We are officially in the offseason after the Denver Nuggets clinched the 2023 NBA Championship, which means everyone’s already looking ahead to what will happen next season.
Stephen A. Smith listed the five teams he thinks have the best chance at winning the title next season, giving the No. 5 spot to the Phoenix Suns, who recently acquired Bradley Beal.
“The Phoenix Suns. Why? Bradley Beal is joining the fray, Kevin Durant is still there, Devin Booker is still there, and they didn’t even have to give up Deandre Ayton. You got to build out that roster, we understand that, but when you’ve got four prolific dudes like that, we can’t leave them out of the top five.”
Smith also kept faith in the Lakers to either replicate their position as one of the final four teams standing with their mix of defense and good coaching, all brought together into a cohesive unit by LeBron James.
“The Los Angeles Lakers. Why? The last time we saw them, they were in the Western Conference Finals. LeBron James is still on this squad. Anthony Davis is still on the squad. Even without CP3 being there yet, the way Darvin Ham had them playing defense… You can’t leave the Lakers out of the mix, their size and ability to play defense, and the exceptional coaching of Darvin Ham, you have to put them top four.”
Despite the Bucks’ first-round humiliation at the hands of the Miami Heat in the playoffs, Stephen A. believes they have the third-best odds at winning the title.
“The Milwaukee Bucks. Why? Giannis Antetokounmpo, that’s why. I’ve got reservations about when Khris Middleton will get healthy but damn it, Jrue Holiday is still there. Giannis is still there. We understand Budenholzer is gone and Adrian Griffin is in as the new coach, I like him a lot. I think they’re going to come back with a vengeance.”
Smith then put faith in the 2022 finalists, who also collapsed against the Miami Heat this season, claiming the Celtics have the second-best chance at a title next season if they maintain continuity.
“The Boston Celtics. Why? Because Jayson Tatum is special. Don’t think that I ignored Game 7 of the ECF, as they came back from 3-0 and tied it 3-3. Jayson Tatum got hurt in the first offensive play of the game. If he didn’t get hurt, I believe Boston would have won it. And then, I believe Boston would’ve been a better matchup for Denver… I look at their personnel and don’t see a reason to doubt them.”
Stephen A. kept it simple for his No. 1 pick, believing that current champions Denver Nuggets are poised for a repeat.
“They’re the reigning, defending NBA Champions with the best player in the world right now… You look at their personnel, playing together, playing selflessly, knowing they are the champions. This is what you have.”
.@stephenasmith's top five NBA title contenders:
1. Nuggets
2. Celtics
3. Bucks
4. Lakers
5. Suns pic.twitter.com/ocXsdefguB
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 19, 2023
Picking favorites for the title before free agency or the Draft is bold, as we have no idea what these teams are going to do with their rosters. There are genuine questions about how the Lakers and Suns build out their roster, along with the possibility of the Celtics exploring the trade market for Jaylen Brown.
The Bucks tried making a move for Bradley Beal, so it seems the team is looking for reinforcements to bounce back into the title picture. The Nuggets will mostly be consistent, as there’s no incentive to make sweeping changes across a title-winning roster.
Is It Too Soon For Predictions?
The 2023 offseason might be one of the most active ones in years, as teams will be bracing for new CBA regulations that will impact finances for most teams in the league right now. The penalties for overspending have become harsher. While we have teams like Phoenix that veered into paying even more to stars, there will be teams that start moving off contracts to stay compliant.
All the mentioned teams have been linked to names via trade that could be made as soon as Thursday during Draft night. We have a lot still left to unpack, but Smith has identified some of the top contenders pretty well.
Teams like the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, and others will be hoping to be in the conversation as well, so they can’t be ruled out from making major needle-moving trades either.
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