Independance Day Insider -- short article today

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Today, we'll wrap up our look at the team needs with the Pacific Divison. The Lakers and Kings are in a battle for supremecy, but neither team has the cash to significantly upgrade. Can the Sonics afford to keep Rashard Lewis and Jerome James? Can the Warriors find a real point guard to guide this ship of fools? Will the Blazers break the bank to land a real center? We've got the answers . . .

Also see: East Conf. Team Needs | West Conf. Team NeedsDepth Charts

Free Agent Watch | Complete list of free-agents

PACIFIC DIVISION

Golden State Warriors

Team Needs: Point guard, depth

Cap Situation: It could be worse. They have $46.7 million in committed payroll. They'll just miss the luxury tax.

Top 3 prospects: Jeff McInnis, Chauncey Billups, Travis Best

The Skinny: The team is a mess and close to paying the luxury tax. It still needs a starting point guard after unexplainably using the No. 16 pick it traded for on Jiri Welsch instead of Dan Dickau. McInnis, Billups and Best are all options, but will any of them be enough? Expect the Warriors to add any missing pieces via trade. Danny Fortson, Chris Mills and Erick Dampier are all on the trading block. As for their own free agents, Larry Hughes, Mookie Blaylock, Cedric Henderson, Dean Garrett and Dean Oliver are all history.

Los Angeles Clippers

Team Needs: Point guard, backup center

Cap Situation: Fine as always. They have $31.5 million in committed payroll, putting them roughly $10 million under the cap.

Top 3 prospects: Michael Olowokandi, blah, blah

The Skinny: The Clipps have all the room but have enough problems under their own roof to deal with. Restricted free agent Michael Olowokandi is seeking a maximum contract. Jeff McInnis wants a big raise, too. But he's as good as gone. Elton Brand, Lamar Odom and Corey Maggette are all up for big contract extensions this summer. And don't forget that the Clippers have been trying to land Baron Davis and Andre Miller. Both of them are looking for big deals, too. With Donald Sterling on the verge of opening up his wallet for the first time ever, don't expect any other free agents to get a piece of the pie.

Los Angeles Lakers

Team Needs: Point guard, backup center

Cap Situation: Not bad when you consider all the rings. They have $55.5 million in committed payroll, meaning they're right at the luxury-tax threshold.

Top 3 prospects: Malik Rose, Charles Oakley, Donyell Marshall

The Skinny: The Lakers are frugal, but if they see a player who will help, they'll spend the money. They freed up significant cap room to go after George by trading Lindsey Hunter. If they can't re-sign him, their top targets this summer are Rose, Oakley and possibly Marshall. They also need a point guard and believe it or not, a player like Larry Hughes isn't out of the question. There's a good chance that Slava Medvedenko, Jelani McCoy and Mitch Richmond won't be back. As for Brian Shaw, he'll be a Laker until he's 60.

Phoenix Suns

Team Needs: Backup point guard, center

Cap Situation: Pretty nasty. They have $58.7 million in committed payroll, meaning they're paying the luxury tax, but still have a losing record.

Top 3 prospects: Jerome James, Jacque Vaughn, Chris Childs

The Skinny: The team is capped out and now in rebuilding mode. That will stop it from making any major free-agent plays this summer. The Suns have 13 players under contract, plenty of rookies and no major issues. They do need a backup point guard, and could make a play for a cheap veteran like Vaughn or Childs. The team also has shown some interest in James, but they probably can't afford him.

Portland Trail Blazers

Team Needs: Center, point guard

Cap Situation: Horrendous. They have $91.3 million in committed payroll, meaning they'll owe the NBA over $35 million in luxury tax penalties.

Top 3 prospects: Rasho Nesterovic, Jeff McInnis, Jerome James

The Skinny: The Blazers like to burn money, and with a huge hole in the center of their defense, you can expect them to throw the whole mid-level enchilada at a player such as Nesterovic. They've been working the phones for the last month in an attempt to land either Dikembe Mutombo or Olowokandi in a trade. They're striking out there, but Nesterovic would give them a serviceable center who knows how to pass out of the post. He's not an antidote to Shaq, but who is? They just need to figure out how to pry him away from the T-Wolves. James is another possibility and the Blazers are probably in a position to outbid everyone. The team also likes McInnis and there's a good chance he'll come here if it can find a sucker, um taker, for Damon Stoudemire.

Sacramento Kings

Team Needs: Backup center

Cap Situation: It's about to get ugly. They have $55.9 million in committed payroll but once they re-up Mike Bibby, it will be a big mess.

Top 3 prospects: Mike Bibby, Jerome James, Charles Oakley

The Skinny: They'll give Mike Bibby the max and call it a summer. They'd love to have James back but he's quickly leaving their price range.

Seattle Sonics

Team Needs: Power forward, center, back-up point guard

Cap Situation: Safe. They have $39.2 million in committed payroll

Top 3 prospects: Rashard Lewis

The Skinny: The cost-conscious Sonics are pondering exactly what to do with Lewis. The hope of the entire city of Seattle used to rest on this guy re-signing. But after another so-so year, the Sonics aren't so sure anymore that Lewis is their franchise player. They want him back, but at what price? Lewis has been pushing to land with the Rockets. To get to Houston, he'd have to sign for its mid-level exception. The only team with any significant cap room is the Bulls. Lewis would be a dream in Chicago, but he's probably unwilling to take a pay cut. If Lewis decides he really wants to bolt Seattle, would the Sonics be willing to work out a sign-and-trade for Jamal Crawford and Marcus Fizer? If the Bulls could pull off that deal, they'd make a strong run at the playoffs next season. The Wizards could also put together a nice package . . . would they part with Kwame Brown? If the Sonics could get Lewis to re-sign and bring back Jerome James, they'll hit the beach for the rest of the summer. But at this point neither seems likely. Expect them to also bring Earl Watson back.

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[Gray Mule]

Each one either needs a center, a back up center, a point guard or a

back up point guard. Interesting, when Hawks have both and possibly

three deep!

They have a point guard coming to summer camp who has been out of

school a while, matured and looking for work. Vaughn, J.T. & the draft pick.

Nazr, Theo and possibly Smith all candidates for center. Hanno can fill in

in a pinch for a few minutes, not really well, but he can do it.

Just makes you wonder if there is a west coast foreward in the Hawk's future,

doesn't it! Perhaps a #2 guard? Maybe both??

Gray Mule