are looking to play with them often.

Trail Blazers – 1st in Northwest
Projected Starters
C Greg Oden
F LaMarcus Aldridge
F Nicolas Batum
G Brandon Roy
G Steve Blake
Three man rotation
G Andre Miller#, F Travis Outlaw, G Rudy Fernandez

The breakout team of last year is looking for a division crown this year. Oden is healthy. Aldridge and Roy have extensions. Miller was added as the veteran presence they sorely needed last year. The deepest team in the west has a chip on their shoulder that will be hard to break come playoff time.

Mavericks – 2nd in Southwest
Projected Starters
C Erick Dampier
F Dirk Nowitzki
F Shawn Marion#
G Josh Howard
G Jason Kidd
Three man rotation
G Jason Terry, F Drew Gooden#, F Tim Thomas#

This team seems to always stick around and contend. Credit to the front office to not give in and continue to put a winner out there. Nowitzki heads into a contract year that should give him a happy retirement. Bringing in Marion was the right move. He takes pressure off Howard to score and also brings a needed defensive presence Rick Carlisle has been looking for. Gooden and Thomas are great additions for a bench that relies heavily on Terry to produce.

Nuggets – 2nd in Northwest
Projected Starters
C Nene
F Kenyon Martin
F Carmelo Anthony
G Aaron Afflalo#
G Chauncey Billups
Three man rotation
G J.R. Smith, C Chris Andersen, G Ty Lawson (R)

The team that rose to second place in the conference last year will fall slightly this year with the Spurs, Blazers and Mavericks all making significant moves to their rosters. The loss of defensive stalwart Dahntay Jones (Pacers) will hurt them, but as long as Billups and Anthony continue their consistent production they should be fine.

Hornets – 3rd in Southwest
Projected Starters
C Emeka Okafor#
F David West
F Julian Wright
G Morris Peterson
G Chris Paul
Three man rotation
F Peja Stojakovic, F James Posey, C Hilton Armstrong

The Hornets look different this year as they try to incorporate the youngsters they have into the rotation. Stojakovic will come off the bench this year to reduce the wear and tear on his back. Okafor was a great pickup that takes pressure off West to be the low post scorer. Paul will have the reigns to find the open teammates that make him the best point guard in the game today. Expect big seasons from Okafor and West with Paul giving them the ball.

Jazz – 3rd in Northwest
Projected Starters
C Mehmet Okur
F Carlos Boozer
F Andrei Kirilenko
G Ronnie Brewer
G Deron Williams
Three man rotation
F Paul Millsap, G Kyle Korver, F Matt Harpring

This is no doubt the last year this group stays together. Boozer and Okur will be free agents. Harpring will most likely retire. That means the future is really in the hands of Williams and Millsap. Utah was lucky to get Millsap back. They will be a force to be reckoned with, but they will probably be an early first round exit in the playoffs.

Thunder – 4th in Northwest
Projected Starters
C Nenad Krstic
F Jeff Green
F Kevin Durant
G Jame Harden (R)
G Russell Westbrook
Three man rotation
F Nick Collison, G Thabo Sefolosha, G Shaun Livingston

Yes the Thunder will make the playoffs. The teams behind them have dropped off. Houston doesn’t have Yao. The Suns are a better version of the Knicks. The Clippers and Warriors are well, the Clippers and Warriors. Durant is ready to take the scoring title from the likes of Wade, LeBron and Kobe. Westbrook is poised for a repeat of last years rookie campaign. Harden was the right pick for this team in need of scoring at the wing. The bench is the lone weakspot, but they can score with the best of them.

Suns – 2nd in Pacific
Projected Starters
C Channing Frye#
F Amare Stoudemire
F Grant Hill
G Jason Richardson
G Steve Nash
Three man rotation
G Leandro Barbosa, F Earl Clark (R), F Jared Dudley

The Suns after the half season experiment of a half court offense changed in the middle of last year to the fast break offense that made them famous. It was too little too late, but it did get them 50+ wins every season. It won’t happen this year though. Nash and Stoudemire are the best pick and roll players in the game today. Richardson needs to be more active on both ends. Hill isn’t getting any younger. The entire bench scoring rests on Barbosa’s shoulders.

Rockets – 4th in Southwest
Projected Starters
C Chuck Hayes
F Luis Scola
F Shane Battier
G Trevor Ariza#
G Aaron Brooks
Three man rotation
G Tracy McGrady, G Kyle Lowry, F Carl Landry

If Yao was healthy, these guys would be in the playoffs. That’s how far they drop without him. McGrady won’t be around til December at the earliest. He would better serve them coming off the bench I believe. Scola and Brooks got them through the first round of the playoffs last year, but Ariza will be counted on to score as well. With the big contract come big expectations.

Clippers – 3rd in Pacific
Projected Starters
C Chris Kaman
F Marcus Camby
F Al Thornton
G Eric Gordon
G Baron Davis
Three man rotation
G Ricky Davis, G Rasual Butler#, F Blake Griffin (R)

All the hopes and dreams of a franchise can’t rely on one players shoulders. Especially a rookie. These are the Clippers though. Griffin will come off the bench and will contribute immediately on the boards. Kaman needs to stay healthy to lessen the blow to the front court. Baron Davis needs to bounce back in a big way. Thornton needs to continue to develop into a rising star before he most likely leaves when the time comes.

Warriors – 4th in Pacific
Projected Starters
C Andris Biedrins
F Anthony Randolph
F Stephen Jackson
G Stephen Curry (R)
G Monta Ellis
Three man rotation
F Corey Maggette, G Anthony Morrow, F Ronny Turiaf

So much talent is going to waste here in Oakland, California. Jackson and Ellis have publicly questioned the coach and front office. Things can only go up from here. They won’t though for the darlings of the league two seasons ago. Curry was a good pick for them. It probably wasn’t the right fit though. Ellis plays the same way as Curry. Score first, pass later. Without a true point guard this team will struggle to stay consistent.

Grizzlies – 5th in Southwest
Projected Starters
C Marc Gasol
F Zach Randolph#
F Rudy Gay
G O.J. Mayo
G Mike Conley
Three man rotation
G Allen Iverson#, F Darrell Arthur, C Hasheem Thabeet (R)

Lots of offense from the Grizzlies this year. Will it result in more than 25 wins? Probably not. Iverson’s attitude will be a key for them. He says he’ll come off the bench. What happened in Detroit though? Mayo, Gay and Randolph can score 20+ a game. Defense is and will always be their achilles heel though. Memphis could surprise, but they are a year or two away.

Timberwolves – 5th in Northwest
Projected Starters
C Al Jefferson
F Kevin Love
F Ryan Gomes
G Ramon Sessions#
G Jonny Flynn (R)
Three man rotation
F Damien Wilkins#, F Corey Brewer, G Wayne Ellington (R)

New coach in Kurt Rambis and a new lease on life. With the fiasco in the draft over Ricky Rubio, the Wolves look to develop what they have if Rubio does decide to come over. Flynn was a great pick in the draft. Sessions is an underrated signing that will help offset the expectation of Rubio’s arrival. Getting Jefferson back healthy is huge for them. He is developing into one of the best post scorers in the game. He has to be there for the Wolves to have success.

Kings – 5th in Pacific
Projected Starters
C Spencer Hawes
F Jason Thompson
F Desmond Mason#
G Kevin Martin
G Tyreke Evans (R)
Three man rotation
F Andres Nocioni, G Francisco Garcia, G Beno Udrih

The Kings really have no where to go but up after last season. Worst record in the NBA and losing out on the first pick. Evans though was a solid pick. Considering he’s not a true point guard, he is a good ball handler. Hawes needs to be involved more in the offense. He has the potential to be a 20-10 a game center. Martin is the leading scorer and lone star for the Kings. Nocioni is well suited to being the sixth man. This is still a learning curve for Sacramento.