NBA Lottery Team: For the 14 NBA teams who missed the playoffs the previous year, 2023–24 will certainly be a better season, right?
Yes, in the majority of cases. The victory total from the previous season was inflated by the mix of rebuilding clubs learning knowledge and acquiring players through the draught, free agency, and trades.
For those NBA Lottery team clubs who are starting to rebuild, are set to trade a star, or lost important players to free agency, the upcoming season may even be worse because it would just prolong their postseason absence.
Buy or Sell: Every NBA Lottery Team Getting Good in 2023–24
This season, every NBA lottery team is moving in this route.
1) Charlotte Hornets
Reasons to Buy
Although no one will choose the Hornets to win the East this year, it should be very easy for them to top their 27-win total from the previous season.
With a healthy LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges on the team, this team won 43 games in 2021–22. Due to injuries, Ball played in just 36 games last season, and Bridges agreed to a one-year, $7.9 million contract after missing the 2022–23 season due to a domestic violence incident. On a 30-game suspension, he still has 10 games to play.
Mark Williams, a talented young centre, is expected to improve in his second season after Charlotte selected Brandon Miller with the No. 2 overall choice. Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, and P.J. Washington are enough seasoned players on this squad to keep the Hornets in the postseason mix as well.
Reasons to Sell
The health of Ball, who endured ankle issues the whole previous year, is the one factor that might prevent Charlotte from reaching 27 victories. He will power the assault for a 2022–23 offence that came in last.
Assuming the Hornets simply experienced a momentary setback last season, this is one of the simplest NBA lottery team to “buy.”
You might also be interested in reading this: A month before the new season, every NBA team makes 1 trade
2) Chicago Bulls
Reasons to Buy
The Bulls ought to do better on paper.
The squad re-signed Nikola Vuevi, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu, acquired some valuable veterans in Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig, and saw Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan return.
Although we haven’t seen much of it, Patrick Williams’ fourth-year surge would undoubtedly aid in the Bulls’ return to the postseason. It would also be excellent if Dalen Terry, the 18th overall pick in 2022, became a player in the rotation.
Reasons to Sell
Lonzo Ball will miss another complete season, and the Bulls have done little to solidify the point guard position in his absence. Once more, guys like Alex Caruso, White, Carter, and Dosunmu will work together to complete the assignment, with plenty of time for LaVine and DeRozan to be in the game as well.
After ranking 24th in offence last year, this club needs a real pass-first option to set the stage for the rest of the lineup to succeed.
Going into a contract year, DeRozan’s future feels incredibly uncertain, especially after turning 34 this summer. DeRozan may find himself on the trade market before leaving in free agency for nothing next summer if Chicago has a bad start.
The Bulls’ 40 wins from the previous season should take a slight damage because so many of the young teams in the East are only getting better.
3) Dallas Mavericks
Reasons to Buy
Despite adding Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline, the Mavs went from 52 victories in 2021–22 to just 38 last season. Dallas nevertheless struggled defensively throughout the season (25th overall), with deficiencies at centre and on the wing, even if some late-season tanking contributed to some of this.
It will help if Irving and Grant Williams, who should be the team’s starting power forward, participate throughout the whole training camp. Dereck Lively II, the No. 12 overall pick, has a chance to start but is more of a long-term remedy than a quick cure, according to head coach Jason Kidd.
This squad ought to resume winning games at a rate close to 50 if Josh Green and Jaden Hardy can at least make some small improvements.
Reasons to Sell
The Mavs’ 5-11 record with Doni and Irving last season is a touch worrying, and Christian Wood, the team’s third-leading scorer, recently signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Mavericks don’t have a lot of depth, and there’s always a chance that Irving may be off for a while with an injury.
Dallas should at least finish the season, even if they are not an elite club in the West a 500 or above.
4) Detroit Pistons
Reasons to Buy
Detroit was a popular favourite to move up the standings last year, but losing Cade Cunningham to shin surgery after only 12 games caused the Pistons’ record to drop from 23 victories to a league-worst 17.
It wouldn’t be out of the question for Detroit to surpass their victory total from the previous season now that Cunningham is healthy again, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren are entering their second seasons, and Ausar Thompson and Joe Harris have joined the team.
This youthful team should advance significantly under Monty Williams as its head coach.
Reasons to Sell
It will help if Irving and Grant Williams, who should be the team’s starting power forward, participate throughout the whole training camp. Dereck Lively II, the No. 12 overall pick, has a chance to start but is more of a long-term remedy than a quick cure, according to head coach Jason Kidd.
Even if injuries and a congested frontcourt prevent the Pistons from making a playoff-size jump, this is a simple purchase.
5) Houston Rockets
Reasons to Buy
The Rockets’ summer was one to “buy,” as the franchise signed players like Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale, and Jeff Green to deals for more than $250 million.
The addition of VanVleet, an All-Star calibre point guard, will have a significant influence on this squad, who last season placed dead last in assist and turnover ratio.
Additionally, there is no longer any incentive to play poorly because the Rockets can only keep their 2024 first-round pick if it falls among the first four picks overall. If not, it will be traded for Russell Westbrook in 2019 and sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On this squad, there is also a tonne of young talent that has had another offseason to develop, like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Engün, who all have the potential to develop into future All-Stars.
Reasons to Sell
The Dillon Brooks acquisition will be a complete failure, and if his shooting attempts rise from Memphis, there is a good potential that he may hinder the development of the more gifted young players on this club.
Even still, it would be surprising to see the Rockets lose after 22 victories, especially if VanVleet is sound and in charge.
6) Indiana Pacers
Reasons to Buy
Although signing Bruce Brown Jr., Obi Toppin, and Jarace Walker provided this club with greater front-court depth and perimeter defence, the Pacers didn’t have the most exciting summer.
Tyrese Haliburton having a healthy season would also be very beneficial. When Indiana’s All-Star point guard was unable to play, their 56-game winning streak collapsed, and they finished the season with just a 7-19 record overall.
After putting up 16.7 points in his rookie year, Bennedict Mathurin could have a strong year in his sophomore campaign, especially if Buddy Hield is truly dealt. With the game taking place in Indianapolis this year, Myles Turner has named himself an All-Star.
Reasons to Sell
Turner just had a career year (18 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 37.3 percent from three), but it’s unclear if this was an anomaly or the new standard.
Since the Hield trade controversy might eventually distract from the game, we’ll need to see one of Toppin or Walker establish themselves as the team’s everyday starting power forward.
Haliburton’s capacity to have a significant influence on both sides of the ball and the Pacers’ potential to improve ultimately depend on that skill. We’re prepared to wager on it.
7) Orlando Magic
Reasons to Buy
Orlando already increased by 12 victories from the previous campaign, but the needle is still just going north.
The Magic started 2022–23 with a mere 5–20 overall record, and they ended the season with a record of 29–28. They outperformed teams like the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Dallas Mavericks after that.
Paolo Banchero, who put up a tremendous Rookie of the Year season, is yet somehow underestimated in this still very young club, which is just growing better. The addition of Anthony Black and Jett Howard, two additional NBA lottery team choices, gives this squad even more depth, while veteran Joe Ingles, who was just signed, has some proven playmaking experience and three-point shooting ability.
Reasons To Sell
With a squad that has become sneakily deep, it can take some time to find a rotation that works well.
Orlando placed close to the bottom of the NBA in the majority of important passing stats, thus the point guard position is still up for grabs. If Black is still employed, is Markelle Fultz still doing this? What happened to Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony? Consolidating talent and assigning everyone a position that is clearly defined may need a deal.
In the end, anticipate this Magic squad to make progress even though another 12-win surge is unlikely.
8) Oklahoma City Thunder
Reasons To Buy
The Thunder made their presence known last season, adding a staggering 16 victories to their tally for 2021–22 but missing the playoffs by only one game owing to the absence of Chet Holmgren from the season due to foot surgery.
OKC will formally return to the postseason in 2022 thanks to the No. 2 overall selection, who will be back and doing well in the Summer League, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just ended on the All-NBA first team, and Josh Giddey, who seems to be a potential All-Star.
The fact that Jalen Williams averaged 18.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.9 steals over the course of his last 26 games, looking like the steal of the 2022 season, is a major factor in why this club will also be better.
Reasons To Sell
This season, OKC is the prey instead of the hunter, which is not always an easy transition. This team is no longer being taken lightly by anyone.
Even though Holmgren will likely be the Thunder’s best centre, it will be a tough durability test to ask him to play all 82 games at the position given his frail build. This frontcourt still has some gaps if he has further injuries.
Overall, Oklahoma City won’t merely improve in 2023–24; this core is already capable of winning a playoff series, and the team has the trade assets to add significant reinforcements before the trade deadline.
9) New Orleans Pelicans
Reasons to Buy
When we have seen Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum together, which hasn’t occurred much, they have been one of the best basketball trios.
The Pelicans had a net rating of plus-19.5 last season while all three were on the floor (100th percentile, according to Cleaning the Glass), although this only pertained to 355 total possessions.
Williamson’s presence alone made a significant impact for New Orleans, which finished 17-12 when he participated compared to 25-28 overall when he was forced to sit out due to injury.
A top-4 seed in the West and winning 50 or more games are definitely possible if this team is mostly healthy.
Reasons to Sell
There isn’t much evidence that Williamson will be available given that he never played 30 or more games in a season in his first four years. Trey Murphy III might not make a full recovery from meniscus surgery until December, and McCollum, at 32, ought to be progressively losing his prime.
Now is the perfect time for New Orleans to prevail. As usual, health will determine if it truly does. The Pelicans’ ability to succeed will ultimately depend on Williamson’s availability.
Buy or Sell: Every NBA Lottery Team Getting Good in 2023–24. let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
