Big Luka question after collapse; why $199m gamble can’t fail: State of play for every NBA team
The 2023-2024 NBA season is upon us with defending champions Denver to kick things off against LeBron James and the Lakers on Wednesday (AEDT)
It shapes up to be one of the more competitive in recent memory with a host of storylines at play before the first tip off.
James Harden and the Philadephia 76ers are at loggerheads, with the superstar guard unlikely to feature this season until he is traded.
The Bucks pulled the trigger on one of the biggest trades in recent seasons, landing point guard Damian Lillard to partner Giannis Antetokounmpo as they aim to head back to the NBA Finals.
Meanwhile, can Australia’s very own Josh Giddey and his emerging Oklahoma City Thunder squad progress to the playoffs after falling agonisingly short last season?
Here at foxsports.com.au, we’ve run our eye over all 30 teams. Read on for our bumper NBA season preview!
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTA HAWKS
Gained: PG Patty Mills, SG Wesley Matthews, SG Kobe Bufkin (draft)
Lost: PF John Collins
Analysis: It was only three seasons ago that the Hawks made the Eastern Conference Finals, but in the two campaigns since, they’ve been bundled out in the first round. It’s clear what this team wants to do, considering they possess a stack of shooters, including Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic and the emerging Saddiq Bey. They also added Patty Mills and Wesley Matthews in the offseason as well as drafting shooting guard Kobe Bufkin. The back-court of Young and Dejounte Murray, who signed a 4-year, $120 million extension, is one of the best in the league. They compliment each other well and showed that in the first round of the playoffs, when taking two games off the Celtics. Quin Snyder took over as coach towards the end of last season and is an upgrade on Nate McMillan, who was fired heading into the All-Star break. Snyder has had a full offseason with the Hawks which is important, and that, coupled with the addition of two savvy veterans, should see Atlanta improve on last season and make some noise in the East.
Prediction: 6th in the East
BOSTON CELTICS
Gained: PF Kristaps Porzingis, PG Jrue Holiday, G Oshae Brissett
Lost: SG Marcus Smart, F Grant Williams, F Robert Williams, PG Malcolm Brogdon
Analysis: The Celtics have made the conference finals in three of the last four seasons but keep finding a way to fall short. Favoured by many to win it all in 2022-2023, it was a disappointing playoff campaign last season, taking six games to beat the Hawks, seven to progress over the 76ers in the conference semis before losing in seven against the Heat. Something needs to give in order to get over the hump, so GM Brad Stevens decided to make a number of huge moves this offseason, including orchestrating a bumper trade to acquire Porzingis. Unfortunately, that mean tough-nosed fan favourite Marcus Smart had to go. The Celtics also picked up Jrue Holiday in the Damien Lillard-to-Milwaukee three-team trade. In addition, star forward Jaylen Brown ensured his future in Boston by signing the richest NBA deal ever. Throw in MVP candidate Jayson Tatum and the Celtics boasts one of the most potent offenses in the NBA and are as well as they’ve ever been placed to win their first title in 15 years.
Prediction: 1st
BROOKLYN NETS
Gained: PG Dennis Smith Jr, G Lonnie Walker, F Noah Clowney (draft), G Dariq Whitehead (draft)
Lost: F Yuta Watanabe
Analysis: The question on the lips of many is ‘will Ben Simmons ever get back to his best?’ The Aussie star has barely been sighted over the past two seasons (just 42 games) and has become an NBA whipping boy. However, there have been good signs in the offseason/preseason that Simmons is ready to perform like we know he can. Simply put, he’s going to have to for this Nets team to have any chance of winning at least one playoff series. Defensively, Simmons makes this team much better, and that aspect is going to have to be a strength for a Nets side who lack a superstar. Mikal Bridges emerged last season after being traded from Phoenix as a part of the Kevin Durant deal. Of course, the Nets boast several draft picks from the Durant and Kyrie Irving (Dallas) trades, so perhaps the front office could use those in future deals to improve their team immediately. However, until that happens, the Nets are just a middle-of-the-road team.
Prediction: 12th
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Gained: Brandon Miller (1st round draft pick)
Lost: G Dennis Smith Jr, Kelly Oubre Jr, Kai Jones
Analysis: The Hornets were never in the hunt last season, finishing with one of the worst records in the league (27-55). They are likely to be significant improvers this time around, even though it likely won’t end in a playoff berth. Charlotte drafted Alabama guard/forward Brandon Miller with the second overall pick, and he’s a player who should boost this team right away as he was the most-ready-made prospect in the entire draft. LaMelo Ball is a star, who inked a massive five-year extension, but his absence through injury for most of last season was noticeable. The Hornets really could have used Miles Bridges, but his future on the team is uncertain. Bridges, who didn’t play at all last season, was suspended 30 games by the league after being charged with domestic violence. He was due back this season but has since violated a protection order. There are some good, young pieces on this roster (Ball, Miller), and underrated players who are more than capable (PJ Washington, Mark Williams) and will improve from last season, I just don’t think there are a team primed to challenge in the East just yet.
Prediction: 13th
CHICAGO BULLS
Gained: G Jevon Carter, F Torrey Craig
Lost: G Pat Beverley, F Derrick Jones Jr.
Analysis: It’s fair to say the 2022-23 Bulls were a big disappointment. The 40-42 record indicates a mediocre team, which is what they were, despite boasting Zach Lavine, Demar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. With so much money tied up in those three players, there isn’t much wiggle room for the Bulls to improve their roster and barring the pick-up of some needed point guard depth in Jevon Carter, they didn’t really get a whole lot better in the offseason. Sadly, Lonzo Ball will again miss yet another season with his troublesome left knee. He would have been a huge help. High draft pick Patrick Williams hasn’t kicked on like the franchise would have expected, and if anything, regressed last season. At this stage, the Bulls are a middling team and with Lavine, DeRozan and Vucevic not getting any younger, I don’t envisage them scaring anyone in the East.
Prediction: 9th
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Gained: G Max Strus, F Georges Niang, G Emoni Bates (draft)
Lost: F Cedi Osman
Analysis: Donovan Mitchell was excellent in his first season with the Cavs, averaging over 28 points a game, building a strong back-court with the talented PG Darius Garland who should only improve again in what is his fifth year in the league. Evan Mobley impressed in his second season, showing off plenty of versatility. After winning 51 games in the regular season, was an anticlimactic end for the Cavs, losing to the Knicks 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs. They were able to get better in the offseason as they didn’t lose any key players but were able to add a couple of sharpshooters in Max Strus and Georges Niang. The Cavs are one of the better teams in the East, but until they can win at least a series in the postseason, they aren’t yet a serious threat for the title.
Prediction: 3rd
DETROIT PISTONS
Gained: F Joe Harris, G Monte Morris, G Ausar Thompson (draft)
Lost: G Cory Joseph
Analysis: The Pistons have a new coach in the well-regarded Monty Williams and plenty of young pieces who should enjoy long NBA careers. The return of Cade Cunningham is key. He was very good as a rookie and improved in his second season but only played 12 games before a stress fracture ended his season, although there was seldom a shot he didn’t like which affected his shooting percentage. Jaden Ivey is Cunningham’s running mate in the back court and he made huge strides last season. Jalen Duren is Detroit’s centre of the future while rookie Ausar Thompson will have an immediate impact defensively. It won’t be hard to win more games than they did last season (17) but it won’t be for at least a couple of years until we see the Pistons be in a position to challenge for a championship.
Prediction: 14th
INDIANA PACERS
Gained: G Bruce Brown, F Opi Toppin, G Ben Sheppard (draft), F Jarace Walker
Lost: G Chris Duarte
Analysis: There were plenty of decent signs from this Pacers team last year, despite missing the postseason with a 35-47 record. Tyrese Haliburton was one of the league’s best point guards and was rewarded with a new contract. The Pacers added the tenacious Bruce Brown from the championship winning Nuggets and playing around him will only improve this team’s effort. Bennedict Mathurin looks set for a very good career in this league after showing out as a 6th man in his rookie season. Expect to see him in the starting line up in the near future. The Pacers should improve on last season’s record.
Prediction: 11th
MIAMI HEAT
Gained: C Thomas Bryant, F Jaime Jaquez (draft)
Lost: G Gabe Vincent, G Victor Oladipo, F Max Strus
Analysis: It was a remarkable run from the Heat last season, progressing to the NBA Finals from the Play-In Tournament. The catalyst for that run was the play of Jimmy Butler, who had one of the all-time finals series. There was a time during the offseason where it appeared Damian Lillard would end up at the Heat, but it was the Bucks who swooped in, which caught the ire of a few Miami players, notably Butler. However, they have to let bygones be bygones and focus on the team they have. Tyler Herro’s return from a wrist injury is a big boost but the losses of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus will be felt as both players were strong contributers last season. With that said, the Butler-led Heat will again be competitive with Herro and Bam Adebayo to feature prominently. After last season, you just can’t count this team out.
Prediction: 7th
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Gained: PG Damian Lillard, G Malik Beasley, C Robin Lopez
Lost: PG Jrue Holiday, G Grayson Allen
Analysis: After being bundled out in the first round last year (the sixth ever No.1 seed to lose to an 8 seed), superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo made no secret that the Bucks had to make improvements soon or he might be out of there. The front office were obviously listening as the Bucks pulled off one of biggest trades in recent memory when acquiring Portland point guard Damian Lillard. Unfortunately, they had to part ways with fan favourite Jrue Holiday but it was clear it was a move Milwaukee had to make to get back into the NBA Finals. It’s the first time both Lillard and Antetokounmpo have played with another star player and the veteran point guard’s best chance of winning a championship after toiling away in Portland in recent seasons. Giannis may have only just signed a new three-year extension worth $186m (USD), but the clock is ticking on this new partnership. The Bucks have to win now as the franchise have committed so much money to both Antetokounmpo and Lillard to the tune of over $122m (USD) ($191m AUD, a year between the two of them. In fact, Antetokounmpo and Lillard are the two highest earners in the NBA annually ($62m, $60.8m respectively). The Bucks’ first round exit last season resulted in coach Mike Budenholzer’s firing. He’s been replaced with former Toronto assistant and rookie head coach Adrian Griffin.
Prediction: 2nd
NEW YORK KNICKS
Gained: G Donte DiVincenzo
Lost: G Derrick Rose, F Obi Toppin
Analysis: The Knicks won just their second playoff series in 10 years when defeating the Cavs 4-1. It was one of their better seasons in recent memory and they’ll hope to build off that. The Jalen Brunson acquisition was a terrific move with the point guard taking his game to a new level in New York after getting out from under Luka Doncic’s shadow in Denver. Immanuel Quickley also had a career-best season, resulting in a runner-up finish in the sixth man of the year race. There are no out-and-out superstars on their roster, but they have a very good core of Brunson, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett and are a well-coached team. They will be thereabouts again.
Prediction: 5th
ORLANDO MAGIC
Gained: G Anthony Black (draft), F Jett Howard (draft)
Lost: F Bol Bol
Analysis: There’s plenty to like about this team and the way they finished off last season, and if it wasn’t for such a sluggish start, the Magic would have likely made the Play-In Tournament. Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero was immense from day dot for the Magic, averaging nearly 21 points and seven rebounds a game. He leads a young team that just got younger in the offseason, adding Anthony Black (6th overall) and Jett Howard (11th overall) in the draft. Orlando just inked an extension with handy guard Cole Anthony who is plenty versatile and will be a sixth-man of the year contender this season. Are the Magic a serious threat? Far from it, but they should provide plenty of entertainment as they continue navigating through a rebuild.
Prediction: 10th
