Ulysses arrived in Portland over the weekend. For the love of Mark Madsen, have you ever seen such a thing? Anyway, the NBA Draft is sooooo last week, but we promised a third installement prior to free agency, and since nothing massive has happened in the West yet, this still works. We just could not do the grading system. Everyone did it.

Definitely in the playoff mix
Dallas Mavericks – The forgotten team needs to slowly take Cuban’s itchy trigger-finger off the gun
San Antonio Spurs – Just hope Marcus Williams doesn’t try to destroy the team
Phoenix Suns – Even if Marion is dealt, we’re not dropping them … if Amare is, you betcha they get dropped
Houston Rockets – Aaron Brooks probably isn’t the answer at point guard … but we’d take him over Playground Alston in a Clutch City minute
Utah Jazz – It’s almost like the Stockton-to-Malone era was forever ago
Denver Nuggets – If Camby stays, Nene is healthy, and Iverson and Melo work again … 50 wins, easy

Should contend for a playoff spot
New Orleans Hornets – Chris Paul has gots to be pissed they didn’t draft Al Thornton
Los Angeles Lakers – Came dangerously close to putting them in the no pussy zone. Doesn’t. Look. Good.
Portland Trailblazers – It’s coming. Just probably not quite yet. The 8th seed wouldn’t shock us.
Golden State Warriors – Really like Brandan Wright with this group, but curious if Stephen Jackson can stay out of trouble long enough to lead this team in scoring

30-35 wins in a cloud of dust
Minnesota Timberwolves – Pity KG. Really, we do
Sacramento Kings – Commence all Reggie Theus TV-show jokes
Memphis Grizzlies – Like the nucleus, but just not yet
Seattle Sonics – Just too many new, young pieces to put them in the next category. But it was close
Los Angeles Clippers – Would be nice to land Billups in free agency to be their point guard, but it probably won’t happen