Pyrate News

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: July 15, 2012

NBA free agency is suppose to be about making your team better for the up-coming season. Some teams have done that and others have done nothing and will have virtually the same roster as last year. However, some team's moves, or lack thereof, have caused them to land on this list of losers for the off-season. It's not so much what they have done is bad, they just won't help the team in the upcoming season.

Dirk Nowitzki will have his head down a lot this season thanks to the Mavs roster moves.

Orlando Magic

To trade him or not to trade? That is the question the Magic have been mulling around their offices since last winter when it became clear that Dwight Howard didn't want to be there anymore. Now, after numerous attempts to get him to sign a long-term extension have failed, they still haven't traded him. This off-season they botched their one opportunity to get Howard to Brooklyn (where he really wants to be) and failed to get arguably the third best center in the league in Brook Lopez (who signed a long-term extension with the Brooklyn Nets because trade discussions were taking too long). Furthermore, they haven't made any other moves that would convince Howard they can compete for a title now or in the future. Reports are the Magic are working with the Houston Rockets and Lakers on possible trade scenarios; but, they need to make one quick because the last thing they want is another "Dwightmare" of a season.

Atlanta Hawks

What the Hawks are doing this off-season makes them losers; however, they could end up being huge winners next off-season. I say this because they're trading for players with expiring contracts (they traded their best player Joe Johnson for a bunch of nobodies) in order to make cap room for next off-season when there will be some big names on the market, including: Chris Paul, Andrew Bynum, possibly Howard and their own Josh Smith. So, they decided it was time for an overhauled roster, since the team as it was constructed couldn't get past the second round. That's cool but needing to blow-up your team to do so is not. No one is going to play with 100% effort for a team they know they probably won't be playing for next season; and because of it, don't expect the Hawks to make it any where near the second round this season.

Picking up Steve Nash was good, but the Lakers still have major holes they need to fill.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have fallen a long way since their title run in 2011. It all started last off-season when they decided that winning one title was enough and now they should focus on clearing cap space. To do that, they got rid of players (like J.J. Barea and Tyson Chandler) that helped them win a title. This off-season, while it was clear they were in "win-now" mode by trying to sign hometown hero Deron Williams and trade for Howard, they failed to do either one. Also, they let more key players from their title team go to other teams (Jason Kidd signed with the New York Knicks and Jason Terry signed with the Boston Celtics). Now, they're in the same boat as the Hawks, trying to piece together a team for this season, just to release everyone next off-season and attempt sign multiple super-star players. This is dangerous because, as they know, there is no telling if a super-star will want to sign with the Mavs; and if not, the Mavs will find themselves, where they used to be, right back at the bottom of the league.

Los Angeles Lakers

I know want everyone is thinking. How can the Lakers be a loser and they traded for Steve Nash? Yes, they filled a need at PG; but, I don't think they have done enough to compete to with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nash is good, but he won't be able to keep up with Russell Westbrook. Also, they still need to fill their bench with 3-pt shooting, youth, athleticism and talent, which they still haven't done. Reports are they're working on a trade for Howard, which would help them in a number of areas, then I could take them off this list; but until then, they're losers for using a marquee name to try to mask the flaws they still have.