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By Sam Amico / The Amico Report

NEW-LOOK LEAGUE

This offseason, the NBA has gotten a lot better. Why? Because NBA general managers have been willing to take some risks.

Normally, I'm against the type of massive player movement that's ruled this summer. It usually just leaves fans feeling confused and GMs scratching their heads. It usually fails to create any genuine excitement or result in more wins -- and too often appears to be movement for movement's sake.

But not this year.

This year, a lot of GMs have pulled off some crafty trades and astute free-agent signings. This year, a lot fans have reason to pump their fists in celebration before their team ever takes the court. And this year, I think the NBA is as close as it's been in a long time when the idea is returning to an all-around quality league, one filled with outstanding competition and great story lines.

Heck, I even like what the Golden State Warriors have done. Really.

You'll see what I mean in a minute, as here's a quick look at the teams that have done the best job of maneuvering:

San Antonio. The defending champs lost David Robinson and Steve Kerr to retirement, adding Robert Horry, Hedo Turkoglu, and Ron Mercer. In other words, the Spurs are much, much better -- especially when you're talking about the bench. Offseason grade: A-plus.

L.A. Lakers. GM Mitch Kupchak is being hailed as a genius, even if the only thing he really did was light holy candles and pray while waiting to see if Karl Malone and Gary Payton would take pay cuts. Malone and Payton did, and with or without Kobe Bryant, this team will win at least 60 games. It might win 70. By the way, I also think first-round pick Brian Cook was an absolute steal. Grade: A-plus.

Sacramento. All the Kings did was trade for one of the league's most underrated centers in Brad Miller, a tough hombre who possesses a soft shooting touch. And all they had to give up was Scot Pollard, a tough hombre who possesses no shooting touch. Sacramento GM Geoff Petrie also just signed free-agent guard and defensive whiz Anthony Peeler. Nice work, kids. Grade: A-plus.

Dallas: Losing Nick Van Exel to Golden State might hurt more than you think, as now the point guard position consists of Steve Nash and ... well, no one. But when you consider the Mavericks received the younger and much more versatile Antawn Jamison in return, you have to think they can live with some CBA lifer -- or worse, Jiri Welsh -- backing up Nash. I especially like how the Mavs talked Golden State into throwing in rebounding machine Danny Fortson, who has to be ready for a banner year after being forgotten with the Warriors. Grade: A.

Washington: When I wrote about the Wizards last summer, I was mentioning names such as Michael Jordan, Charles Oakley, and Byron Russell. They were the kind of names that made you want to read on. This summer, I write about the Wizards at the risk of putting you to sleep. But how does this sound for a lineup: free-agent signee Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes at guard, Jerry Stackhouse and Christian Laettner at forward, and Brendan Haywood at center. Off the bench come the ever-improving Kwame Brown, talented second-year players such as Juan Dixon and Jared Jeffries, and rookie Jarvis Hayes. Granted, Arenas and Hayes are the only newcomers -- but those two are enough to make me think the Wizards will be very athletic and an absolute joy to watch. And whoever thought we would say that about a team that just lost Michael Jordan? Grade: A.

New Jersey: The Nets re-signed Jason Kidd and took a gamble on Alonzo Mourning. Even if the Mourning experiment doesn't pay off, they'll be as good as last season. And can you imagine what will happen if Mourning DOES rebound from his year lost to a kidney ailment? Wow! Grade: A.

Minnesota: Lost virtually no one, landed Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell and Michael Olowokandi. But just to show you how remarkable of a summer this has been, the Timberwolves still haven't assured themselves of a spot in the second round of the playoffs. No fault of their own, though. Grade: A.

Golden State: Gone are Gilbert Arenas, Earl Boykins, Antawn Jamison and Danny Fortson. Replacing them are Nick Van Exel, Speedy Claxton, and ... well, Evan Eschmeyer. Sounds like a bad offseason, right? But let's face it, the Warriors had too many people who played the same style last season, and the only thing the overabundance of swingmen did was create mass confusion. You're really gonna think I'm nuts here, but these guys are gonna be better -- and will replace Utah as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Grade: A-minus.

Denver: The Nuggets were desperate for help in the backcourt, so GM Kiki Vandeweghe went out and got some. Actually, Vandeweghe got a lot, as signing Andre Miller, Earl Boykins, and Jon Barry gives Denver a little of everything -- great passing, quickness, and shooting, respectively. Throw in my rookie of the year pick, Carmelo Anthony, and second-year stud Nene Hilario, and the Nuggets should win about 10 more games. Can't ask for much more than that. Grade: A-minus.

Orlando: Signed Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue, and kept Tracy McGrady, Drew Gooden, and Gordon Giricek. Can you say Eastern Conference darkhorse? Grade: A-minus.

Cleveland: Besides using the No. 1 overall draft pick on obvious choice LeBron James, GM Jim Paxson made some extremely underrated moves by obtaining guards Kevin Ollie and J.R. Bremer, and forward Ira Newble. All three are the type of ultimate role players who won't mind making sure youngsters such as James and Ricky Davis succeed. Grade: A-minus.

Philadelphia: Glenn Robinson will do what Keith Van Horn was supposed to -- stand 15 feet from the basket and hit five straight shots after Allen Iverson slips into one of those seven-of-29 shooting funks. As far as this Iverson fan is concerned, that's all the 76ers need. Grade: A-minus.

RANDOM NOTES

-- In case you missed it, new Indiana director of basketball of operations Larry Bird has hired Kevin Mackey as one of the Pacers' main scouts. You may remember Mackey as the man who coached Cleveland State to regular 20-win seasons during the 1980s, highlighted by a Sweet Sixteen berth in 1986, and lowlighted by an arrest outside a crack house in 1990. Mackey has reportedly rebuilt his life since then, having spent years coaching in the minor leagues. "He knows the game," Bird told Peter May of the Boston Globe. "He knows players, he knows talent. He's coached everywhere. He's been everywhere. He'll go anywhere. He was in trouble and he got himself cleaned up. I'll give anyone a chance as long as they're willing to work."

-- It's good to see Steve Kerr and Doug Collins have found regular work as color commentators for TNT. Hopefully, Kerr received some tips from buddy Sean Elliott. Elliott works for ESPN, and in my humble opinion, is the best analyst in the business.

-- The Contra Costa Times reports that Golden State "advisor" Chris Mullin was the man behind the Antawn Jamison-Nick Van Exel trade, as well as the signing of Speedy Claxton. In other words, Mullin is now the guy who's pulling the strings for the Warriors. Mullin was one of my all-time favorite college players (I didn't get to see enough of him in the pros), and it has to make Golden State fans feel good that one of the franchise's greats is pretty much running things. Nothing against current GM Garry St. Jean, but don't be surprised if he's not with the team a year from now.

-- Former Denver NBA writer and old friend Mike Monroe has landed a gig writing for the Nuggets' website. Monroe left the newspaper business four years ago to cover the league for Fox Sports.com, which laid off all its full-time writers this past spring.

-- A poll on the Nuggets' website asked fans to vote for the home game that they're anticipating most. A whopping 69 percent chose Cleveland and LeBron James, while only 18 percent selected the new-look Lakers. Also, just nine percent voted for the Nuggets' home opener against the world champion Spurs. Crazy stuff, isn't it?

DRAFT TALK

NBA Draft.net lists these five guys as the top picks in next summer's draft:

1. Dwight Howard, a 6-foot-10 high school senior-to-be from Atlanta (and who was recently featured in Sports Illustrated); 2. Emeka Okafor, a 6-9 junior forward from Connecticut; 3. Tiago Splitter, a 6-11 forward from Brazil who's 18 years old; 4. Pavel Podkolzine, a 7-5 center from Russia, who's also 18; 5. Luol Deng, a 6-8 freshman forward from Duke.

While Podkolzine may indeed be the fourth-best prospect next season, I doubt the expansion Charlotte Bobcats would take him with the No. 4 pick (a spot they are locked into). Instead, the 'Cats will probably go with an in-state player like Deng, or UConn point guard Ben Gordon, whom is also rated highly by NBA Draft.net. Either of whom would help put fannies in the seats.

-- If you think a lot of European players have been drafted in the first round during the past two years, just wait. One scout told me 18 of next summer's first 28 picks (Minnesota forfeited its right to a first-rounder) could be non-Americans. It's more proof that while streetball is what's in among the kids, the fundamentals are still what matters most to NBA scouts and GMs.

READER FEEDBACK

From Jeremy Straight (Salem, Ore.)

Q: In the last newsletter you wrote that a game between the NBA All-Stars and And1 streetballers would be a good idea -- but then you said the All-Stars would win by 50 points. Do you really think the All-Stars would beat them that bad?

A: Dear Jeremy, actually, I think it'd be WORSE than 50 points. I'll be the first to admit, the And1 guys can be entertaining, much in the same way the old Harlem Globetrotters were. But don't be fooled into believing they're real basketball players. Most of them are small, can't shoot very well, and have no idea how to defend -- at least, not in comparison to NBA players. And remember, Rafer Alston is a legend when it comes to streetball, as he's the only former And1 player to make the pros. And while Alston is one of the league's nicest guys, he's a career journeyman at best.

From Demetrius Ferth (Detroit)

Q: Do you have any idea of what will become of former Michigan State point guards Mateen Cleaves and Marcus Taylor?

A: Dear Demetrius, Cleaves played for Toronto's summer league team, while Taylor was with Washington. It doesn't appear that either will be invited to training camp, though, and word has it they'll both be playing overseas next season. I've never been sold on Cleaves as an NBA regular, but I've always been a big fan of Taylor's. He has a great attitude and only needs a little more seasoning before he contributes somewhere.

From Michael Young (Charlottesville, Va.)

Q: Sam, you seem to always write nice things about Miami, but do you think the Heaters have even an outside shot to make the playoffs this season?

A: Dear Michael, no.

NEWSLETTER NOTES

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HAVE A GREAT DAY!