Editor's note: This is the first of a series in which PBN offers a detailed team-by-team look at the offseason. Today: Chris Bernucca breaks down the Atlantic Division.

TORONTO RAPTORS

Makeover mandate: Keep Chris in Canada

Smartest move: Snaring Hedo Turkoglu away from Portland required a little luck but gives the Raptors another scorer, 3-point shooter and decision-maker, all in one package. Don't be surprised if they use him the same way Orlando did, running the late-game offense through him on occasion to take some pressure off Chris Bosh.

Biggest setback: Hard to find fault in what Bryan Colangelo has done this offseason, although it can be said that he hasn't added much defense. The Raptors still seem a bit soft. Maybe Reggie Evans can change that.

Feeling the draft: Taken ninth overall, DeMar DeRozan has a great chance to start at shooting guard. He has the size and athleticism to play both wing spots, although more minutes will be available at the 2.

Summer fun: DeRozan, who is just 19, averaged 17 points per game in Las Vegas but also showed restraint on the court and maturity off it. Patrick O'Bryant got a look as a backup center but still needs to play with more force and aggression.

Sleeper move: Combo guard Jarrett Jack may be one of the best signings of the summer. If DeRozan isn't quite ready, he can fill the minutes at shooting guard. And when Jose Calderon needs a breather, he can fill in at point guard. Trading for Marco Belinelli as a campare for Andrea Bargnani wasn't a bad move, either.

Biggest risk: Colangelo gave a five-year, $50 million contract extension to Bargnani, which could end up being a huge bargain or a huge mistake. He is only 23 and figures to get better, but how close is he to his ceiling? And how much of his recent development is from playing alongside Bosh?

Vacancies: None, really. There's one roster spot that likely will go to a small forward of little impact.

Overall grade: A. The Raptors appear to have a playoff team.

BOSTON CELTICS

Makeover mandate: Keep the window open

Smartest move: Bringing in Rasheed Wallace as a backup big could help keep Kevin Garnett healthy until the postseason, which he hasn't been able to do the last two years. The Celtics may lead the NBA in technical fouls, but they have the frontcourt trees to deal with Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal. Wallace is often praised for his on-court smarts; by joining a team that will bring him off the bench and play deep into the postseason, he deserves credit for his off-court smarts, too.

Biggest setback: Landing Grant Hill's skill and professionalism would have given the bench a big boost and taken some of the physical toll off Paul Pierce. But Hill decided to stay with the highly touted training staff in Phoenix.

Feeling the draft: The Celtics have done OK with recent second-round picks (Leon Powe, Bill Walker) and took combo guard Lester Hudson at No. 58. Given their payroll, he will probably make the team and shuttle back and forth to the D-League.

Summer fun: Hudson and second-year man Gabe Pruitt both had auditions for backup point guard and had their moments. Journeymen Robert Swift and Nick Fazekas joined Walker in vying for a frontcourt roster spot.

Sleeper move: Marquis Daniels can play a bit at all three small positions, which helps your roster when you are in luxury tax territory. If the Celts can put his length to good use on defense, he will be a steal.

Biggest risk: Playing chicken with RFA Glen "Big Baby" Davis" has been a calculated gamble by VP Danny Ainge, who was fortunate that his backup big did not get the mid-level exception from a desperate team. Davis still has to be brought back to fortify the frontcourt.

Vacancies: Assuming Davis returns to plug the frontcourt hole, the Celts still need a backup point guard to keep Rajon Rondo fresh -- and humble. There are plenty out there, but believing that Daniels and Eddie House can handle it will be a mistake come playoff time.

Overall grade: B. Can anyone really say the Celtics wouldn't have won the East if Garnett was healthy? They went out and got an insurance policy who plays for championships -- which is exactly what they intend on doing.

NEW YORK KNICKS

Makeover mandate: 2010: A cap space odyssey

Smartest move: GM Donnie Walsh has refused to budge off his stance of not assuming any long-term contracts, even for young productive players such as David Lee and Nate Robinson. The truth is the Knicks missed the playoffs with those guys last season and came miss them again without them next season. Walsh has Madison Square Garden, Mike D'Antoni's wide-open system and Cablevision's checkbook to lure free agents.

Biggest setback: Missing Stephen Curry by one pick at the draft. The belief was Curry would be an ideal fit as a floor general in D'Antoni's scheme. Oh, well.

Feeling the draft: The Knicks recovered nicely with power forward Jordan Hill, who gives them insurance should Lee depart. They paid the maximum $3 million to get the Lakers to part with small combo guard Toney Douglas, even though LA wanted no part of a commitment to a first-round pick.

Summer fun: Hill averaged 14.4 points and 8.2 rebounds and Douglas averaged 7.0 assists as he got a chance to run the point in Las Vegas. The Knicks also took long looks at Morris Almond and Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Eddy Curry showed up to work out with the team - and forgot his sneakers one day.

Sleeper move: Perhaps playing at a faster pace will help Darko Milicic, who was acquired from Memphis for Quentin Richardson and will be playing for a contract. The Knicks get a look and have his Bird rights if he pans out.

Biggest risk: Walsh's plan has been to create enough cap room to sign two of the top 2010 free agents. He appeared to have done that until the NBA told teams that next year's salary cap may drop to as low as $50 million. There also is the possibility that free agents may not be interested in playing for a team that hasn't won a playoff series in 10 years, no matter where it's located.

Vacancies: The pursuit of Andre Miller, Ramon Sessions, Jamaal Tinsley and Jason Williams tells you the Knicks would like an upgrade over Chris Duhon at point guard. They could also use a swingman because their shooting guards are small.

Overall grade: C. They truly can't be judged until this time next year, and what happens on the court almost doesn't matter.

NEW JERSEY NETS

Makeover mandate: Moving sale

Smartest move: The Nets needed building blocks and added one in shooting guard Courtney Lee, the key to the Vince Carter trade. Unloading Carter also opened up more salary cap room for next summer.

Biggest setback: The team's financial woes and the ongoing saga of the Atlantic Yards project led owner Bruce Ratner to put the team - or at least a portion of it - up for sale. That can't be good for luring free agents.

Feeling the draft: Terrence Williams was taken 11th overall and should be given a long look at small forward because it's obvious Bobby Simmons and Jarvis Hayes are not the long-term answers.

Summer fun: Yi Jianlian apparently has bulked up and is playing for China. In Orlando, the Nets and 76ers had a merged summer league team that did not provide enough opportunities for Williams and second-year guard Chris Douglas-Roberts.

Sleeper move: The expiring contracts of Rafer Alston and Tony Battie - also acquired in the Carter deal - will have value up to the trading deadline. As veterans with NBA Finals experience, they could be solid trade chips for GM Rod Thorn to move to a contender.

Biggest risk: With all the uncertainty swirling around the franchise, will any free agent really want to sign with the Nets?

Vacancies: None. Having exercised the options on all their young players, the Nets have 15 guaranteed contracts and don't appear to be a team willing to eat one to get better.

Overall grade: C. There's still some small-ticket items in the driveway. Everything must go!

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Makeover mandate: Patience and prudence

Smartest move: The Sixers have been last in the NBA in 3-point shooting since Kyle Korver left. The trade for sharpshooter Jason Kapono should help. They gave up Reggie Evans, whose minutes at power forward would have been minimal behind Elton Brand, Marreese Speights and Jason Smith.

Biggest setback: Losing point guard Andre Miller hurts, especially since there never seemed an intent to keep him given the team's lowball offer. If that was the plan, he should have been moved in February.

Feeling the draft: Some mocks had Jrue Holiday going in the top 10, which should make the Sixers happy that they got the point guard at No. 17. He played off the ball a lot in his only season at UCLA and will back up Lou Williams.

Summer fun: The Sixers and Nets merged a team at Orlando, where Holiday's defense was ahead of his offense and Speights was aggressive on offense. They also invited Temple alum Dionte Christmas.

Sleeper move: You actually have to make moves to have a sleeper move. Hakim Warrick would have been nice, but what does it say when a guy from Philly doesn't want to play in Philly?

Biggest risk: There's still a lot of offseason left, but bringing back much-maligned center Samuel Dalembert might be a mistake. He asked for a trade in February, heard boos from fans in the playoffs and was not exactly endorsed by new coach Eddie Jordan. It could get messy.

Vacancies: Plenty. The Sixers have only 10 players under contract, which means they have to sign at least three more - a third point guard, a backup wing and a center with some width. There's still cheap quality out there, like Flip Murray, Linas Kleiza, Jason Collins, etc.

Overall grade: D. Even with patience and prudence, they should have done more by now.

Chris Bernucca has covered the NBA since 1996 and is a regular contributor to Pro Basketball News. You can disagree with him at cbernucca@comcast.net.

COMMENTS