The defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers held their media day Monday, and all eyes were on superstar LeBron James.

That doesn't mean James isn't looking back on last year fondly, per basketball writer Sam Amico: 

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) September 26, 2016

Star power forward Kevin Love, meanwhile, acknowledged the Cavs now have a target on their backs.

"I think, more than anything, our mindset going into this year is knowing that the hunter has now become the hunted," he said. "So we have to approach every game—a lot like the last two years—knowing that we're going to get everybody's best shot."

The Cavs have the balance of veteran experience and youthful bodies to handle the onslaught, and head coach Tyronn Lue joked that the 31-year-old James possesses both, per NBA on TNT:

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 26, 2016

Lue, meanwhile, shared a story about how he motivated his team after it went down 3-1 to the Golden State Warriors in last season's NBA Finals, per Will Burge of WTAM 1100:

— Will Burge (@WillBurge) September 26, 2016

— Will Burge (@WillBurge) September 26, 2016

Some of the talk Monday was about who wasn't present at media day, namely J.R. Smith. The Cavs and Smith remain in contract negotiations.

"As we have stated and Coach has previously stated, we think very highly of J.R. and we love him as a member of our team, as a member of our locker room," general manager David Griffin said, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. "He was essential to our success, and for that reason, we have made an incredibly competitive and aggressive offer in re-signing him."

James also spoke about Smith, via NBA TV:

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 26, 2016

Griffin also announced veteran guard Mo Williams is retiring, per Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The Cavs addressed serious issues off the court as well.

Much of the talk over the past month has revolved around athletes protesting racial oppression and police brutality, namely in the NFL after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem in late August.

James weighed in on the issue and said he would stand for the national anthem.

"That's who I am," James noted. "That's what I believe in. But that doesn't mean I don't respect and don't agree with what Colin Kaepernick is doing. You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion, and he's doing it in the most peaceful way I've ever seen."

James also spoke of his personal fears regarding policing in the United States, noting he would be concerned if his son was pulled over, per the Chicago Sun-Times:

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports fears James could face backlash for his commentary on the issue:

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 26, 2016

Media day is often a blend of the serious—as teams reflect on the past, lay out their goals for the season to come and talk about the issues affecting athletes and the world at large—and lighthearted fare.

And as expected, there were both silly and adorable moments for the Cavs.

Like Love posing with some mascots:

Or Richard Jefferson taking some time for an interview with the team's younger fans:

Finally, James, Love and Irving enjoyed their photo shoot together, as the Cavs shared on Twitter:

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) September 26, 2016

The Cavs earned the right to enjoy themselves in the offseason. But now, the grind begins as the team looks to return to the NBA Finals and repeat as champions.

That won't be easy. The Eastern Conference has improved, and Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson could be waiting in the Finals.

James and Co. ended Cleveland's title drought last summer. Looking forward, they'll now aim to bring a dynasty to the city.

               

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is entering the final season of his four-year, $44 million deal he signed back in 2013, per Spotrac. With free agency looming, he ensured the media and Warriors fans on Tuesday that he isn't looking to go anywhere else. 

It's clear he has set himself up nicely for a big raise, too, given the season he had last year:

That monster season helped him earn his second consecutive MVP award as he collected all 131 first-place votes. 

However, 2016-17 will pose a new challenge for Curry, as former Oklahoma City Thunder star, four-time scoring champion and 2014 MVP Kevin Durant will join him. Durant signed a two-year, $54.2 million deal with the Warriors in July, per Spotrac. 

As the biggest free agent available over the summer, speculation on where Durant would end up dominated storylines throughout last season. 

But Curry ensured the media there would be none of that during this upcoming season, stating his intentions not to be a distraction, via Anthony Slater of the San Jose Mercury News:

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 27, 2016

However, Curry's obvious desire to remain with the Warriors should curb plenty of drama and speculation about his home come next season and will allow Golden State to focus on winning its second title in three seasons. 

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James offered his support Monday to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others who continue to protest during the national anthem. 

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 26, 2016

LeBron did, however, confirm he won't kneel while "The Star-Spangled Banner" plays before games, per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin: "Me standing for the national anthem is something I will do. ... But that doesn't mean I don't respect [Kaepernick]."

James added being a father has given him a different perspective on police violence, per McMenamin:

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 26, 2016

While other athletes sometimes shy away from taking sides on important issues, the four-time MVP has shown a willingness to speak his mind on hot-button topics.

In March 2012, he and his Miami Heat teammates wore hooded sweatshirts following the shooting of Trayvon Martin:

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 23, 2012

After Eric Garner died at the hands of New York police in 2014, James was among the NBA players who wore an "I Can't Breathe" shirt during pregame warm-ups.

At the 2016 ESPYs, James joined Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade in a call for police reform and an end to gun violence throughout the country. ABC News shared a replay of their speech:

— ABC News (@ABC) July 14, 2016

"I believe in order for us to ultimately be as great as we can be as a nation that all of us have to go back into our communities and lend our hand," James said at a charity event in August, per McMenamin. "It starts brick by brick. It starts person by person. Family by family. Kid by kid."

It's never fun to find out your favorite NBA team is ready to collect fewer wins than the previous season. Charlotte Hornets Dallas Mavericks Record in 2015-16: 56-26 Record in 2015-16: 45-37 Record in 2015-16: 67-15 Record in 2015-16: 55-27 Record in 2015-16: 48-34

Win totals are the focus. We already tackled the biggest increases; the same logic applies here but in reverse: Teams that won more games have more room for slippage, so last year's playoff squads will dominate the conversation. They are uniquely susceptible to drastic declines on the heels of free-agency losses, injuries, roster face-lifts and stylistic shifts.

These drop-offs won't always portend a lottery appearance. Most of the included teams will win enough to remain in the playoff hunt. Relative to last year, though, their regular-season outlook isn't nearly as bright.

On the one hand, they lost three valuable weapons in Al Jefferson, Courtney Lee and Jeremy Lin, severely compromising their ability to sustain last season's top-10 offensive standing. A backup backcourt of Marco Belinelli and Ramon Sessions doesn't inspire much confidence, and the center position is now entrusted to Frank Kaminsky and Cody Zeller, with a little bit of Roy Hibbert sprinkled in.

On the other hand, head coach Steve Clifford is a defensive savant. The Hornets routinely deploy an effective fortress despite depending on statistical liabilities, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's return is bad news for any opposing offense hoping to chuck threes.

Will Charlotte match last year's 48 victories? Or will the mass departure of offensive talent render the Hornets a .500 team or worse? It could go either way.

Milwaukee Bucks

Talk about versatility. The Milwaukee Bucks were also categorized as a notable exclusion for the league's biggest risers. 

Blame the injury bug for their dual placement. Khris Middleton, the Bucks' second-best player behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, suffered a torn hamstring since we last met and is expected to miss around six months. Middleton is the team's most reliable shooter and can defend three, maybe four, different positions. His absence threatens to torpedo Milwaukee's stock on both ends of the floor.

Rashad Vaughn and the recently acquired Michael Beasley will look to fill this new perimeter void—which, you know, isn't ideal.

Then again, the Bucks are working off a 33-win campaign. Things can't get much worse.

Michael Carter-Williams and John Henson should be healthy; Jabari Parker and Antetokounmpo are another year polished; and the additions of Matthew Dellavedova and Mirza Teletovic will help with spacing. Milwaukee should be able to tread water without Middleton, if only because it's swimming in a shallow pool.

Dallas' highest-paid player, Dirk Nowitzki, is 38. Its second-highest-paid player is "possible-role-player-only" Harrison Barnes. Its third-highest-paid, Wesley Matthews, saw a statistical drop-off last season following an Achilles injury. Its fourth-highest is the absent-prone Andrew Bogut. Deron Williams and Dwight Powell are the team's fifth- and sixth-highest-paid contributors, respectively.

See the problem?

Everything can break right for the Mavericks, and they still may not clear 42 wins. But Carlisle gets the benefit of the doubt. His offensive schemes alone should ensure Dallas doesn't suffer a substantive win regression.

Golden State Warriors

Overestimating the win totals of freshly formed powerhouses is an NBA pastime. The 2010-11 Miami Heat. The 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers. The 2014-15 Cleveland Cavaliers. Not one of them parlayed a fancy new collection of superstars into an immediate world takeover.

Should we expect the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors to be different? When they're trying to integrate two MVP talents, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, into the offense? Knowing that Draymond Green, the Warriors' chief of candor, is lowering the bar himself?

"Everybody is going to grow," he said, per ESPN.com's Ethan Sherwood Strauss. "And are you going to with 74 games? To be quite frank with you, I don't want to win 74 games or 75 games. It's brutal."

Golden State's learning curve may not be as steep as those of superpowers from years past. Its main pieces, high-profile though they are, just fit. But reaching 73 wins is a tough act to follow, no matter the circumstances. 

Realistically, the Warriors can collect 63 victories, 10 fewer than last year, and still finish atop the Western Conference. And yet, while the threat of regression is real, we must ask ourselves: Will a 73-win core that just added Durant really see its total drop by more than five?

The answer, for now, is a resounding "LOL."

Please hold all profanity-packed reactions until the end.

The Toronto Raptors aren't preparing to plunge down the Eastern Conference's ladder. It will be a genuine shock if they stay healthy and don't earn a top-three playoff seed. But we have to account for their success last year, which, in this case, works against them.

Toronto won nearly 60 games in 2015-16. Sixty. That's straight absurd and due in large part to the career regular-season efforts of a more refined DeMar DeRozan and should-have-received-more-MVP-dap Kyle Lowry. Any decline on their part, however slight, will be felt in the win column.

Even if those downswings never come, the Raptors are in a wee bit of trouble. Their second unit ranked seventh in defensive efficiency, per HoopsStats.com, but is now without Bismack Biyombo. He gets supplanted by rookie Jakob Poeltl, free-agent addition Jared Sullinger and probably a dash of Lucas Nogueira—each of whom fails to match Biyombo's rebounding prowess and shot-blocking volume.

Sophomore Norman Powell figures to get more spin behind DeRozan as well. He impressed as a newbie, but when you factor in perennial question mark Terrence Ross and Poeltl, Toronto's bench mob is far more dependent on youthful projects than most other reigning 50-win squads.

Having a healthy DeMarre Carroll from the jump goes a long way to preserving those 50-win credentials. But where the Raptors went unchallenged in the tier just below the Cleveland Cavaliers, they now have to deal with the Al Horford-led Boston Celtics.

Plus, the East's middle class isn't getting any thinner. Certain teams are in line for evident slumps, but at least three of the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards will vie for noticeably better records—appended competition that should come at the expense of Toronto's win total.

It's time to start rethinking the Indiana Pacers.

The projected starting lineup of Monta Ellis, Paul George, Jeff Teague, Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young has the potential to be fun, but it's hardly an upgrade over last year's setup. The Indiana backcourt is specifically due for a dip, as ESPN.com's Micah Adams and John McTigue wrote in July:

There isn't a whole lot of defensive upside to an Ellis-Teague coupling, while backups Aaron Brooks and Rodney Stuckey don't profile as premier stoppers. George and Young will be fine, and Turner is already a nuisance when picking up players inside the arc. But the absence of Ian Mahinmi is damning.

No other Pacers player last season saved more points on the defensive end than him (120.62), according to NBA Math. In fact, Indiana's second-most effective performer, Paul George, didn't even prevent half as many (56.73).

Defensive sacrifices must often be made when reinventing an offense, but the Pacers' scoring machine hasn't necessarily been remade for the better. At least two below-average floor-spacers (Ellis and Young) are in the starting lineup, and the roster houses only a few proven spot-up shooters—namely C.J. Miles, George and Teague.

Not even the Pacers' backup brigade headlined by Lavoy Allen, Al Jefferson, Brooks, Miles and Stuckey provides any assurances. They have ditched last year's identity without guaranteeing themselves a new one. Don't be surprised if and when they drop below .500.

Docking around 11 wins from the San Antonio Spurs feels ignorantly cruel. Sure, they lost Boris Diaw, Tim Duncan, Boban Marjanovic and David West. But they picked up Pau Gasol and have Kawhi Leonard. Also: They're the Spurs. They exist to turn logic inside out and exceed expectations.

Still, San Antonio is entering uncharted territory.

Duncan, while ancient in NBA years, is a defensive loss. Same goes for Diaw; he continues to guard almost every position—versatility the Spurs can only hope to unearth in Kyle Anderson. And neither Dewayne Dedmon nor David Lee brings Marjanovic's or West's defensive girth.

The most any San Antonio lineup played last season without one of Diaw, Duncan, Marjanovic or West was 43 minutes. This group in question—LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green, Tony Parker, Anderson and Leonard—outscored opponents by 13.6 points per 100 possessions. But the lack of exposure is unsettling and a common theme.

How will an Aldridge-Gasol frontcourt hold up on defense, particularly when guarding pick-and-rolls? Is Anderson, now in his third year, ready for a much larger role? Will he and Leonard thrive when seeing more time at power forward? Can the Spurs get away with all-bench units that see Dedmon and Lee sharing the court?

And then there's the individual regressions to consider. Manu Ginobili is 39. Green failed to shoot 30 percent from three-point range in almost half of his regular-season appearances. Parker, 34, won't have the advantage at his position on most nights.

These are legitimate concerns—more than the Spurs have faced in any single season over the past 19 years. So while they will still challenge for the West's No. 2 seed, it's unrealistic to expect even a quasi-encore to last year's franchise-best performance.

It would take most franchises years to recover from the departure of a player such as Durant. The Oklahoma City Thunder, of course, aren't most franchises. They have Russell Westbrook, another top-five superstar capable of ferrying an entire team's postseason hopes.

But they don't have much else—not compared to years past.

Steven Adams is a defensive dynamo. Ersan Ilyasova is a fine floor-spacing alternative to Serge Ibaka. Enes Kanter can be a phenomenal rebounder and scorer. Victor Oladipo has a fringe-star ceiling. Oklahoma City is nevertheless speeding toward a significant devolution.

The offensive repercussions alone of losing Durant and Ibaka are enough to make head coach Billy Donovan cringe. Westbrook will go bananas, because that's what he does, but the Thunder ranked second in offensive efficiency last season, pumping in 109.9 points per 100 possessions. They should struggle to rival that mark, as Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes explained:

Oklahoma City did tally 109.5 points per 100 possessions last year during the 175 minutes Westbrook played without Durant and Ibaka and was similarly efficient after Durant played his last game in 2014-15, according to NBAWowy.com. Is that sustainable for an entire season? And are one-sided players such as Kanter (offense) and Roberson (defense) as valuable without two MVP candidates running the show?

Solo Westbrook and a burgeoning Adams should keep the Thunder within striking distance of a playoff berth. But they could be a net minus at every other position on most nights, and their bench isn't especially deep or experienced. Their chances of sniffing 45 wins look slim. 

So much for the Miami Heat remaining an imminent threat in the Eastern Conference following Dwyane Wade's exit.

Josh Richardson is dealing with a torn MCL in his right knee and may not be available to start the season, per the Miami Herald's Ethan J. Skolnick. That means a lot more of Dion Waiters, which is, frankly, terrifying.

On top of that, it sounds like Chris Bosh's time in Miami is over.

As team president Pat Riley said when asked if the Heat are still planning for Bosh's return, per the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman: "We are not. I think Chris is still open-minded. But we are not working toward his return."

Remove Bosh from the equation, and Miami's depth chart—guaranteed contracts only—looks something like this:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Goran Dragic	Josh Richardson	Justise Winslow	Josh McRoberts	Hassan Whiteside
Tyler Johnson	Dion Waiters	Luke Babbitt	Derrick Williams	Willie Reed
Beno Udrih	Wayne Ellington	James Johnson	Udonis Haslem

And this assumes Richardson plays most of the year. Woof.

Some fun combinations exist when the Heat are at full strength. A Goran Dragic-Tyler Johnson-Richardson-Justise Winslow-Hassan Whiteside lineup could be a monster. Knowing Luol Deng spent ample time at center for Miami in the playoffs, we can't put it past head coach Erik Spoelstra to change out Whiteside for Derrick Williams and demand the offense play at warp speed.

Except the Heat's ability to remain relevant this past season was always contingent upon Bosh playing an active role. Since that appears unlikely, if unfathomable, so too are their hopes of cracking 35 wins.

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com unless otherwise cited. Salary information via Basketball Insiders.

Dan Favale covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @danfavale.

It's the best time of the year. The NBA season is almost upon us, and all 30 NBA teams held their annual media day last Friday and Monday. Let's look back at the best sneakers we saw, as both rookies and veterans alike brought out some heat for basketball's return. Milwaukee Bucks PF Jabari Parker in this Air Jordan 11 PE LeBron James brings out the Nike LeBron 3 Low and Kyrie Irving wears this Nike Kyrie 1 PE Andrew Wiggins in this Adidas Crazy Explosive Primeknit PE and Zach LaVine brought out the Nike Air Garnett 3 Kemba Walker in the Air Jordan 19 and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the Air Jordan 6 "Sport Blue" D'Angelo Russell in the Nike Kobe 11 James Harden in the Adidas Crazylight Boost 2016 Mike Conley in the Air Jordan 31 "Fine Print" Damian Lillard in this Adidas D Lillard 2 PE Devin Booker poses in the Nike Kobe 11 “The Academy” Russell Westbrook in the Air Jordan 31 "Home" PE Kevin Durant in the Nike KD 9 and Stephen Curry debuts the Under Armour Curry Three Low

With respect to Gary Payton, Mario Chalmers and Goran Dragic, Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade believes Rajon Rondo is the most talented floor general he's ever shared a backcourt with.

Wade hasn't played with a point guard of Rondo's caliber before. Payton was 37 years old and well past his prime when he joined the Miami Heat prior to the 2005-06 season, while Chalmers lingered off the ball with dominant forces such as Wade and LeBron James in tow.

A strong case could be made for Dragic, but he's averaged more than five assists per game just four times in eight seasons.

That leads us to Rondo, who has led the NBA in dimes three times—including last year, when he dropped 11.7 per contest to push his career average to 8.7. 

While Rondo may not be prolific when it comes to scoring or shooting the rock, he distributes it in a way few others can.

The floor general generated 27.1 points per game via his assists last season—2.4 more than second place John Wall. The 30-year-old also passed the ball 74.2 times per game—which topped the league by nearly three per game.

Rondo's 15.8 assist-to-pass percentage ranked third among players who appeared in at least 50 games last season. The only ball-handlers with superior marks were Russell Westbrook (17.8) and Chris Paul (16.1).

Rondo has long been regarded as one of the league's most cerebral players as well, and it's been clear throughout the start of training camp that the point guard's basketball acumen has impressed Wade and his new teammates.

"He’s super smart. He really sees things before they even develop out there on the basketball floor, so it makes everybody’s job a lot easier," Jimmy Butler said, per CSN Chicago's Vincent Goodwill. "And not only is he leading the team on offense, but he’s constantly talking on defense, so he’s letting everybody know where they have to be."

The Bulls have plenty of questions to answer regarding how their offense will space the floor and pressure defenses with Rondo, Butler and Wade, but the point guard's ability to seamlessly direct the offense should mask some problems as the team seeks to return to the postseason after missing out last year.

           

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the defending champions, and the Golden State Warriors added Kevin Durant to an already loaded team, but Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce thinks his squad is also a superteam as the 2016-17 season approaches. 

Pierce also pointed out the Clippers have "the best three-point shooter in the NBA" in J.J. Redick and the defending Sixth Man of the Year in Jamal Crawford.

"I mean why is this not a superteam?" he asked. "What defines superteam? When you look at those stats and you hear what I'm saying, this could very well easily be what's considered a superteam."

This isn't the first time Pierce made news this week. He announced on The Players' Tribune Monday that the 2016-17 campaign will be his last before retirement, so going out with a Larry O'Brien Trophy as part of a superteam would be a notable way to end his career.

Dougherty did note that Pierce recognized the Warriors, who won an NBA-record 73 games last season and reached the past two NBA Finals, are also a superteam. The future Hall of Fame candidate also acknowledged that Derrick Rose said the New York Knicks are on the list of superteams in the NBA as well.

"I don't know how many superteams are out there, but there's definitely three," Pierce said.

Dougherty pointed out Pierce was already part of a historical superteam when he was on the Boston Celtics. He, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen won the 2007-08 NBA title as a formidable threesome that beat LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference playoffs and Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

As far as superteams this season, it is impossible to argue against the Warriors. Even Pierce recognized they belong in the discussion with the two-time defending MVP Stephen Curry, former MVP Durant, sharpshooting Klay Thompson and versatile leader Draymond Green.

Rose's Knicks have some work to do before making their way onto that list, although they have some talent on paper with the former MVP point guard playing alongside Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee.

Ideally, a superteam would advance past the Western Conference semifinals come playoff time, but that is something the Clippers have yet to accomplish throughout their franchise history. They have reached the postseason for five consecutive years after earning only four playoff berths from 1976 to 2011, but they continuously fall short against their formidable West foes in those pressure-packed series.

Los Angeles was somewhat snakebitten last season when Paul and Griffin each went down with injuries in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers, but it still finished behind the Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the regular-season standings.

This year's Thunder team figures to take a step back after watching Durant bolt for the Warriors during the offseason, but the Clippers will still have to deal with Golden State and San Antonio.

If Pierce's squad eventually makes it past the likes of Curry, Durant, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge in the postseason, it will justify his lofty assessment of his team.

We began our NBA training camp preview with a look at the bottom 10 teams. (Sorry about that, Brooklyn. But your new alternate uniforms are fabulous!)

In 2016 Olympic lingo, the following 10 teams project to get Bleacher Report's NBA silver medals for being in the middle tier of the league…

    

SILVER MEDAL TIER    

10. Chicago Bulls

What's going on here?

Almost like a final relationship breakup, it can be awfully hard to commit to a full rebuilding process. When the Bulls were given reason to put theirs off, they opted to postpone dealing with the coldest days of rebuilding winter. Admittedly, it's tempting to give fans the chance to see whether Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade can turn the considerable tide. But these half-hearted refittings almost never go well, and Jimmy Butler's ownership of the team (and Jerian Grant's chance to run the offense) will be inhibited, too.

    

What would make this season a success?

Rondo turns Taj Gibson into Kevin Garnett, and Wade forms a productive scoring partnership with Butler. It's undeniable that Rondo and Wade have genius basketball IQs and are motivated to prove that they've still got it. It's also true that Rondo and Wade—unlike Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, both of whom are now in New York—have won at the highest NBA level. A touch of the old passing magic from Rondo (the old defending efforts seem too much to ask) and the old scoring creativity from Wade (his defense last season in Miami might've been worse than Rondo's in Sacramento) would at least bring a different flavor of fun in Chicago, where the Rose era grew stale.

     

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

Denzel Valentine. The fact that we keep talking about who is affected by Rondo and Wade (poor Doug McDermott had to bequeath his beloved No. 3 jersey as a sacrifice to honor Wade) shows how bringing those two in has completely shifted the focus of the team. Valentine, the 14th overall pick, won't have quite as much of a chance to perpetuate his myth-making aura from Michigan State, but he's the sort of all-heart player with whom Chicago could fall in love.

    

9. Dallas Mavericks

What's going on here?

Rick Carlisle proved yet again last season that he is better than the average basketball coach, producing a winning record at a time when Dirk Nowitzki's relevant days seemed done. Mark Cuban even went into the year aware that tanking might be wise. This season, the Mavs have a bit more dependable talent than they did a year ago, when Chandler Parsons and Wesley Matthews weren't healthy. Dallas is due for a steep decline at some point, but Carlisle won't make it easy, not with a 38-year-old Hall of Famer who can still produce without having to work too hard.

    

What would make this season a success?

A solid return on the Harrison Barnes investment. Few know how to ignore noise and focus on value better than Cuban, so he's well aware of how many open shots the Warriors' system offered to make Barnes look good—and how bad Barnes was to finish the playoffs. Still, plenty of NBA insiders wondered before last season if Barnes, just the sort of all-purpose wing teams covet, might turn out to be more consistent if he's expected to be more aggressive. He'll get that chance this season.

    

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

It didn't take long for Matthews to win over Mavericks fans the way he did Trail Blazers fans with a well-earned reputation of trying to do whatever it takes to win every moment and every game. That's probably why he was more beloved in Portland than LaMarcus Aldridge. And it's why Matthews returned from an Achilles tear to play 78 of 82 games last season. If anyone can be expected to live up to his big contract in Dallas, it's Matthews.

    

8. Portland Trail Blazers

What's going on here?

As unwavering as Damian Lillard is in his determination, there are reasons to expect slippage after Portland's strong showing last season. After flipping preseason predictions of doom into a playoff spot, C.J. McCollum and so many other Blazers will be better scouted from the get-go this time around. No more sneaking up on anyone. Head coach Terry Stotts will need to find new wrinkles to keep opponents backpedaling and deploy his deep frontcourt with laser focus yet again.

    

What would make this season a success?

McCollum emerged last season to provide Lillard with a partner who could share the offensive load. Now it's time for someone in the frontcourt to be more than pretty good some nights. Meyers Leonard, 24, got four years and $41 million to prove he is ready to make a Steven Adams-like leap to prominence. Leonard's sweet shot in a 7'1" package makes it possible. Now heading into his fifth NBA season, it's on him to wrest playing time away from all the other capable power forwards and centers Stotts has: Al-Farouq Aminu, Moe Harkless, Noah Vonleh, Mason Plumlee, Festus Ezeli and Ed Davis.

    

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

With no NBA teams in Seattle or Vancouver these days, Weber State four-year ace Lillard is well on his way to being the basketball beacon for the great Northwest. A signature pitchman for Adidas, Lillard has come to embody the fierce underdog, a role built in part on a string of near misses for All-Star teams and USA Basketball rosters. Don't underestimate what this guy can do. There is a risk, however, in being "The Man," and Lillard's less than stellar defense shows a willingness to let some details slide while trying to raise his overall stock. If opponents start targeting Lillard's teammates more, it wouldn't be a shock if his shot selection became more haphazard.

    

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

What's going on here?

All of those cold, quiet nights at Target Center since Kevin Garnett's fire raged its wildest have led to the present: Everyone loves the Timberwolves, and Tom Thibodeau has come to town to coach them to greatness. Except…this team isn't quite ready. With Garnett having just retired, that leaves Ricky Rubio as the team's lone relevant veteran. And while he does have five years of NBA experience, he isn't nasty enough or consistently healthy enough to push this team. That makes Minnesota capable of spectacular highlights as well as head-scratching mistakes. But that's the whole point of being young, isn't it?

    

What would make this season a success?

Across-the-board progress by the youngsters, which would probably bring a breakthrough playoff berth with it. By now, most intelligent basketball people have become aware of how much more important and amazing Karl-Anthony Towns is than Andrew Wiggins. But there's plenty of reason to be dazzled by Wiggins' skill and impressed by Zach LaVine's drive. There's also reason to be confident Gorgui Dieng is versatile enough to play next to Towns and reason to be sold on Kris Dunn becoming the latest four-year college guy to rock the NBA. Major progress from all of them is absolutely possible.

    

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

Rubio isn't done yet, but he's running out of time and opportunities. How will the oft-ferocious Thibs affect sweet-eyed Rubio, who was shaken much of last season by his mother's lung cancer? She died May 25, and he learned to play without her around in the Olympics. Is he ready to make more of his tremendous talent in the NBA? Passing and stealing is nifty, but a point guard who shoots 36.8 percent for his career is untenable in today's league. And with Dunn on board, the pressure will be on Rubio to advance his game.

    

6. Atlanta Hawks

What's going on here?

Al Horford is a mature man with the varied skill set and legitimate desire to find ways to make his teammates look better next to him. Dwight Howard has struggled to deviate from his personal strengths and see the world from others' perspectives. So while the Hawks didn't seem to suffer a total catastrophe in an offseason that included Kent Bazemore eschewing more money to stay, the Horford-for-Howard free-agent swap could be a major drain on team karma—unless Howard, 30, proves he is ready to make the most of his old comfort zone at home in Atlanta.

    

What would make this season a success?

Howard being a two-way star again. Simple as that. The Hawks were intrigued by the idea of Howard giving them a more traditional San Antonio Spurs look from the past, but is Howard the dominant rim-protecting big man Atlanta is expecting? The days of him averaging just shy of three blocks per game in his prime Orlando years appear long gone. And over his last three seasons in Houston, Howard saw his block average fall to under two per game. On offense, he hasn't embraced the idea of being a rolling big man either. On the bright side, he's still only 30, at home and with a franchise comfortable with making him the focal point of the team, so a bounce-back campaign isn't out of the question.

    

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

There is no doubt Dennis Schroder is ready. In that sense, the trade of Jeff Teague to the Pacers came at the right time. Basketball fans will enjoy seeing Schroder's flash and confidence knowing he has all of the minutes he wants. But he also just turned 23 and will be tasked with making sure Howard, Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver get their shots at the right times. That subtle part of his job might determine whether Schroder is just interesting or truly in command.

5. Indiana Pacers

What's going on here?

For years, Larry Bird has been trying to make the Pacers play faster, and with Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young joining a lineup that includes Paul George and Monta Ellis, he may have the recipe he wants. How much the change will cost the Pacers is the question, though, with Frank Vogel and his deliberate but defensively sound principles pushed out in favor of new coach Nate McMillan. Even if there are transition pains, the one thing Indiana can count on is George. The intensity with which he tried to be the tone-setting defensive maven when the USA Basketball team started gearing up for what would be a gold-medal Olympic run was the latest proof George, entering his prime now at age 26, demands dominance from himself one way or another. That could cover for any number of hiccups McMillan and his team suffer as they learn one another's ways.

What would make this season a success?

What a difference it would make if young, springy big man Myles Turner were ready to combine with George for an inside-outside, one-two punch. Turner has that aspiration in just his second season, and his 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in just 22.8 minutes for Frank Vogel last year suggest the potential. The 3.3 blocks per game he averaged during Indiana's first-round series against the Toronto Raptors hammered that potential home.

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

Al Jefferson is an NBA dinosaur. Back-to-the-basket big men who move glacially are not in demand, especially if they aren't bouncy rim protectors. So why did the Pacers give Jefferson, 31, a three-year, $30 million contract? He's more of a professional than outgoing Jordan Hill and Ian Mahinmi, that's why. And there's something to be said for a bench guy who can get your second unit a decent shot just about any time.

    

4. Washington Wizards

What's going on here?

Randy Wittman's exit was long overdue. Now Scott Brooks is being asked to create the sort of comfortable, confidence-boosting atmosphere for players that he did with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. And boy is it needed. A report this summer of the disconnect between John Wall and Bradley Beal offered more evidence of how rare it is for a point guard and shooting guard to have both of their games take off at the same time. But Brooks was able to guide Durant and Westbrook onto the same productive page, and there was a lot bigger spotlight in Oklahoma City than there is on this Wizards team, so there is reason to believe he can get the Wizards' duo pointed in a direction the team can build around.

    

What would make this season a success?

Given that the idea for years was to plug Durant in at small forward, it's kind of silly to say the guys the Wizards have on this roster can succeed by comparison. But Brooks is high on both Otto Porter Jr. and Kelly Oubre Jr., believing their length and athleticism can make Washington one of the few dynamic defensive teams at the wing position. It's not merely wishful thinking. Porter, after all, was the third overall pick in 2013, and Oubre was considered one of the better athletes in the 2015 draft.

    

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

Markieff Morris came to Washington at last season's trade deadline with a negative reputation. But with the Wizards, he wasn't an issue in the locker room nor on the floor, where he improved his shooting mark from 39.7 percent in Phoenix last season to 46.7 percent. The team won more with him, but not enough to make the playoffs. A motivated Morris, though, far removed from the controversy that surrounded him in Phoenix, could change that in a ho-hum Eastern Conference.

    

3. Milwaukee Bucks

What's going on here?

While the Philadelphia 76ers begin their experiment right off the bat of seeing how much control Ben Simmons should get of their offense, the Bucks are entering their first full season of unleashing Giannis Antetokounmpo as their point forward. His numbers might be mind-blowing; his dominance at age 21 could be franchise-changing. He hopes to bring an improved three-point shot to the table this season, too. And if his long-range game still needs polish, the Bucks did add legit long-range shooters in Matthew Dellavedova, Mirza Teletovic and Jason Terry for Antetokounmpo to set up.

    

What would make this season a success?

That buzz over Greg Monroe choosing a small-market destination in free agency quickly turned into a deafening silence. Because Monroe protected his decision with a player option in 2017, the Bucks have no choice but to consider trading him this season. What a wonderful match, huh? Well, winning would change a lot of tunes. The Bucks would love to find a workable solution, whatever it is. The end goals come a lot easier if Monroe is typically efficient on offense, even if Milwaukee isn't as committed to pounding it to him in the post. But just as important is him being atypically active on defense.

    

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

Being injured in Milwaukee would cause anyone to vanish from the basketball spotlight, but after a slow start last season, Jabari Parker played quite well late in the year once the Bucks fell out of playoff contention. The No. 2 overall pick in 2014 is the restaurant chef who deserves for critics to visit him again. Parker further refined his game as part of the youthful USA Basketball select team before the Olympics, and he was undeniably impressive. He will be better than you expect in the coming season.

     

2. Houston Rockets

What's going on here?

Truly talented people with chips on their shoulders make for a potentially pyrotechnic tandem. James Harden and Mike D'Antoni really want this to work for the NBA to appreciate anew what they do so well. Don't be surprised to see Harden become a top MVP candidate again with all that D'Antoni will encourage him to do. Without Dwight Howard to feed in the post, the Rockets will open a lot of eyes with how well they flow. The three-pointers will be sailing in from everywhere courtesy of Patrick Beverley (40 percent last season), Trevor Ariza (37.1 percent), Ryan Anderson (36.6 percent) and Eric Gordon (38.4 percent) playing with Harden.

     

What would make this season a success?

As potent as this D'Antoni-Harden offensive partnership may be, this team must defend adequately for anything to matter in the standings. The onus is on third-year center Clint Capela to change and block shots as the last line of defense, and Capela has shown in the past he is eager to challenge whatever he can. Another important element at work here: An improved team chemistry on offense will go a long way toward an improved defensive cohesion.

    

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

It seems as if Gordon has been around forever, yet he's just 27. Injuries have hindered his career, but no one in the NBA is as well-suited for the job he is assuming now. Gordon is a special scorer who will convert open looks from Harden and pick his spots otherwise, all while coming off the bench and not having to overexert himself. Hello, 2016-17 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

    

1. New York Knicks

What's going on here?

A lot of hoping and wishing. The Derrick Rose who won the MVP in 2011-12 and the Joakim Noah who was named 2014 first-team All-NBA center are figures of the past. However, Rose is healthy and playing for a contract, and Noah likely is motivated after overhauling his body for a big bounce-back year last season only to find new Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg didn't have a consistent role for him. So there are valid reasons to believe Rose and Noah can bring their levels back up now that they have come to the Knicks. There also are valid reasons—health, chemistry, off-court distractions—why the newcomers and the team could fall apart.

     

What would make this season a success?

Jeff Hornacek shaping this roster into a cohesive unit. If Phil Jackson is qualified to do anything, it should be making sure his team is well-coached. Like Rose and Noah, Hornacek has a nice line on his resume: 2014 NBA Coach of the Year runner-up (to Gregg Popovich). Hornacek is also looking for redemption himself after Markieff Morris derailed Hornacek's Suns team. That level of sabotage shouldn't happen in New York, especially with Carmelo Anthony demonstrating a new level of responsibility in his willingness to take Kristaps Porzingis under his wing while speaking out publicly about social justice issues. This is a group that should have plenty of motivation to set aside agendas and win.

    

Who's the most interesting player on the team?

Brandon Jennings is a character, and the Knicks actually could use one of those to spice things up. But Porzingis is still the most interesting guy on this roster. What other dimensions will Porzingis unveil in his second season? Posting up more and flipping in easy buckets using his 7'3" frame to improve his 42.1 field-goal percentage? Ratcheting up his blocks from nearly two per game to nearly three? Or fading a bit from prominence amid the upgraded talent around him as Jackson tries to give Anthony a winner as soon as possible?

    

Coming next week: the Gold tier (the top 10 teams in the NBA)

    

Kevin Ding is an NBA senior writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @KevinDing.

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is preparing for his 14th NBA season and a title defense with his hometown team.

While there aren't any stretches of the schedule that force the Cavaliers to play four games in five nights, there are a number of instances in which James and Co. will be playing three games in four nights. According to McMenamin, they also have "two five-in-seven stretches."

For a team that's again favored to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals—with 3-1 odds to win its second straight title, per Odds Shark—it will be imperative to keep James healthy.

That could mean giving him a night off or two during those busy spells in the regular season to ensure that he is as close to 100 percent as possible for the playoffs. 

But Lue might have some trouble convincing James to sit, as No. 23 described himself as "stubborn," per McMenamin:

James, who has never played all 82 games in a season, sat out six times last year to rest. His 2,709 total minutes represented his lowest mark for a regular season in which he appeared in 75-plus games.

However, it worked out, as it was the sixth consecutive time that James appeared in the NBA Finals, which resulted in Cleveland's first-ever league title and James' third ring:

Playing nearly 100 games per season takes a toll on the body, though, which James said he realizes, per McMenamin:

As long as the year ends with another championship, regular-season minutes will be irrelevant to all parties involved.

With the defending Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors having added Kevin Durant over the offseason, James might have to elevate his play to another level if the Cavaliers advance to their third straight Finals, so freshness down the stretch could be key. 

           

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com. 

Report: Rockets, Spurs, Lakers, Pacers interested in Carl Landry

While the Cleveland Cavaliers' contractual impasse with J.R. Smith has been well-publicized, it seems another deadlock with Tyronn Lue's assistant coaching staff has frustrations rising.

Assistant coaches Phil Handy, Damon Jones, Jim Boylan and James Posey are all without deals despite being expected to return. Larry Drew, who is currently under contract, was also expected to receive a raise thanks to his promotion to associate head coach, but the team has not yet done so.

The Cavaliers are developing a reputation for dragging their feet with certain contracts. Last summer, Tristan Thompson hung out on the free-agent market all the way until October. Smith is seemingly headed for a similar fate unless he and the Cavs get a deal done soon. There haven't been any reports of major progress between the parties for some time.

Even Lue guided the Cavaliers to a championship while not technically under contract as a head coach.

It's at least a curious way of doing business and risks alienating those in the locker room. Assistant coaches often spend more individual time with players than the head coach behind the scenes. While management might not be worried about its frustrated coaches, it's risking making players unhappy in the process.

If the team plans to bring all the assistants back—Haynes said Lue wants to retain his guys—it's unclear what the logic is behind holding things up. None of them seem particularly hasty in looking to find other jobs, so it would appear they're on board with returning.

These also aren't contracts like Smith's or Thompson's where the two sides are haggling over tens of millions of dollars. Haynes said the situation has "reached the point of hostility," which isn't the ideal mood you want to have when going to battle with the superpowered Golden State Warriors.

    

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.

Dwyane Wade returned to his hometown of Chicago this offseason when he signed with the Bulls, and he revealed Friday his motivation for doing so stretched far beyond basketball. 

Gun violence has plagued the Windy City in recent years, and Wade was recently impacted by it, as his cousin, Nykea Aldridge, was shot and killed on the South Side of Chicago on Aug. 26. According to CNN.com's Ralph Ellis and Vivian Kuo, police said Aldridge was not the intended target of the shooting.

As pointed out by Wade, the shooting occurred just one day after he took part in a town hall meeting on the subject of gun violence:

Wade is among the most popular, successful and influential players in the NBA as a 12-time All-Star and three-time champion, and he hopes to use that to facilitate positive change in Chicago: "Now I'm back in the city of Chicago—I'm back for a reason. I played 13 years in Miami. Now I'm back in the city, let me see what I can do as one person to help lend my voice and help shed light on the tragedy that's going on and find a solution to start the process of making change."

There is little doubt the 34-year-old veteran will help the Bulls on the court as they look to return to the playoffs in the Eastern Conference this season.

It long seemed as though Wade was a virtual lock to spend his entire career with the Heat, but a greater calling drew him back home, and it is clear that joining the Bulls was about far more than winning games.

     

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday will miss the start of the 2016-17 NBA season to care for his pregnant wife, Lauren, who will undergo surgery to remove a benign brain tumor after she gives birth in the fall.

Duncan reported it's "unclear how much time Holiday will miss this season" since Lauren is due in mid-October. However, Duncan added "the couple hopes to induce the birth early—perhaps as soon as late September—to expedite her treatment," with the brain surgery likely to take place six weeks after their child is born.

On Monday, Lauren and Jrue Holiday took to Twitter to thank fans for their support:

— Lauren Holiday (@laurenholiday12) September 5, 2016

— That Boy Jrue (@Jrue_Holiday11) September 5, 2016

Lauren Holiday retired from the USWNT following its 2015 FIFA World Cup victory, in which she scored what turned out to be the winning goal, to spend more time with her family, per Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated. Holiday also has two Olympic gold medals to her name as a member of the national team.

"My family comes before basketball," Jrue Holiday said. "I'm obviously blessed to play this game and be in the position I am in, but my wife is the most important thing in the world to me. She comes before anything else."

While there is no firm timetable on how much of the regular season Holiday will miss, Duncan labeled it as an "indefinite period."

"The most important thing for Jrue to do right now is be with his wife and family," Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said. "Every one of our coaches and players understands what Lauren and Jrue are going through, and they know we're behind them 100 percent."

An All-Star during the 2012-13 season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Holiday has been limited by injuries since he was traded to the Pelicans in July 2013. All told, the 26-year-old has appeared in 139 of 246 regular-season games over the past three seasons.

However, Holiday did make strides last season, averaging 16.8 points, 6.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest in 65 games—the most games he's played since the 2012-13 campaign.

The Toronto Raptors agreed to terms with general manager Masai Ujiri on a multiyear extension on Friday, according to a team press release.  

ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst first reported on Aug. 11 the two parties were negotiating a new deal.

While Ujiri still had two years left on his old contract, the Raptors might have felt a pressing need to secure his long-term future now. In April, the New York Daily News' Frank Isola reported the New York Knicks were considering him as Phil Jackson's potential successor.

If the Knicks didn't snap him up, TSN's Josh Lewenberg figured another team would:

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) August 11, 2016

Ujiri arrived in May 2013, and under his watch, Toronto has put together its best stretch in franchise history. This past year, the Raptors won a team-record 56 games and reached their first Eastern Conference Final.

“The stability this move brings is important for the team and its fans and we look forward to building on the Raptors’ success under Masai’s continued leadership," MLSE President and CEO Michael Friisdahl said, per the release. 

Ujiri can't take sole credit for building the roster that has gotten the Raptors to this point. Former GM Bryan Colangelo selected DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross in the draft and acquired Kyle Lowry in a trade with the Houston Rockets. DeRozan and Lowry in particular have been instrumental in Toronto's last three playoff runs.

But that's not to minimize Ujiri's impact north of the border.

The Andrea Bargnani trade was one of his first pieces of business. The Raptors sent the former No. 1 overall pick to the New York Knicks and netted a package that included a 2016 first-rounder. Ujiri used the pick to select Jakob Poeltl in June.

In December 2013, Ujiri jettisoned Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy, getting Patrick Patterson and Greivis Vasquez in return. Patterson has become a solid role player for the team, while Ujiri flipped Vasquez for Norman Powell and a protected 2017 first-rounder in June 2015.

And that's to say nothing of the financial flexibility Ujiri created when he unloaded Gay's contract. That freed up money down the road, which in turn put the Raptors in a position to sign DeMarre Carroll last offseason.

Some may question whether Ujiri is the guy who can deliver a title to Toronto. As much progress as the Raptors have made, they're still well behind the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East and will be for as long as LeBron James resides in Ohio.

But it would be one thing if the Raptors were coming off a third straight first-round exit. Instead, their trip to the conference finals silenced the skeptics who questioned whether DeRozan and Lowry were truly the building blocks for the franchise.

Overtaking the Cavs for East supremacy won't be easy, and Ujiri may not be able to do it with Toronto's current core of key contributors. However, based on his track record, Raptors fans should have confidence he can take the franchise to the next step in its overall progression.