The Milwaukee Bucks were crowned last season's champions, but this league can quickly shake up and move on soon through blockbuster trades and significant free-agent signings. With the Los Angeles Lakers garnering seven All-Stars on their roster, the Milwaukee Bucks hoping to reclaim their seat as NBA champs, the Miami Heat hoping to return to the finals, and more, there is much to look out for!
The Los Angeles Lakers may be old, but that doesn’t stop them from gunning for the championship. They’ve made 59 All-Star appearances together. The Lakers just added their sixth player of at least 35 years old to their roster. Anthony Davis is the only All-Star under the age of 30 playing alongside LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, to mention a few. Their sheer talent and experience make the Lakers a menace to the league.
The Milwaukee Bucks enter this season following a dominant year trip to the Finals, bringing home the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy. They added much-needed shooting this offseason with the addition of George Hill and Rodney Hood. Giannis Antetokounmpo surely wants more with near-perfect running mates in Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Milwaukee might once again rise and storm into the Finals.
The Brooklyn Nets were loaded last season, but injuries played and led them to fall short of the championship. Kevin Durant is arguably the best player in the league today. James Harden should be much more used to the team going into his first full season with the Nets. Kyrie Irving is a master with the ball and an excellent point guard when healthy. They brought back Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, further fortifying their offensive muscle. Though injuries are unpredictable, it’s hard to pick anyone else to represent the East in the Finals.
The Chicago Bulls aren’t playing around after bringing in Demar Derozan via sign-and-trade. In addition to that, they were able to pry Lonzo Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans, filling out a need of theirs. Zach LaVine now has a point guard who can get him the ball when it matters most. Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso further help them pave the way for a big splash this season.
The Miami Heat are loading up with persistent defenders with the addition of Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker. They’re already heavy on defense, with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo being named to the All-Defensive team. With the team heavy on defenders, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson would benefit from fewer concerns on the defensive end. Though the Nets and Bucks are the favorites to win the East, don’t count out the Heat!
There isn’t much to complain about the Golden State Warriors offseason. James Wiseman is preparing to make a redemption season while Jordan Poole is likely to progress more. New rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody ramped up some publicity during the Summer League, and Andrew Wiggins is expected to impact much this season. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and the return of Klay Thompson and Andre Igoudala are certain to command most of the attention from the media, but fans are sure to be excited about their young core.
Chris Paul and Devin Booker surprised the world with their resurrection of the Phoenix Suns. Though with no guarantee of repeating to the finals, considering Chris Paul’s age, fans should still be thrilled by the team’s offseason moves. Cameron Payne and Landrew Shamet are good quality backcourt alternatives coming off the bench. The Suns are still gunning for the championship after a shocking run last season.
It’s time to wonder how teams will fare this 2021-2022 NBA season. While the Lakers and Nets are the favorites to win it all, it’s hard to be certain in a league like this. Health is the number one concern of every team, and the teams may change drastically during the season. We’ve just got to wait and see.
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