(Best E Casino) - There are many days left, and more activity to come, in the NBA offseason. At this stage, however, it is fair to say that the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors have made their move up the chart in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia, which is still trying to sign restricted free agents Andre Iguodala and Louis Williams, signed power forward Elton Brand to a lucrative, multi-year deal and immediately became a serious contender in the East. Even though Brand played just eight games last season because of a ruptured Achilles' tendon, he was the biggest catch on the free agent market.

Brand is the low-post scorer the team has lacked. He is one of the best in the league at playing with his back to the basket, and his mere presence will make his teammates better.

The 29-year-old Brand averaged 17.6 points and 8.0 rebounds for the Clippers in 2007-08, and appeared to be playing at 100 percent when he was on the court. The first overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, the Duke product spent his first two seasons playing for the Chicago Bulls. A two-time All-Star, Brand owns career averages of 20.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 614 games.

Head coach Maurice Cheeks has turned the Sixers into a running team. They have improved their defensive play, which has resulted in more points in transition. A healthy Brand is difficult to stop in a half-court game, but he also has the ability to get up and down the floor and is a strong finisher.

Add Brand to a roster with Iguodala, point guard Andre Miller (who may be the most underrated player in the league), center Samuel Dalembert, Williams and Thaddeus Young, and Philadelphia looks like one of the top teams in the East.

The Sixers still need an outside shooter. A threat from the perimeter will help open up the low post for Brand. Philadelphia used all of its available salary cap space on its new starting power forward. However, it does have the ability to add a veteran for the minimum.

As currently configured, Philadelphia, which finished 40-42 and was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by Detroit, should be able to add 10 wins onto its total of a year ago if Brand is healthy.

Toronto, which was 41-41 and placed second in the Atlantic Division behind the Celtics, added former All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal in a big trade with the Indiana Pacers, a move that has made the Raptors a much more potent club. Like Philadelphia, the Raptors are banking on their new acquisition being healthy and ready to play.

A six-time All-Star, the 29-year-old O'Neal averaged 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in just 42 games in 2007-08, and has been hampered by various injuries in recent seasons.

O'Neal and All-Star big man Chris Bosh are expected to combine to give the Raptors a dangerous one-two punch down low.

Toronto was eliminated by Orlando in round one of the postseason, and the front office expects bigger things this coming season and in the playoffs.

Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell is definitely on the hot seat, and likely has to lead the Raptors past the first round if he wants to remain on the sidelines up north. Toronto has won just one playoff series in franchise history, defeating the Knicks, 3-2, in the first round of the 2001 postseason.

The Celtics won the Atlantic Division by a distant 25 games this past season, and remain the team to beat in the East, but thanks to the new impact players, business has picked up in both the division and conference.

HAWKS NEED TO BE CAREFUL

Josh Smith and Josh Childress are important pieces to Atlanta's puzzle. They are both restricted free agents and have yet to receive long-term contract offers from the Hawks.

The Hawks need to pay their players fair market value or they will be in serious danger of losing them, as both could sign their tenders and become unrestricted free agents next season. Reportedly, Childress is considering playing overseas.

Atlanta returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and took the Celtics to the wire in round one before falling in a memorable seven-game series. The 22-year-old Smith averaged 17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.8 blocks in 81 games for the Hawks during the regular season and is on the verge of becoming an All-Star, while Childress has developed into a solid all-around player and was one of the NBA's top reserves.

If Atlanta loses Childress and Smith, the Hawks will set themselves back once again. Everything the team has worked towards will be lost. The time has come for ownership to commit to the young talent.