Ready for this season of the NBA? You’d better be, because this year there’s going to be more athleticism, sweat, and a bigger challenge than last year. Not only did the Miami Heat get the best 3-point shooter in the game, Ray Allen, but this year they’re going to be faced with the challenge of going against the revamped Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers have acquired Steve Nash, and also traded their center Andrew Bynum for the best center in the NBA, Dwight Howard. They have made an upgrade on their bench as well, by getting Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks.

Now for another excellent team, The Oklahoma City Thunder. Serge Ibaka has agreed to a 4-year extension with the Thunder. In other news, now that Andrew Bynum isn’t with the Lakers anymore, he is now with the Philadelphia Sixers. It’s going to be a new team Bynum is going to have to adjust to since he’s been with the Lakers for years.  

As for the Boston Celtics, no more Ray Allen since he’s gone to the Miami Heat, although they did keep Kevin Garnett since he was going to be a free agent. Everyone thought that the Boston Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers’ son was going to go to Boston. Unfortunately for them they didn’t get him. The team that got the golden ticket was the New Orleans Hornets. They have acquired Austin Rivers in the 2012 NBA Draft, but is Austin ready to go in the NBA? We’re going to have to wait till the season starts in October.

Sad news for the Chicago Bulls fans since rumors have been swirling that Derek Rose might leave the team. Lots of teams are more than willing to get Rose at whatever cost. What’s going to happen next? You can get all your NBA and other sports news on espn.com, and don’t forget to watch this season of the NBA starting in October.