With the five worst moves of the summer already covered, here’s a Top-10 breakdown of the biggest winners of this NBA off-season. The list is in order from “thank god we resigned Joe Johnson” to “we are now serious title contenders.” Who sweeps away the competition and lands the #1 move of the summer?
10. Joe Johnson
Consider him the luckiest man alive, signing a 6-year, $123 million extension with the Atlanta Hawks. He is the highest signed free-agent this summer as his contract is over $20 million more than LeBron James’, and over $25 million more than Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh’s. Without Johnson resigning, Atlanta would be a black hole for basketball…but $123 million for a 30-year old shooting guard who can’t carry a team out of the second round of the playoffs? Come on, the guy is no Kobe Bryant. Johnson better be counting his blessings for this max-out contract deal.
9. New York Knicks
Losing their big-time player David Lee, the Knicks managed to sign an upgrade in Amare Stoudemire. Although he is no LeBron James, Carmelo Anothny, or Chris Paul, this will certainly improve the quality of basketball in the city for the next couple years. They also upgraded at the point-guard position, signing Raymond Felton. Who knows, by the time July 2011 comes rolling around, they could sign ‘Melo. Potential bright future for the Knicks, above 
average off-season. They’ll just miss the 2011 Playoffs, but have a safe spot in the spring of 2012.
09-10 record: 29-53, Projected 10-11 record: 40-42
Projected starting lineup:
PG Raymond Felton
SG Bill Walker
SF Danilo Galinari
PF Amare Stoudemire
C Ronny Turiaf
8. Washington Wizards
Although they lost Mike Miller, Randy Foye and Shaun Livingston, there is hope in the city of Washington! This October, John Wall and Gilbert Arenas will take the court together, forming a “Batman/Robin” type backcourt. They also signed gutsy-veteran Kirk Hinrich who could be a possible 6th-Man-of-the-Year Candidate. And if you thought they were weak in the big-man department, think again. Center Javale McGee, the two-year player out of Nevada, has literally erupted out of nowhere in the Summer League and during Team USA training camp, where he could land a spot representing our country. This franchise will slowly turn around. Oh and one more thing, ladies and gentlemen, Gilbert Arenas is back.
09-10 record: 26-56, Projected 10-11 record: 31-51
Projected starting lineup:
PG John Wall
SG Gilbert Arenas
SFAl Thornton
PF Andre Blatche
C Javale McGee
7. Boston Celtics
Not the best moves this off-season, but enough to keep them in contention of an NBA Championship for the next couple of seasons. They managed to land All-Star free-agent Jermaine O’Neal, as well as resigning Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, keeping the Big Three intact. Need I go into depth on how valuable these two players are for the Celtics? I think not. They also had a pretty solid draft, snagging point guard Avery Bradley out of Texas, as well as the defensive stalwart out of Notre Dame, Luke Harangody (hopefully replaces 6-time award winner for Hands Down Worst Player in the NBA, Brian Scalabrine). Don’t be surprised if they reach the finals again this year, it’ll be a tough task, but definitely possible.
09-10 record: 50-32, Projected 10-11 record: 52-30
Projected starting lineup:
PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Jermaine O’Neal
6. Utah Jazz
The Jazz did about the best job this off-season in replacing their key losses. They lost Carlos Boozer, whom they signed Al Jefferson to replace, and they lost Wes Matthews, signing Raja Bell to replace their former shooting guard. Al Jefferson could potentially put up better numbers day in and day out than Boozer did in Utah, which
could get them a few more wins. They will still be a strong playoff contender in the West.
09-10 record: 53-29, Projected 10-11 record: 54-28
Projected starting lineup:
PG Deron Williams
SG CJ Miles
SF Andrei Kirilenko
PF Al Jefferson
C Mehmet Okur
5. Sacremento Kings
Hats off to the Kings for winning the “We Somehow Escaped the Draft Secretly Snagging the Best Pick” Award. California, meet DeMarcus Cousins, your savior. He will revive basketball in Sacramento to potentially the Bibby-Christie-Stojakovic-Webber-Divac Days. The Kings also signed center Samuel Dalembert, making their front court officially the most intimidating in the NBA. Also, with guard and reigning Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans maturing, things will only get better for Sacramento. I refuse to get off my high horse about Cousins, he will win
Rookie of the Year and Sacramento will make the playoffs (due to a slight weakening in the Western Conference).
09-10 record: 25-57, Projected 10-11 record: 48-34
Projected starting lineup:
PG Tyreke Evans
SG Francisco Garcia
SF Omri Casspi
PF DeMarcus Cousins
C Samuel Dalembert
4. Chicago Bulls
For a team that failed to land LeBron, D-Wade, or Bosh, they turned out to have one of the best off-seasons thusfar. They made key improvements, and could make a much deeper run in the playoffs than before. They lacked a real big-man; they signed Carlos Boozer, they lacked perimeter shooting; they signed Kyle Korver, they lacked that “Super-Star Charisma”; they signed Tracy McGrady (almost done). They also signed defensive mastermind Tom Thodaeu as their new Head Coach. The pieces to this puzzle fit almost too perfectly. This is one of the few teams in the NBA that can counter-act Miami’s three-headed-monster. They should finish somewhere in the top four of the Eastern Conference.
09-10 record: 41-41, Projected 10-11 record: 48-34
Projected starting lineup:
PG Derrick Rose
SG Kyle Korver
SF Luol Deng
PF Carlos Boozer
C Joakim Noah
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Even though they weren’t the talk of the summer, like the Heat, Knicks, Cavs, Lakers, or Bulls, the Thunder can thank Mr. Kevin Durant, for just about everything. This summer he signed a five-year contract extension, showing his devotion and loyalty to his team. Coming off a shocking season, where they battled Kobe and the Lakers in a 6 game series in the playoffs, the Thunder have improved immensely in maturity. Point guard Russell Westbrook is looking to lead team USA this summer in the FIBA tournament and Durant is the star of the team. Bold prediction here, but with the subtle moves this off-season, the Thunder will soar to the top-three in the Western
Conference with an evening more shocking season. Since LeBron isn’t a one man show anymore, this means the 2010-2011 NBA MVP will be Kevin Durant (who will also be the scoring champion for a second time, at age 22).
09-10 record: 50-32, Projected 10-11 record: 56-26
Projected starting lineup:
PG Russell Westbrook
SG James Harden
SF Kevin Durant
PF Jeff Green
C Nenad Krstic
2. Los Angeles Lakers
No superstars are heading for Hollywood, but the back-to-back NBA Champions strengthened their championship caliber team as they resigned point guard Derek Fisher, and also replaced Jordan Farmar with veteran point guard Steve Blake. The organization also got one last year out of legendary coach Phil Jackson. They are one of three times I believe that can contend for the Championship this year. Kobe couldn’t care less about what’s going on in South Beach. He will destroy anything that comes in his way. This starting five will be remembered for a very long time.
09-10 record: 57-25, Projected 10-11 record: 56-26
Projected starting lineup:
PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Ron Artest
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum
1. Miami Heat
The winners. This much hated “super-team” will not dissapoint this season, as they should come out with the leagues best record. They may not win the title this year due to figuring out the team chemistry, but they will win three out of the next six titles. Miami Heat. Los Angeles Lakers. 2011 NBA Finals. Seven game series. Book it.
09-10 record: 47-35, Projected 10-11 record: 65-17
Projected starting lineup:
PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Zydrunas Ilgauskus
