Three Most Underrated Teams Going into the NBA season
After witnessing the handfuls of transactions and acquisitions every NBA team makes throughout an offseason, NBA fans and media members enjoy projecting how these teams will prefer in the regular reason, based on each teams’ additions and how they did prior. Even though it isn’t too difficult to project about how good most NBA teams will perform going into a season, there are usually a couple teams that get overlooked and end up stunning the league; last year, the teams that did that were the Phoenix Suns, the Western Conference champions, the Atlanta Hawks, and the New York Knicks. This season will likely not be an exception. Here are the three teams that I expect to exceed expectations this season:
Toronto Raptors:
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It is crazy to think the Raptors are only three seasons removed from winning the NBA finals, especially when considering they had a top four pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Even though they have definitely sagged off from what they once were, let’s not ignore this squad. A main reason why they struggled last year was their lack of health. Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, and OG Anunoby missed 92 games combined last season. They did lose Kyle Lowry, which is a huge loss for them, but they were able to get a couple nice pieces in exchange for him: Goran Dragic is a stable veteran who will be able to find his own shot, when necessary, and facilitate. Precious Achiuwa has a legit chance to be the center of the future for them, his frame, defensive versatility, and expanding offensive game is going to be a huge asset for them now and going forward. Not to mention, they drafted a potential franchise player in Scottie Barnes with the fourth pick, he has ways to go as a shot creator, but his vision, athleticism, transition-scoring and defense will pop this year, as they did in the preseason. Going back to OG, every year since he has entered the league, he has taken a step offensively. With growing offensive responsibility and the flashes he showed in the preseason, I’m a firm believer that he is bound for another big leap, to the level where he could battle Pascal Siakam as the best player on the team. If the Raptors stay healthy and OG takes that type of leap, they have a chance to be scary. Their defensive versatility and overall depth to go along with elite coaching shouldn’t be ignored.
Minnesota Timberwolves-
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The Minnesota Timberwolves is a team that has been difficult to bet on over the past handful of years. In the last 20 years, the Timberwolves have won more in a season than what Las Vegas projected three times, so it is understandable why some people would count them out, but let’s not. Last season, similar to the Raptors, injuries impacted them more than anything: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley missed 93 games combined last year. If they were healthly last year, who knows if they would be a bottom-feeder?
This season, they should be in better position: They are coming into the season healthy. Chris Finch, their new head coach, who even got a vote from the NBA GM survey on who runs the league’s best offense, has had a full off-season to implement his system. KAT is in as great of shape as he has been in his entire career, and, fortunately, he seems to be gaining his happiness and interest in the game after all he has gone through the past couple years. Even though the injuries last year were a disaster, it allowed young players like Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels grow into their own. Edwards averaged 23.8 PPG and 5.3 RPG in the second half of the year and seems to be poised for a big leap next year. Jaden McDaniels emerged as a fantastic and versatile defensive-wing who can space the floor and make plays with the ball in his hands. The additions of Patrick Beverley and Taurean Prince also add much needed veteranship, shooting and defense.
Health is going to be the deciding factor for this team, but if this roster stays relatively healthy and their sophomores (Ant and Jaden) take leaps, they have a real chance to make the playoffs in the highly-regarded West
Washington Wizards
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Typically when a team trades an All-Star caliber player and former MVP, that team that a massive step back. But this could very well be an exception: This summer, the Wizards got much deeper. From the Westbrook trade, they were able to add three high-end rotational pieces in Kadavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, and Montrezl Harrell. KCP and Kuzma will improve the defense by at least a slight margin. All three will drastically improve the scoring on the bench. They drafted Corey Kisbert, who, because of his elite shooting, off-ball gravity and engagement on both ends, is as ready as any rookie not taken in the top five in this past draft. Not to mention. they added Spencer Dinwiddie, who could be a better fit next to Bradley Beal than Westbrook because he isn’t quite as ball dominant, yet should still be able to be a strong second-option as a scorer and playmaker. As good as Russell Westbrook is, his value does not outweigh the combined value these five players add to this roster. If it wasn’t for the East getting so much stronger this year, I would predict them to build off of their playoff appearance last year. Nonetheless, they certainly improved and I still think they will be in the play-in conversation.