Trail Blazers and Jazz the best of a division in flux

Deron Williams isn't the only guy in the division who came back from Beijing with an enlarged and enhanced reputation. Anthony did, too, after a nice less-was-more Olympic stint. The gold medal makes up for his association with, and complicity in, the disappointing bronze of Athens, and Anthony didn't strain to outshine any of his Team USA co-workers. That's best left for the NBA season anyway. It's time Anthony that carries a Denver team desperately in need of some accountability. Allen Iverson is a novelty player at this stage and other Nuggets can shrug off responsibility until Anthony shoulders his.

The Birdman has come home to roost.

Chris Andersen was a fan favorite for three seasons in Denver, and later in New Orleans, for his free spirit and remarkable leaping ability. But the raw 6-10 forward landed badly, getting banned from the NBA in January 2006 for violating the league's drug policy. He served his time without complaint or alibi, got reinstated last spring and has returned to the Nuggets. He won't elevate the team's collective hoops IQ, but he will give their fans an extra reason to root.

What went wrong:

Marcus Camby is a Clipper now.

There's no other way to characterize the Nuggets' giveaway of their defensive backbone -- heck, their defensive DNA -- than to call it a salary dump. They sacrificed Camby for a conditional second-round pick in order to shed his $10 million paycheck. Waving bye-bye to Eduardo Najera, a premier pest capable of irritating everyone from centers to shooting guards, was another blow to Denver's defense. "Blindsided, distraught, disrespected. All those adjectives,'' Camby told a reporter after the deal. He was talking about his reaction, but it could just as easily be the coaching staff's when it tries to coax a few stops from what's left on D.

J.R. Smith got judged and paid based on his ability.

Big deal. Wayne Gretzky, Ellen DeGeneres and Vladmir Putin could take one look at Smith and see a supremely talented player. The questions about him rarely have been about his skills. Instead, they've been focused on -- and dwelled on, out of necessity -- his maturity. Perhaps getting a three-year deal worth an estimated $4-$5 million will lock in his commitment, too. "We've seen him grow and develop before our very eyes,'' said VP of basketball operations Mark Warkentien. No doubt, Smith earns his dough as a three-point shooter and open-court threat. But as a defender, decision-maker and occasional headache off the court, he ought to give some of that cash back.

Grade: D

D as in defense. D as in Denver. D as in downgraded. D as in dumb. D as in doubtful of matching last season's 50-32 mark.