Atlantic Division
BOSTON CELTICSPlayers under contract (11): Kenny Anderson, Dana Barros, Bruce Bowen, Andrew DeClercq, Pervis Ellison, Travis Knight, Walter McCarty, Ron Mercer, Greg Minor, Antoine Walker, Dontae' Jones.
Unsigned rookies: Paul Pierce.
Free agents (2): Popeye Jones, Zan Tabak.
Game plan: If the new labor agreement makes Walker a free agent at the end of the season, the Celtics won't want to pay him $100 million and will likely trade him along with two or three high-contract players.
Rumor mill: Pat Riley likes Walker's game.
MIAMI HEAT
Players under contract (8): P.J. Brown, Duane Causwell, Tim Hardaway, Voshon Lenard, Dan Majerle, Jamal Mashburn, Terry Mills, Alonzo Mourning.
Unsigned rookies: Corey Brewer.
Free agents (5): Keith Askins, Brent Barry, Marty Conlon, Eric Murdock, Mark Strickland.
Game plan: Trade for another scorer.
Rumor mill: Brown and Mashburn to Golden State for Latrell Sprewell or to Boston for Antoine Walker.
NEW JERSEY NETS
Players under contract (10): Michael Cage, Sam Cassell, Brian Evans, Chris Gatling, Kendall Gill, Lucious Harris, Kerry Kittles, Don MacLean, Rony Seikaly, Keith Van Horn.
Unsigned rookies: None.
Free agents (2): Jayson Williams, Sherman Douglas.
Game plan: Make Williams a lucrative offer or risk offending him and ultimately then losing him. Lock up Kittles with long-term deal.
Rumor mill: Chances better than 50-50 that coach John Calipari leaves after one more season.
NEW YORK KNICKS
Players under contract (10): Marcus Camby, Chris Childs, Terry Cummings, Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, Chris Mills, John Starks, Buck Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Demarco Johnson, Oded Kattash.
Free agents (3): Charlie Ward, Chris Dudley, Herb Williams.
Game plan: Re-sign Ward, who could be courted by the Toronto Raptors, or make a trade for another point guard.
Rumor mill: Knicks will offer Ward less money than they are paying Childs. Camby has added 20 pounds of muscle.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Players under contract (5): Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, Penny Hardaway, Charles Outlaw, Johnny Taylor.
Unsigned rookies: Keon Clark, Michael Doleac, Matt Harpring, Miles Simon.
Free agents (7): Derek Strong, Gerald Wilkins, Darrell Armstrong, David Benoit, Kevin Edwards, Derek Harper, Danny Schayes.
Game plan: Decide if Hardaway and coach Chuck Daly will ever get along. If not, trade Hardaway.
Rumor mill: Expected to make a run at Ike Austin.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Players under contract (6): Allen Iverson, Aaron McKie, Anthony Parker, Eric Snow, Tim Thomas, Scott Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Larry Hughes, Nazr Mohammed, Casey Shaw.
Free agents (6): Derrick Coleman, Theo Ratliff, Joe Smith, Mark Davis, Benoit Benjamin, Brian Shaw.
Game plan: Re-signing Ratliff is top priority. Chances of keeping Smith at an affordable price have increased.
Rumor mill: Looking for a free-agent shooter or big man.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Players under contract (8): Calbert Cheaney, Juwan Howard, Tim Legler, Tracy Murray, Mitch Richmond, Otis Thorpe, Chris Whitney, Lorenzo Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Jahidi White.
Free agents (7): Rod Strickland, Gheorghe Muresan, Darvin Ham, Harvey Grant, Ben Wallace, God Shammgod, Terry Davis.
Game plan: Has Strickland fallen off other teams' wish lists? If so, he can be re-signed at a reasonable cost. Pivot anyone?
Rumor mill: Ham showed major improvement in Houston "Lockout League."
Central Division
ATLANTA HAWKS
Players under contract (4): Mookie Blaylock, Ed Gray, Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Smith.
Unsigned rookies: Shammond Williams, Roshown McLeod.
Key free agents (4): Christian Laettner, Alan Henderson, Tyrone Corbin, Eldridge Recasner.
Game plan: Re-sign Henderson, who took over Laettner's starting spot midway through last season.
Rumor mill: Rick Fox is in the Hawks' free agent sights.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Players under contract (6): B.J. Armstrong, Anthony Mason, Bobby Phills, J.R. Reid, Glen Rice, David Wesley.
Unsigned rookies: Ricky Davis.
Free agents (3): Vlade Divac, Matt Geiger, Dell Curry.
Game plan: Re-sign one of its two free agent centers and put an end to Mason-Dave Cowens feud.
Rumor mill: Divac stays, Geiger goes.
CHICAGO BULLS
Players under contract (4): Keith Booth, Randy Brown, Ron Harper, Toni Kukoc.
Unsigned rookies: Maceo Baston, Corey Benjamin, Cory Carr.
Free agents: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Luc Longley, Steve Kerr, Scott Burrell, Jud Buechler, Dickey Simpkins, Bill Wennington.
Game plan: Jordan's return, if it occurs, is the foundation of a seventh title, but Pippen and Rodman need to be along for the ride, too.
Rumor mill: Pippen's back surgery has scared away some teams. How would Charles Barkley look with rainbow-colored hair?
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Players under contract (9): Derek Anderson, Danny Ferry, Cedric Henderson, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Shawn Kemp, Brevin Knight, Wesley Person, Vitaly Potapenko, Bob Sura.
Unsigned rookies: None.
Free agents (1): Carl Thomas.
Game plan: Fill out the roster and see if this young team can win consistently.
Rumor mill: Want to sign Ilgauskas to contract extension before he can become a free agent.
DETROIT PISTONS
Players under contract (8): Grant Hill, Lindsey Hunter, Eric Montross, Charles O'Bannon, Scot Pollard, Don Reid, Brian Williams, Jerome Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Bonzi Wells, Korleone Young.
Free agents (3): Jerry Stackhouse, Malik Sealy, Grant Long.
Game plan: Keep Stackhouse or let him go? Play the free agent game to find a power foward.
Rumor mills: Pistons were intent on getting Laettner until he blew out his Achilles tendon.
INDIANA PACERS
Players under contract (9): Austin Croshere, Antonio Davis, Dale Davis, Mark Jackson, Derrick McKey, Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin, Jalen Rose, Haywoode Workman.
Unsigned rookies: Al Harrington.
Free agents (4): Rik Smits, Travis Best, Mark West, Fred Hoiberg.
Game plan: Satisfy Smits, who made $4 million in the final year of a five-year contract last season.
Rumor mill: Dale Davis is history.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Players under contract (10): Ray Allen, Terrell Brandon, Michael Curry, Armon Gilliam, Tyrone Hill, Jerald Honeycutt, Ervin Johnson, Andrew Lang, Elliot Perry, Glenn Robinson.
Unsigned rookies: Robert Traylor, Rafer Alston.
Free agents: None.
Game plan: Belatedly launch the George Karl era; learn if Glenn Robinson can/will play Karl's agressive style of defense.
Rumor mill: Brandon no longer wants out when his contract expires at end of the season.
TORONTO RAPTORS
Players under contract (10): Chauncey Billups, Dee Brown, Doug Christie, Tracy McGrady, Charles Oakley, Reggie Slater, John Thomas, John Wallace, Kevin Willis, Sharone Wright.
Unsigned rookies: Vince Carter, Sean Marks, Tyson Wheeler.
Free agents (3): Gary Trent, Oliver Miller, Alvin Williams.
Game plan: Decide if they want to trade Oakley and Christie immediately or wait.
Rumor mill: Plenty of interest in Oakley from Western Conference teams.
Midwest Division
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Players under contract (10): Chris Antsey, Shawn Bradley, Hubert Davis, Michael Finley, A.C. Green, Steve Nash, Robert Pack, Khalid Reeves, Erick Strickland, Samaki Walker.
Unsigned rookies: Dirk Nowitzki, Ansu Sesay.
Free agents (3): Cedric Ceballos, Eric Riley, Kurt Thomas.
Game plan: Break the point guard logjam by trading Pack and-or Reeves so Nash can play most of the minutes.
Rumor mill: Ceballos will play in Europe.
DENVER NUGGETS
Players under contract (7): Danny Fortson, Dean Garrett, Bobby Jackson, Priest Lauderdale, Bryant Stith, Nick Van Exel, Eric Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Raef LaFrentz, Ryan Bowen, Tremaine Folkes.
Key free agents (4): LaPhonso Ellis, Johnny Newman, Cory Alexander, Eric Washington.
Game plan: Here's hoping new coach Mike D'Antonio has one after last season's futile 11-71 record.
Rumor mill: LaFrentz is already available to the highest bidder.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Players under contract (4): Hakeem Olajuwon, Brent Price, Rodrick Rhodes, Roy Rogers.
Unsigned rookies: Michael Dickerson, Bryce Drew, Mirsad Turkcan, Cuttino Mobley.
Free agents (7): Charles Barkley, Mario Elie, Matt Maloney, Eddie Johnson, Emanual Davis, Matt Bullard, Othella Harrington.
Game plan: Spend $15 million in salary cap room, including a heavy pitch to Antonio McDyess.
Rumor mill: Rocket front office has cooled their jets about going after Rod Strickland or Scottie Pippen.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Players under contract (7): Chris Carr, Bill Curley, Kevin Garnett, Paul Grant, Stephon Marbury, Anthony Peeler, Micheal Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Andrae Patterson, Radoslav Nesterovic.
Free agents (6): Gugliotta, Sam Mitchell, Tom Hammonds, Cherokee Parks, Stanley Roberts, Terry Porter.
Game plan: Signing Marbury to a long-term contract, which may preclude the Wolves from retaining Gugliotta.
Rumor mill: Marbury fired agent Eric Fleisher and hired David Falk because of a sneaker contract that fell through.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Players under contract (7): Antonio Daniels, Tim Duncan, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson, Will Perdue, Chuck Person, David Robinson.
Unsigned rookies: Derrick Dial.
Free agents (5): Vinny Del Negro, Jaren Jackson, Malik Rose, Monty Williams, Willie Burton.
Game plan: Try again to make the Latrell Sprewell trade that was nearly consummated last season before Sprewell was suspended.
Rumor mill: Elliott's a goner.
UTAH JAZZ
Players under contract (10): Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, Greg Foster, Jeff Hornacek, Adam Keefe, Karl Malone, Greg Ostertag, Bryon Russell, John Stockton, Jacque Vaughn.
Unsigned rookies: Torraye Braggs.
Free agents (2): Chris Morris, Antoine Carr.
Game plan: Still the team to beat in the West thanks to fresher legs due to the shortened season.
Rumor mill: Looking for a backup big man.
VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES
Players under contract (10): Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Pete Chilcutt, Carl Herrera, Bobby Hurley, Sam Mack, Tony Massenburg, Lee Mayberry, Bryant Reeves, Michael Smith, Doug West.
Unsigned rookies: Mike Bibby, Felipe Lopez, J.R. Henderson.
Free agents (2): George Lynch, Larry Robinson.
Game plan: Soothe the feelings of Bibby, who didn't want to venture north of the border. Use cap room to entice someone -- anyone -- to this remote NBA outpost.
Rumor mill: Michael Jordan says Bibby is "Jason Kidd with a jump shot."
Pacific Division
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Players under contract (10): Muggsy Bogues, Bimbo Coles, Erick Dampier, Tony Delk, Duane Ferrell, Adonal Foyle, Todd Fuller, Donyell Marshall, Felton Spencer, Latrell Sprewell.
Unsigned rookies: Antawn Jamison.
Free agents (3): Jim Jackson, Jason Caffey, Clarence Weatherspoon.
Game plan: Ship out Sprewell ASAP.
Rumor mill: Pacers, Heat and Spurs the leading Sprewell contenders.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Players under contract (10): Keith Closs, Lamond Murray, Eric Piatkowski, Pooh Richardson, James Robinson, Rodney Rogers, Charles Smith, Maurice Taylor, Stojko Vrankovic, Lorenzen Wright.
Unsigned rookies: Michael Olowokandi, Brian Skinner.
Free agents (3): Loy Vaught, Isaac Austin, Darrick Martin.
Game plan: Find a coach to replace Bill Fitch (fired).
Rumor mill: Olowokandi signed with European team but has escape clause that allows him to return.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Players under contract (9): Tony Battie, Corie Blount, Kobe Bryant, Elden Campbell, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry, Eddie Jones, Shaquille O'Neal, Sean Rooks.
Unsigned rookies: Sam Jacobsen, Tyronn Lue, Ruben Patterson.
Free agents (2): Rick Fox, Mario Bennett.
Game plan: Find a taker for Campbell, whose seven-year, $49 million contract goes even higher if he is dealt.
Rumor mill: Unable to land Chris Webber, Laker brass might try for Charles Oakley.
PHOENIX SUNS
Players under contract (5): Mark Bryant, Jason Kidd, Danny Manning, Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells.
Unsigned rookies: Pat Garrity, Toby Bailey.
Free agents (7): Antonio McDyess, Rex Chapman, Hot Rod Williams, Cliff Robinson, Dennis Scott, George McCloud, Marko Milic.
Game plan: Spend about $17 million in cap room. Pippen is still an option despite his undergoing back surgery.
Rumor mill: Watch for a bidding war with Rockets for McDyess.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Players under contract (9): Stacey Augmon, Kelvin Cato, John Crotty, Brian Grant, Jermaine O'Neal, Isaiah Rider, Carlos Rogers, Rasheed Wallace, Walt Williams.
Unsigned rookies: None.
Free agents (2): Damon Stoudamire, Arvydas Sabonis.
Game plan: Sign both free agents; explore trading Grant because of Wallace, who plays the same position.
Rumor mill: Grant to Boston.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Players under contract (6): Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Terry Dehere, Lawrence Funderburke, Chris Robinson, Predrag Stojakovic, Chris Webber.
Unsigned rookies: Jason Williams, Jerome James.
Free agents (5): Corliss Williamson, Michael Stewart, Billy Owens, Olden Polynice, Anthony Johnson.
Game plan: Webber -- should he stay or should he go? His old college coach, Steve Fisher, is now Kings assistant. Williams-Stojakovic backcourt launches post-Mitch Richmond era.
Rumor mill: Several teams clamoring for Florida rookie Williams.
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
Players under contract (6): Vin Baker, Hersey Hawkins, Jim McIlvaine, Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf, Aaron Williams.
Unsigned rookies: Vlamimir Stepania, Rashard Lewis, Jelani McCoy.
Free agents (4): Dale Ellis, Sam Perkins, Greg Anthony, Jerome Kersey.
Game plan: Paul Westphal stepping in as coach to replace fan and player favorite George Karl.
Rumor mill: Westphal had to OK Payton missing practices before Payton gave him the thumbs-up.