By Mike Kahn
SportsLine Executive Editor

Winners and losers.

Often times, it's trite just to break down players and teams into those categories in any sport. Still, it has become so paramount to distinguish between the two in every sport that even in the NHL, they're thinking of putting those worthless ties on ice.

It's too early for grades, so let's just take a look at the 29 NBA teams and how they've dealt with the 204-day lockout and the 200-plus free agents that have flooded the market. Now that there is a new collective bargaining agreement in place, it's just a matter of time to see who the top capmeisters and personnel men are in the NBA.

We'll start with the winners and work our way down. Each organization handled the situation differently, contingent on how many free agents they had and the amount of veteran leadership that arose to maintain some sort of continuity within the team.

So here are the winners, which also can be construed as the teams with the best chance to win the NBA title.

WINNERS

1. Indiana Pacers: The Pacers had to re-sign Rik Smits, Travis Best and Fred Hoiberg. They did and added Sam Perkins. In the meantime, all of the above (minus Perkins) practiced with the rest of the team throughout the past six months. They are ready.

2. Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers had just Rick Fox to re-sign, and did that. They added veteran point guard Derek Harper, which was a huge move to add veteran leadership on the most talented young team in the NBA. Harper gives them a chance to win it, although Elden Campbell and Eddie Jones remain on the roster after being shopped unmercifully for the past year.

3. Utah Jazz: The Jazz did fine just to get Karl Malone to shut up. They didn't panic and make any dumb moves, plus they brought back popular Thurl Bailey from Europe. Bailey knows the guys and the system, and they still are the two-time defending Western Conference champions.

4. Seattle SuperSonics: The Sonics dumped Jim McIlvaine, let Sam Perkins take his aging 3-pointer elsewhere, and added Billy Owens and Olden Polynice. They have two exceptionally talented rookies in Vladimir Stepania and Rashard Lewis, plus starters Gary Payton, Vin Baker, Detlef Schrempf and Hersey Hawkins as a nucleus.

5. New York Knicks: Getting Latrell Sprewell for an apathetic John Starks, overrated Chris Mills and ancient Terry Cummings was a steal. They're already younger and more mobile, having added Marcus Camby, and have youth in the backcourt with Allan Houston, Charlie Ward and Chris Childs. Larry Johnson is in the best shape since hurting his back, so it will be up to Patrick Ewing to get it together quickly for this team to be a serious challenger.

6. Houston Rockets: The Rockets pulled the big trigger to get Scottie Pippen, without losing anybody beside backup power player Roy Rogers. Pippen, in effect, replaces retired Clyde Drexler, only Pippen's way better.

7. San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs added sharp-shooting Steve Kerr and versatile Mario Elie. Plus, they now have veteran tough guy Jerome Kersey. They could still use some depth in the backcourt, but if David Robinson is healthy and Tim Duncan picks up where he left off last year, this team has a chance to win the West.

8. Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers re-signed Damon Stoudamire and Arvydas Sabonis, then added backup point guard Greg Anthony. Retaining assistant coach Tim Grgurich also fortifies this young team that has some good leadership.

9. Miami Heat: The Heat failed to get Sprewell, but they added Clarence Weatherspoon to fortify the frontcourt, and now they need another shooting guard after losing Brent Barry to free agency and Voshon Lenard to injury. This will be the ultimate challenge for Pat Riley, who is trying to get Jim Jackson from Golden State.

10. Phoenix Suns: After more than a few hairy moments when they surprisingly lost Antonio McDyess to Denver, the Suns remain in the hunt. They renounced nine players so they could sign Tom Gugliotta and did that after another shaky period. They also acquired Luc Longley from the Bulls to play center. These two will go along with Jason Kidd, Rex Chapman, Cliff Robinson and Danny Manning to make this team capable of noise in the West.

11. New Jersey Nets: The Nets have a lot of talent, and added a solid big man to block shots in Jim McIlvaine from the Sonics. Most importantly, they kept Jayson Williams and added Eric Murdock for defense in the backcourt. They've been rumored to be interested in Rod Strickland from the Wizards, but even standing pat, they're fine. Adding McIlvaine allows them to move Williams to power forward and Keith Van Horn to small forward, with a four-guard rotation of Sam Cassell, Kerry Kittles, Kendall Gill and Murdock.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves lost Gugliotta to the Suns, but it may have been a blessing if Joe Smith pans out the way they hope. The first pick overall of the 1995 draft ran into all sorts of difficulties in Golden State and Philadelphia, and knows this is his chance to re-establish his value. They also added Dean Garrett, Bobby Jackson and Malik Sealy, but lost Terry Porter, who was tired of waiting around while the Gugliotta-Smith show was taking place. They could be very dangerous in the playoffs with the maturity of Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers: Even though Shawn Kemp reportedly showed up at camp weighing 300 pounds, the Cavs have a lot of good young talent. All those youngsters -- led by Brevin Knight, Derek Anderson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas -- are a year older and are more likely to be in shape and ready to run early on against some of the older teams.

14. Milwaukee Bucks: With new coach George Karl, watch out for them to play fast, loose and effectively early. When you've got a backcourt of Terrell Brandon and Ray Allen, with Glenn Robinson putting up big numbers up front, you're going to outscore a lot of teams. Adding sharp-shooter Dell Curry, versatile Donald Royal and rookie Robert Traylor didn't hurt either.

Charles Barkley and Houston are winners now that they have Scottie Pippen. (Allsport)

15. Boston Celtics: Rick Pitino made huge strides by signing Antoine Walker to a six-year extension and dealing Travis Knight for the far more athletic Tony Battie. Add rookie Paul Pierce, a focused Kenny Anderson and Ron Mercer, and this team could surprise a lot of people with a fast start in this abbreviated schedule.

16. Orlando Magic: Chuck Daly has Penny Hardaway back and that's supposed to be a good thing. He also added free agent center Ike Austin and re-signed Derek Strong, which really is a good thing up front. There are questions of chemistry with this team, but they are a strong contender to make the playoffs.

17. Charlotte Hornets: Few teams can lose two centers (Vlade Divac and Matt Geiger), their best outside shooter (Glen Rice had elbow surgery and is out indefinitely), and their second best shooter (Curry left for Milwaukee), then add a ton of baggage with Derrick Coleman and still succeed. There's a long way for this team to go, but somehow, coach Dave Cowens finds ways to compete.

18. Detroit Pistons: The Pistons made some big gambles on Loy Vaught (who had disc surgery) and Christian Laettner, who won't play this season because of a ruptured Achilles' tendon. But they did re-sign Joe Dumars and Jerry Stackhouse and add Jud Buechler for depth.

19. Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks still have the basis for a playoff team with the re-signing of Alan Henderson, but they've lost a lot of depth over the past year. How well will Steve Smith's knees hold up? And Mookie Blaylock has become more inconsistent. This probably makes them average.

LOSERS

20. Philadelphia 76ers: This is a team on the rise with coach Larry Brown. They added center Matt Geiger and re-signed Theo Ratliff. Rookie Larry Hughes with Allen Iverson in the backcourt makes them very young, but also incredibly athletic, especially with Tim Thomas at small forward. There's not a lot of depth, but this group will run past some people on given nights.

21. Sacramento Kings: The Kings have Divac, who should make a big difference in the middle, and surprisingly re-signed Corliss Williamson, which was a boon for the franchise. Adding rookie Jason Williams and Vernon Maxwell might or might not help, and most of it depends on the mood Chris Webber brings this team.

22. Washington Wizards: The Wizards are the most confusing team in the NBA. They have yet to agree to terms with Strickland, who wants a five-year guaranteed contract and the always-problematic front office doesn't want to guarantee it that long. Adding Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe for Webber should make them better, but only if Strickland is into it.

23. Vancouver Grizzlies: The Grizzlies added some young names in rookies Mike Bibby and Felipe Lopez, but the addition of Cherokee Parks probably won't do much. Shareef Abdur Rahim is on the cusp of becoming a star forward and center Bryant Reeves can score, but is there enough in the backcourt?

24. Golden State Warriors: The Warriors might be looked upon in a more positive light for getting rid of Sprewell, but adding aged Terry Cummings, the lost focus of John Starks and the very ordinary Chris Mills doesn't help. They did re-sign Jason Caffey and have rookie Antawn Jamison, but without the guards to create in this guard-oriented conference, they're dead.

25. Dallas Mavericks: The Mavs added Hot Rod Williams to shove around spindly center Shawn Bradley, and they do have budding star Michael Finley. The big question is German rookie Dirk Nowitzki, who Don Nelson is claiming to be the second coming of Detlef Schrempf. They also added Gary Trent and extended Steve Nash's contract. There's some talent here and they'll be outstanding on given nights.

26. Denver Nuggets: Well, the Nuggets did get McDyess back, plus they added explosive Monty Williams, top rookie Raef LaFrentz, Nick Van Exel and Chauncey Billups. That's a lot of changes for a team that won just 11 games last season, and no doubt, even in an abbreviated season with a rookie coach like Mike D'Antoni, they'll win more than 11 this year.

27. Chicago Bulls: Hard to believe this is where the Bulls fall. And maybe they'll be better than this with Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper and recent free agent signee Brent Barry in the fold. But there is little else and coach Tim Floyd has no NBA experience. Besides, teams will be looking to beat these guys into submission. When a team loses Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Luc Longley, Steve Kerr and Dennis Rodman, they're lucky it's only a 50-game season.

28. Toronto Raptors: For some reason, Glen Grunwald wanted to add some old guys, so he got one who is generally called a winner in Charles Oakley and one who tends to be a loser, Kevin Willis. They do have some exceptional young talent in Doug Christie, rookie Vince Carter and point guard Alvin Williams, but let's face it, they're not going anywhere.

29. Los Angeles Clippers: Who else is better suited to pull up the rear? Let's face it -- they didn't even have a coach until Chris Ford was hired last week, and even that came after it seemed to be a foregone conclusion popular assistant Jim Brewer was getting the job. Also, the Clippers have failed to add any personnel improvements. Remember when the Clippers almost made it into the second round of the playoffs in 1992 and 1993 when Larry Brown was coach? Hang on to that as generations will pass before it happens again.