So many teams spent the past year shuffling their rosters, dumping toxic salaries from the past years seemingly with an interest in getting ready for the massive free agent class of 2010. We all figured that meant the 2009 free agent class would be a little less than thrilling and that the dog days of the NBA summer would pass without much notice. Think again.

The salary cap is going down next season. There were a lot of teams on the cusp in 2009. Elite teams were adding pieces, forcing other top teams to add pieces to keep up with the Joneses. Whatever the reason, many of the league's top-tier teams made moves this summer, changing the complexion of the league and making for an exciting summer and a potentially thrilling 2009 season.

While the Western Conference has spent most of the past decade with the dominant teams, the free agent period this summer has made the Eastern Conference extremely competitive once again. Sure, the Lakers should still be strong, with the addition of Ron Artest and the Spurs look like they may be the team to beat with the additions of Richard Jefferson and DeJuan Blair, but the East is revamped and looking as strong as it has in years.

Let's take a look at some of the big players in free agency out east and how the moves they made will affect their chances in the upcoming season.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Cleveland Cavaliers
Although Shaquille O'Neal is a big, sexy signing that may have made the biggest splash this summer, thanks in large part to Shaq's size, both literal and figurative, I am not sure that the Cavs signing The Diesel, whom they eyed all spring, will make that much of a change for the team that had the league's best record.

The Cavs did not lose to the Orlando Magic because they could not guard Dwight Howard in the post, a decent reason to bring in Shaq. They lost because they could not handle the Magic's big guards on the wing or the pick and roll run with Howard. Shaq is a notoriously weak defender on the pick and roll and has undoubtedly lost a step. He says his reasoning for coming to the Cavs is to protect the King and win one for LeBron, but how well he will be able to play second fiddle while taking instruction from minor character Mike Brown is a big question. The Cavs needed to add some size and scoring at the forward position and have been unable to do that yet.

Orlando Magic
The Magic were unable to re-sign Hedo Turkoglu, but were able to replace his scoring with the more mercurial though equally talented Vince Carter. Vince may be a slight gamble, as he is known to play only when fully engaged, but with only two years remaining on his contract, he is less a risk than Turkoglu, who cashed in huge on his recent playoff performance by signing a long-term deal with the Toronto Raptors. This should turn out to be a good move for the Magic, who can make Carter part of a trio with Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson that should keep the Magic competitive in a serious way. Add to that move the fact that they removed the headache of having two point guards who wanted to start by trading Rafer Alston and the Magic should be set offensively. Another smart move was matching the offer the Dallas Mavericks made to Marcin Gortat, allowing them to keep one of the best back-up big men in the game. Gortat will also get help on the front line from Brandon Bass, who brings a workmanlike mentality to the game.

Boston Celtics
The Celtics were able to make another major move this off-season by acquiring rangy forward Rasheed Wallace. After a bunch of talk about trading Rajon Rondo, who averaged almost a triple-double in the playoffs, the Celtics now have their Big Three, plus Rondo and Wallace. If Garnett can stay healthy, the addition of Wallace without having to give up much besides the slightly overrated Glenn Davis should make the Celts a favorite going into the season.

Washington Wizards
With all of their injuries from a year ago, some people may have forgotten that the Wizards took the Cavs to six games in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2008. The Wizards, feeling like they were not going to get the impact player needed to compete in the East in 2009-2010, made the smartest pre-draft move, sending the #5 pick, along with spare parts, to the floudnering Minesotta Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller. Talk about a boondoggle. The Wolves were left to deal with the headache that is Ricky Rubio and his indecisiveness about coming to America, while the Wizards added an entirely new starting backcourt. Foye will be able to play at either guard spot, while Miller provides a shooting touch the Wizards have not had since Tim Legler. If the Wizards can get healthy during the off-season and Gilbert Arenas can keep his head on straight while sharing the ball with Miller and Foye, you may be seeing Barack Obama at the MCI Center in late spring next season.

Detrioit Pistons
For several years, it seemed like the Pistons were just a shot away from winning multiple titles. But one Rasheed Wallace meltdown and one too many moves (or lack thereof) by Joe Dumars left the Pistons with only one trophy to add to their case. When Dumars went after Allen Iverson in the spring, some analysts thought Dumars had flipped his lid, taking too big a gamble, while others thought it was a shrewd move that might benefit short term but definitely have long-term potential once his salary was dumped. Turns out the latter group was closest to being right. The Iverson experiment failed, but the Pistons were able to take the money they dumped from Chauncey Billup's contract to get him, and made a major free agent splash with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Just like they planned all along. With the headaches of Iverson and Wallace now alleviated, the Pistons look completely revitalized.  Unfortunately, as one of the first teams to break out their checkbook, the Pistons were not able to sign much help to replace both Wallace's and Antonio McDyess's departures. They did sign Chris Wilcox, which should be serviceable but not quite the depth needed to make a Finals run. New head coach John Keuster will have to learn how to utilize his small team, which lacks any depth our power at the center position, to challenge the Celtics, Magic and Cavs.