Did you miss the NBA offseason?
The New York Knicks
Without making much noise despite being on New York’s noisy 34th Street, the Knicks experienced a season of great progress that raised the hopes of fans in the Big Apple. They finished the regular season with a 47-35 record, won their first playoff series since 2013 and were defeated in the East semifinals by the Miami Heat, the conference’s representative in the NBA Finals. New York acquired free agent Jalen Brunson in the offseason, who ended up being one of the league’s best summer purchases.
New York also didn’t make much noise in the offseason, but they acquired Donte DiVincenzo, who should add depth to the second unit and winning spirit to a core he already knows. DiVincenzo, Brunson and Josh Hart have proven they know how to win together: The trio was crucial in Villanova’s NCAA championship run, in which DiVincenzo was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
The Knicks have been cautious about increasing that number that could transform them into true title contenders. Will it be this season, before the trade deadline? Unlike other years, they have draft assets, players who can be key chips and salary space. But while that happens, New York has the personnel to look for more in 2023-24. For now, they are betting on another great season from Brunson and Julius Randle, for the progression of their young figures Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics made strong moves in their roster. He brought in Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and parted ways with Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and Grant Williams. Contrary to mathematics, this count of two minus four does not, in principle, give a negative result for Joe Mazzulla’s team.
Holiday’s arrival is a step forward after Smart’s departure caused more sadness than joy. The point guard, champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020-2021 season, is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. Last season he was named to the All-Star Game for the second time and to the All-Defensive Team for the fifth time in his 14-year career.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors opted for a renewal for the 2023-24 season after finishing tenth and competing in the play-in after finishing the previous regular season with a 41-41 record and subsequently being eliminated 4-2 by the Philadelphia 76ers.
After the elimination, the Canadian leadership made the decision to cut coach Nick Nurse with whom they were champions and in his place came the 44-year-old Serbian Darko Rajakovic, who will make his debut as bench boss in the NBA.
Among the most notable casualties of the franchise are those of point guard Fred VanVleet, who went to the Houston Rockets. Dalano Banton, Will Barton and Joe Wieskamp were the team’s other casualties.
With Pascal Siakam leading the team, the Raptors will have the arrivals of the German point guard and new champion with his team in the World Cup, Dennis Schroder, Jalen McDaniels, Markquis Nowell, Garrett Temple and the rookies Gradey Dick and Javon Freeman. -Freedom.
Coach Rajakovic’s possible starting five could consist of Dennis Schröder, O.G. Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl and with this first unit the Raptors will try to become candidates for the Eastern Conference again and improve the 41-41 record of the previous year to enter directly into the playoffs and make a long run. In that case, something that on paper seems complicated due to the number of movements and the depth of their bench.
Brooklyn networks
Out of the spotlight after the drama of the last few seasons, the Nets enter the season with low expectations after the departures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving left the franchise starting over.
Brooklyn was ranked No. 6 in the East in 2022-23 thanks to wins with KD and Irving, but a drop in play-in contention is much more realistic this season. Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson should continue to contribute as key pieces to the franchise after arriving in the Durant trade, especially now after a full camp, while Ben Simmons continues to be the team’s x-factor.
Coach Jacque Vaughn has shown that he can bring out the best in a group, and this version of the Nets should have better chemistry and team play, but the drop in the standings seems inevitable.
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid did everything in 2022-23 except lead his team to a championship. The Philadelphia 76ers center won the Most Valuable Player award, was the scoring champion and led his team to a 54-28 record, third in the Eastern Conference, only to lose in seven games in an up-and-down second round against the boston celtics
The 76ers are in win-now mode with what is still called “The Process,” but it doesn’t look like they’re going to surpass the Eastern Conference semifinals they made last season this season.
First, because Embiid fails to take the lead in the important moments of the playoffs, where great players like him differentiate themselves… from the legends.
Second for the change request of the team’s second leader, James Harden, who does not want to continue with the franchise but has not been listened to by the 76ers board and keeps him on the roster. It seems that it will be a long soap opera with an unhappy ending because it does not seem that “Beard” will play in the Philadelphia uniform again.
And the reinforcements they signed in the offseason do not seem to be the solution to take them to the title: Mo Bamba, Patrick Beverley, Ricky Council, David Duke Jr., Danny Green, Kelly Oubre, Filip Petrusev, Javonte Smart, Terquavion Smith. and Azuolas Tubelis. .
The hope is that new coach Nick Nurse can put all the pieces together on the court and make “The Process” a reality and not a promise.
chicago bulls
After finishing with a 40-42 record, which qualified them for the play in, where they lost to the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls dedicated the offseason to keeping their star core intact and adding some minor signings.
The Bulls enter season three with a team built around their star trio of Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine and DeMar De Rozan. They secured it by signing Vucevic for three years and $60 million. Although trade rumors for LaVine reappeared at times this summer, the truth is that the talented forward will once again wear the red and black uniform.
From top to bottom, Chicago once again opted for continuity. The Bulls return eight players from the 2021-22 roster that finished sixth in the Eastern Conference at 46-36, including Coby White, whom they re-signed (three years, $40 million) in July, and Lonzo Ball, who Do not play. . since this campaign due to serious problems in his left knee.
Their biggest signings in free agency are not to scare the Celtics, Bucks or any other team in the Conference: Jevon Carter, a point guard who averaged 42.1% on three-pointers in just over 20 minutes per game with the Bucks, and Torrey . Craig, a forward who will also contribute minutes from outside shooting (39.6% from the arc in 2022-23) and defense from the bench. At the very least, they will give coach Billy Donovan a couple of additional resources to reinforce his second unit, a necessary element to rest DeRozan (34 years old) and Vucevic (32), in addition to sharing point guard duties with Alex. Caruso. .
Chicago was a strange case after the All-Star break. According to ESPN Data, the Bulls were outscored by 9 points in the 492 minutes in which Vucevic, DeRozan and LaVine shared the court in that period. However, they went 14-9 in that final period to qualify for the play-in tournament.
Donovan is aware that continuity is not enough to improve last season’s result and return to the days of 2022.
“One of the things we talked about is you’re bringing back the same group, we have to do something different,” Donovan told ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “You can’t just do the exact same thing and expect different results.”
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers will continue their development in the 2023-24 season and possibly return to the postseason if the young players can take a step forward. The spicy Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Buddy Hield are joined by the recent champion Bruce Bowen Jr., from the surprising Denver Nuggets.
Haliburton will be a leader after his 2022-23 All-Star (Indiana was a .500 team with him on the court and .269 (7-19) without him), Mathurin opted for a second season as consistent as the one he had as a rookie , and Hield will be the designated sniper, having shot over 40% on three-pointers last season, something he achieved for the third time in the last seven leagues.
Where does Brown come in here? As a shock of experience able to maintain the score line in this remarkable poker.
In the paint, to accompany Myles Turner, comes a player that the New York Knicks did not know how to take advantage of in all his splendor: the super-athletic O.J. Toppin, who may be one of the men with great possibilities of being a surprise in the NBA world. Among the inmates will also be the world champion with Germany, Daniel Theis.
Rick Carlisle knows they can greatly improve his record in the future. It is simply a matter of continuing sustained development in moderation, without taking false steps or jumping into the void prematurely.
Not having reached the 2022-23 Finals after holding the best record (58-24; .707) in the Eastern Conference, surprisingly cost coach Mike Budenholzer his job and Adrian Griffin arrived in his place, who will have to work with a young and experienced group, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek made it very clear that if the front office didn’t put together a contending team, his days in Milwaukee would probably be numbered, but to keep the former two-time League MVP happy, the front office brought him in Lillard.
In addition to ‘Dame-Dolla’, Milwaukee added Malik Beasley, Marques Bolden, Chris Livingston, Robin Lopez, Omari Moore, Cameron Payne and TyTy Washington to its ranks to give depth to its roster; However, the arrival of the former Portland Trail Blazers figure was not cheap. Point guard and defensive great Jrue Holiday had to leave to join the Boston Celtics.
In addition to Holiday, the Bucks got rid of veteran three-pointers Goran Dragic, Joe Ingles; Grayson Allen, Jevon Carter, Meyeres Leonard and Wesley Matthews also left the franchise.
With these weapons, coach Griffin could count on the following starting team: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez to seek the third championship of the franchise that is no longer satisfied with just being a cheerleader for the Association or make a long run in the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons finished in the bottom three of the East the last four seasons (80 total wins), residing in the basement of the Central Division since 2020-21 and bottoming out last season with just 17 wins, in part due to the injury of Cade Cunningham, who limited him to 12 games.
With that in mind, and with the arrival of coach Monty Williams as their key offseason move, the Pistons must improve next season based solely on the health and progress of their young talent. Cunningham continues to be the catalyst, betting on improving the game of his teammates thanks to his own abilities.
At worst, it will be interesting to see how Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, James Wiseman and rookie Ausar Thompson, among others, develop together and individually. In Williams, the Pistons have a strong presence to lead the next step in the rebuild, which should be the expectation heading into the season.
Cleveland Knights
After a surprising first-round exit in last season’s playoffs against the Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers are aiming to win this season in the NBA. But can they?
He predicts 48.6 wins for the Cavs this season and ranks them second best in the East. The Cavs’ problem is not in the regular season (they finished with a 51-31 record as fourth in the East in 2022-2023) but in the playoffs where rivals raise their level.
For this season, Cleveland kept its starting five with Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. And they signed Max Strus (he averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game) in an attempt to take a step forward.
But Cleveland plays in a division with the favored Celtics, the reserve Bucks and the Heat, a team that can never be underestimated and who don’t seem to have improved enough to take the lead in the East.
