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Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are favorites to repeat as NBA champions this season.

Sacramento Kings
Last season: 17-65, 5th in Pacific Division.
Coach: Paul Westphal (1st season)
Needs: Someone good enough to make Kevin Martin their second-best player.
Additions: Forward Jon Brockman (draft), forward Omri Casspi (draft), guard Tyreke Evans (draft), forward Desmond Mason (free agent), forward Sean May (free agent), guard Sergio Rodriguez (free agent), forward Melvin Ely (free agent).
Subtractions: Center Calvin Booth (free agent), forward Ike Diogu (signed with Hornets), guard Bobby Jackson (free agent), guard Rashad McCants (free agent), forward Cedric Simmons (signed to play in Greece).
Remaining from last season: Guards Francisco Garcia, Kevin Martin, Beno Udrih; forwards Donte Greene, Andres Nocioni, Kenny Thomas, Jason Thompson; center Spencer Hawes.
Outlook: Beyond Kevin Martin, and perhaps emerging Jason Thompson, this essentially is a roster loaded with players who would serve as seventh, eighth and ninth men elsewhere. Because of that, Martin likely will get his numbers again and challenge for an All-Star berth. This is a franchise that is mediocrity personified, which is why, perhaps, it made sense to go after Paul Westphal to fill its coaching void. While Evans and Casspi could emerge as contributors, there also is plenty to be thinned out from this roster. Beno Udrih is a mistake that has to be rectified. Kenny Thomas is cap space rotting away at the end of the bench. And Spencer Hawes either has been unable to take the next step or has not been pushed sufficiently. The white flag was raised last season with the selloff of Brad Miller and John Salmons to the Bulls. What is left is a roster almost as tired as the arena the Kings continue to call their home. The next time the Kings will matter will be in Secaucus.

San Antonio Spurs
Last season: 54-28, 1st in Southwest Division.
Coach: Gregg Popovich (14th season)
Needs: A perimeter defensive presence to inherit the Bruce Bowen role.
Additions: Forward DeJuan Blair (draft), forward Keith Bogans (free agent), forward Richard Jefferson (trade from Bucks), forward Dwayne Jones (free agent), forward Antonio McDyess (free agent), center Theo Ratliff (free agent).
Subtractions: Forward Bruce Bowen (traded to Bucks), forward Kurt Thomas (traded to Bucks), forward Fabricio Oberto (traded to Bucks), forward Drew Gooden (signed with Mavericks), forward Ime Udoka (signed with Trail Blazers), guard Jacque Vaughn (free agent).
Remaining from last season: Forwards Matt Bonner, Tim Duncan, Marcus Haislip; guards Michael Finley, Manu Ginobili, Malik Hairston, George Hill, Roger Mason Jr., Tony Parker, Marcus Williams; center Ian Mahinmi.
Outlook: After a disappointing playoff showing, the Spurs took an unusual step for the franchise, with the type of makeover previously avoided. With the addition of Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff, there is an infusion of quality veteran depth, depth that should help ease the burden on the aging likes of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Ultimately, it again will come down to the contributions of Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker, but there will be enough offense elsewhere to provide needed rest. While Duncan remains the de facto center, there is little else in the middle, with Matt Bonner again being asked to masquerade at that position at least at the start of games. Among the offseason losses, the absence of Fabricio Oberto and Bruce Bowen will remove some of the Spurs' previously heralded grit. A return to the Western Conference finals and a challenge to the Lakers would not be a surprise. The Spurs do not stay down for long.

Toronto Raptors
Last season: 33-49, 4th in Atlantic Division.
Coach: Jay Triano (2nd season)
Needs: A creative, one-on-one scorer, something management hopes first-round pick DeMar DeRozan can become.
Additions: Forward Marco Belinelli (trade from Warriors), forward DeMar DeRozan (draft), forward Reggie Evans (trade from 76ers), guard Jarrett Jack (free agent), forward Amir Johnson (trade from Bucks), center Rasho Nesterovic (free agent), forward Hedo Turkoglu (trade from Magic), guard Sonny Weems (trade from Pistons), forward Antoine Wright (trade from Mavericks).
Subtractions: Forward Kris Humphries (traded to Mavericks), center Nathan Jawai (traded to Mavericks), forward Devean George (traded to Warriors), guard Roko Ukic (traded to Bucks), forward Jason Kapono (traded to 76ers), forward Carlos Delfino (re-signed, traded to Bucks), forward Joey Graham (signed with Nuggets), forward Shawn Marion (re-signed, traded to Mavericks), center Pops Mensah-Bonsu (signed with Rockets), guard Anthony Parker (signed with Cavaliers), center Jake Voskuhl (signed with Mavericks).
Remaining from last season: Guards Marcus Banks, Jose Calderon, Quincy Douby; centers Andrea Bargnani, Patrick O'Bryant; forward Chris Bosh.
Outlook: Faced with the prospect of losing their top free agent in 2010, the Raptors decided to get proactive a year in advance, reloading the roster with the hope of retaining Chris Bosh either with an extension or at the start of next summer's signing process. This certainly is an eclectic mix, one long on finesse and skill, but one that still lacks much in the way of beef or brawn. Yes, Reggie Evans will add toughness, but he's also just Reggie Evans. This should be a fun team to watch, with the passing of Jose Calderon, the shooting of Marco Belinelli and the all-around game of Hedo Turkoglu. The problem with such makeovers is you don't know what to truly make of it until cohesion is established, if it ever is established. This is a team that could be good enough to challenge for homecourt in the first round of the playoffs, or a team that could yet again return to the lottery and risk losing Bosh next summer. Plenty is at stake.

Utah Jazz
Last season: 48-34, 3rd in Northwest Division.
Coach: Jerry Sloan (22nd season)
Needs: A remedy to the presence of both Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap and their significant contracts at power forward.
Additions: Guard Eric Maynor (draft), center Goran Suton (draft).
Subtractions: Guard Morris Almond (signed with Magic), center Jarron Collins (signed with Trail Blazers), guard Brevin Knight (free agent).
Remaining from last season: Forwards Carlos Boozer, Matt Harpring, Andrei Kirilenko, Kyle Korver, C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap; guards Ronnie Brewer, Ronnie Price, Deron Williams; centers Kyle Fesenko, Kosta Koufos, Mehmet Okur.
Outlook: The franchise that has rolled over its coach's contract for more than two decades opted to also roll over almost its entire roster from last season. For most playoff teams, that would be a good thing. For a small-market team hard up against the luxury tax, that's not necessarily the case. With both Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur choosing, somewhat surprisingly, to bypass opt out clauses this past summer, the Jazz finds itself overloaded in the power rotation. A trade certainly could be forthcoming, with Boozer saying the right things for now, but his body language indicating otherwise. Getting back to the playoffs and gaining any type of decent seed could be significantly more difficult this season, with Deron Williams likely having to again raise his game to another level. As has been the case for years, it could come down to where Andrei Kirilenko is with his game, his head and his health.

Washington Wizards
Last season: 19-63, 5th in Southeast Division.
Coach: Flip Saunders (1st season)
Needs: A shooting guard who can inspire enough confidence from Gilbert Arenas to actually pass the ball.
Additions: Guard Randy Foye (trade from Timberwolves), forward Mike Miller (trade from Timberwolves), center Fabricio Oberto (trade from Bucks).
Subtractions: Forward Etan Thomas (traded to Timberwolves), forward Darius Songaila (traded to Timberwolves), forward Oleksiy Pecherov (traded to Timberwolves), guard Juan Dixon (signed by Hawks).
Remaining from last season: Guards Gilbert Arenas, Javaris Crittenton, Mike James, DeShawn Stevenson, Nick Young; centers Andray Blatche, Brandan Haywood, JaVale McGee; forwards Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Dominic McGuire.
Outlook: While Flip Saunders will be getting his first crack at this roster, this also could be the last roundup when it comes to the core of Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas, a grouping that only has played .500 ball when healthy. Ah, when healthy. Already Jamison is expected to miss the majority of the first month with a shoulder injury. And so it goes. The hope, otherwise, is the offseason infusion of perimeter talent in Mike Miller and Randy Foye will provide enough of a boost to get Washington back to the playoffs. Yet defense is where it all needs to start and it will be interesting to see how that works with an offensive-minded coach in Saunders. There is enough talent in place, especially with the return of Brendan Haywood, to contend for homecourt in the first round. But there also are enough concerns throughout the roster to quickly create doubts if it starts going south. Saunders has proven capable of getting teams to the playoffs, but with this roster, even more is expected. A healthy start already is off the books. A healthy finish remains possible.

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