Teams to Watch Out For!

Teams to Watch Out For!

The off-season has gotten off to a hot start this year. teams taking big gambles in the hopes of competing for the final prize. Winning the big Larry O'Brien trophy, which makes a shit ton of legacies. Rings are the big payoff, which every player dreams of. Every franchise wants a banner in their stadium. In the past few years, we've seen new teams win titles. We could very much see the same next season!

Charlotte Hornets.

The Hornets have made drastic improvements this offseason. LaMelo Ball is a 4-year player and the franchise star. Brandon Miller was one of the hottest rookies last season. New ownership, coaching, and the front office seem to give the Hornets a direction. They can move forward. No longer are the days of Michael Jordan's ineptitude. This was especially true in the midseason trade. They acquired a young player from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tre Mann. Along with trading for veteran Grant Williams and EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micić, This offseason, the Hornets went shopping and acquired Charles Lee, which is a huge hit. Getting a young coach who has coached a championship team is a terrific move. Along with trading for a young guard coming out of a final appearance in Josh Green. The team got Seth Curry, a Charlotte native, on a good deal. They also got Miles Bridges to sign a cheap deal to stay with the team. The Hornets are not title contenders, but they could be a team that can be fun and make the play-in tournament.

Boston Celtics.

The reigning NBA champions are looking to secure their second NBA title. Jaylen Brown showcased his skills by winning an NBA Finals MVP award. Jayson Tatum is the franchise player. He has now added his name to the list of one of the greatest Boston Celtics players of all time. Teams like the Nuggets struggle to extend their players' contracts. They want to keep their core intact. It has been the exact opposite, as players are taking pay cuts. Guys like Porzingis and White could have taken more money elsewhere. But they decided it was best to stay in Boston. Role players like Peyton Pritchard, Hauser, and Tilman join them. These players decided it was best to keep the championship momentum. As of right now, the Celtics look like the clear-cut favorites to win an NBA championship. They are versatile in every position. For every team, it will be scary to go up against them.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks made an incredible run to the NBA Finals. Luka Dončić is proving to everyone that he is the future face of the league. Along with Kyrie Irving, who people were telling him to retire now, being the second piece to a final run. It was going to be interesting to see how Dallas decided to pivot for the next season. They need to replace aging players like Tim Hardaway Jr. And boy, have they improved? First off, they traded their expensive player for a younger guy, Quentin Grimes. He didn't have his best season in Detroit, but he can be a factor on a team looking to win. Klay Thompson is no longer in his prime but can be a key to his fifth championship run. The hope is that he can pass the ball to Luka and Kyrie. He stands as a likely secondary choice. It depends on PJ Washington's performance. The only loss is that the Mavs lost Derrick Jones Jr. but did get a good replacement in Naji Marshall. Dallas has shown serious conviction about having Luka win a championship in Dallas. With the competitive Western Conference, it will be fun to see how it pans out for them.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs aren't title contenders. They're even a playoff team. However, they were missing veteran presences last year. Guys can be the voice of the locker room. They also tell players how to navigate the league. Last season, the Spurs were missing a playmaker. So they went out and acquired one of the greatest point guards ever, Chris Paul. Who can get Victor Wembanyama the ball whenever he wants or needs it? Harrison Barnes is well-liked by Gregg Popovich. He can be a good guy in the locker room for the franchise. He was well respected in Golden State, Dallas, and Sacramento. The Spurs aren't looking to compete. They want to build their future by bringing in players who can create a culture of winning.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings had a disappointing season last year. Despite having a winning record, they did not make the playoffs due to how stacked the conference was. They needed to change up their team. The Kings needed to bring in some new players who could help them make a deep run. So, they went out and got a former All-Star, DeMar DeRozan. Who can still lead a team to a good record and help them make the playoffs? DeMar was great for Chicago, and it will be fun to see how he plays on a better team. He is the perfect player to play alongside Domantas Sabonis and Fox. Resigning Malik Monk and Mike Brown was one of the highlights for the franchise. Both have been key parts of the king's resurrection. The Kings have all the key ingredients to be a good regular-season team, but it will be fun to see how the playoffs go.

New York Knicks.

The Knicks continue to be one of the most exciting franchises in the league today. And they started this off-season off hot by trading for Mikal Bridges. With his experience playing with most of the key players on the team, He is the perfect player next to Thibs. Though his defense took a dip last season, now he is looking to be a third or fourth option. So defense will be a priority for him. Bridges will be great playing off of Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson. The Knicks went on to extend OG Anunoby. New York will be a hard team to score on next season. It will be fun to see them go full-on tough. New York captures a long-sought championship victory.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards are not a playoff team, let alone a finals team. Washington went on to draft one of the most hyped rookies this year, Alexander Sarr. Carlton Carrington has been great in the summer league. Bilal Coulibaly, last season's rookie, debuted with promising results. The Wizards have young players with much promise. They also have veterans Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. Teams could trade those two players midseason. Signing Jonas Valanciunas. He can help Alexander Sarr guard centers like Jokic and Embiid. Sadiq Bey, who can be a good shooter on the court, Malcolm Brogdon was a good trade who can help with playmaking and scoring. The Wizards are putting themselves in a position for a smooth rebuild.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have made the biggest move this offseason. Paul George is a future Hall of Famer. He will now join former MVP Joel Embiid and first-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey. In the middle of the season, when Embiid got hurt, the Sixers fell in the rankings. They fell from the top three seeds to the play-in tournament. They earned the 7th seed. This did not help them. Paul George's signing relieves pressure on Embiid to deliver exceptional performances. He can take it easy throughout the season. Kelly Oubre was a great resign, as he brings energy to the court on both ends of the court. Andre Drummond is the perfect guy to back up Embiid. Caleb Martin was great in the Heat's run. He can be a key player in Philly. Jarred McCain is a rookie who can make an impact this season. He surrounds himself with good veterans. Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry are on the decline of their careers. They can be good locker room leaders. The Sixers could either be an expensive retirement home or a team that can have a good run with older players.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have been one of the most exciting young teams in the league. Reed Sheppard had an incredible summer league performance. He looked like the up-and-coming rookie of the year. Alperen Şengün was having a borderline All-Star season but got injured at the end. Jalen Green played well when Alperen was out, and we have to see how they play together next season. If they don't work out, then the Rockets will have to trade one and extend the others. Which is a very ideal situation for Houston. Along with having one of the best benches in the league, Tari Eason is looking to make a comeback. The Rockets have one of the best coaches in the league. It will be fun to see how they play next season and their improvements.

Orlando Magic

What an incredible season the Magic had last season! Earning themselves a fifth seed, along with taking the Cavaliers to seven games. This offseason, they extended Johnathan Isaac to a very affordable team. Franz Wagner got a huge extension, which is well-deserved. The expectation is that he will make a jump to be an All-Star-level player. Goga Bitadze had a good run in the early parts of the season when Wendell Carter got hurt. Which earned him a well-deserved extension. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was such a great signing. The Magic needed scoring, and they went out and got a guard who could shoot some threes and play defense. A true champion player who helps these players make a deeper run. The magic not only kept their core intact but went on to sign someone who could help them.

Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers did not make significant changes. Yet they retained their star player for another three years. Pairing him with a talented head coach, Kenny Atkinson. Donovan Mitchell is a top-three shooting guard in the league and brought a coach of his choice. Along with Evan Mobley, who received an extension. The hope is that he improves his off-season and becomes the second option. The Cavaliers keeping Donovan is a win in itself.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder continues to be one of the best-run organizations in the league. They trade for Alex Caruso and keep their draft picks. They re-sign young role players Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe. And they place a center next to Chet Holmgren in Isaiah Hartenstein. Oklahoma has continued to make bold moves. This puts them in a position to compete next season. Having the opportunity to make a conference final run. Also, they have the deepest bench in the league. No longer are the Thunder the cute, fun team. They look to make a deep run next season. The NBA is theirs for the taking!