The Warriors and Hawks each missed out on the playoffs in 2024 and have an important offseason ahead of them.
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We're almost a week away from the 2024 NBA postseason, but for the 14 teams watching from home, the 2024-25 season can't come soon enough.
In the 2023-24 regular season, there were five teams with 60 losses, the most since the 1997-98 season, when six teams had 60 or more losses. But one look at the current playoff spots should give you hope. The current field includes five teams that did not make it to the postseason last season.
Perhaps some of these teams are ripe for similar renewals in 2024-2025.
atlanta hawks
2023-24 season results: 36-46
After missing the seventh-most games due to injury and missing the postseason for the first time since 2020, Atlanta can now prepare for an important offseason. This draft will only allow the Hawks to hold a first-round pick until 2028. If Atlanta decides to split its backcourt, it could potentially restructure the roster around a young group that includes Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, Kobe Bufkin and Onyeka. Okongwu and AJ Griffin.
brooklyn nets
2023-24 season results: 32-50
The Nets continue to deal with the fallout from Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden competing for the superteam title, and will not have control over their first-round pick for the next three seasons. With 11 players under contract for next season, new manager Jordi Fernandes is inheriting a decent talent pool. Cam Thomas averaged more than double the points he did last season. This should give Brooklyn some optimism about the chemistry between Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson.
charlotte hornets
2023-24 season results: 21-61
Charlotte has the fifth-youngest roster in the league, with eight players under the age of 23. So when the Hornets search for a coach, he will likely look for a candidate who specializes in player development. There are concerns that LaMelo Ball has missed 58 games over the past two seasons due to an ankle injury. The 22-year-old said he plans to use this summer to build up his fitness to prevent injury. It's also worth noting that Charlotte added two future first-round picks at the trade deadline.
chicago bulls
2023-24 season results: 39-43
We all saw the ascension of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. There have also been some positive developments regarding injured point guard Lonzo Ball, who hasn't played since January 2022 due to three knee surgeries. Ball has been cleared to run and cut and is expected to return around August or September, barring any setbacks. If Ball recovers successfully, can you imagine him defending on the perimeter with Alex Caruso?
Coby White emerged, but injuries limited the Bulls' potential. Will key players become free agents and provide a clue to rebuilding?
detroit pistons
2023-24 season results: 14-68
Cade Cunningham improved in his third year, improving his points, assists, field goal percentage, and 3-point percentage (he shot 39.6 percent from deep after the All-Star break). Detroit could add even more talent around him with another lottery pick. Additionally, the Pistons have cap space to upgrade in free agency. Six of Detroit's recent first-round picks are still playing on their original contracts, which contributes to their financial flexibility.
golden state warriors
2023-24 season results: 46-36
Maybe it was a step too late. But Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson can take the Warriors deep into the postseason. I hope the front office finds a way to bring Thompson back in free agency. Don't forget that Golden State saw positive development from Brandin Podzemski and Jonathan Kuminga, and the Warriors finished the regular season with a 10-2 record. Finances will guide the decision, but the Warriors have a general manager in Mike Dunleavy who is committed to keeping the team competitive.
houston rockets
2023-24 season results: 41-41
New coach Ime Udoka led Houston to 19 wins last season, putting the Rockets in position to make even more strides in his second season. Houston added solid veterans in Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green last summer and led a talented young group led by Jalen Green, Alperen Sengan and rookies Armen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. Udoka and the veteran instilled a winning habit almost instantly. And the Rockets will have all five starters back.
memphis grizzlies
2023-24 season results: 27-55
Injuries forced Memphis to use 51 different starting lineups throughout the season as the Grizzlies missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season. But now Memphis can bring in a lottery pick to play alongside Jay Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Jaren Jackson Jr. Another benefit to Memphis' injury spate is that reserves GG Jackson, Jake LaRavia and Ziare Williams have gotten more playing time. , thus speeding up development.
portland trail blazers
2023-24 season results: 21-61
Portland finished second in most of the games missed due to injury as the Trail Blazers used 40 different starting lineups in their first season without superstar Damian Lillard. Portland has four picks in the top 40 of the 2024 draft, two of which could be in the lottery. Additionally, the Trail Blazers have two star prospects in Scoot Henderson and Shaydon Sharpe.
sacramento kings
2023-24 season results: 46-36
The Kings lost twice in the play-in tournament, missing out on the playoffs in consecutive seasons (they made the playoffs in 2023). It appears injuries to Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk proved to be too much to overcome. Still, Sacramento is led by two stars in De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Keegan Murray averaged a career-high 15.2 points as the No. 3 option. The talent exists to bring it back, especially if they can re-sign free agent Monk.
san antonio spurs
2023-24 season results: 22-60
Victor Wenbanyama. He embodies the hope of the entire series. As a rookie, the Frenchman outperformed the organization's expectations, only reinforcing the importance of making the right moves as the franchise builds around its superstar. Fortunately for Spurs, Wembaneyama is supportive of the team's slow, conservative approach. San Antonio has plenty of draft capital to make moves this offseason. But Spurs and Wembaneyama agree that building for sustained long-term success is most important.
Relive Victor Wembaneyama's top plays and moments from the 2023-24 season.
toronto raptors
2023-24 season results: 25-57
Lost in the playoffs for the third time in four seasons, Toronto went into the offseason rebuilding itself around All-Star Scottie Barnes and his teammates Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Jacob Poeltl and Grady Dick. Coming. The cupboards are not bare. And despite a 9-32 record after the Pascal Siakam trade, we saw promising signs when Barnes, Quickley and Barrett shared the court. The Raptors could also make some moves to free up cap space.
utah jazz
2023-24 season results: 31-51
With the ability to create about $40 million in cap space, Utah could have three picks in the top 31 of the 2024 draft. That's flexibility for a young Jazz team that has eight players under the age of 23 who need further development. The veteran lineup is solid, led by All-Star Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton, who averaged a career-high 4.9 assists last season. Utah has shown restraint, and it's paying off.
washington wizards
2023-24 season results: 15-67
Once the Wizards decide on a coach, they can focus on the direction they need to take in a lengthy rebuilding process that will require patience. Washington finished last season with the fewest wins in franchise history, but players like Deni Avdija, rookie Bilal Koulibaly and Corey Kispert, who played in at least 74 games for the third straight year and averaged a career-high 13.4 points, lost 20 points. growth was seen.
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer at NBA.com.You can email him herefind his archives here and follow him X.
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