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What Are The Biggest Questions For Each Team Going Into The 2024-25 NBA Season

The 2024-25 NBA season is set to tip off with excitement that has been building throughout the offseason. Fans are eagerly anticipating the return of their favorite teams and players, each hoping to make a significant impact in the upcoming campaign. With several franchises making strategic moves during the draft and free agency, the landscape of the league has shifted a little on the younger side, promising thrilling matchups and intense rivalries. The buzz surrounding the season is not just about the established stars, but also the emergence of young talent ready to make their mark on the hardwood.

As teams prepare for the start of the season coaches are fine-tuning their strategies to maximize their squads’ potential. The preseason has provided glimpses of how new acquisitions will fit into their respective systems, and fans are eager to see how these changes will translate into regular-season success. The anticipation is further heightened by the return of key players from injuries such as Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, who are looking to reclaim their spots and lead their teams to the top. The atmosphere is electric, with arenas gearing up to welcome back loyal fans who have missed the thrill of live basketball.

With the season’s start, the narrative of each team will begin to unfold, and the quest for the championship will be at the forefront of every player’s mind. The competition will be fierce, as teams vie for playoff positioning and strive to establish their identities early on. As the clock ticks down to the first tip-off, the excitement is palpable, and basketball enthusiasts are ready to embrace the drama, the triumphs, and the challenges that the 2024-25 NBA season will undoubtedly bring.

This new chapter of the NBA season brings so may questions. Maybe more than any other season and every single team has a big question that will need to be answered at some point during the year.

Here are the biggest questions for each team going into the 2024-25 season.

EAST

Boston Celtics

Will they be locked in enough to go back to back?

The Celtics are still one of the more talented teams in the league and are the easy favorites to win the championship again. No team has gone back to back since the Warriors back in the 2018 season though. In fact, we have had a different NBA Champion every year since that season. Going back to back, a lot of things have to go in your favor. Can they stay healthy enough? Can they stay locked in enough? It’s going to be a very long season and the easy thing to do is to lose focus at some point. Can the Celtics keep their focus all season and through the playoffs to try and cement themselves in history?

Atlanta Hawks

Does Trae Young last the full season in Atlanta?

It’s been no secret that the Hawks have tried to trade away Trae Young and he reportedly has little to no trade value. It sounds crazy for someone who consistently puts up 25p and 10a. Trae has been a constant professional though and hasn’t made any problems for the Hawks. Will he make it through the season though? He still has 3 years $137,998,980 left on his deal with a player option in the last year so if teams didn’t want to trade for him before, his contract isn’t going to make it any easier. Whatever the Hawks decide they need to make the decision sooner rather than later because something like this lingering around could be detrimental to the team.

Chicago Bulls

Will the new backcourt + return of Lonzo Ball be good enough to stop them from going into a full rebuild?

The Bulls lost two key pieces to their roster over the offseason in Demar Derozan and Alex Caruso but gained Josh Giddey and the return of Lonzo Ball. On the Bulls opening night it will have been 2.5 years since Lonzo was last on a NBA floor and the franchise is antsy to see how he looks. With Giddey, he needed a new home after the rise of the young pieces in OKC. He was never going to get to thrive and play his game in OKC but everything is pointing to him having the ball in his hands a lot with Chicago. How much are they going to help improve the team though. Bulls went 39-43 last season and a lot of people felt like they should have entered a rebuild. Especially after losing Derozan and Caruso. They stood pat but they might be in the worst spot to be in for a professional team; to good to be at the bottom for a top pick and not good enough to be near the top to contend.

Brooklyn Nets

Will they be bad enough to land Cooper Flagg

This Nets team has seemingly put themselves in the Cooper Flagg (and others) sweepstakes. Trading away Mikal Bridges makes it seem like they are on the hunt for a franchise star. They still have some talented guys in Cam Thomas, Dennis Schroeder, Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson, and the return of Ben Simmons. If they are wanting to be a team that is in contention to bring in a new franchise piece they might have get rid of some of their talent to stack young assets and draft picks. If not, they could get stuck in purgatory for some time.

Charlotte Hornets

Can the core stay healthy enough to see if they can be a team that shows promise for the future?

The Hornets have a lot of good young talent. LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams, Miles Bridges, Tre Mann, and Nick Smith Jr. The problem is, they haven’t been able to stay healthy for the talent to mesh with each other. With the talent on that team this season they should be in contention for a play in spot at the very least. Just stay healthy.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Can they take a step into the next tier of teams in the East and become a legit contender?

The Cavs have to take a step this season as a true contender in the East or it may be time to move on from the current core. The core of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen is good enough to make a lot of noise in the East. They have failed the last few seasons though and with the new contracts for Mitchell, Garland, and Mobley, it’s clear that those are the guys they are rocking with for the foreseeable future so they need to take the next step.

Detroit Pistons

Is the talent enough to take a step in the right direction or should they be trying to land Cooper Flagg?

On paper, the Pistons are like a few of the other young teams in the NBA. Plenty of talent but hasn’t put it together yet. Last season they set a NBA record for most consecutive losses in a season with 28 but during that streak it didn’t really feel like they should have lost all of those games. Just felt like a team that didn’t really know how to win. Later in the season it looked like they found some sort of a rhythm and they will need to build on that to show promise in the talent. If not, they need to pivot to trying to land another franchise piece.

Indiana Pacers

Was last year’s ECF appearance a fluke or are they a legit contender in the East?

The Pacers somewhat shocked a lot of people last season with an appearance in the In Season Tournament Championship and in the Eastern Conference Finals. Was it a fluke though or will they cement themselves as a consistent contender. They are bringing back pretty much the same team from last season but will have a full offseason and season with Pascal Siakim and will seemingly have Ben Mathurin all season unlike last year. Is that going to be enough to cement them in the East for a while or will it be evident they need to make some big improvements?

Miami Heat

Can they get back to being a contender in the East or is it time to move in a different direction?

Often times it feels like the Heat have already hit their ceiling with this group by getting to two Finals appearances in the last four years but when you count them out is when they look their best. They were in the Finals in the 2023 season and last year they failed to get out of the first round but they were missing the biggest piece to their team in Jimmy Butler so one could make the case that they would have been right back in contention had they been healthy. If feels like this is a really important season for them. Jimmy has a player option for next season and it could be his last season in Miami. From everything thing we’ve seen from Pat Riley, he isn’t one to sit around and wait for things to get better.

Milwaukee Bucks

Can the duo of Giannis and Dame get them back to a championship after a full year and full training camp together?

Simply put, the Bucks underachieved big time last season. A duo of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo going out in the first round is just inexcusable. They will definitely need to be better this year. They will have a full offseason and training camp together unlike last year along with a full offseason and training camp with Doc Rivers. It’s really imperative for them to get back to contending or they will need to start to look to change things up quickly because they can’t waste a superstars prime.

New York Knicks

Is trading for Karl Anthony Towns + the addition of Mikal Bridges enough to catapult them to a championship appearance?

The Knicks have seemingly gone all in for this season. Trading for Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony Towns to go with Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart, they will be in contention for the best starting lineup in the league. Is that enough for them to get over the hump though? Does it have to be this season or will they be given more time to develop the needed chemistry if they don’t reach the Finals?

Orlando Magic

How do they build on last season with such a young team?

The Magic took a big step last season and may have surprised a few people. They have one of the best young cores led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It’s not fair to expect them to be a legit contender just yet because of how young and inexperienced they are but they will need to take another step in the right direction. This season should be one to let the franchise know if they’re a team that just needs to grow together or if they need to make moves to bring in more complimentary pieces.

Philadelphia 76ers

Can they stay healthy and finally get over the hump with Joel Embiid?

It feels like this a championship appearance or bust for the Sixers. Might sound crazy for a team that hasn’t even been to a conference finals since the 2001 season but that’s where we are. It’s time for Joel Embiid to lead this team to the finals. The addition of Paul George, on paper, should help. Those two with Tyrese Maxey could be the best trio in the league but the biggest thing is going to be health. How healthy will Embiid and PG be during a playoff run. If they can’t get over the hump this season it might be time to start having some discussions.

Toronto Raptors

Who are they going to be?

The Raptors might be the biggest question mark in the league this season because it’s unclear what kind of team they will be. Will they be a bonafide playoff team? A contender? A team that struggles to get into the playoffs?  They have some decent talent but will they be able to put it all together this season to show the front office they can have something to truly build on.

Washington Wizards

Are they going to be into the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes or can they be a competent team this season?

In my opinion, the Wizards were the worst team in the league last season. Throwing the record out, they simple were the worst. For me, they should be starting the tank right now but that’s not how NBA players work. They will go out there and at least try to compete. How much they will is another discussion though. They lack the true talent to build around so they will need to figure out which guys are worthy of keeping. Other than that, they need to go full Cooper Flagg searching.

WEST

Minnesota Timberwolves

Did they make a mistake trading away Karl Anthony Towns or are they still legit contenders?s

The Wolves surprised quite a few people over the offseason after trading away former #1 pick Karl Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. It’s a move that left a lot of fans/media wondering if it was the right move. KAT played pretty well in the playoffs last season, particularly against the Nuggets, while Randle didn’t even play in the post season. KAT is more of a floor stretcher while Randle is a bruiser inside and his fit with Rudy Gobert isn’t the best. So are they still going to be real contenders after this trade? If so, Randle will have to be healthy, Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid will need to take another step, and Gobert will need to be a little better of a threat. If those things don’t happen they will fall down the line in a deep Western Conference.

Golden State Warriors

Will it be time to start a rebuild?

The Warriors were one of the more perplexing teams over the offseason. On paper, it didn’t really seem like they did much to improve their roster around Steph Curry who still has a lot left in the tank. They lost Klay Thompson but added Buddy Hield, DeAnthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, and Lindy Waters. All solid players but is it enough to contend in the West? Probably not. They will be one of the smallest teams in the league and might not have a legit second option behind Steph. If they miss the playoffs again, it might be time for them to start a rebuild. Even if they make the playoffs, if they aren’t contending it still may be time.

Utah Jazz

Will they make a decision to go full rebuild/tank this season?

For the last couple of years the Jazz have gone back and forth from trying to compete for at least a Play In spot and trying to tank. They need to make a decision between the two this season. They have some decent talent on the roster and it’s time to focus on developing them. They can “tank” and still develop similar to what the Thunder have done or they can try and will and still develop similar to what the Rockets did last season. Whatever they decide it needs to be decided before their first game instead of halfway through the season. If not, they could run the risk of wasting the talent they have.

LA Clippers

How good will a Kawhi/Harden duo be?

This duo already isn’t off to a good start. Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined indefinitely to rehab his knee. To make matters worse, the Thunder have their 2025 pick with no protections on it so they have a lot of incentive to win. How much will they though? We may see a little vintage James Harden to start the season but he just turned 35 and can’t do the same things he always did. They have some pretty good complimentary pieces that could have them from being a bad team but are they going to be good enough to make the playoffs? Going into a new arena, this isn’t the idea start for them.

LA Lakers

Was JJ Redick the answer?

The Lakers brought back the same exact team from last season and the only different piece they added that could have significant minutes is first round pick Dalton Knecht. The only major difference this season is JJ Redick is the new head coach. He has never coached in any position on any level so is he the answer? Will he be able to get the Lakers back to contending? It’s a tall task because most first time head coaches don’t succeed right away. Redick isn’t being put in the best situation for a first time head coach so it remains to be seen how this will turn out but for the Lakers, they have to hope he is the answer for this roster.

Denver Nuggets

Will the youth be able to contribute enough?

The Nuggets have had to part ways with key veteran role players the last two offseasons after winning a championship and it has hurt their depth big time. Now, they have to depend on quite a few young guys. Last season it didn’t work out too well with so much put on Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. This season, will be pivotal for the Nuggets youth to see if any of them can contribute to a contending team to keep Jokic and Murray rested enough to finish games stronger.

Dallas Mavericks

Was last season’s Finals appearance a fluke or are they legit?

The Mavs weren’t a team that many picked to get to the Finals last season but now that they did get there the question for them is how do they get back and get over the hump. A midseason trade last season improved their roster greatly and they were one of the best two way teams in the league after. With a full season together they could find their way back in the Finals. Losing Derrick Jones Jr. will hurt but they are still a really good team. Can they prove last season wasn’t a fluke though?

Houston Rockets

Can they build on last season’s growth?

Rockets going 41-41 last season wasn’t on many bingo cards but Ime Udoka has really changed the culture after a few bad seasons building bad habits. Now that they have the culture established, it’s time to start building on that. The tough thing will be be doing it night after night now that everyone knows they aren’t a team to take lightly in a tough Western Conference. Can they build aon last season and get to the Play In at very least or will they be looking for another piece to get them to the next step?

Memphis Grizzlies

Can they get back to being a threat out West with good health?

The Grizzlies were the most injured team in the league last season. Every key piece missed some time at some point. This season, everyone seems to be a full go and they look to get back to the top of the West. They are one of the more intriguing teams in the league because they weren’t bad last season because of the roster or bad play. They were bad because of the injuries. With no injuries they could become the legit threat we saw coming a couple of years ago. If they are, the rest of the West needs to look out.

New Orleans Pelicans

Will they be able to get over the hump and contend with good health?

The Pelicans biggest issue the last few seasons has been health. One could argue that’s been their only issues. They have had a deep roster, good coach, and have been good on both ends of the floor. For their playoff/play in runs though they have missed a big piece(s) of their roster. The biggest being Zion Williamson in both playoff runs. There are quite a few questions surrounding the Pelicans this season but health is the biggest. They added Dejounte Murray to the roster without giving up any major piece but also don’t really have a center at the moment. Nothing they do matters though unless they can stay healthy.

OKC Thunder

Can they get to the championship with such a young team?

The Thunder, in my opinion, are the deepest team in the league. With the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, one could argue that they don’t really have a glaring weakness on either side of the floor. They got the much needed playoff experience last season after being the top seed in the West and now it’s time to try and win a championship. The only issue for them is they are still a very young team and young teams typically don’t win this soon. It took the Celtics years to get over the hump. Will the Thunder be the same way? Will it take them a few years to finally get over the hump and win a championship or will they defy the odds and do it this season?

Phoenix Suns

Can the core 3 stay healthy enough for them to become contenders?

The Suns biggest problem last season was the health of their big 3. They didn’t have the best roster but when a roster is top heavy like theirs was it’s important for the top heavy talent to stay healthy or things will look as bad as they did for the Suns. They have added more complimentary pieces to the roster this season with Tyus Jones and Monte Morris but the most important thing is going to be if the big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal can stay healthy.

Portland Trail Blazers

Do they take a positive step?

The Blazers have some intriguing talent on the roster with Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Jermai Grant, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, and more. What will they do with all of the talent though? Do they try and put it together and fight every night? Do they just try and figure out which guys they want to build around for the future and enter the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes? Whatever move they make needs to be in a positive direction or this could set the franchise back years.

Sacramento Kings

How much will adding Demar Derozan help?

They Kings were a fan favorite team for a couple of seasons. A young team that got to the top of the West but have come back down a little and missed the playoffs last season. They didn’t make many changes but did add Demar Derozan to the roster. How much will that help? He is definitely an addition but how big of an addition? Can he help them get to the next step or will they just be a team that stays in the middle of the conference?

San Antonio

Can Chris Paul help them take a leap into at least the Play In?

Chris Paul has improved almost every team he has been on in his career and now we get to see if he can do the same of the Spurs. Pairing one of the best point guards of all time with one of the best young talents the league has ever seen in Victor Wembanyama was one of the smartest things the Spurs could have done. The habits and leadership Paul has has done wonders for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when they were teammates and it could do the same for Wemby and the other young guys on the roster. Can they can get to at least the Play In though? They won’t be a pushover by any means but just how much better does Chris Paul make the Spurs?

 

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