The 2022 NBA draft is in the rearview mirror, summer league has come and gone and most free agents have inked new deals. Now that the regular season is right around the corner, one might wonder what are the top teams in the NBA 2022-23 season.
LeBron James inked a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday ahead of his fifth season with the franchise, which will mark his longest tenure with a team since he spent the first seven years of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Several other vets around the league signed extensions, including Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden, Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard and Washington Wizards point guard Bradley Beal, as well as Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine. The 2022 NBA All-Stars Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic all signed supermax extensions to remain with the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, respectively. The 2019 draft class also saw big paydays, as Ja Morant, Zion Williamson and Darius Garland all signed rookie extensions.
Some notable names opted to change teams, including former Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson, who signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New York Knicks. And the Utah Jazz sent shock waves throughout the league when they traded big man Rudy Gobert, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, to Minnesota.
Will Gobert’s former teammate Donovan Mitchell join Brunson in New York? And what about the other team in New York? Are the Brooklyn Nets back in the title conversation after Kevin Durant rescinded his trade demand?
1. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors lost Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr., but they brought in Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green — two players that, on paper, fit the Warriors’ system. If they look as good with Golden State in reality as they do hypothetically — in addition to their youngsters taking the next step and their core remaining the same — the Warriors should be just as dangerous in 2022-23.
Also read: Top 5: Performances by Stephen Curry
2. Boston Celtics
After struggling offensively during the playoffs, Boston added two significant weapons — guard Malcolm Brogdon and forward Danilo Gallinari — without sacrificing a single player from the eight-man rotation that got the Celtics to last season’s NBA Finals. Barring any blockbuster moves, Boston will go into next season as one of the deepest teams in the NBA.
3. Milwaukee Bucks
Would the Bucks have made it back to the NBA Finals if Khris Middleton had been healthy for their second-round matchup with the Celtics? We’ll never know the answer, but Milwaukee is bringing back virtually its entire roster — the Bucks re-signed Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Wesley Matthews and Jevon Carter. The Bucks did add Joe Ingles, who will be 35 in October and is coming off an ACL tear, but if he can bounce back to his pre-injury form he could add some much-needed wing depth.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis’ biggest move of the offseason was landing a full five-year max deal for superstar guard Ja Morant. Signing his backup, Tyus Jones, on a new deal was no small feat, either. The impact of losing Kyle Anderson, a key part of their frontcourt rotation, will be one to monitor next season.
5. Phoenix Suns
What happens when Deandre Ayton returns to camp? The big man signed an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers during free agency, but that deal was quickly matched by the Suns. Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds last season and has averaged a double-double in each of his four seasons in the league. Now, he gets the chance to continue building with the Suns, who are coming off a league-best 64 wins.
Also read: NBA 2022-23 season schedule.
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