Are these NBA Teams Contenders or Pretenders?

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Contender or Pretender?: Which teams actually have a title shot, and which are all bark no bite?

High Schoolers League Bound?: The NBA may allow high schoolers to enter the draft soon. What does this mean for NBA fans, college fans, and LeBron?

Today, we are deeming NBA teams championship “contenders" and "pretenders." By contenders, we mean teams with a legit shot at a ring, while pretenders are those rosters who are very good but we can’t really see them having a solid shot at a championship unless a number of things fall their way. We took the top 13 teams Vegas has for the 2023 title odds. Read to see which are title contenders and pretenders!

Philadelphia 76ers

Contender pitch: Philly has a top-two MVP candidate, an ever-improving and efficient Tyrese Maxey, and a finally healthy James Harden who looks to be in terrific shape. If Joel Embiid did not get injured in the first round of last year’s playoffs, who knows how we would be viewing them right now. Plus, the addition of PJ Tucker is exactly what this roster needed: perimeter defense and shooting.

Pretender pitch: We have no idea if Harden is still Him. He hasn’t been able to blow by defenders at an elite rate for two years now. Plus, Embiid’s health is a complete question mark after 82 games.

Our conclusion: Contender. We think this could be the year for the Sixers because this is probably the best roster Embiid has ever had, and now is the best Embiid has ever played.

Golden State Warriors

Contender pitch: The reigning champs brought back nearly everyone and still have Wardell Stephen Curry.

Pretender pitch: “But Otto Porter, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Gary Pay–” Just kidding.

Our conclusion: Contender. Expect to see similar play to these 2022 Playoff Highlights:

Brooklyn Nets

Contender pitch: On paper, this roster might be the most talented in the entire NBA. Ben Simmons fits like a glove in Brooklyn with his defense. His facilitating, and rim slashing fixes some of Brooklyn’s biggest weaknesses, and they have a plethora of perimeter shooting to maximize his offensive strengths. After 82 games to gel, this roster should look dangerous come playoff time.

Pretender pitch: We were equally optimistic 365 days ago and the whole situation imploded. KD wanted out this offseason and might not be entirely committed to the Nets. Oh, and who the hell knows what Ben Simmons will bring.

Our conclusion: Contender. While this may be an unpopular opinion, the Nets were the #1 seed and KD was playing at an MVP level for the first part of last season. With Kyrie Irving playing away games, Ben Simmons eventually fitting in well as a tertiary star, and keen additions around the edges, Brooklyn's ceiling is astronomical.

Los Angeles Lakers

Contender pitch: LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Pretender pitch: Players not named LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Our conclusion: Pretender, until we see otherwise. This team has a championship ceiling but also a lottery floor. We’ll settle for pretenders now but wouldn’t be shocked if they look more like the 2020 Lakers if LeBron and AD stay healthy and things click.

Milwaukee Bucks

Contender pitch: They would have been Eastern Conference and perhaps NBA Champions if Khris Middleton didn’t go down in the Celtics series. When they were last healthy in the playoffs, they won a ring in 2021 against a good Suns team in just six games. By retaining Bobby Portis and adding sharpshooter Grayson Allen since then, they should be the favorite out east.

Pretender pitch: Um…next question please.

Our conclusion: Contender.

Dallas Mavericks

Contender pitch: Luka Doncic was probably the most impactful player in last years’ playoffs and when the game slows down, star power matters more than ever. Christian Wood could be a nice pick and pop combo too.

Pretender pitch: Many people see last year as an overachievement in the playoffs, and they did not improve from last year as the addition of Christian Wood does not offset the loss of Jalen Brunson.

Our conclusion: Pretender. Come playoff time, expect Luka to beautifully drag them again as far as he can, but not far enough. Like, the "Luka Doncic Playoff Highlights" mixtape is literally an hour long:

Los Angeles Clippers

Contender pitch: The duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be the best combination of talent, shot making ability, and experience in the entire playoffs. They also have the deepest team in the league, with the tenth and eleventh best players on the roster being quality rotation pieces.

Pretender pitch: The Kawhi and PG13 experiment has been remarkably unsuccessful up to this point. If they’re even healthy, their talent will bring them no further than the second round because they lack the guard facilitation to have a top-tier offense come playoff time, and John Wall isn’t the solution.

Our conclusion: Contender. The talent and shot making are too much with this roster from top down. If they don’t at least make the WCF, we will be very surprised.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Contender pitch: There are three, maybe four all star caliber players and two all-defensive team players on this roster. With the Donovan Mitchell trade, this roster is loaded both offensively and defensively, and has a very high ceiling.

Pretender pitch: The roster is still too young. While they have many great players, they clearly don’t have a top 10 player, which is usually required to win a ring. Darius and Spida haven’t won anything substantial in the playoffs yet, so come playoff time this team will be very good but not great.

Our conclusion: Pretender. But give ‘em a year or two and they’ll be title favorites.

Phoenix Suns

Contender pitch: Humans tend to remember unusual events because the events are just that: unusual. As a result, people are defining the 64-win Suns of last year as a fraudulent failure because of a dramatic blowout loss in the final game of the playoffs. That's our most recent impression of the Suns, but it shouldn’t overshadow 82 games of being clearly the best team in the league. Mikal Bridges is still growing as a scorer, they brought back DeAndre Ayton, and there is no reason why Booker won’t make another All-NBA First Team.

Pretender pitch: Age will finally catch up to Chris Paul. In the 2021 Finals, he was arguably their best player but was clearly second fiddle last year, which bodes poorly. Additionally, Ayton doesn’t want to be on the roster and they don’t have what it takes in the playoffs.

Our conclusion: Contender. Don’t let the most recent impression cloud your judgment. If CP3 stays near his usual level of production, the Suns will be a top-2 team out west again.

Memphis Grizzlies

Contender pitch: Ja Morant is an All-NBA First Team caliber player on the level of superstars traditionally required for title runs. Desmond Bane has evolved into an elite shooter and efficient second option, and could still improve. If Jaren Jackson Jr is finally healthy, they could put it together in the playoffs.

Pretender pitch: They almost fell in round one to the #7 seed Timberwolves and teams in their tier, like the Clippers and Nuggets, have greater star power and playoff experience. While they’re a great regular season team, it is unlikely they have the fire power to win 12-16 playoff games.

Our conclusion: Pretender. We still think the Grizzlies roster is missing a piece to launch them into true contendership. They’re a great regular season team, but when stacking up against older teams with more firepower they may fall flat again.

Boston Celtics

Contender pitch: They just reached the NBA Finals, lost zero significant pieces, and added Malcolm Brogdon who fits seamlessly into their scheme. Jaylen Brown could also have another offensive gear to unlock which is exciting.

Pretender pitch: They let a Middleton-less Bucks push them to seven games in round two, which is pretty inexcusable and doesn’t bode well for a healthy rematch. They also escaped a good but not great Heat team in seven games. Plus, Tatum looked a bit sketchy in the Finals.

Our conclusion: Contender. While we see the Bucks and perhaps one other team as clearly better than the Celtics, this roster has the talent and, now, the experience to repeat what they did last year, especially if injuries fall their way or they catch fire at the right time.

Miami Heat

Contender pitch: Over the past few seasons, the Miami Heat consistently over perform in both the regular and postseason. In the playoffs in the past three years, they journeyed to the 2020 NBA Finals from the #6 seed, lost to the eventual champion Bucks in round one, and then made it to within one win of another Finals. The key pieces from these past runs–Jimmy, Bam, Herro–are still around and the latter two are getting better every season.

Pretender pitch: The loss of PJ Tucker will be felt deeply, plus Jimmy is now 33 years old and still can’t shoot perimeter shots with any sort of efficiency. Adebayo and Herro are great young pieces but Herro might be best as a sixth man and unless Bam gets significantly better as a scorer, this offense will struggle greatly in the playoffs against elite defenses.

Our conclusion: Pretender, not because they declined, but because so many teams in their tier improved. The Bucks are healthy; the Celtics added depth and grew internally; the Nets will have stability come playoff time, and the Hawks and Cavaliers have better star talent and arguably better overall rosters on paper.

Denver Nuggets

Contender pitch: First things first: they have the back to back MVP. Jokic will be the most impactful player in most if not all playoff series. Additionally, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter, who combined to play nine games last season, are finally returning! If they come back relatively healthy, the Nuggets are instantly the most improved team of the offseason from a talent point of view. Plus, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a great fit at the shooting guard and Bruce Brown is a solid bench piece.

Pretender pitch: The injury factor is a big hurtle to overcome, and even if Murray and Porter are alright, neither has made an all star appearance yet. Will they really have the star power to match the Warriors, Clippers, or Suns?

Our conclusion: Contender, if health permits. Do you know Nikola Jokic has never played with another all star in his seven year career? If his squad gets healthy, that may change. If so, they could be Finals bound.

NBA may allow high schoolers to enter draft at 18

What happened: The NBA and NBA Players Association are "expected to agree on" lowering draft-age eligibility from 19 to 18 in the new collective bargaining agreement, per Shams Charania. The change could happen as soon as the 2024 draft.

Analysis and Opinion: Should prospects be allowed to enter the NBA draft at 18 years of age? Its a complicated topic. Eighteen means that players can come out of high school, a policy outlawed in 2006 through collective bargaining. And it was done for a reason. Its a cherrypicked example, but 18-year-old Emoni Bates was just arrested on gun charges. Not only will franchises be more blindly reaching for players in the draft, leading to some becoming busts and other deserving players missing opportunities, but it will also destroy a lot of the appeal of college basketball. Not that the NBA should care, but it sucks for the average fan!

Conspiracy time: You know which player arguably has the most influence over the direction of the league? LeBron James. You know whose older son becomes draft eligible in 2024? LeBron James. You know whose younger son could now become draft eligible as soon as 2025? LeBron James. Whether Bron actually advocated for this is complete speculation, we'll be the first to say it. But its 1) convenient and 2) hilarious.

Robert Williams out 4-6 Weeks

What happened: Celtics center Robert Williams will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks for undergoing a left knee surgery. While the defensive stalwart will miss the first few weeks of the season, Al Horford will see a largely increased role.

What the NBA Can Learn (and Take) from EuroBasket - Andy Bailey (Bleacher Report)

The NBA Championship Formula Part Four: Making Home Court An Advantage - David Grubb (Sports Illustrated)

Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter will need to succeed on their own for Orlando Magic - Philip Rossman-Reich (Orlando Magic Daily)

Zion Williamson’s trainer details summer workouts that put Pelicans’ star in ‘fantastic shape’ - William Guillory (The Athletic)

That'll do it for us! Go and be a contender, not a pretender, today!

-Conor Geelan

Trivia Answer: The first European-born NBA All Star was Detlef Schrempf! The 3-time all star first made the game in 1993.

Trivia Question: Continuing the debate of high school hoopers, who was the last NBA player to be drafted directly of high school?