The life cycle of an NBA team can be determined in three stages: the rebuild, the peak, and the collapse. The rebuild is where the team acquires talent through the draft or the free agent market to make the team competitive again. The peak is when the team has all the right pieces together and is fighting for a chance at the NBA championship. The collapse is when a team experiences deterioration of quality due to either injuries or age.
Some teams are great at keeping the team in a contending position like the Golden State Warriors. There are franchises like the Cleveland Cavaliers which are suddenly irrelevant due to the loss of their star player.
And then there are organizations that have been on the rebuilding phase for a good while. Some are still trying to find their way out of the darkness, but there are some teams that may have finally found the answers to their prayers through the offseason.
These are the following teams that will become a regular part of our weekly NBA 2018 highlights.
Los Angeles Lakers
The acquisition of star free agent LeBron James means that the Lakers are now back on the headlines and will be making waves on and off the court.
They have spent their post-Kobe Bryant years trying to find the next star to lead Tinseltown back to the Promised Land. The front office has done well in not forcing the issue in the past couple of seasons, choosing to build a team through the draft.
The arrival of LeBron instantly accelerates the Lakers’ roadmap into that of a win-now team. While they have made curious signings in Lance Stephenson and Rajon Rondo, it is believed that it is LeBron and the young core of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma that will carry the Lake Show for the next couple of years.
Now, if they just find a way to shut LaVar Ball up…
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks will always have a special place in my heart, as that ragtag 2011 team of veterans pulled the rug on LeBron’s budding dynasty at Miami to win Dirk Nowitzki’s first (and possibly only) NBA title.
A couple of poor moves the following postseason immediately saw the one-off champions return to anonymity among NBA fans. However, it looks like Mark Cuban’s got another brilliant shark tank in his hands.
Drafting Luka Doncic doesn’t just ensure that a European would lead the Mavs into the future. They acquired a brilliant point guard that already has fantastic vision and championship experience. His body will eventually catch up to the physicality of the league and will become a strong floor general for the franchise.
Moreover, finally acquiring DeAndre Jordan without a chair blocking his doorway means that Dirk can finally slot into the four as he starts his farewell tour. Dennis Smith Jr. is also one to watch.
Should everything work out for the Mavs this season, we will definitely see Cuban jumping up and down the sidelines.
New York Knicks
It’s weird to say that the Knicks will finally get a playoff ticket after so long, but they have the pieces they need to succeed in a weaker Eastern Conference.
They have drafted well in the recently concluded draft, acquiring Kentucky star Kevin Knox with the ninth overall pick. The rookie had a great debut during the Las Vegas Summer League, scoring 21.3 points and snapping 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in four appearances.
Frank Nikilitina is also slowly coming along for the Knicks. Many of the fans knew that the second-year player will be a bit of a project coming in, so they just need to put their trust in him.
But of course, many are awaiting the return of Kristaps Porzingis. His ACL injury is reportedly cleaner than expected. This means that he will have a quicker rehab back to full fitness. He will definitely rattle many NBA 2018 betting tips once he makes his thunderous return.
Phoenix Suns
I think it’s high time for the light of the basketball gods to shine down on Phoenix. SBOBET predictions for this team should surely be on the rise.
They have endured years of poor performances, of draft picks not working out the way they expected to. However, they may have found the final piece to their puzzle in this year’s draft.
Deandre Ayton is a physical specimen who terrified opponents during his time in Arizona. He will surely feel at home in Phoenix and make a huge impact on the inside. With head coach Igor Kokoskov taking the realm, it is expected that the 20-year-old will blossom into a dominant centre in the league.
Ayton is not the only exciting part of their roster. Their team has the perfect mix of youth and veteran leadership to help propel the team forward. Josh Jackson is slowly becoming the reliable winger that he was drafted for. Trevor Ariza will provide quality defence and mentorship to the young wings of the team.
More importantly, Devin Booker got a shoutout from NBA fan and hip-hop giant Drake.
Everything’s sunny in Phoenix, and things are just about to heat up even further.
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