<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nLamelo Ball puts on clinic for Charlotte | 02:23<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nBROOKLYN NETS <\/b><\/p>\n
One of their rookies to make a leap<\/b><\/p>\n
The Nets are quietly 7-19 on the season with four wins from their last seven games in a promising stretch for a team with a low bar. Michael Porter Jr. is flourishing as the number one option in what\u2019s turned out to be a big trade coup. And Noah Clowney is showing promising signs in his third NBA season. But what\u2019s underneath that? And which young players can they really sell to their fans? There\u2019s not exactly a Cooper Flagg or Kon Knueppel-level player to get really excited about. It\u2019s been a mixed bag from the rest of the Nets cast and their rookie crop after curiously using all five of their picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Frankly, Brooklyn\u2019s main priorities are player development and getting a high lottery pick (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, stop winning so many games). Of Brooklyn\u2019s rookies, its first three picks, Egor Demin (No. 8), Ben Saraf (No. 26) and Danny Wolf (No. 27), have shown the most as the youngsters they\u2019d have the highest hopes for. So for the Nets sake, seeing at least one of those guys really come on in the new year and make a leap of sorts would make the franchise feel a whole lot better about its future, before ideally adding another high lottery pick in a loaded 2026 draft.<\/p>\n
CHARLOTTE HORNETS<\/b><\/p>\n
Work out where LaMelo fits in their future<\/b><\/p>\n
The Hornets have a new face of the franchise … and it isn\u2019t LaMelo Ball. Instead, the superstar guard has been the subject of trade rumours with rookie Kon Knueppel emerging as the new cornerstone piece for a team that is desperate to start putting together wins and rise up the Eastern Conference standings in the near-future. Injuries in the past few years, not just to Ball but to the entire roster including Brandon Miller, have made it hard for the Hornets to truly evaluate the 24-year-old\u2019s place in their long-term plans. The hope is that a cleaner bill of health will allow them to do just that because it seems unlikely Ball will be dealt before the deadline, with it easier for rival teams to make offers in the offseason when there is more clarity over draft capital and available salary cap space. Charlotte might decide its best served with Ball being a part of its future, but you\u2019re starting to see why they might be inclined to move in another direction.<\/p>\n
CHICAGO BULLS<\/b><\/p>\n
Prioritise building around Josh Giddey<\/b><\/p>\n
Such a mixed bag for a team that\u2019s hard to get a handle on. Perhaps they don\u2019t even know what they are! It looked like this was going to be a different year in Chicago. For once, the Bulls appeared to be heading in an upwards trajectory after years of being stuck in the middle. The Bulls are stuck in 11th place in the Eastern Conference and once again staring at the possibility of being a play-in calibre team and not much more. Nikola Vucevic\u2019s form has dropped off which may make it harder to trade him for considerable value at the deadline, while Coby White\u2019s name has also been tossed up as a potential trade candidate considering he hits free agency next year. Josh Giddey has been one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise frustrating season and shapes as a clear building block along with Matas Buzelis, but the Bulls desperately need to make other moves to find a way to build around those two and if the likes of White and Vucevic aren\u2019t part of their plans beyond this year, they need to find a way to capitalise on that before the deadline.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nLandale long bombs helps Grizzlies win | 00:50<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nCLEVELAND CAVALIERS<\/b><\/p>\n
Locate Michael\u2019s Secret Stuff<\/b><\/p>\n
Turning into the<\/i> most disappointing team this season. Sure, the Cavaliers, like every other side, would love to wake up on Christmas day to find Giannis Antetokounmpo gift-wrapped underneath the tree. But it\u2019s hard to see that happening. That\u2019s largely because the Cavs are over the second apron, so making trades for anyone, let alone a player on a $54 million contract, is much more difficult. Unless they went nuclear and were prepared to trade Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley, or if Antetokounmpo was insistent on forcing his way to Cleveland. But we\u2019ve seen this team win 64 games, so it\u2019s not like there\u2019s a talent issue or glaring holes. Is there any leftover of that Michael\u2019s Secret Stuff from Space Jam anywhere? Of course, they\u2019d love to be fully healthy for once. Max Strus has been sidelined with a broken foot, Darius Garland missed the start of the year and still hasn\u2019t look 100 per cent even when he has been on the court and Jarrett Allen has been in and out of the line-up with a finger injury. Sam Merrill and Larry Nance Jr. have also missed time, forcing the Cavaliers to go deep into their rotation and rely on players like Australian rookie Tyrese Proctor perhaps earlier than anticipated. The result has been a very underwhelming start to the year, relative to expectations. But there\u2019s still ample time for the Cavaliers to turn things around and push back to the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference with the likes of the Knicks and Pistons.<\/p>\n
DALLAS MAVERICKS <\/b><\/p>\n
Gear everything towards Cooper Flagg<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that we haven\u2019t seen this current iteration of the Mavs, including Kyrie Irving, healthy. And sure, Irving isn\u2019t going to transform the Mavericks into a championship contender overnight. But even with the All-Star guard, Dallas may struggle to get into the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference. Realistically, regardless of what Nico Harrison tried to say to justify the Luka Doncic trade, this season is all about Cooper Flagg\u2019s development. Flagg was thrown in the deep end at the start of the season, having to take on far more ball-handling responsibilities than even he may have expected. While the emergence of Ryan Nembhard has helped along with deferring to Brandon Williams, Flagg would benefit from having Irving back in the line-up as the unquestioned focal point of the offence. It would ease the pressure on Flagg and allow him to get more comfortable while improving aspects of his game that he otherwise wouldn\u2019t be able to if he had to run the offence without Irving in the picture. In saying that, it might ultimately be best for the Mavs to look at the trade market for the likes of Anthony Davis and Irving to maximise putting long-term assets around the former No. draft pick. Either way, Flagg is the present and the future.<\/p>\n
DENVER NUGGETS<\/b><\/p>\n
A clean bill of health. And Jamal Murray\u2019s first All-Star<\/b><\/p>\n
Obviously the Nuggets are better served to overcome a few injuries this season with added depth. To be equal second in the West without the likes of Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun is some effort, as good as No. 15 is. But their defence in particular has taken a hit without Gordon and Braun. It\u2019s given someone like Spencer Jones some valuable playing time which will have him better-prepared for the post-season, when\/if required. Yet at the same time the Nuggets will be hoping they won\u2019t have to rely on a still relatively inexperienced player like Jones that much should Braun and Gordon be healthy. If they are, it will then bump the likes of Bruce Brown, Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. back to the bench where the Nuggets will have a deep rotation capable of testing the best teams in the league as they look to contend for a championship. Who knows, perhaps going deeper into their roster will help David Adelman\u2019s team long-term. Nuggets brass and fans alike would also love to see Jamal Murray, arguably the best player to never be an All-Star, get recognised for his career-best season and play in the showcase game in Los Angeles in 2026.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nGiddey hits triple double in Bulls win | 00:59<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nDETROIT PISTONS <\/b><\/p>\n
Make the NBA Finals. And be open to adding another star<\/b><\/p>\n
While every other team seems to be playing for second place in the Western Conference with the way the Oklahoma City Thunder are dominating the NBA this season, the Detroit Pistons have a genuine chance to make it all the way to the Finals in the East. Obviously, they\u2019d rather a championship, but even just making the East finals would be a big win for a franchise that\u2019s been largely irrelevant since its golden run in the 2000s. So making the NBA Finals would be huge for this young group .. and who know what could happen from there. Detroit is currently the top seed in the conference and it would ne understandable to stand pat like OKC did the year before it won the title and see how far this team can go as constructed. Alternately, if a trade for a player like Lauri Markkanen, or another star that would complement Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, presented itself and the asking price wasn\u2019t ridiculous, the Pistons would be silly not to look at it. Markkanen would be a perfect fit in Detroit considering the Pistons\u2019 one glaring weakness is their lack of shooting outside of Duncan Robinson. Sure, Cunningham is going to make shots and is playing at an MVP level, but come playoffs adjustments will be made and adding a floor-spacing big and genuine superstar in Markkanen would go a long way to addressing those concerns.<\/p>\n
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS<\/b><\/p>\n
Find a Jonathan Kuminga trade that makes them better<\/b><\/p>\n
It seems inevitable at this point that Kuminga is heading out the door and after being benched. But the big question for Golden State is what it could receive in return, because it\u2019s not as if it\u2019s a secret that Kuminga is on the outer. So finding a trade that makes them better, no less getting real assets back in a deal, suddenly isn\u2019t such a given. The Athletic\u2019s Sam Amick reported earlier this month that the Kings are \u201cwidely expected\u201d to revisit their offseason interest in Kuminga. But in an interesting twist, he added that the New Orleans Pelicans are \u201cfront and centre in this discussion\u201d because the Warriors have interest in Trey Murphy III. The asking price would be high, but if the Warriors were able to part ways with Kuminga in a package that lands them a genuine difference-maker like Murphy it would be huge for their chances in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n
HOUSTON ROCKETS <\/b><\/p>\n
Guard depth<\/b><\/p>\n
There were concerns over Houston\u2019s offence entering the season when Fred VanVleet went down injured but the Rockets have been able to make it work so far with a point guard by committee approach. Kevin Durant, of course, is going to make shots while Aaron Holiday has been a handy veteran presence. Meanwhile, both Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson have also improved as a ballhandler and Reed Sheppard has emerged as a genuine spark plug in his second year. Still, even if it\u2019s not a starting option, the Rockets could do with adding some guard depth ahead of the deadline to insulate themselves from any injuries down the stretch. The Rockets are hard-capped at the first apron, so there isn\u2019t a splashy move they can make anyway and given this is one of the best offences in the league as is, it isn\u2019t urgent they make an addition before the deadline but it would be worthwhile insurance.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nNY Knicks end 52-year trophy drought | 01:54<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nINDIANA PACERS <\/b><\/p>\n
A big man to replace Myles Turner long-term<\/b><\/p>\n
This was always going to be a retooling year of sorts for the Pacers after Tyrese Haliburton went down with a torn Achilles in the NBA Finals. And while injuries have derailed any chance of them making something of the season, it has given them a chance to see just what they have across the roster. Moving forward, however, the focus has to be on finding a l0ng-term replacement for Myles Turner after the Pacers lost him to the Bucks in free agency. They have the roster flexibility to make a deal and once Haliburton is back, this Pacers team is capable of challenging in the Eastern Conference again so bolstering the frontcourt with another stretch big is key.<\/p>\n
LA CLIPPERS<\/b><\/p>\n
Anti-ageing cream. Or any sort of answer to dig themselves out of hole<\/b><\/p>\n
This Clippers roster is getting old and fast. That wouldn\u2019t be as much of a problem if they were winning games. Instead, L.A. looks to be hurtling towards an ugly rebuild and without much draft capital to facilitate it. The Thunder, of all teams, control L.A.\u2019s 2026 first-round pick and have the rights to swap firsts in 2027. It leaves the Clippers with an uncomfortable position. Should they consider trying to trade James Harden, Kahwi Leonard and potentially Ivica Zubac? Would there even be that much of a market for an older superstar like Leonard who is so often injured? Either way, unless the Clippers miraculously turn things around which looks unlikely, it may be wise to at least gauge what kind of offers they can get to recoup draft capital and build towards the future. A pathway forward and digging themselves out of this no man\u2019s land hole, whether it\u2019s somehow fighting their way back into the season or rebooting the roster, needs to become more clear. A resolution on the salary-cap-circumvention investigation would also be ideal in a potential factor behind the team\u2019s drop off. <\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES LAKERS <\/b><\/p>\n
Another trade coup to fall in their lap. And improved defence<\/b><\/p>\n
As long as Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James are healthy, the Lakers should be thereabouts with the rest of the Western Conference contenders trying to topple Oklahoma City. Their offence is that<\/i> good, even if they won\u2019t win every close game for the rest of time. But there might be a ceiling to this LA team, if it can\u2019t find another move to make it a more serious threat in the West. Any other secret, lost-cost Doncic trades out there to fall in L.A\u2019s lap? There\u2019s no shortage of potential stars that could be on the market, even if there won\u2019t be a player of Doncic\u2019s ilk. That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There\u2019s frankly enough chefs in the kitchen for the Lakers as is, so finding high-level role players should be the priority. And if there is one glaring flaw for this Lakers roster, it\u2019s the perimeter defence. It\u2019s been particularly poor against the best teams in the league, with the Spurs\u2019 nifty ballhandlers finding all sorts of ways to expose the Lakers off the dribble in their latest 132-119 win earlier in the month. The transition defence is also a major problem and it\u2019s not the kind of thing the Lakers can fix at the trade deadline, even if they find a defensive piece\/s. <\/p>\n<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nLeBron & Brooks clash in Lakers win | 01:57<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nMEMPHIS GRIZZLIES <\/b><\/p>\n
A healthy frontcourt<\/b><\/p>\n
Some clarity on Ja Morant\u2019s future and whether he\u2019s the guy to continue to build around would also be nice. But in the short-term, the Grizzlies could do with better luck on the injury front. Specifically, they would love to have starting big man Zach Edey available for an extended period. Edey was already unavailable at the start of the year along with Jaren Jackson Jr. and just as both had returned to the line-up, Edey was soon sidelined again with a stress reaction in his left ankle. The setback has opened the door for Australian Jock Landale to get an extended run, but ideally the Grizzlies would prefer to continue developing Edey as they work to identify the core players they want to build this team around moving forward.<\/p>\n
MIAMI HEAT <\/b><\/p>\n
Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/b><\/p>\n
Is it too much to ask? The Heat, as expected, even without Jimmy Butler, are teetering on the edge of the play-in tournament and playoffs. But with how congested the Eastern Conference is, they could be one major move away from vaulting up the standings. Could a play for Antetokounmpo be on the cards? Before he signed the supermax extension in 2020, there was talk about the Heat being aggressive in trying to land the Bucks superstar and now again there are whispers they could be the kind of big market that would appeal to the two-time MVP. They have the kind of trade package that could appeal to the Bucks too, potentially headlined by Tyler Herro, Kel\u2019el Ware and draft compensation. Their draft hand could yet get boosted too, with Miami reportedly pushing to get its 2027 first-round pick back from the Terry Rozier trade while he\u2019s under investigation for illegal gambling allegations.<\/p>\n
MILWAUKEE BUCKS<\/b><\/p>\n
A resolution on Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s future<\/b><\/p>\n
Speaking of Antetokounmpo, all eyes across the NBA world are watching his situation, which has the Bucks in a state of flux. In a perfect world for Milwaukee, the Greek Freak would play out his career for the franchise. That could mean finding a trade that could convince Antetokounmpo to stay put. But we\u2019ve seen this story with superstars before and all signs point to it ending in one way. If he doesn\u2019t think he can win a championship with Milwaukee and truly wants out, the best Christmas present Milwaukee could ask for is an offer it simply cannot refuse. Especially if the Bucks can\u2019t get a commitment from the two-time MVP that he\u2019s in this thing for the long haul. Without any incredibly valuable assets on the roster and no control over their draft picks through to 2030, it\u2019s hard to see the Bucks being able to pull a rabbit out of the hat like they did to land Myles Turner in the off-season. Either way, whether it\u2019s ahead of the February trade deadline or in the off-season, the franchise needs to work out whether Antetokounmpo is part of the future or not once and for all to forge a clear pathway forward.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nGiddey guides Bulls to snap losing run | 01:32<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nMINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES <\/b><\/p>\n
A genuine upgrade at point guard<\/b><\/p>\n
Mike Conley is declining in effectiveness, while Donte DiVincenzo is a shooting guard and Rob Dillingham doesn\u2019t look ready yet to shoulder lead ball-handling responsibilities. The lack of a genuine lead point guard is the glaring hole on this roster that is otherwise capable of going on another run in the Western Conference and the Timberwolves are spoiled for options, with LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant the biggest names that may be available. But rumours continue to swirl that the Timberwolves could make a play for Chicago\u2019s Coby White and it makes plenty of sense, even if he isn\u2019t necessarily the pure point guard the Timberwolves may need. He is still a dynamic scorer who can play on and off the ball, which is important since Anthony Edwards is still going to be the focal point of the offence. A genuine floor-controlling guard would be ideal but the Timberwolves can\u2019t be picky.<\/p>\n
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS <\/b><\/p>\n
That the Hawks don\u2019t nail their 2026 pick<\/b><\/p>\n
The fact Derik Queen looks like a star in the making is a major relief for the Pelicans, who were aggressive in trading up for him in this year\u2019s draft. But either way, it looks like Atlanta could be on the clock pretty high in the 2026 draft given the Hawks will get the better pick from either New Orleans or Milwaukee. While the Pelicans, now healthy, have begun to turn things around, they\u2019ve struggled for the most part this season, despite Queen\u2019s emergence. And New Orleans is even said to be listening to offers for Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III, while the Bucks could trade away Giannis Antetokounmpo and tumble down the Eastern Conference standings. All that equals is Atlanta sitting back and waiting to see where that pick lands given it will likely be in the lottery and in a stacked draft that features several standout prospects at the top of the board, it may be a move the Pelicans regret even if Queen looks like a hit given they could have got him later.<\/p>\n
NEW YORK KNICKS<\/b><\/p>\n
First real silverware in 52 years<\/b><\/p>\n
There was a lot made of the Knicks\u2019 decision to not hang a banner for their NBA Cup triumph. Regardless of where you stand, everyone should be on the same page. It was a great victory and some validation for what they\u2019ve built in New York, but this team should have its eyes on the bigger prize. Just imagine the streets of Manhattan. It\u2019s more than a pipe dream now too; the Knicks are the deserving favourites to come out of the East to make the NBA Finals. Even if the top teams in the Western Conference look another level. And could a certain Greek superstar help New York end its 52-year title drought? Like the Heat, the Knicks are another team that\u2019s been linked to two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but there have also been multiple reports that the interest is mutual. Antetokounmpo wants to win a championship and there mightn\u2019t be many better realistic landing spots nor bigger NBA markets than the Big Apple. The Knicks may be better served standing pat and not tampering with a winning formula, plus they\u2019re over the second apron and mightn\u2019t have the trade assets to appease Milwaukee, unless Antetokounmpo tried to force his way to New York. Could help push the Knicks over as a genuine threat to Oklahoma City\u2019s ambitions of going back-to-back.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nLebron stars as Lakers beat 76ers | 02:45<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nOKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER<\/b><\/p>\n
No major injuries<\/b><\/p>\n
*Touches wood*. Although they seemed to do just fine without Jalen Williams. But seriously, forget the talk about trade deadline moves. The Thunder are easily the best team in basketball right now and eyeing Golden State\u2019s all-time 73 win record. As long as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City\u2019s other biggest names are healthy down the stretch, you have to think we could be looking at back-to-back champions. You only have to look at Ajay Mitchell\u2019s development in his second year for proof of just how deep this Thunder roster is and if you are a fan of any other team, maybe don\u2019t look at how many draft picks they have to come.<\/p>\n
ORLANDO MAGIC <\/b><\/p>\n
Their stars to get a proper chance to shine together<\/b><\/p>\n
Last year, it was injuries to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs that prevented the Magic from giving the Eastern Conference a real shake. Of course, the 3-point shooting was also an issue injuries aside, but the Magic went about trying to fix that by trading for Desmond Bane. This season, injuries have started to become an issue again with Franz Wagner missing time due to a high ankle sprain, In a way that was a relief given it looked like it could have been far worse when Wagner went down. Still, it wasn\u2019t ideal for a Magic team that has struggled to have its biggest names available all at the same time, with Banchero also missing time with a groin injury while Suggs was working to rediscover his best form after his knee surgery late last season before exiting their NBA Cup semi-final against the Knicks with a hip injury. The Magic have the ingredients to be a contender in the East, but it\u2019s hard to build an offensive identity with key pieces in and out of the line-up.<\/p>\n
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS<\/b><\/p>\n
A Joel Embiid resurgence <\/b><\/p>\n
There are already plenty of reasons to be optimistic as a 76ers fan. VJ Edgecombe looks like a genuine difference-maker already as a rookie, while Tyrese Maxey is taking a leap towards superstardom. What would really <\/i>be on the top of every Philadelphia fans wishlist this Christmas, however, is seeing a healthy Joel Embiid. He doesn\u2019t even have to be dominating or playing close to the level which saw him crowned MVP. That version of Embiid may not be possible anymore after all the injuries. But if Embiid continues to show flashes of his best, as he did with a season-high 39 points against the Indiana Pacers, it will significantly lift Philadelphia\u2019s ceiling and even if he doesn\u2019t put it all together this year, the 76ers were always realistically going to be more of a team to monitor next season.<\/p>\n<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nGiddey’s triple-double can’t topple Nets | 01:26<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nPHOENIX SUNS <\/b><\/p>\n
More of the same<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s a boring answer, but for a franchise that seemingly entered this season without much reason for optimism after all-in trades left them with little draft capital, this year\u2019s results so far have actually been a pleasant surprise. While no guarantee to hold up in the competitive Western Conference, the Suns look every bit a play-in tournament team at the moment and are doing enough to at least stave off any rumours of Devin Booker wanting out. Dillon Brooks continues to prove he is one of the most underrated players in the league and has helped create a competitive, winning culture in Phoenix while Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie have also been underrated pick-ups. The lack of future draft capital is obviously still a concern, and it will be interesting to see if Mat Ishbia leans into the team\u2019s current success by upgrading the roster ahead of the deadline. But you would hope he won\u2019t be too aggressive, understanding that while this season has gone better than expected there isn\u2019t any reason to revert to the bad habits that saw them exhaust so much of their draft capital in the first place.<\/p>\n
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS <\/b><\/p>\n
More emerging stars to continue upwards trajectory<\/b><\/p>\n
Deni Avdija has been a great addition for Portland and looks like a key part of the Trail Blazers\u2019 future. So which other players can also emerge to help get this Blazers team where it wants to be? The Blazers could do with identifying who else on this roster can emerge as genuine difference-makers considering the play-in tournament seems to be the absolute ceiling for this team as currently constructed. Shaedon Sharpe\u2019s recent stretch of play suggests he can be just that. Development is not always linear and Sharpe is proof of that, with the 22-year-old guard taking a big jump in his fourth year. Can Scoot Henderson live up to his potential? And does Donovan Clingan have more levels to his game? While the Jrue Holiday trade was a tad odd at the time since it seemed to suggest Portland thought it had a chance of making real noise this season, results this year have proven otherwise and hopefully will see the Trail Blazers continue to lean into internal development.<\/p>\n
SACRAMENTO KINGS<\/b><\/p>\n
Find trade partners for ageing veterans<\/b><\/p>\n
There\u2019s no hiding from the truth; it\u2019s time to blow it up. This never looked like it was going to work from the start and now the Kings need to tear down this roster. That will require help from other teams. So, if there is anything the Sacramento front office would want for Christmas it is a long list of rivals lining up to trade for its veterans. And other teams shouldn\u2019t be shy given the Kings\u2019 recent rap sheet. Whether it is Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schr\u00f6der \u2014 or basically anyone bar Keegan Murray \u2014 everyone should be on the table as the Kings desperately search for a way to break up a veteran-heavy team that isn\u2019t gelling on the court. It is hard to tell just how interested rival teams would be in some of those distressed assets, although you would have to imagine there would be an appetite for a player like Malik Monk who would be an immediate upgrade to the bench of several contenders. Either way, the Kings need to move on from this current roster and find a young star or two to get fans excited about the future.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\n‘The writing is on the wall’ | 01:46<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nSAN ANTONIO SPURS <\/b><\/p>\n
A deep playoff run<\/b><\/p>\n
Perhaps slightly ahead of their time including the 20-7 Spurs sitting equal second in the West with the equal third-best record in the NBA. Suddenly San Antonio will be thinking: \u2018Why not us?\u2019 Realistically, a deep playoff run for a young, rising team would be a great outcome for Victor Wembanyama and company. The Spurs showed there\u2019s much more to them than just Wembanyama though, going 9-3 when the 7-foot-4 star was out of the line-up. De\u2019Aaron Fox has reminded the NBA world how good he is and Steph Castle and Dylan Harper are bona fide stars in the making. The development of such names and gaining invaluable playoff experience are right now the most important things for Mitch Johnson\u2019s squad. It snapped OKC\u2019s 16-game winning streak in statement win en route to the NBA Cup final, which gave San Antonio a taste of the big stage. So while many had Denver and Houston pegged as OKC\u2019s biggest threats in the West, the Spurs have very much entered the conversation. A conference finals appearance isn\u2019t out of the realm of possibilities as San Antonio sets its sights on its first playoff appearance since 2019. <\/p>\n
TORONTO RAPTORS <\/b><\/p>\n
Frontcourt upgrade<\/b><\/p>\n
The Raptors looked to be the Eastern Conference\u2019s version of the Sacramento Kings entering the season: a somewhat random mishmash of stars who weren\u2019t going to fit on a roster that lacked a genuine superstar to take this team over the top. Instead, all the critics have been silenced with Toronto emerging as a genuine dark horse in the wide-open East and now attention turns to what upgrades the Raptors could make to the roster. Toronto could definitely do with some size to either have behind the previously injured Jakob Poeltl or upgrade at the position. Jake Fischer reported the Raptors have expressed interest in Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Davis. Davis in Toronto alongside Scottie Barnes would be a terrifying prospect for rival teams in the East, while Sabonis is an All-NBA talent stuck in an underwhelming situation who would be an immediate improvement to Poeltl as both a rebounder and finisher.<\/p>\n
UTAH JAZZ<\/b><\/p>\n
That their draft pick next year doesn\u2019t land outside the top eight<\/b><\/p>\n
Otherwise, it will go to Oklahoma City (because of course it would). It\u2019s not like the Thunder need any more leg-ups. So yeah, maybe take the foot off the pedal a smudge, Utah. At the moment, the Jazz look like they could be just competitive enough for that to become a reality. Of course, trading away Lauri Markkanen would change that but all reports seem to suggest that the Jazz want to build around him instead of trading their superstar forward. If that is the case, it will also significantly reduce Utah\u2019s chances of landing a coveted top-three pick in next year\u2019s class and while Ace Bailey has the tools to be a future star, you have to question whether at some point down the line the Jazz will realise even Markkanen can\u2019t help get them over the line against the best of the best.<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON WIZARDS<\/b><\/p>\n
Pick 1 (or a pick closer to)<\/b><\/p>\n
Tanking for nothing. That\u2019s what it had to feel like last year when the Wizards went into the draft lottery this year with a 14 per cent chance at landing Cooper Flagg, tied for the best odds, only to instead end up with the sixth pick. And while it\u2019s stull early days and Tre Johnson could yet be anything, they appear to have missed out on the potential top-line stars of the 2025 draft class, like Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel. The Wizards are again the worst team in basketball and at least this time around, even if they don\u2019t get the top pick, there will be a more than acceptable consolation prize, with Kansas\u2019 Darryn Peterson, Duke\u2019s Cam Boozer and BYU\u2019s AJ Dybantsa all considered elite prospects in the 2026 draft. But if they go through another season of tanking only to miss out on a top-three selection, it will continue to feel more like the whole world is against them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s just days until Christmas and the holiday season is here, so everyone is getting their wish list for Santa written and ready. What would every NBA teams\u2019 biggest wish be? Foxsports.com.au runs through every NBA team\u2019s Christmas wish heading into 2026. Watch NBA with ESPN on Kayo Sports | Stream an average 9 LIVE 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