The 2023-2024 NBA season is just around the corner!
Before it gets underway, we’ve gone through all 30 teams to determine their strengths, weaknesses and predict their wins for the season.
See them all below!
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Los Angeles Lakers
Why they can be better this season
Looking at their roster, the Lakers have 10 genuine playoff rotation guys. They have done an outstanding job rebuilding this roster since punting Russell Westbrook, giving them one of the deeper cores in the NBA.
They have enough to cover the inevitable missed time by LeBron James and/or Anthony Davis and should be considered genuine title contenders.
Weak spots
It really comes down to LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ health. If they avoid long-term injuries to their superstars, they don’t have many holes.
Do they move D’Angelo Russell mid-season in a play to bring in Kyrie Irving? Could that actually derail them in the end?
Season predictions
The Lakers put together one of the best rosters in the league and are a genuine force to be reckoned with this season.
Verdict: 56 wins
Denver Nuggets
Why they can be better this season
The Nuggets can be better in this year’s regular season thanks to a full season of Jamal Murray. Murray was working his way back from a torn ACL last season and only really found his rhythm in the playoffs.
With Murray playing a full season, another off-season of development for Michael Porter Jr, good depth and the best basketball player on the planet in Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets should better this season.
Weak spots
The Nuggets have an outstanding starting five, but they lost Bruce Brown and didn’t really replace him.
Expect Christian Braun to step up and they like rookie Julian Strawther. Can they replace the output? Will they add a buyout guy during the season? They certainly have the ability to make a move.
Season predictions
Expect the Nuggets to once again be among the contenders in a loaded Western Conference, though going back-to-back is incredibly difficult.
Verdict: 54 wins
Phoenix Suns
Why they can be better this season
The new Suns ownership have certainly had fun shopping around in the last year, bringing in Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Jusurf Nurkic, while moving on from Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and more.
With a revamped roster, time for Durant and Devin Booker to build chemistry, the addition of Beal and strong depth with the likes of Yuta Watanabe, Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen, they have what it takes to be a dynamic offence.
Weak spots
Can Durant stay healthy? He has struggled to get through a season since his major Achilles injury. Nurkic and Beal have also had consistent injury issues of late.
There will also be question marks over this team defensively. It might not matter, they might be too potent offensively, but who guards Jayson Tatum on this roster? Who guards Steph Curry?
Season predictions
The Suns will be a force in the playoffs this season if everyone is healthy. However, we can also see them being a little less locked in during the regular season if injuries mount, hence <50 wins.
Verdict: 49 wins
Golden State Warriors
Why they can be better this season
He may be nearing the end of his career, but adding Chris Paul to your roster usually leads to an uptick in regular season wins. Pairing him with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson is particularly intriguing.
Curry only played 56 games last season as well. If he is healthier, the Warriors will naturally be better. Draymond Green keeping his fists away from his teammates would also help.
Weak spots
How will a line-up featuring three guards in the twilight of their career hold up defensively? That is the number one question for the Warriors this season.
Can they get more out of Moses Moody and Jonathan Kumiga? Can Kevon Looney hold up once again as the only true centre on the roster? These will be the question marks.
Season predictions
The Warriors will be fun to watch this season, but can they put it all together for one last run? They’ll be in the mix.
Verdict: 47 wins
Minnesota Timberwolves
Why they can be better this season
Strap a rocket to Anthony Edwards and see how high he can take you. Could Edwards emerge as a top 10-12 player in the NBA this season? We’re predicting a Karl Anthony-Towns trade at some point this season that may unlock the full potential of this roster.
They have a strong starting five, good depth players and a potential superstar to build around.
Weak spots
Until they make the KAT trade, they need to make his pairing with Rudy Gobert work. They’ve had a full off-season to do so, but there are certainly egos to negotiate here.
Season predictions
The Timberwolves jump from the play-in race to a clear playoff team, led by Anthony Edwards.
Verdict: 45 wins
Los Angeles Clippers
Why they can be better this season
If you think the Clippers will finally realise their potential this season, you’re betting on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George having healthy seasons full of continuity where we see them play to their full potential.
Norman Powell and Terance Mann are quality role players and they have the ability to make another impact trade.
Weak spots
Relying on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to play more than 55 games this season and relying on a post-prime Russell Westbrook as your starting point guard. Easier to bet against this mix working.
Season predictions
The Clippers finish as a playoff team unless something goes catastrophically wrong, but their ceiling entirely depends on which Kawhi Leonard shows up and for how long.
Verdict: 44 wins
New Orleans Pelicans
Why they can be better this season
Can we please get a full season from Zion Williamson? If so, it’s hard to put a ceiling on what this Pelicans team can achieve. It’s easy to forget they were one of the best teams in the West before his injury last season.
They have good depth across all positions, but have been cruelled by injuries in recent seasons. Can they keep it together for longer this year?
Weak spots
It comes down to health. Williamson has been notoriously unreliable, Trey Murphy and Naji Marhsall are already hurt, Brandon Ingram’s had his injury problems … they just need some luck for once.
Season predictions
We finally get 65 games of Zion, the Pelicans get right amongst the playoff teams in the Western Conference and end up sneaking in through the play-in.
Verdict: 43 wins
Oklahoma City Thunder
Why they can be better this season
Chet Holmgren could immediately be the front court defensive presence this team has been longing for. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the 12 best players in the NBA, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams will be better as they add layers to their game and they have all the assets you could ever want to make a big trade.
Weak spots
The Thunder went on a run to win 40 games last season potentially a season earlier than expected. They still lack a mature centre on their roster to absorb minutes and they will be quite reliant on Holmgren staying healthy.
Season predictions
The Thunder are once again in the play-in mix, with the upside to make big trade moves across the season.
Verdict: 41 wins
Dallas Mavericks
Why they can be better this season
Having Luka Dončić automatically keeps your ceiling pretty high, particularly if his usage rate remains one of the highest in the league.
The Mavs will need their role players to have a big impact, particularly defensively. Josh Green, Grant Williams, Dereck Lively, Dante Exum – can these guys hold up across the season on that end?
Weak spots
The Kyrie Irving experience.
Season predictions
Dallas’ roster feels thinner than it ever has in the Doncic era and that’s if they get a conflict free five months out of Kyrie Irving.
Verdict: 40 wins
Memphis Grizzlies
Why they can be better this season
This is a tough categorically to fill. Ja Morant will miss 25 games, Brandon Clarke isn’t back yet and now Steven Adams has been ruled out for the whole season.
The Grizzlies have generally performed well without Morant and have built a strong defensive culture. Could a reinvigorated Marcus Smart become a cult hero in Memphis? Could Desmond Bane continue to elevate his game in Morant’s absence?
Weak spots
As above, really. It’s hard to see the Grizzlies without Morant and Adams keeping pace with a dangerous Western Conference.
Any further injuries would leave them incredibly thin on the depth chart.
Season predictions
Predicting the Grizzlies sit in the play-in mix this season, unless they cash in a few draft picks and make a big trade. Particularly one for a centre.
Verdict: 40 wins
Sacramento Kings
Why they can be better this season
The Kings are running it back with essentially the same roster and hoping they can capture the same lightning in a bottle that took them to the playoffs last season.
If they can stay healthy once again, they now have the confidence to run with any team in the West.
Weak spots
No team was healthier last season than the Sacramento Kings who rode a wave of momentum to the three-seed. They had an energy in their home arena that couldn’t be matched, something that was assisted by close win after close win.
All of this is tough to replicate.
Season predictions
The Kings regress slightly in high-variance factors (injuries and clutch points) and are also impacted by an incredibly deep Western Conference that couldn’t possibly be as chaotic as last season.
Verdict: 38 wins
Houston Rockets
Why they can be better this season
The Rockets should be one of the improved teams in the NBA this season, adding a strong defensive coach in Ime Udoka as well as veteran guards Fred Van Vleet and Dillon Brooks.
Assuming Jalen Green and Jabari Smith go to another level and they get anything out of top draft pick Amen Thompson, their top six-seven players reads well on paper.
Weak spots
Can this mix of personalities work? Van Vleet and Brooks come in on enormous cash, the young players have been able to do whatever they want and the coach doesn’t lack his own controversies.
Season predictions
We expect the Rockets to make a small jump thanks to Udoka’s system and the veteran additions, but they will still be a tier below the play-in teams.
Verdict: 34 wins
Utah Jazz
Why they can be better this season
The Jazz came out of the blocks firing last season before falling off as the season went along. They’ve added John Collins and should present as a tough defensive team with guards who can get very hot.
They likely won’t be in the play-in mix, but they also won’t be among the league’s bottom-feeders unless they press the tank button and make some trades.
Weak spots
They simply lack the top-end talent to compete with the best teams across an 82-game season. Lauri Markkanen was incredible last season – can he do it again?
Season predictions
The Jazz don’t really factor into either the playoff or the tank race and sit in the low-to-mid 30s win mark.
Verdict: 34 wins
San Antonio Spurs
Why they can be better this season
Victor Wembanyama is here and will immediately be both a highlight machine and a defensive nightmare for other teams.
Devin Vassell is also ready to make a leap and could be a borderline All-Star this season, while Zach Collins and Jeremy Sochan are also players to watch closely.
Weak spots
They won 22 games last season. The question will be how many wins Wembanyama elevates them and whether he stays healthy across his first season. We know the Spurs will be conservative with him if he cops any injury niggles.
Season predictions
Wembanyama is everything we hoped he’d be and more, plays 55 games, and the Spurs once again sit near the top of the lottery.
Verdict: 26 wins
Portland Trail Blazers
Why they can be better this season
There doesn’t appear to be a world where the Trail Blazers without Damian Lillard win more games this season than they did last year.
Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams, Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle at least gives them a decent defensive core.
Weak spots
Portland has moved into a new era where they will be allowing young guards Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe to cook while likely trading out veteran pieces like Malcom Brogdon and Robert Williams.
Expect the Blazers to take full advantage of a strong West to tank and sit at the back of the pack.
Season predictions
The Blazers trade Williams and Brogdon before the deadline and finish with the worst record in the Western Conference.
Verdict: 19 wins
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston Celtics
Why they can be better this season
Boston experienced a massive shake-up over the off-season, sending away Celtics staples such as Marcus Smart, Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon.
In return, they brought in former All-Stars Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to round out a formidable starting unit that already boasted two superstars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
This much firepower on one squad will be must-see basketball.
Weak spots
Such dramatic change often leads to growing pains, and there’s no guarantee that these new-look Celtics will mesh out of the gate.
With a squad of players who all operate best with the ball in their hands, there are always bound to be some growing pains.
Season prediction
Boston have been a perennial contender since the arrival of the Tatum-Brown duo, and this may be the strongest roster they’ve wheeled out yet. Come playoffs, the Celtics will be one to watch.
Verdict: 58 wins
Milwaukee Bucks
Why they can be better this season
Is there a more formidable duo in the entire league than Giannis Antetekounmpo and Damian Lillard?
The Bucks pulled off the move of the off-season by trading for Lillard, bringing in a perennial MVP candidate to pair alongside arguably the NBA’s best player in Antetekounmpo.
This could be scary…
Weak spots
If the injury bug strikes the Bucks, their season could go downhill in rapid fashion.
Milwaukee boasts one of the oldest rosters in the league, while also lacking the depth that has been pivotal in their time at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Season prediction
With their eyes already locked on playoffs, the Bucks won’t place too much stock in regular season dominance. Priority number one will be ensuring everyone is healthy when it’s time to make the championship push.
Verdict: 54 wins
Cleveland Cavaliers
Why they can be better this season
While not as big of a splash as last year’s Donovan Mitchell acquisition, Cleveland’s front office was once again busy over the off-season, filling the gap at small forward with a pair of shooters in Max Strus and Georges Niang.
With quality talent everywhere on this roster, it’s hard not to see the Cavaliers having another strong season.
Weak spots
With how well-constructed this roster is, it’s hard to pin down a specific weakness.
However, is Cleveland’s ceiling high enough to prevent a repeat of last year’s first round exit?
Donovan Mitchell is the proven star of this crew, while Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen all have the potential to join Mitchell on that tier.
Yet if none of them reach that potential this season, post-season disappointment could be in store once again.
Season prediction
The Cavaliers will ride their starters to success this season, with this squad poised to be their best in the post-LeBron era.
Verdict: 52 wins
Philadelphia 76ers
Why they can be better this season
The biggest move Philadelphia made this off-season was filling their vacant top job with the 2019-20 Coach of the Year Nick Nurse.
Having led the Toronto Raptors to an NBA championship back in 2019, Nurse is a coach that knows how to win on the biggest state, a quality desperately needed for a 76ers core whose championship window is closing.
Weak spots
Will James Harden even play a game for Philly this season?
The star guard didn’t appear in any of the 76ers’ pre-season games after demanding a trade in the off-season, and Nick Nurse has made clear that they’re prepared to play without Harden this season.
Even if he’s not the dominant offensive force he used to be, losing a player of Harden’s calibre is never a good sign for a team with title aspirations.
Season prediction
If all goes well, this side is a title contender. If all goes poorly, this roster could completely implode.
Verdict: 50 wins
New York Knicks
Why they can be better this season
The league’s second-best offence is back in full-flight this season, with the roster going almost entirely unchanged.
The Knicks boast a bruising interior presence courtesy of Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson, while the duo of Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes do damage around the perimeter.
The biggest key to improvement would be a leap from RJ Barrett, who has yet to fully reach his potential as a dominant three-level scorer.
Weak spots
The Knicks’ last season success came courtesy of their offensive rebounding dominance, boasting the second-best offensive rebounding percentage in the league.
While incredibly impressive, this papered over their inefficiency from the field, a clear weakness in their game.
If teams can take away their rebounding dominance, the Knicks could be in trouble.
Season prediction
The Knicks will be well in the hunt for 50 wins, but whether that success translates to the playoffs is a different story.
Verdict: 49 wins
Miami Heat
Why they can be better this season
While Miami was ultimately unable to win the Damian Lillard sweepstakes and overall didn’t have the busiest off-season, the return of Tyler Herro will essentially serve as a new acquisition.
The Heat made a run to the Finals last season without the prolific scorer, after Herro broke his hand in the first game of their playoffs campaign.
While he mightn’t be anywhere near the calibre of Lillard, Herro will provide some desperately needed scoring punch.
Weak spots
While they mightn’t be the biggest names, the loss of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus could have a big impact on this squad.
The Heat acquired Josh Richardson and Thomas Bryant to fill the gaps, however losing two starters from a Finals team cannot be understated.
Season prediction
The Heat have proven that they don’t need regular season success to make a deep playoff push.
Verdict: 47 wins
Toronto Raptors
Why they can be better this season
While they didn’t make any real roster changes, this should be a different looking Raptors squad this season.
Moving on from championship coach Nick Nurse after an up-and-down campaign, Toronto brought in Darko Rajaković to institute a system based on speed and ball movement, a stark contrast to Nurse’s isolation-heavy style.
Armed with two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam and 2021-22 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, Rajaković’s rookie coaching campaign could see Toronto’s offence completely revived.
Weak spots
Following Fred VanVleet’s departure to Houston, the Raptors are left with a gaping hole at point guard.
Toronto signed Dennis Schröder as something of a replacement, however the long-term vision sees do-it-all forward Scottie Barnes shifting into the role.
Following last season, it was clear that VanVleet didn’t quite fit with the rest of Toronto’s roster, however losing an All-Star calibre player for nothing is always going to have an impact.
Season prediction
There are plenty of questions about the fit of this roster, yet a new system could fix the many problems they dealt with last season.
Verdict: 44 wins
Indiana Pacers
Why they can be better this season
The names mightn’t leap off the page, but this Pacers squad has talent up and down the roster.
Bennedict Mathurin was a revelation in his rookie season, while Myles Turner and Bruce Brown are proven contributors.
Tyrese Haliburton is coming off a star-making season, averaging 20.7 points and 10.4 assists, and surrounding him with a rock-solid starting five looks to be a recipe for success.
Weak spots
The Pacers are quietly building, but the pieces that will take them over the top aren’t quite there yet.
The young core of Haliburton, Mathurin and Obi Toppin could be a league staple for seasons to come, but there is still plenty of development to come first.
Season prediction
Indiana will be exciting, but they’re not going to set the world on fire… yet.
Verdict: 42 wins
Atlanta Hawks
Why they can be better this season
Bringing in one of the strongest two-way guards in the league in Dejounte Murray to pair alongside offensive dynamo Trae Young seemed like a no-brainer move last season for an Atlanta squad that is desperate to make the leap to the next level.
However, their first season together didn’t prove to be as successful as anticipated, leading the Hawks to a pedestrian .500 record and a first-round playoff exit.
Atlanta will be counting on the duo to step things up a notch as they continue to get comfortable sharing a backcourt, otherwise another year in limbo could be on the cards.
Weak spots
The Hawks traded away a reliable scorer in John Collins for scraps over the off-season, leaving wing De’Andre Hunter in sole possession of the role of third option.
Yet after Hunter, there aren’t any names that jump off the page for Atlanta.
This roster has plenty of depth pieces, but unless one of the young prospects takes a big step, the Hawks will be lacking the punch to be anything more than solid.
Season prediction
The excitement that surrounded this squad during their Conference Finals run in 2021 has clearly faded, and another season in the play-in tournament beckons.
Verdict: 40 wins
Brooklyn Nets
Why they can be better this season
If everything hits, this squad could be one of the most thrilling teams in the competition this season.
Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson thrived in their expanded roles after arriving from Phoenix at the trade deadline, while Ben Simmons looks to be comfortable and confident on court for the first time since 2019.
Weak spots
The problem with having such high potential is that it’s just theoretical.
Brooklyn is a squad built entirely around upside and small sample size, with their most proven commodities coming in the form of Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.
Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were impressive after being traded to the Nets last season, but was that just a 20-game sugar hit?
Season prediction
They’re just as likely to push for 50 wins as they are to barely scrape 30.
Verdict: 36 wins
Orlando Magic
Why they can be better this season
While there mightn’t be much in the way of games played down in Orlando, the talent on their roster is undeniable.
Led by the reigning Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, the Magic’s young core is one of the most promising in the league, with Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr and Jalen Suggs all vying for a big season.
Weak spots
Trotting out a starting five with the oldest player being 25 isn’t generally a recipe for success in the NBA, regardless of how talented the squad may be.
The Magic are severely lacking the veterans that can bring a team together, with Joe Ingles and Gary Harris being the only experienced players that look to see any minutes.
Season prediction
There’s a lot to like about this Orlando squad, but it mightn’t be this season that we see them take the leap.
Verdict: 38 wins
Chicago Bulls
Why they can be better this season
If there’s one thing the Bulls have in spades, it’s proven scorers.
DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević have all held stints as a top-line offensive threats throughout their career, and can still individually give opposition sides a headache on any given night.
Weak spots
Even with all this scoring punch, without Lonzo Ball to run the show, Chicago’s offence has been sluggish and disorganised.
Considering the point guard has no timeline for return from his complicated knee injury, it’s hard to believe the Bulls offence will be any different this season.
Season prediction
It wouldn’t be surprising to see LaVine playing at South Beach by the trade deadline.
Verdict: 36 wins
Charlotte Hornets
Why they can be better this season
A healthy LaMelo Ball is an offensive sensation, combining silky skills with unbelievable creativity, having averaged 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game last season.
At just 22 years old, LaMelo boasts one of the highest ceilings in the entire NBA, and if he continues on his current trajectory, Hornets highlights are going to be in rotation every day.
Weak spots
Outside of LaMelo, who has had worrying amounts of injury trouble already in his young career, there isn’t much to this roster.
Gordon Hayward is a proven commodity but has injury issues of his own, while Terry Rozier and PJ Washington are fairly one-dimensional scoring threats.
That leaves #2 pick Brandon Miller as the only other player that can gives some life to this franchise, however that’s a lot of pressure to place on a rookie’s shoulders.
Season prediction
In typical Hornets fashion, they’ll receive plenty of airtime on highlight reels, but won’t come close to postseason basketball.
Verdict: 31 wins
Washington Wizards
Why they can be better this season
If we’re ranking strictly by entertainment, the duo of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma would sit at the top of the league.
A pair of professional scorers, either one can give you 30+ on any given night, and they’re bound to hit a few game-winners between them this season.
Weak spots
While they could catch some teams off-guard occasionally, no aspects of this squad suggest that they’ll be anything close to competitive this season.
There’s plenty of scoring talent on the roster, however most of them are fairly one-dimensional players, not giving much on the defensive end.
Season prediction
Scoring will be plentiful, wins won’t be.
Verdict: 23 wins
Detroit Pistons
Why they can be better this season
If the Pistons can get a full season out of a healthy Cade Cunningham, they can only improve.
The former first overall pick played just 12 games last season after dealing with a stress fracture in his leg, and has yet to fully capitalise on the potential that had him so highly touted coming into the league.
Weak spots
This roster is one clearly focused on development rather than competitive basketball.
Consisting of guards that all need the ball in their hands, a collection of unproven bigs and a distinct lack of playmaking, Detroit basketball doesn’t seem like it will be pretty.
Season prediction
Pistons fans will be keeping an eye on the draft lottery from the first week of the season.
Verdict: 22 wins