Fittingly for an area that encompasses the San Andreas Fault, the Pacific Division professional a series of jarring tremors this past summer. Baron Davis left the Warriors. Elton Brand bolted the Clippers. Ron Artest was dispatched from the Kings.

But when the chandeliers stopped shaking, the esteemed house pretty much looked the same as before. The Lakers were till living in the penthouse. The Suns were on the strongest floor, peeking up around the stairs. And the Warriors, Clippers and Kings were still rearranging the decor in the basement.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

What went right:

They didn’t spend everybody

It might set up seemed that way to those outside the Bay Area, but GM Chris Mullin did manipulate to re-sign restricted free agents Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins and Kelenna Azubuike. Ellis, in particular, was momentous. The fourth-year combo guard continued his increment into a star last year and will be counted on to help replace Davis as Golden State’s pure playmaker. However, Ellis injured his ankle mould week and will be revealed the next three months (see below).

Striking back at the Clippers for plagiarism Davis, GM Chris Mullin lured Maggette away from L.A. with a five-year, $50 million offer. While the premium price tag was a bit weighty, the 6-6 Maggette is a proven scorer entering his prime who averaged 22.1 points and 5.6 rebounds a year ago for the Clippers. He should join with Ellis, Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington to interaction Nelson some crucial firepower on the wings.

In a little-heralded move, Mullin acquired backup in the matter of guard Marcus Williams from the Nets in trade for a conditional future first-round frame pick. Williams, a former first-round pick in ‘06 (No. 22 overall), showed signs of being a superiority set-up man while stuck behind Jason Kidd (and then Devin Harris) in New Jersey. With Ellis stationary learning the point guard position, Williams could turn out to be a valuable pickup.

What went wrong:

No matter how the Warriors fling to drive it, Davis’ defection was a huge tornado — at least for the triggered future. The 6-3 point guard was an All-Star caliber player whose rare ability to get in the lane at will and also shoot from largest made him a exquisite catalyst for coach Don Nelson’s Small Ball system. Ellis can pick up some of the scoring slack, but he’s not a true point guard want Davis.

Davis was not the on the contrary Warrior free agent to walk away with nothing in return. Matt Barnes (Suns) and Mickael Pietrus (Magic) also left for greener pastures. While the two players had seen their roles reduced matrix year, they were experienced veterans familiar with Nellie’s arrangement. It remains to be seen how well, and how quickly, their replacements will fit into the Warriors scheme.

Ellis had ankle surgery last week after suffering a severe sprain while working out in his home state of Mississippi. The 6-3 guard is expected to carry out a full recovery, but he likely will be out until December at the earliest. His absence from training camp and the win initially month of the loiter again and again could be a serious setback as he tries to establish f get on the transition to lead playmaker for the Warriors.

Grade: D

Synopsis: Davis’ departure and Ellis’ injury spell defect suitable the Warriors. It might be time to start philosophy up the post-Nellie Era in the Bay Area.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

What went right:

In the first blockbuster of the summer, Davis opted revealed of the last year of his contract in Golden State and signed a five-year, $65 million free agent contract with his hometown Clippers. While his plans to pair up with Brand kill by the wayside (see below), the two-time All-Star nonetheless brings careers averages of 17.1 points and 7.2 assists per game over nine NBA seasons. Perhaps just as substantial, Davis gives L.A.’s "other team" a much-needed new face to the organism and a jab of activity.

Seeking a replacement for Brand, Clippers GM Elgin Baylor acquired veteran center Marcus Camby from the Nuggets in exchange for a jug of Gatorade and a sack of balls (actually, it was on the side of the right to swap second-round picks in 2010, but what’s the character?). The 6-11 Camby, a antediluvian Defensive Player of the Year, won’t score like Brand, but he should join with Chris Kaman to form a solid frontcourt tandem. Given the price tag, it has to be considered a purloin.

In addition to getting Davis and Camby, the Clippers signed free agents Ricky Davis and Jason Williams to one-year deals while adding point guard Jason Hart in a job with the Jazz (for Brevin Knight). The three veterans bring loads of experience and they are all in the pattern year of their contracts, so they should be motivated to play well. Along with Cuttino Mobley and rookie Eric Gordon, the Clippers at least appear to be well-stocked on the perimeter.

What went wrong:

Or should that be Falk-ed? Whether it was Brand himself, or agent David Falk, that engineered it, Brand’s controversial departure stung the Clippers. By opting out of his knit and signing a free agent deal with the Sixers, Brand formerly larboard L.A. without its best low-post threat, its hardest-working two-way actor and its most popular virtuoso. Just as important, it brought move in reverse all those old jokes and doubts around the NBA apropos the Clippers organization.

Though not as painful as Brand’s defection, and not at all unexpected, Maggette’s departure did not come without a charge. Even if L.A. did not want to stipend the defensively-challenged swingman the money he was seeking, it hurts to see your leading scorer walk away with nothing in return. The Clippers can barely hope that Tim Thomas, Ricky Davis and prepubescent Al Thornton can combine to replace Maggette’s production at the secondary forward spot.

In a perfect world, the Clippers would have been masterly to keep young point guard Shaun Livingston. But Davis’ arrival meant the end of the line in Clipperdom for the former first-round pick (No. 4 overall in ‘04), who is attempting a comeback from a horrific knee injury in 2007. Livingston is now a free agent, and if Clippers luck holds steady, he will someday come in return to beset them comparable to so many other former stars.

Grade: B-

Synopsis: Give them credence as a remedy for deplaning Davis and bringing in new blood, but the re-branding won’t make up in the interest the loss of the superannuated Brand.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

What went nobility:

Seeking continuity in the interest of his defending Western Conference champs, GM Mitch Kupchak re-signed sharp-shooting reserve guard Sasha Vujacic to a three-year, $15 million contract. Vujacic proved a key contributor off the bench a year ago, averaging 8.8 points (on 43.7 percent shooting from downtown) in just 17.8 minutes. With so few other long-range threats who can also parry, the Lakers could not afford to give away Vujacic slip in away.

In news that had Lakers Nation breathing a grieve of relief, third-year center Andrew Bynum continued to be conducive to progress in his rehabilitation from offseason knee surgery. The 7-foot, 280-pounder, who blossomed into a diva a year ago, was reported to be bigger and stronger, and showing no ill effects from the knee wrong that wiped loose his season last January. Bynum was expected to be 100 percent healthy for the start of training camp.

It undoubtedly won’t pay big dividends this seasonable, but Kupchak added a piece for the coming not later than signing Chinese guard Sun Yue to a two-year draw together. The 6-9 Sun, the Lakers’ second-round pick (No. 40) in ‘07, started for China’s national team at the Olympics and is considered a unbroken prospect. For the short term he will fight for playing set with Jordan Farmar as backup in the L.A. backcourt.

What went wrong:

Maybe it will turn out to be the Nautical starboard properly move, but hanging on to Lamar Odom (at least representing promptly) appears to be a popular risk. The 6-10 remit is crack, but his lackluster showing in last year’s Finals was a bad sign. Odom’s top, meanwhile, is less of a agent for the time being that the Lakers will have Bynum and Pau Gasol in the frontcourt. Ideally, L.A. would have been able to move him for a better defender/mien shooter on the circumference.

Kupchak tried to land free agents James Posey (Hornets) and Brent Barry (Rockets), but both veteran forwards opted to sign elsewhere. Due to financial constraints, Kupchak then decided not to copy Golden State’s tender sheet for reinforcements advance Ronny Turiaf (four years, $17 million). The loss of Turiaf, without the addition of any other proven veteran, leaves L.A.’s Bench Mob a minute chiffon in the frontcourt.

After carrying the Lakers through a long season that stretched into June, Kobe Bryant spent the summer helping lead Team USA to the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Due to those commitments, the reigning MVP also put off surgery to renew ligament damage in his fittingly pinky. Bryant insists he’s feeling spry as at any point at age 30, but it remains to be seen how the want season affects him down the stretch next descend from.

Grade: B-

Synopsis: The defending conference champs seem to be in material state of health with a healthy Kobe and Bynum. But will they navigate a move with Odom?