HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

With two full months of NBA action now in the books, the HOOPSWORLD team looks at needs and wants for every team in the league.

Atlanta Hawks – A legitimate starting center so Al Horford can continue to flourish and a willingness from ownership to pay an extra premium in order to retain Jamal Crawford past this season.

Boston Celtics – Dear Santa: We feel a little embarrassed to be asking for anything, but Kendrick Perkins and consecutive win #15 would certainly put us in a festive mood! We’ll bring the green . . .you bring the red!

Charlotte Bobcats – Dear Santa: Please send help . . .we need so much . . .anything you can spare will be great appreciated! Even Baron Davis might be a nice addition, though what we really need is a starting center.

Chicago Bulls – A legit shooting guard, Derrick Rose an All-Star starter, and everybody healthy and clicking by April.

Cleveland Cavaliers – Just make it through the rest of the season without embarrassing themselves. Beating the HEAT on March 29th when they come back here would be especially nice.

Dallas Mavericks – Dear Santa: Don’t touch a thing! Not a thing!

Denver Nuggets – A deal for Carmelo Anthony that doesn’t solely rely on the hope that Derrick Favors will become a star.

Detroit Pistons – Make moves to either make a run with the vets, or cash out the vets to start the rebuilding process. Either way, it’d be nice to make some trades to break the stalemate on this roster.

Golden State Warriors – One more piece would be nice, Mr. Claus. It doesn’t have to be an All-Star, just one more solid, defensive-minded roleplayer who can lead our second unit.

Houston Rockets – Dear Santa: The Rockets really need a new franchise player, as well as a good, stiff dose of health! How many injuries can one franchise really be expected to overcome?

Indiana Pacers – More production out of Darren Collison and getting some solid and consistent out of the four spot.  Hansbrough staying on the floor and living up to expectations would go a long way towards that.

LA Clippers – An exit strategy for Baron Davis.

LA Lakers – A new pair of knees for Andrew Bynum and a clear succession plan beyond Coach Phil Jackson’s tenure.

Larry Coon adds: Lakers are easy — Just get to June, already.

Memphis Grizzlies – Dear Santa, please bring a heart for Hasheem Thabeet, so he can finally put all that god-given talent to use helping the team win.

Miami HEAT – Dear Santa, Mike Miller’s return makes a great present . . .how about an early return for Haslem as a stocking stuffer? Pretty please?

Milwaukee Bucks – Maybe the ball needs to be a tiny bit smaller . . .or perhaps the rims a little bigger? We just need to regain our collective shooting touch and the sense of urgency that carried us to the playoffs last season.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Patience for everyone from ownership to the fan base.

New Jersey Nets – New Jersey needs the Carmelo Anthony trade talks to end one way or another. Nets fans, many of who have varying opinions about Denver’s superstar, are living and dying with each published rumor. Will one of the three Kings (preferably Billy), put an end to this?

New Orleans Hornets – An owner dedicated to keeping the team in New Orleans who is willing to spend.

New York Knicks – Of course, Carmelo Anthony tops the wish list of most Knicks fans this Christmas.  However, if Santa is too busy and can’t deliver a big-ticket item like ‘Melo, they’ll certainly settle for a quality backup PG and a bruising big man underneath their tree on Saturday morning… (Oh, and a stocking full of coal for Isiah)

Oklahoma City Thunder – Dear Santa, if you could just toughen up Jeff Green a bit and accelerate Serge Ibaka’s growth just a bit . . .we couldn’t ask for anything more!

Orlando Magic – Dear Santa, can we have additional practice time to build chemistry? This feels like a mid-season training camp in the Sunshine State. We would also love to find a reserve center waiting for us on Christmas morning, but acquiring a big may more of a New Year’s resolution.

Philadelphia 76ers – Things are coming along nicely, Santa. If we could find a trade for Elton Brand . . .you know, like the one you found for Gilbert Arenas? It seems anyone really can be traded!

Phoenix Suns – It seems Santa has abandoned us. Mr. Grinch, go ahead and take Steve Nash up the chimney and be done with us.

Portland Trail Blazers – No more season-ending injuries. Please? And for Brandon Roy: Fresh new MCLs in both knees. Also – I wish for a chance to play in the Eastern
Conference for a year, so that an injury-riddled, 50-win season would mean home court advantage and a first round match-up with a 40-win team that gets to play the Nets, Wizards, Raptors and Sixers 16 times each year.

Sacramento Kings – Dear Santa, if you could just help DeMarcus Cousins mature a bit, that would be wonderful. And then, if there’s any North Pole magic left in your bag, we sure could use some help at point guard.

San Antonio Spurs – No gift needed this year, but please double up next year when a replacement for Tim Duncan will be needed.

Toronto Raptors – A bottle of instant veteran savvy and wisdom.

Utah Jazz – Dear Santa: If we could just have a season or two in the Eastern Conference, where we would no doubt dominate. It’s just not fair to have to compete with the likes of the Lakers, Spurs and Mavericks . . .we could really come into our own in the East. Just a season or two? Pretty please?

Washington Wizards – The Arenas trade was a nice touch, Santa. Thanks so much for Rashard, but just getting Arenas out of town was more than enough for Wizards fans.

From the NBA as a whole, Santa, if you could deliver a mutually agreeable new Collective Bargaining Agreement, that would really be a special treat!

On a more serious note, the HOOPSWORLD family wishes you and your family a wonderful Christmas and/or a special holiday season. Stay safe, and as always, thanks for reading!