It is the beginning of October and NBA coaching camps are in full swing with the beginning of the 2024-25 season three weeks away.
Each conferences had a busy offseason with a number of celebrity shuffles and head-coaching adjustments that may shake up the panorama of the league.
Friday noticed one other blockbuster transfer that despatched Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in trade for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. We’re itching to see how different newcomers, together with Klay Thompson and Paul George, will match alongside their celebrity teammates and if first-time head coach JJ Redick can tackle some of the tough jobs within the NBA.
Our NBA insiders reply a few of the greatest preseason questions and provides their predictions on who may have the hardest path to the convention finals, which celebrity has probably the most to show and extra.
Which newcomer has the most important adjustment forward and who’s the very best match?
Ohm Youngmisuk: Thompson’s skillset is strictly what Dallas wants — a deadly outdoors shooter to enhance Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. However Thompson is coming from a system that was predicated on fixed and exact motion. Now the shooter will usually be watching Doncic and Irving dominate the ball. In time, Thompson could possibly be the perfect match for Jason Kidd’s offense. Mikal Bridges, although, must be an ideal match for the Knicks. His two-way recreation slides in properly with the Knicks’ loaded lineup and the Villanova chemistry is already there.
Chris Herring: I am extraordinarily curious to see how Randle will gel with the Timberwolves. He deserves a ton of credit score for changing into the participant he did throughout his time with the Knicks, and making two All-NBA groups in New York. However taking part in alongside up-and-coming celebrity Anthony Edwards in a brand new offense — and in a possible contract 12 months — could possibly be difficult; significantly from a spacing standpoint, though DiVincenzo will assist when he is on the ground. By way of a incredible, computerized match, I actually assume Chris Paul will do injury alongside Victor Wembanyama if he is in a position to keep wholesome. The longer term Corridor of Fame flooring common at all times has, and that is with out ever having a middle with wherever close to the expertise this 20-year-old possesses.
Tim MacMahon: Thompson has the most important adjustment to make with the Mavericks after spending the primary 13 years of his future Corridor of Fame profession with the Golden State Warriors — going from one finish of the ball- and player-movement spectrums to the opposite. Doncic will create loads of open appears to be like for Thompson, however the Mavs will want to ensure their summer time addition looks like he is in rhythm as an alternative of merely being a weak-side, spot-up shooter. However the cleanest match amongst massive names who modified groups is Paul, even when he is not on a contending workforce. He’ll run the offense in San Antonio whereas imparting his knowledge upon the Spurs’ younger gamers, together with a sure 7-foot-5 prodigy.
Kevin Pelton: DeMar DeRozan goes to should make the most important adjustment spending extra time without work the ball. Primarily based on Second Spectrum monitoring information, DeRozan had the ball in his palms 27% of the time on offense final season with the Chicago Bulls. Now with the Sacramento Kings, DeRozan replaces Harrison Barnes, who had the ball in his palms 8% of the time. No Kings starter apart from De’Aaron Fox had better than 21% possession. Conversely, George’s versatile recreation ought to assist him simply alter to extra spot-up alternatives taking part in with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia.
Dave McMenamin: It figures that Thompson is the man with a serious adjustment coming his approach. He’s going from a partnership with an all-time kind of participant in Stephen Curry and successful 4 championships, to becoming a member of a workforce that’s counting on him to be the lacking piece after shedding within the 2024 Finals. In the meantime, the mix of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein ought to assimilate swimmingly on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their tenacity and fervour ought to make for an ideal match with that up-and-coming group.
Which star has probably the most to show this season?
Youngmisuk: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The East is pulling away with the Boston Celtics defending a title, the Knicks loading up and including Cities and the Sixers muscling up with George. Antetokounmpo, when wholesome, is a top-three participant. Now that they may have a full camp with Doc Rivers, Antetokounmpo and Lillard have to develop into the pair they envisioned they’d be collectively. The window for this Milwaukee core could possibly be quickly closing.
Herring: Embiid. The Sixers have had some strong secondary stars all through his time in Philly: Jimmy Butler, James Harden and, earlier than accidents derailed issues, Ben Simmons. Speedster Maxey, whom the Sixers extended on a max deal in July after he made his first All-Star workforce, might turn into Embiid’s finest operating mate. However George — the very best perimeter shooter of that group and a nonetheless elite defender — ups the ante much more for Embiid and Philly. They lastly have a ok mixture of top-end expertise and depth to succeed in the convention finals. Embiid merely has to make it via the season wholesome to provide his workforce that probability.
MacMahon: Harden remains to be thought-about a star, proper? He must show that he must be, and the LA Clippers definitely want him to carry out at that stage with George in Philadelphia and Kawhi Leonard in perpetual medical limbo. If “The System” cannot revert to one thing resembling his Rockets-era scoring ranges, the Clippers may be sending another lottery pick to Oklahoma Metropolis within the subsequent draft.
Pelton: Embiid. That is principally a matter of higher luck, however him making it to the playoffs wholesome and performing on the similar MVP stage we have seen throughout the common season will develop into extra vital with a pair of All-Stars in Maxey and George round him. Regardless of their constant success with Embiid, the Sixers nonetheless have not reached the Jap Convention finals since 2001.
McMenamin: Doncic. After ending third in MVP voting and arising brief within the NBA Finals, there may be little or no left for Doncic to clear earlier than he might declare management of the league. His first six seasons have already been dominant by particular person requirements (his 28.7 factors per recreation is the third highest scoring common ever behind solely Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain whereas his 8.3 assists common ranks twelfth throughout that span). He has the kind of potential of breaking via after which ruling the roost for a decade plus. The query is, will he have the urgency to begin that push now, fueled by that Celtics defeat (when he had a mixed 15 turnovers in losses in Video games 2 and 5), or will the 25-year-old want extra time to succeed in that time?
Which new coach must make the very best first impression on their workforce?
Youngmisuk: It is already robust sufficient to make the leap to teaching from the TV sales space. However Redick has to do this whereas being underneath the red-hot glare that comes with being the Los Angeles Lakers‘ and LeBron James’ coach. Redick clearly has the acumen. However the Lakers and James haven’t got the posh of endurance. Redick should undergo rising pains whereas anticipated to get James as deep into the playoffs as doable. A fast begin would definitely assist.
Herring: Doc Rivers, who joined the Bucks in the midst of final season, nonetheless has rather a lot to show. Time is proscribed in Milwaukee. Khris Middleton is 33. Lillard is 34. Brook Lopez is 36. And although Antetokounmpo is in his prime, turning 30 in December, he performs a extremely bodily model of basketball and has missed nearly all of the previous two postseasons with accidents. Will Rivers assist the Bucks get again to defensive dominance? If that’s the case, this workforce is an actual contender when wholesome. If not? It is at all times simpler to maneuver on from a coach — even after making a midseason change final 12 months — than it’s to shake up a roster with a celebrity in his prime.
MacMahon: Redick knew what he signed up for when he left his comfy seats within the broadcast sales space and podcast studios for probably the most pressure-packed job within the NBA. The precedence on participant improvement is sweet and all, however time is of the essence for a Lakers workforce that’s constructed round soon-to-be 40-year-old legend James.
Pelton: The clock is ticking on the Phoenix Suns‘ core. Kevin Durant celebrated his thirty seventh birthday over the weekend, which means coach Mike Budenholzer must ship the identical form of instant impression he made with the Bucks — who jumped from 44 wins to 60 after his arrival and the addition of Brook Lopez — to assist the Suns contend earlier than it is too late.
McMenamin: Equally to Doc and Bud, Kenny Atkinson is taking on a Cleveland Cavaliers workforce with main expectations. Nonetheless, he does not have a championship-stamped résumé he can level to when getting buy-in from his new squad. JB Bickerstaff led the Cavs to a .581 successful proportion over the previous three seasons, however had only one playoff sequence win to indicate for it. Atkinson — who led the Nets to a 42-40 report in his most profitable season in Brooklyn — can be tasked with bettering upon what’s already been established in Cleveland.
Which East contender has the hardest path to the convention finals?
Youngmisuk: The Sixers might have a harder time discovering their stride than the Celtics and Knicks. Boston already has championship chemistry. The Knicks should incorporate a brand new huge piece in Cities, however a minimum of Tom Thibodeau has coached him earlier than and Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart have their Villanova familiarity to permit Cities time to slot in. In Philadelphia, a metropolis famously recognized for having little endurance, Embiid, Maxey and George should determine one another out shortly whereas conserving tempo with the Celtics and Knicks.
Herring: Milwaukee, just because it is an older group that is had each well being points and defensive challenges since bringing in Lillard and delivery out Jrue Holiday. There’s cause to imagine issues can be higher defensively with a full offseason collectively. However will they be ok on that finish to be a championship-caliber membership within the subsequent 12 months or two? Issues might want to break of their favor for them to have that probability.
MacMahon: The Knicks addressed their gaping gap in the midst of the beginning lineup with the Cities blockbuster deal, however New York sacrificed depth and can be making a serious adjustment on the fly to begin the season. One evident query: Can Cities anchor a contender-caliber protection, even when he is surrounded by wings who excel on that finish of the ground? And with all due respect to Cities and Brunson, who has improved his scoring common every of the previous 4 seasons, the Knicks nonetheless have the least star energy among the many East’s authentic contenders.
Pelton: Ask me in April! For now, I will be aware that even when the Indiana Pacers take a step ahead after successful 47 video games final season, they’re going to most likely have a way more tough path getting again to the Jap Convention finals due to the accidents that restricted different contenders final season. Add within the 76ers upgrading with George, and whoever makes this 12 months’s convention finals will certainly overcome stiffer checks to get there.
McMenamin: New York. The hype for that workforce has reached such a fever pitch that New York Metropolis deputy mayor Philip Banks III tried to spark a Knicks dialog with a reporter to keep away from questions on mayor Eric Adams’ indictment. The workforce despatched out a press launch about Brunson being named workforce captain. And now that they added a expertise like Cities to plug the outlet left by Hartenstein’s departure and Mitchell Robinson‘s damage — irrespective of how delicate his match may be — they’re going to should coalesce shortly or threat being scrutinized on the each day. New Yorkers are begging for this to be “the 12 months” and there can be stress for this group to carry out each step of the best way.
Which West contender has the hardest path to the convention finals?
Youngmisuk: The Denver Nuggets‘ path again to the NBA Finals is harder after shedding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free company. Since successful the title, the Nuggets have misplaced critically vital function gamers like KCP and Bruce Brown, and vocal leaders like Jeff Green. Nikola Jokic stays the very best participant on the planet, however the gamers round him are barely totally different. Christian Braun steps up into the beginning 5. Russell Westbrook will now be relied on to carry the power, hustle, athleticism and protection off the bench. And Michael Malone should get the very best out of youthful gamers like Peyton Watson and maybe Julian Strawther. Jamal Murray additionally should keep wholesome. Jokic will proceed to be sensible, however he should see if this supporting solid can get it finished in a West that’s harder and youthful up prime.
Herring: Relying on the place you draw the road at “contender,” I am unsure any workforce within the West jumps out. However I’m actually curious to see how the Nuggets’ Braun does with an expanded function in his third season. The Nuggets handed on a chance to carry again free agent Caldwell-Pope, who received two titles as a veteran function participant and opted to signal with the Orlando Magic. The 23-year-old Braun is strong (bear in mind his series-altering efficiency in Sport 3 of the 2023 Finals?) however figures to be requested to play excess of the 20 minutes per night time he logged final 12 months. How he fares as a starter might play an enormous function in figuring out whether or not the Nuggets can win one other title.
MacMahon: Calvin Sales space will at all times deserve credit score for buying the ultimate two parts to the Nuggets’ championship puzzle throughout his first summer time as common supervisor, however it’s tough to examine one other parade in Denver after shedding Brown and Caldwell-Pope in free company the previous two offseasons. Nothing is not possible with Jokic in his prime, however the Nuggets have a rocky path to climb for an additional ring and in a stacked convention.
Pelton: I used to be as stunned as everybody else that my stats-based wins projections had the Minnesota Timberwolves so low, however there have been causes to query whether or not they might repeat final 12 months’s convention finals run earlier than the Cities commerce. Minnesota loved robust well being, significantly on the perimeter, one cause including DiVincenzo to supply extra a confirmed reserve alongside Nickeil Alexander-Walker was so vital. The flip aspect of that’s now the Timberwolves should rebuild the robust chemistry final 12 months’s workforce loved.
McMenamin: Hate to be redundant, however it’s Denver. When you’ve gotten a frontrunner heralded as the very best participant on the planet like Jokic and also you already received with him, it’s on the franchise to perpetually restock round him to stack titles. For the reason that championship, the Nuggets have been stagnant at finest — and have regressed at worst — whereas the remainder of the West has gotten higher.
