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We are not even through half of the ongoing off-season and rosters for most teams are starting to take shape with only the odd couple of spots still remaining to be filled. The NBA off-season is a long one, 134 days to be precise . It can be quite an agonising wait for NBA fans across the world. However, it provides the players with much needed rest after the 82 game grind of the regular season followed by the pressure filled and ultra competitive post-season.
Having said that, this has been one of the most action packed off-seasons in recent history with the sheer volume of player movements across the entire league during the free agency period. NBA Summer League also received more viewership this year and the rookies who were looking to make a mark found a platform before the regular season to show their skills after being chosen to be on the franchise’s summer league team.
So as we take an (very) early look heading towards the coming season. Here are the three teams which seem most likely to have a huge rise in their performance this coming season:
Washington Wizards
Fueled by a constantly improving young back court of John Wall and Bradley Beal, and anchored in the paint by a productive front court of Marcin Gortat and Nene Hilario, the Washington Wizards made it past the first round of the Playoffs during the 2013-14 campaign making the past season their most successful one since 2005 when they last made it to the second round of the Playoffs.
For teams on the rise, the most important step of their development is a steady off-season which in turn will not hamper the balance of the team during the season and the Wizards did just that and more this summer. By re-signing an important clog in their system center Gortat to an extension of five years worth $60 million, the Wizards made sure 4 of the 5 players in the starting line-up will return with the team.
On the other side of things, the team lost Small Forward and another key member Trevor Ariza, who as a free agent signed with the Houston Rockets, but for the franchise this was a blessing in disguise as none other than veteran Paul Pierce was roped in to lead the relatively inexperienced young team. The team now has the right balance of youth and experience without being scarce on talent.
While Kevin Durant was among other few who decided to withdraw from the USA National Team for the World Cup, Beal and Wall were two of the first three to be cut from the 19 player original roster. It might have been the right move strategically to cut the duo, but it will no doubt remain in the minds of both and when the time comes and the regular season comes calling they must use their failure to fuel their fire.
Charlotte Hornets
When Al Jefferson realised he wanted nothing to do with Utah Jazz’s rebuilding process and signed with the Charlotte Hornets (then the Bobcats), people started to take notice of the team’s basketball rather than the owner Michael Jordan. Jefferson along with point guard Kemba Walker led the team to a 43-39 record this past season, the second most games won in a single season in franchise history.
Like many other rising teams the Hornets stayed off the radar and only got serious about the business which concerned them. They presented an offer sheet to forward Gordon Haywood,but his team the Jazz had the chance to match the offer and so they did. To put it in simple words, Charlotte was looking for a scorer preferably a guard and they found all this and more in former Indiana Pacer Lance Stephenson.
One of the most under-rated moves of the summer, Stephenson brings much more to the table than the Hornets were initially looking for. An excellent perimeter defender and efficient on the offensive end as well, he is among the top two way players currently in the league and his league leading stats of five triple doubles last season are a tribute to his capability.
Atlanta Hawks
If the team on paper effectively mesh their talents on the court then the Atlanta Hawks are a scary bunch and the team to look out for the coming season. The early season success that saw them be the third best team in the East was largely on the back of center Al Horford’s magnificent play. That didn’t last long as tragedy struck when Horford was ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn pectoral on his right shoulder.
The team fell off the radar and slipped all the way down to the bottom of the Playoff spots following Horford’s absence. Regardless, the team regrouped and did just enough in the final couple of weeks to book the final Playoff spot in the Conference.
Although they lost eventually in the first round, the team gave stiff competition and pushed the highly favored Indiana Pacers to an unexpected seven games including a chance to seal the deal and advance in Game six. Their late season success was pivoted around new recruit Paul Milsap’s play who was the most under-rated signing last summer.
His inside-outside play along with point guard Jeff Teague’s tearing up with the opponent’s defense with his speed were huge talking points of their series with the Pacers. With Horford expected to return by training camp and the signing of defense specialist guard Thabo Sefolosha from the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s time for the Hawks to soar.
