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6) L.A. CLIPPERS

2007-08 RECORD: 23-59, fifth place, Pacific Division, did not make playoffs

KEY ACQUISITIONS: G Baron Davis (UFA, Golden State), G Eric Gordon (7th pick, first round), F/C Marcus Camby (trade with Denver), F Ricky Davis (UFA, Miami), G Jason Williams (UFA, Miami), G Jason Hart (trade with Utah), F Brian Skinner (UFA, Phoenix)

KEY LOSSES: F Elton Brand (UFA, signed with Philadelphia), F Corey Maggette (UFA, signed with Golden State)

KEY RE-SIGNINGS: None

PROJECTION: It is a measure of how screwed up other franchise are (I'm looking at you, Denver) that the seemingly backsliding-to-awful Clippers could lose two of their top three players for nothing and still come out of the summer in pretty good shape.

By getting the luxury-tax strapped Nuggets to give them Camby for almost nothing, Los Angeles can at least partially fill the gaping hold left by Brand. Next to Chris Kaman, Camby should still provide the excellent help, shot-blocking and rebounding that made him the only finger in the Nuggets' leaking dyke of a team, and the Clippers might get back to playing the hard-nosed team defense that got them to the second round two years ago.

With Baron Davis keeping his word (he could have walked away once Brand left), the Clippers should still be able to get out and run, and Davis will have finishers on the wings-second year swingman Al Thornton, Ricky Davis (who'll take over the high-volume shooting for Maggette) and Gordon, an undersized two who nonetheless should be able to score at this level.

There are no guarantees that Camby will bring it every night. And there's no guarantee that Baron Davis won't burn out trying to be all things to all people in his hometown. But if the Clippers are still number two in L.A., at least the gap is more of a ditch than a chasm.

7) HOUSTON ROCKETS

2007-08 RECORD: 55-27, third place, Southwest Division, lost in first round

KEY ACQUISITIONS: F Ron Artest (trade with Sacramento), G Brent Barry (UFA, San Antonio)

KEY RE-SIGNINGS: C Dikembe Mutombo

KEY LOSSES: F Donte Greene (traded to Sacramento), G Bobby Jackson (traded to Sacramento)

PROJECTION: Bring oxygen to Toyota Center next season, for there will be 14 players, four coaches, a general manager, an entire front office, an owner and his wife holding their collective breath all season.

This is not to say the already-strong Rockets were wrong to take a flier on Artest, not when he's in the last year of his contract and not when they were able to hold on to guard Aaron Brooks, whom Sacramento has coveted. An Artest-Shane Battier perimeter defensive duo would be as good as any in the league, freeing up Tracy McGrady to do even more at the offensive end. Barry showed in the playoffs that he's got a little tread on his tires, and if Yao Ming is all the way back from his foot injury, the Rockets are legitimate title contenders.

But who will look Big Ron in the eye when he starts acting the fool? That's been the big problem in each of his stops; there's no one around who'll get in his grille and try to get him back on the same page as the team. (What's Mr. Mean, Larry Smith, up to these days?) Artest swears he'll do right by Rick Adelman.

Maybe he will.

Have a couple of CO-2 tanks standing by, just in case.

8) GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

2007-08 RECORD: 48-34, third place, Pacific, did not make playoffs

KEY ACQUISITIONS: F Anthony Randolph (14th pick, first round), F Corey Maggette (UFA, Clippers), F Ronny Turiaf (RFA, Lakers), G Marcus Williams (trade with New Jersey)

KEY RE-SIGNINGS: C Andris Biedrins, G Monta Ellis

KEY LOSSES: G Baron Davis (UFA, signed with Clippers) G Mickael Pietrus (UFA, signed with Orlando), F Matt Barnes (UFA, signed with Phoenix), C Patrick O'Bryant (UFA, signed with Boston)

PROJECTION: Give the Warriors credit for being proactive after losing their leader, Davis. They didn't overspend for either Maggette, who will be a perfect fit in Don Nelson's system, or Turiaf, who will strengthen their bench. And when they did have to open wide, they committed to Biedrins before European teams could, and gave the keys to the 21-year-old Ellis.

And if the 19-year-old Randolph can show any of the amazing versatility he displayed in Vegas this summer, Golden State might have something really special. The 6-11 forward had no problems bringing the ball up the court and initiating offense, nor did have much trouble finishing. He'll definitely need to spend two summers, minimum, in the weight room, but there may not be a more athletic frontcourt in the game than Biedrins, Randolph and Maggette by season's end.

Even though Davis is gone, the Warriors will still run rings around a lot of teams this season.

9) UTAH JAZZ

2007-08 RECORD: 54-28, first place, Northwest, lost in second round

KEY ACQUISITIONS: C Kosta Koufos (23rd pick, first round), C Ante Tomic (xth pick, second round), G Brevin Knight (trade with Clippers)

KEY RE-SIGNINGS: Extended G Deron Williams

KEY LOSSES: G Dee Brown (RFA, signed with Washington)

PROJECTION: The Jazz rank in the top 10 because they locked up Williams for five more seasons before he could even think about becoming a free agent, and because they got a perfect pivotman for them in Ohio State's Koufos, who was rated higher by many NBA scouts. And because they didn't panic and start trading away key parts of their team after losing to the Lakers.

That means Utah should again be a 50+ winner in the west, and have a decent shot at advancing deep into the postseason. With Carlos Boozer healthy for a full season and Andrei Kirilenko back in the fold mentally after a dismal '07 playoffs, Utah could be even more formidable. But on the horizon is Boozer's impending free agency next season; owner Larry Miller would be smart to not let July 1, 2009, come around without Boozer's signature on a new deal.

For Riles stands ready, with an ink pen in his breast pocket, $70 million in the bank and South Beach at his back.

10) MIAMI HEAT

2007-08 RECORD: 15-67, fifth place, Southeast, did not make playoffs

KEY ACQUISITIONS: F Michael Beasley (2nd pick, first round), F James Jones (UFA, Portland), G Mario Chalmers (rights acquired from Minnesota)

KEY RE-SIGNINGS: None

KEY LOSSES: F Ricky Davis (UFA, signed with Clippers), G Jason Williams (UFA, signed with Clippers), head coach Pat Riley

PROJECTION: Great draft night spin by Riles, who says his coaches and scouts threatened mutiny if he did not take Beasley. (They all love you, kid.) In truth, Miami desperately wanted to deal the pick, but couldn't find a team that was willing to overpay for it. With no choice, Riley went for Beasley, a scoring machine, and got another solid piece with Chalmers, the hero of Kansas' NCAA title game.

But if Miami is going to be a player in free agency next season, it has to decide what it will do with Shawn Marion; the two sides couldn't agree on a contract extension this summer, and his future there looks bleak. Still, even if Marion walks after this season the Heat can just plug his $17 million elsewhere-like into Carlos Boozer (see above).

For now, new head coach Erik Spoelstra may do better than people think, with Dwyane Wade sharp off his Olympic stint, inside presence with Beasley, Marion's all-around game and-maybe most importantly-the return of Udonis Haslem and Alonzo Mourning from shoulder and knee injuries, respectively. They are Miami's toughness, and even though Mourning will turn 39 next February, he's still one of the five best low-post defenders in the game.

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