Portland Trail Blazers

Losses: Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Kings), Derek Anderson (Rockets), Nick Van Exel (Spurs).

Gains: Steve Blake (free agent), Juan Dixon (free agent), Jarrett Jack (draft), Nate McMillan (coach), Martell Webster (draft).

Offseason goals: Find a taker for any of the last trio of nasty contracts (Theo Ratliff, Darius Miles, and Zach Randolph) on the roster, keep adding committed youngsters and let the new coach figure out what to do after that.

What really happened: Though we're just about beyond the series of stale "Jail Blazer" jokes that used to dot these critiques, this is still an organization without a cogent philosophy. Or, at least, one that makes any sense. Does GM John Nash really think that championship teams are built around guys like Randolph and Darius Miles? The young potential starting backcourt of Webster and Sebastian Telfair (average age: 19) could turn into something special, but the wait could also drive Randolph and Miles batty. Adding cheaper pieces such as Dixon and Blake, and retaining Joel Przybilla should help, but it hardly guarantees anything much beyond a small improvement on last year's 27-win record.

Outlook: Listen, it's nice to have a guy like Randolph around to put up 19 and 9 while you accrue lottery picks and clear cap space, but he and Miles have shown little in their careers to convince many that either would be anything but a detriment to a young team trying to find its soul. McMillan exudes patience -- he hung around for a series of shifts in philosophy during his coaching tenure with the SuperSonics -- but he probably has the least-desirable job of any of the NBA's 30 coaches.

Seattle SuperSonics

Losses: Antonio Daniels (Wizards), Jerome James (Knicks), Nate McMillan (Trail Blazers).

Gains: Rick Brunson (free agent), Mikki Moore (free agent), Johan Petro (draft), Bob Weiss (coach),

Offseason goals: Retain most of their six free agents, including former coach McMillan, and shore up their roster of role players in order to defend theirc Northwest Division title.

What really happened: It's safe to say that the summer could have gone a lot better for the SuperSonics. They held on to their best scorer, Ray Allen, but somehow turned McMillan off with a lower-than-expected contract offer -- which brought years of simmering resentment toward their progressive front office to the surface. They suffered another blow when New York signed James to a six-year contract, but only because it sent GM Rick Sund into a fit of laughter that must have left him paralyzed for the bulk of July. By the time he recovered, Daniels had left for Washington, a defection the importance of which cannot be overstated. AD's departure puts the ball-handling onus on third-year point Luke Ridnour, who should be a part-time player, and journeyman Rick Brunson, whose days of helping a team off the bench have passed.

Letting overrated shooter Vladimir Radmanovic sample the lukewarm free-agent market was smart, and prompted him to re-sign for one more year. 

Weiss is a damn good hire. If his stints with the Clippers, Spurs and Hawks are any example, he'll try to up the pace a bit. Contrary to their image as shot-happy chuckers, the Sonics actually were the fourth-slowest team in the league last year, though we're having a hard time imagining Ridnour or Brunson leading the break under Weiss.

Outlook: This team will still rebound well and score at an amazingly efficient clip, but they'll take a dip in the standings.

Utah Jazz

Losses: Raja Bell (Suns), Curtis Borchardt (Celtics), Raul Lopez (Spain), Kirk Snyder (Hornets).

Gains: Devin Brown (Spurs), Greg Ostertag (Kings), Milt Palacio (free agent), Deron Williams (draft).

Offseason goals: Make sure to clear any and all guard acquisitions with coach Jerry Sloan, continue to jettison middling veterans for hungry youngsters.

What really happened: Following an up-and-down '04-05, it looks as if the Jazz have positioned themselves for an enticing "do over." The team had won seven of its first 10 games last year before falling in back-to-back games to the Hornets and Bulls, who were both winless at the time. Two days later, Andrei Kirilenko tore his MCL, which sidelined him for 41 games and tentative for the 27 he appeared in after returning. The team played pitiful defense all season long, and coach Sloan seemed at odds with half his roster, even during their fast start.

Utah is rallying behind rookie point man Deron Williams in an almost symbolic fashion, banking his moxie and rookie optimism will lift their spirits. Otherwise, the team is relying on a bench full of impressive youngsters (their nine best players are all under the age of 29) to take another stab at returning to the playoffs. Beyond that, only the re-appearance of Ostertag is questionable, if only because it makes you wonder about Utah boss Kevin O'Conner's perverse sense of humor.

Outlook: Kirilenko has to return as his usual gravity-defying self in order for this team to go anywhere. He has to keep a smile handy and act as the yin to Sloan's dour yang. Pretty heady stuff for a 24-year old, but he'll make it work. Williams' first few months will be ugly, but the Jazz won't ask him to dominate the ball or turn in Rookie of the Year numbers. O'Conner needs to try and move Matt Harpring, who is a free agent next summer, for another outside shooter.