The Mavericks trade for Marion

I'm not convinced the acquisition of Shawn Marion suddenly makes Dallas a title contender next year. I don't even think Dallas improves to the degree that the San Antonio Spurs did when it got rid of three aging players -- Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas -- and replaced them with Richard Jefferson who is at the top of his game right now. I also thought the Spurs pulled off the steal of the NBA draft by nabbing Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair, the top rebounder in college basketball last season, in the second round. As a result the Spurs have to be considered the leading contenders in the Western Conference next season, especially since the Lakers lost Trevor Ariza to the Rockets and replaced him with the erratic Ron Artest. (There's also the chance Lamar Odum may bolt L.A.).

Now the good news for the Mavericks. They obtained Marion in a move of grand larceny, giving up only Jerry Stackhouse Devean George and Antoine Wright. Yes, the Mavericks have gotten better (especially if the Marcin Gortat signing also goes through), while I can't say the same for any of the other contenders in the West. In fact, except for the Spurs, most of the teams that have improved the most so far are in the East. (Sorry, Cavalier fans, but the signing of Rasheed Wallace makes the Boston Celtics a better team than Cleveland, even with its addition of the over-the-hill Shaquille O'Neal.)

The only other team in the West that has improved more than the Mavericks so far this year is the Los Angeles Clippers, but they still have a way to go before even being considered a playoff team. Utah will probably still be a little better than the Mavs if they can stand the price they have to pay to be that good. If not, then they will unload Carlos Boozer or Andrei Kirilenko and that could hurt. Portland has done absolutely nothing in the offseason. It appears Denver has financial problems that could cause them not to be able to re-sign Linas Kleiza and Dahntay Jones, which would drop the Nuggets below Dallas. The Hornets are in damage control and may have to get rid of some good players for salary cap relief. And you really have to feel sorry, I guess, for the Houston Rockets. Yao Ming's career may be over - -it definitely looks like he'll miss this season. Tracy McGrady is probably never going to be completely healthy again. They did replace Ron Artest with Trevor Ariza and that's an upgrade. But there's too many subtractions and not enough additions for the Rockets who could even fall into being a lottery team next season.

So, as it stands right now, here's how I rank the top teams in the West, the ones who will make the playoffs:

1. San Antonio Spurs

2. Los Angeles Lakers

3. Portland Trailblazers

4. Utah Jazz (If they can keep their current roster in-tact)

5. Dallas Mavericks (who move to fourth if Utah looses Boozer and/or Kirilenko)

6. Denver

7. Golden State (would move to 6th if it pulls off the Amare Stoudemire trade without having to give up Stephen Curry)

8. New Orleans