The offseason is bound to bring change for many NBA franchises. The Utah Jazz are a team that’s on the tip of everyone’s tongue when talking about potentially major moves this offseason. The Atlanta Hawks are another but what are some under-the-radar situations where potential change could be rampant?
Let’s take a look at several teams that could unexpectedly face major changes if they underperform in the postseason.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors haven’t had home playoff basketball in Toronto since the 2019 NBA Finals and surely, coach Nick Nurse would like to deliver another surprising run to the Canadian faithful. It’s very possible this could be the last run for several key contributors still remaining from that championship team.
Nurse continues to receive interest from rival teams. Trade rumors surrounding Pascal Siakam‘s name have been brewing for quite some time. Both OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet were floated as available in trade talks for Ben Simmons at various points over the past year and while it’s unclear how genuine those reports were, what we do know is that president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri is not afraid to make moves with an eye on the future.
It just seems like it’s a matter of time before the franchise completely builds around Scottie Barnes, though the team’s late-season surge and a decent playoff run, could further extend the connection with some of the ring-bearing veterans.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are legit title contenders, though, with those lofty expectations in mind, this postseason will serve as a major test for the team’s pricey core.
The Warriors were positioned to add another star to their core over the past year, though opted to stand pat with Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and Jonathan Kuminga. The group blossomed around Steph Curry & Co. While there’s optimism around the core, an underachieving postseason run could direct Bob Myers to not only explore trades for the aforementioned names but also evaluate the market for Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
Phoenix Suns
It seems foolish to put the Suns here given how bright the immediate future looks, though Phoenix’s offseason could bring some major change.
Rival teams will circle this franchise, looking to poach some of the Suns’ talent as major long-term questions loom: Should the team move Cameron Johnson before be becomes ultra-expensive? Is there any way to keep Deandre Ayton given the potential market? Should they move on from Chris Paul before the eventual decline?
The Suns are favored to win it all, though this team’s core may never be stronger than it is today and with future concerns looming, it could propel the front office to be proactive this summer.
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