Since the NBA draft and through offseason trades along with free agency, several teams have made improvements to their rosters. Some teams have made improvements to reach their championship aspirations while others are looking to develop foundational pieces. In particular, three young teams that missed the playoffs last year have made solid steps to improve their roster. Through the draft, free agency, and excellent performances by their young stars I will breakdown why I think these teams can take considerable steps forward next season.
3. Houston Rockets
Houston is still in the early stages of a rebuild after finishing with a record of 22-60 which was tied for the second worst in the league last season. Their poor record put them in position to select a talented young combo guard in Amen Thompson with the 4th overall pick in the draft. The Rockets did not stop there as they made a couple major splashes in free agency by acquiring NBA champion Fred VanVleet and a second team All-Defense selection in Dillon Brooks. Fred VanVleet immediately bolsters the Rockets backcourt alongside Jalen Green while Brooks adds a much needed toughness and defensive Prescence to the roster.
Arguably the biggest bright spot for the Rockets this offseason has been the summer league dominance of Jabari Smith and Cam Whitmore. Smith appears primed to take a major step forward next season. Though he played just two games before being shut down he did about as good as you can possibly expect for a second year player who was the third overall pick a season ago. In two games played he averaged an impressive 35.5 points per game and hit an unbelievable buzzer beating three against the Blazers. Whitmore fell in the draft and ended up being the 20th pick despite reports of him likely going as high the 4th Pick to the Rockets. The Rockets not managed to get him anyway but they could possibly end up with the steal of the draft after Whitmore's impressive summer league play. Whitmore quickly became a summer league standout and was named Most Valuable Player of the event after averaging 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds 2.5 steals and two assists. With the improvements made so far this offseason the Rockets have set themselves up for a bright future and could even find themselves fighting for a play-in spot next season.
2. Orlando Magic
Last season, the Magic were one of my favorite teams to watch despite finishing with the third worst record in the eastern conference, played some exciting basketball. Led by the rookie of the year in Paolo Banchero who appears to be a superstar in the making the Magic already have a solid foundation to win in the near future. Orlando came away with two excellent picks in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft by selecting Anthony Black with the 6th overall pick and Jett Howard with the 11th pick. With two additions made in the draft, the Magic are a young talented team that is making the right steps to build around their franchise player in Banchero. When you include underrated pieces like Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. along with Banchero, who I think will take another jump in his sophomore season, you have a team that could take a strong step forward next season.
With teams like the Raptors and Wizards likely taking steps backwards due to roster adjustments, I expect the Magic to at worst fight for a play-in spot. At best, I could see them potentially being as an 8th seed depending on favorable play-in matchups as the Magic could sneak into the playoffs due to all of the developing talent on the team.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Of all the young teams in the NBA there is no team I believe has a brighter future than the Oklahoma City Thunder. Not only do they have one of the best young players in the game today in Shai-Gilgeous Alexander who is coming off the best year of his career they also have another emerging talent in Josh Giddey. SGA was spectacular last season averaging 31.4 points per game, establishing himself as a superstar. Last season, the Thunder nearly missed out on the playoffs after losing to the Timberwolves in the 8th seed game of the play-in tournament. After finishing with a 40-42 record in the 22-23 season, the Thunder are now a team I believe is capable of making the playoffs next season.
Another major reason I am confident in the continued emergence of the Thunder is due to the return of their #2 overall pick in Chet Holmgren. After not playing a game last year Holmgren showed the variety of ways he can impact the game in this year's Summer League. The young forward-center hybrid was excellent averaging 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.8 blocks. He was also very efficient shooting shot 50 percent overall from the floor and 42 percent from beyond the arc. Putting a player like Holmgren alongside the talent of Alexander, Giddey, and Jalen Williams could make the Thunder a team to be reckoned with now and for years to come.
Source: NBA YouTube Channel
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