These five teams can benefit from NBA lockout

The National Basketball Association (NBA) lockout is in its third week and already one high-profile player, Nets guard Deron Williams, has agreed to play overseas if it seeps into the fall.

The Nets, who have plenty of work to do to their roster, don’t want a long work stoppage, but here are five teams that could benefit from one.

CELTICS: In all likelihood, whenever the next season begins it likely will be the Celtics’ last shot at winning a title with Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce as the core—so let them rest.

Their age showed in their second-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat; the longer the layoff the better for these graybeards.

The time off also should be good for Doc Rivers, who before signing a five-year extension was considering walking away after last season to spend more time with his family. He has that time now, and it could recharge him and his players.

MAVERICKS: They have a group of 30-somethings who played more than 100 games last season. Jason Terry, 34 in September, played in all 103 games for Dallas. Jason Kidd, 38, and Shawn Marion, 33, appeared in 101. Dirk Nowitzki, 33, played 94.

It takes a toll on their legs, and the Mavericks have to be sharp as teams will gun for the defending champs. And they would want to be fresh in the playoffs.

Owner Mark Cuban and the rest of the Mavs will want a season to allow this team to try and defend the franchise’s first title. But if the lockout cuts out some regular-season games it will be better for the players’ bodies.

LAKERS: Perhaps no superstar needs rest more than Kobe Bryant. He has played nearly 50,000 regular-season/postseason minutes in more than 1,300 games.

Bryant, who didn’t seem himself in the playoffs, has been bothered by an arthritic knee that kept him out of practices last season and led to him going to Germany last month for a procedure that is a derivation of platelet-rich plasma therapy.

A long lockout also may help oft-injured center Andrew Bynum, who also has had knee issues.

Although new coach Mike Brown won’t have much time to implement his system, the only way a lengthy work stoppage could be bad for the Lakers is if Bryant decides to play overseas.

HEAT: After all they experienced last season, being away from basketball may be the best thing for LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

There never was an MVP-worthy player or a championship-caliber team that experienced so much criticism, was under the microscope more and had more people wanting them to fail. It probably propelled them at times and made them hungrier. Athletes love that us-against-the-world mentality, but it also grows old.

By staying out of the spotlight, James and the Heat can refocus and come back with a different approach and mentality. Since James and Dwyane Wade are good friends and discuss everything, maybe during this down time they can figure out how to play off of each other better in the fourth quarters.

SPURS: They have relied heavily on a Big Three that is getting older, and it’s showing. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker consistently aren’t as dominant, particularly in the playoffs, as they once were. They need the infusion of some young, productive veterans, but also to have the core three playing their best in the postseason. Maybe with rested legs they can.