Needs for all 30 NBA teams ahead of draft

Despite winning the Eastern Conference and setting a franchise record in wins, the Hawks still need depth in their frontcourt. Ideally, a big that can play the four and five and can rebound, providing some rim protection. In addition, some scoring and defence in the post and some depth at the small forward spot are needed.

Potential Free Agents: PF Paul Millsap, SF DeMarre Carroll, PF Elton Brand, SG John Jenkins and PF Pero Antic (RFA)

A shooting guard with length that can defend and create off the dribble, (everything Evan Turner does) would be nice. Regardless of position, another playmaker for this team to set up teammates, due to their lack of “traditional” point guards is needed.

POTENTIAL FREE AGENTS: PF Brandon Bass, PF Jonas Jerebko, SF Luigi Datome (RFA) and SF Jae Crowder (RFA)

They are super thin at the two spot, even though they can move Joe Johnson of Alan Anderson here, if they are going smaller, but they need some warm bodies (who can shoot, preferably). On top of that, a big who will do the dirty work inside, defending and rebounding is a must.

Potential Free Agents: PF Mirza Teletovic (RFA), C Brook Lopez (player option) SG Alan Anderson (player option), C Jerome Jordan (RFA) and F Thad Young (early termination option)

The biggest need? A small forward who can shoot (the three-ball)...actually, shooting at any position. It doesn’t have to be a guard, but a playmaker who can create for others and someone to help out in the rebounding department is also paramount.

Potential Free Agents: C Bismack Biyombo (RFA), G Gerald Henderson (player option), C/PF Al Jefferson (player option), PF Jason Maxiell, SG Jeff Taylor (RFA) and PG Mo Williams

A back-up point guard has been one of their needs for a while with the decline of Kirk Hinrich. Aside from Jimmy Butler, they don’t have a wing player who can defend the perimeter.

Potential Free Agents: PG Aaron Brooks, SG/SF Jimmy Butler (RFA), SG/SF Mike Dunleavy, G Kirk Hinrich (player option) and C Nazr Mohammed

The only reliable long-range shooter on the wing is JR Smith, who you can’t always rely on. James Jones and Mike Miller won’t be contributing next year (if they're even around), so players ready to knock down the shots on kick-outs will be key.

Potential Free Agents: G Matt Dellavedova (RFA), SG/SF LeBron James (player option), G James Jones, C/PF Kevin Love (player option), SF Shawn Marion, SG/SF Mike Miller, C Timofey Mozgov (team-option RFA), C Kendrick Perkins, SF JR Smith (player option) and PF Tristan Thompson (RFA)

A point guard who can run an offence and/or defend at that position, both are of equal importance…or a backcourt defender, period. If this team goes small, they lack a defensive presence at the four, as well.

Potential Free Agents: F Al-Farouq Aminu (player option), PG JJ Barea, C Tyson Chandler, G Monta Ellis (player option), PG Raymond Felton (player option), C Bernard James (RFA), F Richard Jefferson, PG Rajon Rondo, PF/C Greg Smith, PF/C Amar'e Stoudemire and F Charlie Villanueva

Aside from Ty Lawson, their backcourt is a mess. With a questionable player like Randy Foye at the two, the depth after him is deplorable. They also need some players who can knock down mid-range shots, never mind the three.

Potential Free Agents: F Darrell Arthur, SG Will Barton (RFA), SG/SF Ian Clark (RFA) and PG Jameer Nelson (player option)

While they have it in spades in Andre Drummond, the Pistons' size and rebounding gets thin after him and the same can be said for their defence. At the small forward, they should be open to anything - a slasher, a shooter, a defender - they need it all.

Potential Free Agents: C Joel Anthony, SG Reggie Jackson (RFA), PG John Lucas III, SG/SF Cartier Martin (player option), C Greg Monroe and SF Tayshaun Prince

This team has everything, but with tremendous uncertainty at the power forward position, that becomes an area of concern. Getting a player who can stretch this spot, defend bigs in the post or provide some rebounding is the aim. While it sounds like the search for a perfect player, the Warriors will be happy to fill the needs by committee.

Potential Free Agents: G Leandro Barbosa, F Draymond Green (RFA), SG/SF Justin Holiday (RFA), C Ognjen Kuzmic (RFA), SG/SF Brandon Rush (player option) and  PF/C Mo Speights (team-option RFA)

They need a point guard clearly, but not on the defensive end. The Rockets need a guy, most importantly, to facilitate, but also create for himself to keep defences honest. This is a good team that, aside from some depth at the three spot, has all the elements, but it’s missing the intangibles.

Potential Free Agents: PG Patrick Beverley (RFA), SG/SF Corey Brewer (UFA), SG/SF KJ McDaniels (RFA), F Kostas Papanikolaou (team-option RFA), F Josh Smith and PG Jason Terry

Simply put, they need help in a lot of places. For years, the Pacers have needed a play-making point guard and anyone else who can shoot the ball not named Paul George. The list is long: shooters or backcourt defenders, a youth movement at the four spot, somebody with energy and activity who can rebound and make things happen. 

Potential Free Agents: PF/C Lavoy Allen, F Chris Copeland (RFA), C Roy Hibbert (player option), PF Luis Scola, G Donald Sloan, G Rodney Stuckey, PG CJ Watson, PF David West (player option) and PF/C Shayne Whittington

Depth. Depth. Depth. Across the board. Guys like Dahntay Jones, Hedo Turkoglu and Glen Davis were recognizable basketball names five or more years ago, but they can’t expect to keep up the competitive momentum when the starters are off. Shooting, defence, playmaking, rebounding - they need it all, one through five.

Potential Free Agents: PF Glen Davis, SG/SF Dahntay Jones, C DeAndre Jordan, SG Austin Rivers, PF Hedo Turkoglu and C/PF Ekpe Udoh

The Lakers are like the Clippers without the starters. Last year, they looked like a D-League All-Star team while their young pieces are still learning. They need help in all areas: scoring, defence, rebounding, shooting, etc. If the wrong moves are made, this can be a long rebuild.

Potential Free Agents: SG Vander Blue (RFA), PF Carlos Boozer, PF Ed Davis (player option), SG Wayne Ellington, PF/C Jordan Hill (team-option RFA), SG/SF Wesley Johnson, PG Jeremy Lin and PG Ronnie Price

Youth is the name of the game. The Grizzlies are not getting any younger and definitely not more athletic. Rebounding and shooting are glaring needs to shore up on this team and they can use a creator off the dribble, something that Vince Carter can’t do anymore and Jeff Green never will be able to do.

Potential Free Agents: G Nick Calathes (RFA), C Marc Gasol, SF Jeff Green (player option) and C Kosta Koufos
 

On a team that finally has a point guard again, they need to find solid substitutions for their brittle and aging key players in Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Chris Bosh. A youth movement is needed on this team, as their other assets are veteran players or players clinging to undeserved roster spots.

Potential Free Agents: SF Michael Beasley, SF Luol Deng (player option), PG Goran Dragic (player option) and SG Dwyane Wade (player option)

Jason Kidd did a solid job with a roster in flux last season, demonstrating that there are solid parts in this team to compete in the Eastern Conference. The team can use some consistency shooting the ball and an added intensity on the defensive end, but there are some good, young parts that just need time to mature.

Potential Free Agents: SF/SG Jared Dudley (early termination option) and SG/SF Khris Middleton (RFA)

Shooting from the point guard position and defence from the two spot are needed. While a stretch four would be great, even a mid-range shooting four who can rebound and play defence is also needed. A big they can slide between the four and five spot would be useful, as well.

Potential Free Agents: SF Chase Budinger (player option), C Kevin Garnett, C Justin Hamilton (RFA), SF Robbie Hummel (RFA), G Gary Neal and PF/C Arinze Onuaku (RFA)
 

This team needs help at the small forward position, where they need to shoot the ball and defend better. A lot of the same can be said about the shooting guard spot, as well. They are obscenely thin at these positions, despite their strength in others.

Potential Free Agents: C Alexis Ajinca, C Omer Asik, F Luke Babbitt, PG Norris Cole (RFA), F Dante Cunnigham, PG Jimmer Fredette, SG Eric Gordon (player option) and C Jeff Withey (UFA)

The Knicks need a scorer disguised as a volume shooter, who doesn’t pass the ball and casually flirts with defending...oh wait, they have that, they need EVERYTHING else.

Potential Free Agents: F Quincy Acy (RFA), C Cole Aldrich, PF/C Lou Amundson, PF/C Andrea Bargnani, PG Shane Larkin, G Alexey Shved (RFA), PF/C Jason Smith, F Lance Thomas and F Travis Wear (RFA)

At the two spot, no one in their line up can score consistently or defend. They can also use a true playmaker in the backcourt at either position. They also need someone who can stand out defensively in the backcourt or on the wing.

Potential Free Agents: C Enes Kanter (RFA) and SF Kyle Singler (RFA)

The Magic need shooting across the board and their best three-point shooter plays the four spot. Meanwhile, their rebounding from the power forward spot is weak. Their athleticism is fantastic, but they are limited in the half court aside from passing the ball inside to Nikola Vucevic.

Potential Free Agents: SG Willie Green, F Tobias Harris (RFA) and PF/C Kyle O'Quinn (RFA)

After tanking and collecting prospects over the last couple of years, the Sixers have to make sense of what they have. They have amassed paint protection, rebounding and athleticism inside, but little in the way of long-range shooting. Finding a capable player to suit up and man the small forward slot is a glaring issue and while the backcourt has proven it can score, it’s fool's gold, as they weren’t in many games all season.

Potential Free Agents: F Luc Mbah a Moute, SG Jason Richardson, SF Glenn Robinson (RFA), PF Thomas Robinson, C Henry Sims (RFA) and PG Ish Smith

While sound from a rebounding and defensive standpoint, the Suns' frontcourt is devoid of anyone who can provide offense, whether in the post, off the dribble or as a shooter. They have and continue to be solid at the point, but the shooting guard position is a mixed bag, save Gerald Green, who is now a free agent.

Potential Free Agents: PF/C Earl Barron, SF Danny Granger (player option), SG/SF Gerald Green, PG Brandon Knight (RFA), G Marcus Thornton and PF/C Brandan Wright

Depth is needed at the point guard, small forward and power forward positions, where first and foremost players can defend and have the ability to create their own shot for the Blazers. While they have improved slightly, the Blazers' depth has been their weakness with more than a few areas to address.

Potential Free Agents: SG/SF Arron Afflalo (player option), PF LaMarcus Aldridge, G Steve Blake, PF/C Joel Freeland (RFA), SF/SG Alonzo Gee, C Robin Lopez, SG Wesley Matthews and SF Dorell Wright

Perennially, the Spurs are a team that never needs much and always have the fix. This summer, though, they need to support their aging Big 3, particularly at the power forward spot, with an active rebounder who can work in the paint and on the wing with some creativity, penetration and shooting.

Potential Free Agents: PF/C Jeff Ayres, PF/C Aaron Baynes (RFA), SG/SF Marco Belinelli, C Matt Bonner, PF/C Tim Duncan, SG Mano Ginobili, SG/SF Danny Green, G Cory Joseph (RFA) and SF Kawhi Leonard (RFA)
 

The Raptors need a power forward who can score in the post, knock down the mid-range jumper, rebound and defend. It may sound like a lot, but they aren’t getting much from this position. They need more accurate three-point shooting - not just more attempts - and a defender in the backcourt. Regardless of position, they need a playmaker who can create for others, as opposed to creating for himself. Was defence mentioned?

Potential Free Agents: SG/SF Landry Fields, PF/C Tyler Hansbrough, PF/C Chuck Hayes, PF Amir Johnson, C Greg Stiemsma and SG Louis Williams

This team needs a point guard who can start in the NBA, one who can defend, make plays and shoot with some consistency. It continues to fall off after that. Definite depth is needed at the three, as no one other than Gordon Hayward can create his own shot and they are all limited defensively. They also need more help on the glass.

Potential Free Agents: F Jeremy Evans and SG/SF Joe Ingles (RFA)
 

This team has a lot of great parts, but in the backcourt and wing, they are decidedly thin. The Wizards need an off-the-bench scorer who can drive the offence and maintain the tempo, particularly from long range.

Potential Free Agents: SG/SF Rasual Butler, G Will Bynum, PF Drew Gooden, SF Paul Pierce (player option), PF/C Kevin Seraphin and G Garrett Temple (player option)