5 NBA Teams That Can Take the Next Step with One More Deal
NBA championship contention usually isn't the result of one offseason; rather, it comes from years of incremental progress.ย That can make for tough sledding and scant optimism during the early stages of roster building.
Near the end, though, excitement roars like a thousand Kevin Garnetts. Once a puzzle is close enough to completion to envision the final picture, it's hard not to be enthused about bringing everything together.
That's how the five teams listed here should feel. Each is headed in the right direction, thanks to savvy front-office work and prospect maturation. These clubs have franchise pillars in place to anchor the foundation, plus complementary pieces to support the final construction.
But all are missing the key cogs who can shape their full identity andย skyrocket their potential. The right transaction could take each of these clubs from fighting for a playoff spot to comfortably securing one and challenging for home-court advantage or, in some cases, even contending for a championship.
Boston Celtics
1 of 5
The Boston Celtics haven't officially joined the contenders' table, but their seat is already reserved.
During Brad Stevens' first three years at the helm, the organization's win total has rocketed from 25 to 40 to last season's 48. And the Shamrocks haven't hit their ceiling yet. So many key contributors are still climbing toward their peak, and everyone on the roster will benefit from two-way big man Al Horford's arrival.
"Horford has three-point range, passes better than most bigs, doesn't need the ball in his hands to make an impact and polices the paint," Bleacher Report's Dan Favaleย wrote. "He is equal parts superstar and complement, which makes him a frontcourt unicorn."
Horford strengthens the backbone of what was already a top-five defense. With the scoring load balanced among him, Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder, the Celtics should employ a potent equal-opportunity attack. And that's before even knowing how Boston's horde of young prospects will help shape the club's overall identity.
The Celtics are poised for yet another step forwardโbut only a trade would produce the monumental leap needed to join the NBA's elite. Between Boston's young players and coveted draft assets, the trade bullets are locked and loaded should a superstar hit the open market.
Boston has a championship-caliber defense, a coaching wunderkind and a pair of All-Star reserves. But one more star is needed to take this team over the top. If the Celtics can shake that player loose, they'll enjoy all the perks of full-fledged contender status.
Ideal Player:ย Blake Griffin
Realistic Player:ย Gordon Hayward
Memphis Grizzlies
2 of 5
The Memphis Grizzlies had a historically active 2015-16 season, suiting up an NBA-recordย 28 players over the campaign. They were almost as busy this summer, albeit for much more enjoyable reasons.
First came new head coach David Fizdale, a highly regarded assistant who has since assembled an experienced, well-rounded staff. Then, the rookie reinforcements arrived on draft nightโWade Baldwin with the 17th selection, Deyonta Davis at No. 31 (acquired from Boston). Memphis finally spent a mini-fortune on veterans Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, who signed for a combined nine years and $247 million.
If the Grizzlies stay healthy, they'll be in the running for a top-four seed out West. Even amid the injuries, Memphis had a top-half efficiency rating when Conley and Marc Gasol shared the floor (plus-1.5, would have ranked 13th). And that was without Parsons' versatility, Fizdale's vision, Baldwin's perimeter shooting and Davis' athleticism.
As CBS Sports' Matt Moore noted, a potentially disastrous offseason for Memphis was instead a wildly productive one:
"The Grizzlies landed a big upgrade at a position of need that takes care of one of their major problemsโshooting and playmaking on the wing. They also kept their franchise point guard who has been a leader on and off the court. ...ย Memphis has staved off NBA mortality and retained its place in the Western Conference playoff hierarchy.
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Pushing forward, though, requires even more activity. If the Grizzlies hope to be a conference power and not just a thorn in the sides of the top teams in the West, they need to find one more modernized piece. Whether that's a floor-spacing big or a three-and-D wing, it has to be a player who impacts both ends of the floor and gives this new-look offense even more room to work with.
Ideal Player:ย Khris Middleton
Realistic Player:ย Wilson Chandler
Minnesota Timberwolves
3 of 5
Does any NBA team have a brighter future than the Minnesota Timberwolves? They employ each of the past two Rookie of the Year winners (Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns), a two-headed monster at point guard (Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn), a three-point shooting Slam Dunk Contest champion (Zach LaVine), a blossoming big man (Gorgui Dieng) and an ignitable scoring swingman (Shabazz Muhammad).
Only one of those players is older than 25โthe 26-year-old Dieng. Arguably the four most important ones are all under the age of 23โDunn (22), Wiggins (21), LaVine (21) and Towns (20). Oh, and for the first time in their NBA careers, they're all about to serve under former Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau.
Depending on one's perspective, the Wolves are either wildly exciting or altogether terrifying.
"We have a great coaching staff, we have a great organization behind us, but the fact of the matter that we continue to get better is extremely exciting," Towns told CBS Sports Radio. "Not many teams get to say that, that they continue to get better instead of deteriorating. Everything is looking very much up."
Minnesota could snap its 12-year playoff drought next season. If Thibodeau solves the group's defensive puzzle and player development pushes this offense into point-machine territory, the Association's next in line might force its way to the front.
But right now, the Pups are more sizzle than substance. There are so many paths forward, and only a few lead anywhere near the top. Swapping some potential for proven top-tier production could transform this team from a pesky David into an actual Goliath. Minnesota has some interesting opportunities ahead, but this internal surge needs an external push to handle the most daunting challenges.
Ideal Player:ย Jimmy Butler
Realistic Player:ย Nerlens Noel
Utah Jazz
4 of 5
Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder's group boasts an oppressive, impossibly long defense and an egalitarian offense. Incumbents Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood and Alec Burks could all lead the scoring column any given night. Dante Exum, a 6'6" point guard, and Rudy Gobert, a 7'2" center with a 7'8ย ยฝ" wingspan, highlight the physical challenges Utah forces on its opponents.
The Jazz have long been feisty fighters. They had by far the league's best defense after the 2015 All-Star break, and last season, they posted a positive net efficiency ratingย despite not having Exum available and losing Favors, Gobert and Burks for prolonged stretches.
But Utah is ready to turn the corner. It balanced its youth with savvy offseason investments in veterans George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw. It used NBA Summer League to prepare Trey Lyles for an expanded role as a playmaking big. It's assembled a roster of interchangeable parts, all of whom place the collective's interests ahead of their own.ย
"Utah might not have a superstar in its midst, but its assemblage of talent can become a group better than the sum of its parts," Jonathan Tjarks wrote for the Ringer.ย "The Jazz are an amoeba who can adapt their rotation and their style to play any team in the NBA."
Recent history shows how dangerous these superstar-less teams can beโthink last season's Celtics, 2014-15's 60-win Atlanta Hawks, 2012-13's 57-win Denver Nuggets. Utah could hit those some heights. But history also shows there's a cap on what a team like that can accomplish. None of those squads seriously challenged for a title, and all have undergone dramatic changes since.
If the Jazz want to be a perennial 50-win team and pesky playoff out, they don't have to change a thing. But if they're aiming for the crown, they must consolidate some prospects to snag a franchise centerpiece. As close as Utah is, though, one transaction could shift this club from postseason sleeper to conference-championship challenger.
Ideal Player:ย Russell Westbrook
Realistic Player:ย Eric Bledsoe
Washington Wizards
5 of 5
The Washington Wizards have more than sentimental reasons for coveting hometown hoops sensation Kevin Durant over the offseason. Their promising young nucleus is itching to follow the lead of a star veteran.
There may not be a better non-Splash Brothers backcourt than Washington's John Wall and Bradley Beal. The wings have potential for development with Otto Porter, Kelly Oubre and Tomas Satoransky. The frontcourt is light on star power, but Marcin Gortat, Ian Mahinmi and Markieff Morris are all stable options.
There's enough talent to contend for a top-four seed in the East, particularly with decorated skipper Scott Brooks now calling the shots. Injuries and underachievement plagued Washington last season, but health and new leadership could produce a quick turnaround.
"It's looking like it's going to be a great year for us," free-agency addition Jason Smith told reporters. "You have a tested core of young guys that have been in the playoffs, that have played big minutes in the playoffs and have gone deep into the playoffs, into the second round. We'd like to get back to that this year."
The door is open to do it. Washington posted a top-five efficiency rating when Wall, Beal, Porter, Morris and Gortat played together last season (plus-5.6, would have been fifth). This group should be deeper and better coached. The Wizards might not have a second-round guarantee, but on paper, they're ready to crash that party.
Washington's bigger challenge, though, is trying to aim higher with this current cast. It doesn't seem possible.ย Maybeย Wall becomes an MVP candidate, Beal plays 80-plus games and earns an All-Star berth, and Porter or Oubres leaps into surprise stardom. But without catching several breaks, the Wizards still need the star they couldn't find this summer to really climb the NBA ladder.
Ideal Player:ย DeMarcus Cousins
Realistic Player:ย Rudy Gay
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy ofย Basketball-Reference.comย andย NBA.com.
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