The NBA Draft is over, and free agency has hit a lull. What remains are the trade rumors. Enticing, yes? Accurate, who knows?. Most likely, the NBA rosters we have will be quite similar to the ones that enter training camps and preseason.
That allows us to think ahead and consider all the possibilities that may happen in another wild NBA season. Before last season started, few people thought the Boston Celtics would have made it to the NBA Finals, but they did. Here are bold predictions for the upcoming 2022-23 NBA season that might not be that crazy.
1. Denver Nuggets Will Make the NBA Finals
Back-to-back reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has cemented himself as one of the best players in the NBA. However, both of those seasons have ended in disappointment in the playoffs. Last season saw the Denver Nuggets get the gentleman sweep from the future NBA Champions in the first round, while in the 2021 playoffs, the Phoenix Suns swept them in the second round.
Last season was marked by Jokic having to do it all as the next two best players on the roster, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, pretty much missed the entire year. It played a significant factor in Jokic winning his second MVP, having to do it all to win, but it was not sustainable in the playoffs.
The health of both Murray and Porter is a critical part of this prediction. In the 2020 NBA Bubble, the Nuggets made it to the Western Conference Finals with Porter Jr. still a rookie and Murray playing amazingly in the playoffs. The team came back from 3-1 deficits against the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers. All three are better versions of themselves now, compared to 2020.
The team has acquired more talent in Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope since its 2020 Western Conference Finals appearance. Murray has not played since tearing his ACL in April 2021 and should be nearing a complete recovery by the start of the season.
At just +1000 odds on BetUS for the Denver Nuggets to win the Western Conference and +2000 to win it all, the Nuggets could hit on both if they stay healthy.
2. Detroit Pistons Will Make the Play-In Tournament
In the last three seasons, the Detroit Pistons have been one of the worst teams in the NBA, but it could all turn around soon. They have built a solid roster through the draft that is coming together.
In the 2020 NBA draft, they landed three players in the top 20 picks, who are all playing crucial roles. Killian Hayes was the team’s top draft pick at seven, but they also acquired Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart through trades, turning them into solid role players. Bey is a sharpshooting wing, while Stewart is a defensive anchor who brings energy.
The 2021 NBA draft changed everything as the Pistons got their star in Cade Cunningham. Cunningham started slowly in his rookie season, which led to him not winning Rookie of the Year, but it became apparent why he was seen as the obvious first overall pick.
Finally, in the 2022 NBA draft, the team has rounded out nicely. The Pistons selected Jaden Ivey with the fifth pick and traded for Jalen Duren, who could turn into a steal as one of the youngest players in the draft. Both are incredibly athletic, a change in style from the 2020 and 2021 drafts where the Pistons drafted skilled players. The contrast should bring a great dynamic to the team.
The writing’s on the wall for the Pistons to become a playoff-contending team. It also helps that the Pistons head coach is a former Coach of the Year, Dwane Casey, who can be trusted to get the best out of his players.
3. The New Orleans Pelicans Will Finish in the Top 3 in the Western Conference
The New Orleans Pelicans are primed and ready to make a massive leap. That may not come as a surprise or be a bold prediction, but thinking they will be a top three team in the Western Conference might be.
The biggest thing to point out is that the Pelicans will be adding Zion Williamson, who is arguably a superstar when healthy. Williamson missed the whole last season due to a foot surgery after being an All-Star the year before. If healthy, adding his possible 23 points a night changes everything, to an already playoff ready roster.
A big part in the Pelicans’ playoff run last year was they closed out the season with two borderline All-Star players. Brandon Ingram was an All-Star in 2019-20 and won Most Improved Player. Since that season Ingram has gotten better, but with little media attention. The Pelicans also traded for CJ McCollum last season to add more perimeter scoring and playmaking, and he finished off the season strong in his new role. Additionally, to check out more specific information about the NBA props available for the Suns vs Lakers matchup.
The trio of Williamson, Ingram, and McCollum is already one of the most talented big-threes in the NBA, along with the roster’s defensive balance around them. Players like Jonas Valanciunas and Herbert Jones have already proven to be solid role players.
The Pelicans roster is built around Williamson with a bunch of talent and cohesive star power. If he can stay healthy, the Pelicans could finish near the top of the Western Conference.
4. The Brooklyn Nets Do Nothing and Win the East
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s time with the Brooklyn Nets has been a debacle. With everything that has gone on with that team, it is no wonder both are looking for exits from Brooklyn.
However, Durant signed a contract extension last offseason for four more years. Irving has become somewhat of a bad investment in the eyes of NBA teams. Even though both players seem to want out, it might not be possible at the time. The Nets can not just sit back, acquire picks and rebuild, because they don’t even own their own picks. They need to make moves that will help the team win, while also offloading two massive stars.
It has already become clear that trading two All-Star caliber players with such high value will be complicated for everyone in the trade to be happy. It has gotten to the point that the Nets best course of action is just to try to reconnect with both Durant and Irving.
If that is possible, the Nets have made solid moves to address the team’s weaknesses from last season, adding wing depth. The Nets were also the number one seed in the East and that was with Durant carrying the team with a hurt James Harden and Irving not playing.
If the Nets somehow found a way for Durant and Irving to stay, there is a good chance they could run the Eastern Conference.
5. The Oklahoma City Thunder Are in the Play-In
Similar to the Pistons, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the worst teams in the NBA in the last three years. Again, similarly to the Pistons, the Thunder have been rebuilding for the future, and in the 2022 NBA Draft, they may have finished.
The Thunder’s roster has already been solid the last two seasons, even putting up a fight and winning games early in the year. The guard trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and rookie Josh Giddey was impressive. It got to the point when the Thunder held their players out in order to stop competing in games.
On Draft night, the Thunder ended up with three picks in the lottery, selecting Chet Holmgren, Ousmane Dieng, and Jalen Williams. Holmgren and Williams have played impressively in Summer League and look ready to make an impact. Second-round pick Jaylin Williams has been a pleasant surprise and could slot in as a solid backup big.
The second phase of the Thunder’s rebuild has arrived, having the young star power in Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey, and Holmgren that can rocket them from one of the worst teams in the NBA to fighting for a Play-In spot.
