Busy off-season leaves title door wide open

This Tuesday, the National Basketball Association tips off the regular season. And after an active free agency this summer, new title contenders might rise from the ashes of a dismal 2013-2014 season. A quick look at some notable free agency/trade moves during the off-season:

*LeBron James signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers

*Kevin Love traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett

*Pau Gasol signs with the Chicago Bulls

*Dallas Mavericks sign Tyson Chandler, Chandler Parsons, Raymond Felton and Jameer Nelson

*Miami Heat sign Luol Deng

These moves alone have shaken up the playoff picture. The Cavaliers, who finished 33-49 last season, are now in the conversation of title contenders. Acquiring the greatest basketball player in the world (James) and one of the top big men in the game (Love) make the Cavaliers a force to be reckoned with. And don’t forget about all-star point guard Kyrie Irving. This group of superstars will wreak havoc on the league for years to come.

Another team in the East that has a shot at taking it all is the Chicago Bulls (48-34 last season). Their lineup is complete, top to bottom. The offseason acquisition of Gasol, the talented seven-foot Spaniard, over the summer only solidifies their talented roster. They have former MVP Derrick Rose back healthy running the team, a raw Jimmy Butler at guard, veteran Mike Dunleavy at small forward, Gasol at the power forward position, and last year’s defensive player of the year Joakim Noah at Center. Playing for an Eastern Conference championship isn’t too far of a reach for this year’s Bulls.

It’s tough to peg a front-runner in the Western Conference. Quite simply, the West is stacked. Representing the conference is last year’s champion (San Antonio Spurs), the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Golden State Warriors.

The Spurs (62-20 last season) will look to once again fight Father Time, in a quest to win their first back-to-back championship in franchise history. Under Coach Greg Popovich’s astute game plan and the ageless wonder, Tim Duncan, a title run isn’t out of question.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23 in 2013) will be an interesting team to watch this year. Last year’s MVP, Kevin Durant, will miss the first month of the season with a Jones fracture in his right foot. This may mean a slow start for the Thunder, but the power duo of Durant and Russell Westbrook, accompanied by a solid supporting cast, could prove deadly late in the season.

The Blazers, who had quite the turnaround last season (33-49 in 2013, 54-28 in 2014), are geared for another strong year.

Last season, the Blazers had a strong core of players: all-star point guard Damian Lillard, three-time all-star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, French swingman Nicolas Batum, sharpshooter Wesley Matthews, and big man Robin Lopez; but lacked a spark off the bench.

In the off-season, Portland added that spark in acquiring former all-star center Chris Kaman.

Kaman has made an immediate impact for the Blazers, averaging 10.5 points and 6.6 rebounds a game in preseason play. Having another seven-footer behind Lopez adds important length to the Blazers roster. Teams will now have to game plan around Portland’s size.

Portland also signed point guard Steve Blake, a previous Blazer player. Blake, who spent the last season with the Clippers and Warriors, will be a nice fit behind Damian Lillard. He can run a team and shoot the ball well. His veteran leadership will only help the Blazers.

I see the Blazers finishing the year with a record of 55-27 and a fourth-place finish in the Western Conference. How far they go in the playoffs will depend on the health of this team. The West is no walk in the park, but Portland has what it takes to compete with the top-notch franchises in the conference.

As the Blazers proved last season, anything is possible.