NBA Summer League excitement continues to raise anticipation levels for the regular season. Fans are impressed with performances put on by projected future stars. Their potential is mind-blowing and could change the dynamics of both conferences. Highlights from Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Black, and Brandon Miller are signs of good fortune for cities anticipating successful campaigns.
Wins in Las Vegas do not guarantee a prosperous future. Competition is intense and will rise throughout the season. Relying on first-year talent to carry the load is too unrealistic. Only a few players are capable of debuting like LeBron James. Incoming rookies need time to develop – which is understandable. However, it will not pass an excuse for ball clubs that need progressive strides in the upcoming months. Here are a few teams that must make progressive strides in the 2023-2023 season.
NBA Team #3: Philadelphia 76ers
The city of Brotherly Love is home to the most loyal fans in professional sports. Subpar performances are not prohibited – simple. Losing in the divisional round of the Eastern Conference Finals did not sit well with residentials last season. It’s a redundant theme, causing temperatures to rise within the organization.
An early playoff exit forced the 76ers to make immediate changes. They fired Doc Rivers after three seasons with the team.
On June 1, Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced that Nick Nurse would become the new Head Coach. A baton swap is a peculiar decision with lingering issues on the table. Nick Nurse will become Joel Embiid’s third coach in eight seasons. Embiid has worked hard to become an MVP but hasn’t had a consistent staff since he joined Philadelphia. If Nurse is unsuccessful in his first year, how will it affect Philadelphia’s centerpiece’s decision to stay with the franchise?
Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and James Harden will have expiring contracts at the end of the 2024 season. A trade requests could put Harden on the market before the regular season tip off. If the Sixers decide to let their role players roam the market, how will their championship chance look in the future? A lack of role players could cause Embiid to consider his career. It will make the road to an NBA title longer, which is not good news for any professional athlete.
NBA Team #2: Golden State Warriors
Building a dynasty comes easy for coaches with an impressive NBA resume. Steve Kurr is one of those leaders. His experience is priceless for players who are hungry for success. He’s helped Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green develop into seasoned veterans. Their hard work resulted in three NBA titles and a spot in NBA History.
A wave of expiring contracts could derail a unit looking to remain in the top tier of an intense Western Conference. Klay Thompson and Dario Saric will reach the end of their current deals at the end of the 2024 season. In 2025, five more Warriors will reach the end of their contracts. This includes Chris Paul, Kevon Looney & Jonathan Kuminga.
It’s hard to predict how the Warriors will fill the roster within the next three years. Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Golden State’s front must remain aggressive. We expect the Warriors to clinch a playoff berth. With the window of opportunity closing, the time to win is now.
Without solid role players, the Warriors are just another team with three-point barrage capabilities. It prevented them from advancing past Los Angeles last post-season. If Golden State doesn’t reach the Finals within the next two years, reclaiming the West may become impossible.
NBA Team #1: Brooklyn Nets
It’s been an eventful couple of years for Sean Mark’s front office. It seems like yesterday the Nets assembled one of the best lineups in NBA history. If you evaluate the roster today, you wouldn’t see any evidence of that historic team. Draft picks were exchanged, and veteran players are long gone – putting the Nets in an unfavorable position.
In 2019, Brooklyn landed two top free-agent talents. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant agreed to become the newest stars of the association. They accepted their challenge and even motivated others to join their team. In 2021, the Nets pulled off a four-team trade to land an additional superstar. Draft capital and three experienced veterans were the price for adding James Harden to the roster. The future looked bright, and an NBA title was in reach.
Dreams of winning multiple championships drifted away as the three-headed monster grew further apart. Trade with the 76ers sent Harden to Philadelphia – leaving Irving and Durant to fend for themselves. Success was hard to find on the hardwood – forcing Durant and Irving to flee the scene. The Nets must rely on role players to lead them to a productive season. Nicolas Claxton and Spencer Dinwiddie are nearing the end of their contracts (2024). Ben Simmons and Cameron Thomas will follow soon after (2025) – putting the Nets between a rock and a hard place.
The upcoming season will have different meanings for teams around the association. For some, a losing season will force superstar-caliber players to reconsider their future. Others must consider the state of their association and hope they’ve used their capital wisely. A chance to evaluate the roster isn’t enough to deem a season successful. Missing the playoffs could have major implications for ball clubs with desires of building dynasties.