NBA Season Wild Cards: There are some crazy turns and turns in every NBA season. Consider the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2022–2023 season. They had a 2–10 start, but thanks to several deals made before the deadline, they finished the season in the Western Conference Finals.
There are already a few wild cards that might have a big impact on this season as 2023–24 gets underway. The clubs that are ascending and possible transactions can disturb the rankings’ equilibrium.
The potential NBA season wild cards that might affect the 2023–24 season are listed below, while the exact timing of these wild cards’ potential use is yet unknown.
NBA Season Could Be Changed by Wild Cards
Check out the NBA season wild cards:
What Happens If the Pelicans Look Well?
We question, “What if the Pelicans stay healthy?” with an eye towards Zion Williamson’s health this season.
The Pelicans spent the first three months of the previous campaign in the top three spots. Even in December, they managed to hang onto the top seed for a spell. After the year 2023 turned over, New Orleans suffered a catastrophic collapse due to the mounting injuries.
When Zion has been on the court, defences have not had an answer. He scored 23 points and made two incredible dunks on consecutive plays on the first night of play. Jaren Jackson Jr., the defensive player of the year, was the target of one of those dunks.
There are several good teams in the Western Conference, and New Orleans is just one of them. Jonas Valančiūnas offers strength down low, Herb Jones is a full-on defensive stopper, and Williamson has strong running companions in Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.
The Pelicans have a chance to finish in the top four in the West if they can maintain Williamson’s health.
You might also be interested in reading this: The 76ers eventually deal James Harden to the Clippers
How Toronto Can Change the Pool of Potential Candidates?
The Toronto Raptors were in a similar predicament the year before. As there was a lot of smoke surrounding the trade deadline, fans could expect more around the team.
They have Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, two players who will be sought after in the trade market. It could notify the championship race if one or both players are transferred.
Siakam will be a free agent come summertime as he and the Raptors are still unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension. Anunoby is a free agent since he has a player option that he probably will exercise. Toronto can’t take the chance of losing them in vain.
To get Anunoby, teams called a lot of teams in the north before the trade deadline. Memphis, in particular, could have used a second-wing defender to make a run at the playoffs. Siakam was reportedly available during the previous offseason, according to rumours.
If one or both of the candidates in both conferences are still available by the trade deadline, there will be intense competition. Anunoby, a three-and-d player, maybe the key that teams like Memphis or New Orleans need, but Siakam might be a greater asset for a contender.
The Raptors have the power to completely alter the discussion regarding potential players if they decide to move them.
Possibly Trading Superstars
Two superstar transactions occurred in the NBA last season when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were transferred ahead of the deadline. Beyond James Harden and Pascal Siakam, there’s a chance that one or more additional celebrities may be traded this season.
Cleveland set a timer when they traded for Donovan Mitchell and acquired him.
Before he becomes a free agent, the Cavs need to show him that they are a competitive team. With the 27-year-old’s free agency approaching in only two years, time is of the essence, and they may choose to move before losing him for nothing. Miami will probably keep an eye on this name.
Due to Jaden McDaniels’ contract, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ roster is quickly getting more pricey. Based on that, Karl-Anthony Towns could be going sooner rather than later.
Joel Embiid is likely to seek a move away if the Sixers are forced to backpedal after the Harden trade. The NBA would tremble with excitement as many clubs would want to sign him.
Naturally, none of this takes into consideration the possibility of a surprise for which no one is ready.
Ben Simmons Regains His Feel for the Defence
Yes, this slide also discusses Ben Simmons’s potential return to form, but it’s a little different.
What happens if Ben Simmons becomes an All-NBA Defensive player once more? How much higher does that set the ceiling for the Brooklyn Nets?
Prior to his collapse against the Atlanta Hawks in 2021, Simmons was among the NBA’s top defenders. Because of his ability to guard all positions on the court, he was selected to two All-Defensive teams during his first four years in the NBA.
Mikal Bridges and Spencer Dinwiddie will be key components of the Nets’ offensive attack, but if Simmons gets back to his previous level of play, Brooklyn has the potential to be among the league’s top defensive teams. Getting shots at the rim might be difficult in a combo with Nic Claxton.
If Simmons returns to his former form, Brooklyn’s ceiling rises as the team may finish with a top-five defence. Watch out for this wild card early on.
Clippers Are Serious About the Regular Season
The Los Angeles Clippers, who have Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on their roster, have been the poster child for load management in recent years. The club has struggled with health, but there was always a feeling that L.A. did not care about the regular season.
The Clippers’ strategy has altered since the season began. “We’ve also got to take the regular season more seriously as far as coming in and playing hard every night and winning games and playing games,” head coach Ty Lue stated to reporters in August.
If Leonard and George are healthy enough to play more games during the regular season, that is. The Clippers may enter the top three in the West as a result of it. They have the talent to compete at the highest level in the Western Conference.
The Clippers’ serious approach to the regular season will intensify competitiveness in the Western Conference.
Wizards or Bulls Are Having a Fire Sale
Both the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards have a number of fascinating players who might be traded before the trade deadline, and both teams may be headed for a terrible season.
We feel like we know Billy Donovan’s thoughts upon entering the Bulls locker room following Game 1. He discovered a contentious debate among the players, which prompted a meeting with only them.
That does not bode well for the season to begin. There was speculation last season that the Bulls may trade for players like Zach LaVine and/or DeMar DeRozan. Front offices with a keen eye will watch Chicago’s response if things go south fast this season. Coby White, DeRozan, LaVine, and Alex Caruso might all be beneficial to a playoff squad.
Although the Wizards added Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones to their roster and re-signed Kyle Kuzma in the summer, they will not be a very good team. It could be time to cash in and start acquiring assets after giving up 143 points in the season’s opening game.
As Jones is nearing the end of his contract, it’s possible that he won’t be in Washington for very long. He may be traded around the deadline for a late first-round selection by a club in need of a point guard. A walking bucket in Poole or an impact player like Kuzma may be much sought after.
After the deadline, a fire sale by the Bulls or Wizards may drastically alter the postseason race.
What Does Malcolm Brogdon Get Up to?
Malcolm Brogdon is another name to keep an eye on the trade market, given that the Blazers are a youthful squad that is not anticipated to do well this season.
The 30-year-old shouldn’t be kept around, but he may be useful to a few teams, so the Blazers should have some clout.
Potential young teams entering the play-in tournament, playoff teams hoping to escape the play-in round, and contenders seeking better point guard performance are just a few of the teams that might benefit from Brogdon’s addition.
Brogdon would be a good alternative for a club that loses out on Harden. To support their young players in their quest for a postseason run, the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic both need a firm hand.
Spurs Try to Get a Play-In Spot
The San Antonio Spurs are competing for a play-in position in one of the multiverses. Even with Victor Wembanyama’s foul issues, that’s even easier to take in after seeing a close, opening-night matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.
It’s possible to argue that the Spurs will be a contender in the West this year. They have a formidable defensive core in Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, and they can score points with the No. 1 selection in 2023. Tre Jones, Jeremy Sochan, and Zach Collins are all capable players close to the French sensation.
Although the Spurs still have a lot of developing potential and need to learn how to win, there is a greater than zero per cent possibility that they will challenge for a play-in spot.
It would all have to work out perfectly. Defensive Player of the Year calibre play is required of Wembanyama, as Vassell and Johnson light it up from the outside. Collins needs to anchor the middle so Wemby can remain off centres, and Sochan and Jones need to make enough plays for everyone else.
Though it seems improbable, the Spurs have been waiting for a player with Wembanyama’s kind of star power, and they have enough quality surrounding him to keep them competitive late in the season.
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