NBA: 5 teams in desperate need of a hot start to the 2021-22 season
By Duncan Smith
Not every team is on the same timetable in the NBA. Some teams are years away from competitive expectations, some are potentially playing with house money as a result of an accelerated rebuild, like the Detroit Pistons and the Houston Rockets.
Other teams find themselves in a situation where not only must they compete at a high level in 2021-22, but they must do so right out of the gate. Whether it be a top executive in hot water, a franchise struggling to choose a direction, superstars with rapidly shrinking championship windows or teams with disgruntled stars, five teams, in particular, have no margin for error next season.
We shall name and examine these five teams herein, and we’ll start with the team we’re all sick of talking about: the Philadelphia 76ers.
NBA teams in desperate need of a hot start: 5. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are in a deteriorating holding pattern with their own disgruntled star, Ben Simmons. As far as he’s concerned, he’ll never play again for the Sixers and he’s willing to pay the fines and reputational costs associated with no-showing for the team he is contractually obligated to play for, to the tune of a remaining four years and $146 million.
If the Sixers can get off to a hot start without Simmons, assuming this interminable situation continues in a stalemate into the season, they’ll be under less pressure to get a deal done quickly. On the other hand, if they get off to a slow start with Simmons out of the picture and no return of any kind via trade, there will be hell to pay in the city of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia 76ers absolutely must get off to a great start in 2021-22.