Every NBA Team's Worst Nightmare for 2014-15 Season
When the 2014-15 NBA season commences, most teams will have lofty dreams of hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy next June. Reality will soon thwart those grand plans for all but one franchise, however.
Luckily, the 2014-15 season won't necessarily be a bust for the other 29 squads. Making long-term strides toward sustained title contention isn't such a bad consolation prize for franchises that fail to advance deep into the 2015 playoffs.
Even the best-laid plans sometimes go horribly awry, though. Sometimes an injury submarines a team's chances of making some noise in the playoffs. A soon-to-be free agent could begin demanding a trade, forcing a franchise into a less-than-palatable decision. Certain young players might not pan out as otherwise anticipated.
Ultimately, the worst-case scenario for each team isn't just missing out on the 2015 title; it's something that does far more long-term damage to the franchise. Take a glimpse at such a nightmare scenario for every NBA team this coming season—and pray it doesn't come to fruition for your favorite squad.
Atlanta Hawks
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Frankly, there's no worse nightmare for the Atlanta Hawks than the mess currently engulfing the franchise's front office. General manager Danny Ferry could be in jeopardy of losing his job after audio surfaced of racist comments he made about then-free agent Luol Deng on a conference call with team owners. (He's currently taking a leave of absence, per a statement from team CEO Steve Koonin.)
The fallout from this fiasco could have major on-court ramifications for the Hawks, too. If Al Horford gets injured again this coming season—he's had two season-ending pectoral tears in the last three years—it could force the franchise to re-evaluate its long-term strategy.
Atlanta finds itself in especially precarious territory heading into this season, as power forward Paul Millsap will become an unrestricted free agent come the summer of 2015. If Horford goes down again, the Hawks might be forced to move Millsap in a trade to ensure he doesn't leave them empty-handed in free agency.
If Horford stays healthy this coming season, the Hawks have all the makings of a dark-horse contender in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, that's a big "if"; yet another season-ending injury for Horford could mean the end of Millsap's short tenure in Hotlanta.
Boston Celtics
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Point guard Rajon Rondo threatens to loom large over the Boston Celtics' 2014-15 season, as his long-term future with the franchise remains very much up in the air.
With Rondo set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Celtics must use the next few months to determine whether he wants to stay in Boston. In a behind-the-scenes Around the Horn clip, ESPN Boston's Jackie MacMullan claimed the mercurial floor general "told [Boston] he wants out," but Celtics president Rich Gotham emphatically denied that rumor to CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely.
Ultimately, unless Rondo gives the Celtics a clear indication that he plans on re-signing with them next summer, they'll have little choice but to move him before the February trade deadline. The threat of losing him for nothing in free agency will be too great for the rebuilding Boston franchise to stomach.
However, other teams will exploit the Celtics' vulnerability when making trade offers, recognizing that Boston has little leverage. Thus, the worst-case scenario for the C's is being forced to decide between selling Rondo for 40 cents on the dollar or rolling the dice by not trading him and praying he re-signs in the summer of 2015.
Brooklyn Nets
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Four years ago, when Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov bought the then-New Jersey Nets, he told reporters that he expected the team to win a title in a maximum of five years. Entering Year 5 of the Prokhorov regime, the Nets aren't even a sure thing to make the playoffs this coming season.
The Nets made a few savvy moves this summer, picking up Sergey Karasev in a salary dump from Cleveland and signing Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic to a three-year, $10 million deal. However, with Brooklyn hopelessly capped out and largely devoid of first-round picks in the coming years, the Nets' one big advantage over other franchises is Prokhorov's complete ambivalence toward the luxury tax.
Thus, nothing could be worse for the Nets than Prokhorov selling the team to a more frugal owner. Back in June, Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Russian billionaire has been "open to overtures from potential buyers," especially in the wake of the Los Angeles Clippers selling for $2 billion earlier this year.
A spokesperson told ESPN New York's Mike Mazzeo that Prokhorov has "no interest in selling the team," but did confirm that he was open to listening to offers. If Prokhorov does sell the franchise to an owner who isn't nearly as willing to pay $100 million in luxury-tax bills alone, the Nets core stands no chance of remaining together past this season.
Charlotte Hornets
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The Charlotte Hornets made one of the most underrated moves of the offseason, signing former Indiana Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson to a three-year, $27 million deal. Charlotte wisely made the final season a team option, essentially forcing Stephenson to be on his best behavior for the next two years.
However, there's always the threat that "Bad Lance" takes over, future earnings be damned. Pacers president Larry Bird had to call a meeting with Stephenson prior to Game 6 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, per ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst, warning him to cut the antics (such as blowing in LeBron James' ear during a stoppage in play).
Stephenson failed to heed that advice, decking Miami Heat point guard Norris Cole with a clothesline in Game 6 and earning a flagrant foul in the process. Over the summer, Pacers forward Paul George told Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears, "Lance always tried to get under people's skin. Some of it could be avoided. But at the end of the day, that's what gets Lance going."
For the sake of Hornets owner Michael Jordan and head coach Steve Clifford, Charlotte fans can only hope Stephenson keeps his head on straight this coming season. If he fails to do so, he could take the whole franchise down with him.
Chicago Bulls
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There's no question about the nightmare scenario for Chicago Bulls fans: seeing Derrick Rose sprawled out on the court with yet another season-ending injury.
Over the past two years, Rose has played a grand total of 10 games, as a torn ACL suffered in the opening game of the 2012 playoffs cost him the entire 2012-13 season. Less than a month into his return this past year, he tore his meniscus against the Portland Trail Blazers, once again prematurely ending his season.
With a fully healthy Rose, the Bulls appear to be the biggest hurdle for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers out East. While Chicago may lack a Big Three like the Cavaliers, the talent dispersal throughout the rest of the roster appears to favor Rose and Co.
The 2011 Most Valuable Player emerged unscathed from his experience with Team USA this summer, much to the relief of the Windy City. If he suffers yet another season-ending knee injury in 2014-15, however, the Bulls will have legitimate reason to wonder whether he'll ever fully return to his former dominant self.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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The best-case scenario for the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers is ending this season with the Larry O'Brien Trophy in hand. Conversely, the nightmare scenario is what happened the last time an NBA superteam sprung up overnight.
Before the 2012-13 season, the Los Angeles Lakers appeared to be a superpower in the making, with Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard in hand. Things quickly went south for those Lakers, though, as Nash and Bryant suffered major injuries during the season, leading to Howard fleeing LA to join the Houston Rockets as a free agent the following summer.
Though it's almost impossible to fathom a similar situation unfolding in Cleveland, LeBron James and Kevin Love both could become free agents following the 2014-15 season. Until their names are on the dotted line of long-term contracts, the possibility of one (or both) bolting the Cavaliers remains, albeit slight.
Perhaps Love and LeBron can't develop chemistry with Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, leading to an earlier-than-expected playoff demise. Maybe the two clash with new head coach David Blatt and discover they have irreconcilable differences.
Whatever the case may be, losing Love and/or LeBron in free agency next summer is the clear nightmare scenario for Cleveland—far worse than simply not winning the 2015 title. If Love departs, the Cavaliers would have traded two No. 1 overall picks for a one-year rental, while James leaving would incite a city-wide apocalypse that makes The Walking Dead look like Elf.
Dallas Mavericks
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The Dallas Mavericks outright stole Chandler Parsons from the Houston Rockets in restricted free agency this summer, inking him to a three-year, $46 million deal. With him commanding the second-highest salary on the roster—nearly twice what Dirk Nowitzki will earn—Dallas must now hope he lives up to his lofty contract.
There's little reason to believe Parsons will struggle being a third banana with the Mavericks after having such a role in Houston over the past few seasons. Despite playing behind James Harden and Dwight Howard, the Florida Gators product averaged 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
However, one only needs to think back to Houston's signing of Trevor Ariza back in 2009 to remember how poorly things could go. After averaging 8.9 points on 46.0 percent shooting in 24.4 minutes per game for the LA Lakers in 2008-09, the Rockets inked him to a five-year, $34 million deal, which they immediately grew to regret.
Ariza shot 39.4 percent from the field the first season after signing his long-term deal, which prompted Houston to jettison him to New Orleans the following summer. Parsons isn't likely to struggle nearly to that degree in Dallas; however, an Ariza-esque meltdown would all but obliterate the Mavericks' chances of being a dark-horse title contender this coming season.
Denver Nuggets
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Kenneth Faried shockingly emerged as one of Team USA's most valuable contributors during the FIBA World Cup, which could put the Denver Nuggets behind the eight ball in his impending contract negotiations.
Faried is eligible for an extension between now and Oct. 31, and Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly expressed his hopes of locking him up earlier this summer, per Grantland's Zach Lowe. Given that the springy forward averaged 18.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game after the All-Star break last season, Denver's desire to retain him long term makes perfect sense.
Thanks to Faried's dominance over the past six months, multiple league sources told Sporting News' Sean Deveney that he "will easily crack the bar of eight figures annually." However, an agent cautioned the Denver forward to not ink an extension "unless the Nuggets put up the kind of number [he] has in mind," per Deveney.
If the Nuggets do pony up and ink Faried to a max extension, they could quickly grow to regret it. In a worst-case scenario, he could revert to being nothing more than a complementary option behind Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari—a player not even worth eight figures, much less $15 million per year.
Detroit Pistons
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The Detroit Pistons' worst nightmare for 2014-15 may already be coming to fruition. They couldn't agree on a long-term extension with restricted free agent Greg Monroe this offseason, which caused him to accept the team's one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer.
As a result, not only will Monroe become an unrestricted free agent next summer but he now possesses veto power over any trade involving him between now and then. That's right: If the Pistons decide to ship him out before February's trade deadline in fear of losing him for nothing in free agency, they'll need his explicit approval.
As CBSSports.com's James Herbert notes, if team president Stan Van Gundy "wants to have a chance of retaining [Monroe], he'll likely have to find a new home for Josh Smith." Back in July, Grantland's Zach Lowe reported that Monroe planned on signing the qualifying offer "if Smith remains on the roster," hinting toward ongoing tension between the two big men.
If Van Gundy can't find a taker for Smith in the next six months, he's all but guaranteed to lose Monroe for nothing next summer. That makes the Pistons' worst-case scenario—having Monroe veto a perfectly palatable trade offer purely out of spite—that much more stomach-churning for Detroit fans.
Golden State Warriors
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The Golden State Warriors' refusal to include Klay Thompson in trade negotiations for Kevin Love this summer spoke highly about his place in their long-term future. That makes Thompson the must-watch player in Golden State this year, especially with him eligible for an extension between now and Oct. 31.
Thompson's agent, Bill Duffy, has reportedly "been seeking a max deal in extension talks" with Golden State, according to USA Today's Sam Amick. Since he's already set his price at a max deal, Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News believes there's "no need" for the Warriors to sign him until next summer, when he becomes a restricted free agent.
Golden State would be able to match any contract offer Thompson receives next summer, and given how unfriendly restricted free agency proved to be for Greg Monroe and Eric Bledsoe, Kawakami's strategy makes sense. What happens if the swingman takes a major backslide this season, though?
The Warriors are effectively pot-committed to Thompson, and it only takes one team making a ridiculous contract offer to force them into a difficult decision. Thus, there's no worse nightmare for Golden State fans than the second Splash Brother appearing unworthy of max money this coming season, as the Warriors could be forced into ponying up next summer regardless.
Houston Rockets
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James Harden is already notorious for his abysmal defense. Apathy doesn't even begin to describe his effort on that end of the court, which an 11-plus-minute video of clips from the 2013-14 season alone perfectly summarizes.
Hell, other NBA players even openly joke about it, as Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson demonstrated on the opening Sunday of the 2014 NFL season. He tweeted a picture of Harden wearing a headset with the caption "Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator," as the San Francisco 49ers were thrashing Dallas' D.
So far, the Bearded One's defensive anemia hasn't yet spread to his teammates. In fact, both Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley are two of the better defenders in the league at their respective positions; Howard is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, while Beverley can best be described as a defensive pest.
After losing Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik this offseason, however, the Rockets can't afford to regress on either end of the court. If Harden's complete lack of effort on defense becomes contagious—or, worse yet, causes tension in the locker room—Houston's dreams of building a championship contender around him and Howard will be on life support.
Indiana Pacers
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Frankly, the Indiana Pacers' worst nightmare for the 2014-15 season has already come true.
Losing Lance Stephenson in free agency was a major blow, but All-Star forward Paul George appeared ready to compensate for the loss. Back in July, he told Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears, "Coming into next season I need to be in the 20-30-point mark. I got to get back to that old Kobe, T-Mac, 25-shots-a-night kind of guy."
A few days later, George suffered a compound fracture of his right leg during a Team USA scrimmage, which will likely cost him the entire 2014-15 season. Now, the Pacers head into the year with exactly zero reliable offensive threats capable of creating offense both for themselves and for their teammates.
Center Roy Hibbert could slightly salvage Indiana's unpalatable situation by breaking out as a nightly 20-10 threat in the absence of George and Stephenson. However, in all likelihood, he'll continue to struggle offensively, only adding insult to injury for a Pacers squad that faces an uphill battle just to make the playoffs in 2015.
Los Angeles Clippers
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No matter what happens with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014-15, nothing will match the nightmarish scenario that enveloped the team this past postseason.
The racist comments from Clippers owner Donald Sterling and ensuing controversy threatened to derail an otherwise promising playoff run for Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Co. Head coach Doc Rivers somehow managed to keep his team focused on the task at hand, but after falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs, numerous Clippers admitted the scandal took a toll on their psyches.
Since then, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has taken over as team owner, paying a record $2 billion to purchase the Clippers. However, as Sports Illustrated's Michael McCann notes, the ongoing racial controversy with Hawks controlling owner Bruce Levenson "is welcome news" to Sterling, who could "use the litigation process" to uncover further damaging emails from other NBA owners.
McCann makes it clear that Sterling "will never again own the Clippers," and the best-case scenario for the deposed owner is winning "his litigation against the league," which would cause the NBA to "owe him billions of dollars." If Sterling lingers like a stale fart over the Clippers' 2014-15 season, it could once again serve as a major ongoing distraction to players, Rivers and Clippers officials alike.
Los Angeles Lakers
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The Los Angeles Lakers' worst nightmare has already come true in each of the past two seasons. Will the third time be a charm in 2014-15?
A would-be superteam in the 2012-13 season crumbled into a disjointed mess of injuries and bad chemistry, ultimately resulting in Dwight Howard fleeing LA for Houston the following summer. In 2013-14, just a few weeks after signing Kobe Bryant to a two-year, $48.5 million extension, the legendary 2-guard suffered a season-ending fracture of the tibial lateral plateau in his left knee.
In all likelihood, Bryant will never again have a legitimate chance to contend for an NBA championship. The 2014-15 Lakers could coalesce quickly and earn a surprise playoff berth, but there's little chance of them upending some of the power squads out West in their current form.
Only one thing could make matters worse for Lakers fans: seeing Kobe go down with a third straight season-ending injury. At 36 years old, another serious injury could extinguish Bryant's competitive fire, influencing him to hang up his shoes and retire instead of fighting through another lengthy rehab process.
Memphis Grizzlies
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The Memphis Grizzlies are in a precarious situation heading into the 2014-15 season. Though they inked Zach Randolph to a two-year extension this summer, center Marc Gasol is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
To date, Gasol has given no indication he plans on leaving Memphis anytime soon. "I've always said Memphis is my home away from home," he told Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal in June. "I live day to day but I don't see myself anywhere else. Only time will tell. But I don't see a reason to change right now."
Citing people "close to Gasol," Tiller reported "the Grizzlies' ability to contend, not money, will be the driving force behind his decision-making." In other words, if Memphis remains in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, he's unlikely to leave; however, a catastrophic tumble down the standings could have him thinking twice.
Accordingly, the Grizzlies' worst-case scenario would be backsliding into the lottery, perhaps due to an injury to Randolph or point guard Mike Conley Jr., enough to create doubt in Gasol's mind. Losing him in free agency next summer would send Memphis spiraling from dark-horse title contender to fringe playoff team.
Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat's worst nightmare came halfway true this summer, when LeBron James decided to take his talents back to Cleveland in free agency. As a slight silver lining, Miami was able to retain Chris Bosh, who openly flirted with fleeing South Beach and joining the Houston Rockets if LeBron left, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
With Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Josh McRoberts in the fold, the Heat won't be making their fifth straight NBA Finals appearance, but they'll still have a reasonable shot at a top-four seed in the East. That could all fall apart, however, if Wade's chronically balky knees flare up again.
The 32-year-old guard missed 28 games last season as part of a routine "maintenance" program, also known as Miami stopping at no cost to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Without James around to pick up the slack, however, the Heat can't afford holding Wade out that often if they hope to earn a top-six seed in the East (thus likely dodging Cleveland and Chicago in the opening round of the playoffs.)
It's entirely possible that Wade's body simply can't handle the rigors of an 82-game season anymore, which casts major doubt over the Heat's immediate future. He's only signed to a two-year, $31.1 million contract, but a nonstop barrage of knee troubles this season would send Miami spiraling quickly into relative irrelevance.
Milwaukee Bucks
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The Milwaukee Bucks' 2013-14 season was a manifestation of any team's worst nightmare. O.J. Mayo, the team's prized free-agent signing, struggled through injuries and conditioning issues, while two off-court incidents (a bar brawl and a positive marijuana test) sidelined Larry Sanders for a sizeable portion of the season.
Milwaukee's one bright spot was Giannis Antetokounmpo, the No. 15 overall pick from the 2015 draft. The Greek Freak didn't dominate statistically—he averaged just 10.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per 36 minutes—but he oozed potential with every chasedown block and rim-rattling dunk.
The Bucks' dismal season landed them the No. 2 overall pick, which they used to select Duke forward Jabari Parker in June. Parker, long seen as one of the most NBA-ready prospects in the 2014 draft class, should theoretically slot in next to Antetokounmpo and give Milwaukee two young studs to build around.
However, the recent history of No. 2 picks is less than stellar—think Evan Turner, Hasheem Thabeet and Derrick Williams—which Parker was quick to acknowledge when speaking with reporters in August. If he follows in their footsteps and struggles with his transition to the NBA this season, the Bucks' seemingly promising rebuild would take a huge hit.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Minnesota Timberwolves' worst nightmare already came true, as All-Star forward Kevin Love effectively forced them into trading him by signaling he wouldn't re-sign in Minnesota next summer as a free agent. Without Love, the Wolves' already fleeting playoff hopes instantly vanished.
Despite having little leverage, however, the Timberwolves landed a massive haul in return for Love—two former No. 1 overall picks (Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett) and a third future first-rounder. The sum of those parts likely won't be an adequate replacement for the sharpshooting forward this coming season, but they should help expedite Minnesota's rebuild.
Given Bennett's historically awful rookie season, however, Timberwolves fans have reason for concern heading into the year. Bennett looked vastly improved at the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, but he wouldn't be the first player whose summer-league performance was largely a mirage.
The larger concern for Minnesota fans should be Wiggins, who possesses both a seemingly limitless ceiling and gut-churning floor. If he's unable to capitalize on the Timberwolves' desperate need for a go-to scorer, he could prove to be one of the bigger draft busts in recent years, setting Minnesota's rebuild back significantly.
New Orleans Pelicans
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It's virtually impossible for the New Orleans Pelicans' 2014-15 season to go any worse than their injury-wracked 2013-14 campaign. A litany of ailments limited Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Ryan Anderson and Anthony Davis to playing alongside one another for only 90 minutes last year.
Gordon may never shed his injury-prone label, but Evans, Anderson and Holiday should all enter the season without any major health concerns. Davis, meanwhile, appears poised to break out as a top-tier superstar this season, with Fox Sports' Jimmy Spencer recently tabbing him as a dark-horse MVP candidate.
In theory, the addition of former Houston Rockets center Omer Asik should only help Davis, as he will no longer be the team's sole defensive presence on the interior. However, there's always the chance that he and Asik can't learn to coexist—similar to the problems that plagued Asik and Dwight Howard in Houston—causing the Turkish center to flee New Orleans as a free agent next summer.
If he does, the Pelicans could be at risk of having traded three consecutive first-round picks—they owe a protected 2015 first-rounder to Houston for Asik—with nothing to show for it but Holiday. That record of dismal roster management could inspire Davis to begin sending signals that he doesn't foresee a long-term future in New Orleans, which would rightfully incite panic among Pelicans fans.
New York Knicks
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In the weeks and months leading up to his free agency this offseason, Carmelo Anthony made all sorts of noise about prioritizing winning over money. His actions spoke louder than his words, however, when he signed a five-year, $124 million deal to remain with the New York Knicks in July.
Anthony swore to ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman that his decision wasn't financially motivated, saying, "I want to win. I don't care about the money." However, as Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News notes, "If this was only about going to the team with the best chance to win right now, he goes to the Bulls, or the Rockets."
Lupica genuinely believes Anthony "wants to win a pro title before he is through to go with the college title he won at Syracuse," but it's difficult to reconcile him signing with a Knicks squad that's nowhere near title contention if that's true. New York fans can't discount the possibility of Carmelo being a charter member of the Keep Getting Dem Checks club, as Grantland's Bill Simmons lovingly dubbed it.
How many blown J.R. Smith rotations and failed Samuel Dalembert box-outs will it take before Anthony decides to mail in the 2014-15 season entirely? Knicks fans certainly don't want to discover the answer to that question, but it could come as early as January depending how the year unfolds.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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The next two seasons are likely to be tense for Oklahoma City Thunder fans, who have July 1, 2016, already circled on their calendars. That's the day Kevin Durant will become an unrestricted free agent, and barring back-to-back championships over the next two seasons, he's likely to at least explore his options elsewhere.
Earlier this summer, Stephen A. Smith said the following on ESPN 980's Inside the Locker Room (per The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg): "I certainly don't want to sit here as a reporter and insider and try to give indications that he's planning on leaving Oklahoma City...But I was told if there is a team that would be strongly considered, it is the Washington Wizards, and him returning home."
It's worth stressing that first point: Smith isn't guaranteeing that Durant will leave OKC in 2016. However, if the Thunder fall apart over the next two seasons—perhaps the oft-rumored chemistry issues between KD and Russell Westbrook boil over—Durant could well develop a wandering eye two summers from now.
With the reigning MVP's impending free agency looming large over the franchise, everyone around the Thunder may begin tiptoeing on eggshells in any attempt to appease him. If he grows frustrated with the franchise and behind-the-scenes free-agent rumors begin flying, it'll be DEFCON 5 in Oklahoma City.
Orlando Magic
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Two years after trading away Dwight Howard in a four-team megatrade, the foundation of a promising young team has sprung up in Orlando. Victor Oladipo, the No. 2 overall pick in 2013, finished second to Michael Carter-Williams in Rookie of the Year voting, and the Magic added two more top-10 picks in June.
Orlando stunned many observers by selecting Arizona forward Aaron Gordon with the fourth overall pick, bypassing Australian combo guard Dante Exum in the process. The Magic then traded the No. 12 overall pick and a future first-rounder to the Philadelphia 76ers for Louisiana-Lafayette point guard Elfrid Payton, who Philly selected 10th.
Suddenly, the Magic appear to have a young starting rotation worth building around, with Payton, Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Gordon and Nikola Vucevic likely locking down the starting five spots. Throw in Moe Harkless, Evan Fournier and Andrew Nicholson, and it's no surprise that Orlando ranked in the top 10 in my recent young-talent power rankings.
If that young talent fails to pan out, however—perhaps Gordon struggles to develop an offensive game, or Oladipo and Payton can't learn to coexist in the backcourt—the Magic's once-promising rebuild would go up in smoke. There's no worse scenario for Orlando this season than seeing its stud lottery picks flopping worse than Anthony Bennett did as a rookie last year.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Frankly, things can't get much worse for the Philadelphia 76ers' on-court product than they already are. This team will be lucky to scrape together 20 wins in 2014-15. (USA Today's Adi Joseph predicted an 8-74 record for the Sixers this season.)
With general manager Sam Hinkie having stripped away any semblance of legitimate veteran talent, this season in Philadelphia will be about nothing but the development of Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel and the rest of the Sixers' young prospects.
Was Henry Sims' late-season relevance a mirage? Will Hollis Thompson's shooting regress to the mean? These questions mean far more to Philly than wins and losses.
Thus, the nightmare scenario for Hinkie and Co. would be seeing Noel go down with another season-ending knee injury. After he tore the ACL in his left knee back in February 2013, Philly fans have already been conditioned to grimace every time they see Noel hit the court (if his summer-league play is any indication, at least).
If the Kentucky big man did suffer another catastrophic injury—particularly to that same left knee—he might never be the same teeming-with-potential defensive stud that he is entering the 2014-15 season. With Hinkie's all-out rebuild already drawing flak from all corners of the NBA, seeing Noel sidelined again would cast significant doubt over the Sixers' long-term strategy.
Phoenix Suns
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The Phoenix Suns dodged their worst nightmare this summer, as no team offered restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe the long-term max contract that he was seeking. At the moment, the Suns' four-year, $48 million offer (per ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard) is the only one on the table for the talented combo guard.
Bledsoe could always follow in the footsteps of Detroit Pistons big man Greg Monroe and sign Phoenix's one-year, $3.7 million qualifying offer, but doing so carries significant risk. He already missed two months last season due to a torn meniscus, so another major injury could spell doom to his hopes of landing a big-money deal as an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
For the Suns, the worst-case scenario is Bledsoe taking the qualifying offer, as he'd thus gain veto power over any trade involving him between now and the summer of 2015. Seeing as the longstanding contract dispute has put the team's relationship with Bledsoe "on the express lane to being ruined," per CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes, the odds of him leaving as an unrestricted free agent appear rather high.
Making matters worse for Phoenix, point guard Goran Dragic is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer as well. If Bledsoe's anger toward the franchise causes both players to flee for other teams next summer, the Suns will go from frisky playoff contender to bottom-of-the-conference fodder in no time flat.
Portland Trail Blazers
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LaMarcus Aldridge wants to remain with the Portland Trail Blazers for his entire career. He's made no bones about it, telling The Oregonian's Joe Freeman, "I'm happy to stay, happy to be here, happy with the direction the team has gone in the last year or two."
However, he also informed Freeman that he won't be signing an extension with Portland this offseason. Not doing so makes perfect sense for Aldridge, who would be limited to a three-year deal worth $55 million if he pursued the extension route, per Freeman, compared to the five-year deal worth nearly $110 million he'll be eligible for next summer as an unrestricted free agent.
Portland can't be thrilled about that uncertainty, though, as the big man's mind could change between now and July 1, 2015. If point guard Damian Lillard suffers a significant, career-altering injury, for instance, Aldridge's confidence in the team's direction could suddenly be shaken.
Thus, the Blazers need to rally together for another deep playoff run in 2014-15, using their 2014 postseason upset of the Houston Rockets as motivation. If they find themselves on the receiving end of a playoff upset this year—or if they miss the postseason altogether—Aldridge's commitment to the franchise could suddenly waver, which would ruin Portland's chances of contending for a title anytime soon.
Sacramento Kings
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Since Vivek Ranadive purchased the Sacramento Kings and hired Pete D'Alessandro as his general manager, the franchise has been riddled with questionable decision-making. From allowing Isaiah Thomas to walk and signing Darren Collison as his replacement to drafting two similar sharpshooters with top-10 picks in consecutive drafts, the Kings' management appears to have no concrete long-term plan in place.
In theory, Sacramento is simply acquiring complementary talent with which to surround DeMarcus Cousins. Rudy Gay is the typical high-usage wing scorer who can attract defensive attention away from the big man, while Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskas are sharpshooters who will benefit from the double-teams he draws near the rim.
If the Kings get off to a slow start in 2014-15, will Ranadive and D'Alessandro have enough patience to see what this core is truly capable of producing? Or will they develop an itchy trigger finger, especially with Gay set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and seek to make yet another quick-fix move?
Sacramento fans should be hoping for the former, as the franchise could always decide to move on from Gay next summer if he doesn't pan out as a true No. 1 offensive wing option. The Kings' management falling victim to more meddling would be the worst-case scenario for this perpetually rebuilding franchise.
San Antonio Spurs
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Over the past few seasons, the San Antonio Spurs have successfully warded off Father Time. At some point, however, the tide is due to turn in that battle.
Tim Duncan will be 39 in April. Manu Ginobili turned 37 at the end of July. Tony Parker will celebrate his 33rd birthday during what's likely to be another lengthy Spurs playoff run next May. Matt Bonner, Boris Diaw and Tiago Splitter will all be on the wrong side of 30 by February, too.
Nothing would be worse for San Antonio—not even failing to ink Kawhi Leonard to an extension by Oct. 31—than seeing its elder stars finally fall victim to Father Time. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has long limited the minutes of his older players to reduce the strain on their bodies, but he can't ward off all age-related injuries.
Seeing Duncan reduced to a shell of his brutally effective self would be crippling for Spurs fans who dream of the first championship repeat in the Pop-Duncan era. Likewise, a hobbled Ginobili—he played with a slight stress fracture in his right leg during the 2014 NBA Finals, per ESPN.com—could spell the end for San Antonio's chances of knocking off Oklahoma City and/or the LA Clippers in the playoffs.
Toronto Raptors
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In 2013-14, a career-best season from point guard Kyle Lowry helped the Toronto Raptors win a franchise-high 48 games and take home the Atlantic Division title for only the second time ever. Lowry averaged 17.9 points and 7.4 assists per game last year, both of which represented career highs for the Villanova product.
Glowing headlines praised the floor general for transforming the Raptors, while Beckley Mason wrote for Deadspin that Lowry had "as strong a claim as anyone" to the title of best point guard in the Eastern Conference. Though the Brooklyn Nets upset the Raptors in the first round of the 2014 playoffs, it was no fault of Lowry's, who averaged an eye-popping 21.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
Was Lowry's performance a sign of things to come or a manifestation of the contract-year phenomenon, where a player not so coincidentally has a career-best year right before his contract is set to expire? For the Raptors, who inked Lowry to a new four-year, $48 million contract this summer, they can only hope it's the former.
Therefore, Toronto's worst nightmare in 2014-15 is if Lowry turns back into a short-tempered, middling point guard, pulling a complete 180 on his Cinderella-esque transformation from last season. Though the Raptors have Greivis Vasquez waiting in the wings, they'll only be dark-horse contenders in the East if Lowry continues building upon his fantastic play.
Utah Jazz
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The Utah Jazz were the beneficiaries of Orlando unexpectedly choosing Aaron Gordon with the fourth overall pick in June's draft, as that left Australian combo guard Dante Exum ripe for the picking at No. 5. There's just one problem: Exum clearly fancies himself a point guard, and Utah already burned a top-10 pick on Trey Burke in 2013.
"I see myself as a point guard," Exum told reporters at the draft combine. "I have always played the point guard position, and I am comfortable at that position. That is what I am entering myself into the draft as, and that is what I want to play."
The Jazz coaches attempted to play the 6'6" Exum off the ball during most of the Las Vegas Summer League, but he only averaged 7.2 points and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 30.8 percent from the field. He expressed his frustration with that game plan, telling reporters, "I still want to get the ball in my hands as much as possible. I didn’t get it a lot in my hands these last couple of games."
It seems as though Utah would prefer Exum to slot in at the 2 and keep Burke at the 1, with the Australian taking spot minutes at point guard when Burke needs a breather. If Exum continues expressing umbrage at the idea of not playing at the point, however, the Jazz may soon regret burning a top-five pick on the best talent available instead of addressing a team need.
Washington Wizards
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In the NBA, you either want to be really, really good (see: the San Antonio Spurs) or really, really bad (see: the Philadelphia 76ers). The worst place for a team is the no-man's land of being a surefire playoff squad that has no chance of making the conference finals, as you're effectively condemned to NBA purgatory.
Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, who also owns the NHL's Washington Capitals, is all too familiar with that harsh reality. Before last season, the Caps had made the playoffs in six straight years; however, they met their maker in the conference semifinal or earlier in each of those seasons.
Fresh off an opening-round upset of the Chicago Bulls in the 2014 playoffs, the Wizards don't appear to be at risk of following in the Caps' footsteps. With two young backcourt studs in John Wall and Bradley Beal, a talented frontcourt of Nene and Marcin Gortat and the free-agent addition of Paul Pierce, Washington should be a frisky dark-horse contender in the East this coming season.
Though the Wizards are a safe bet for somewhere around 50 wins this season, the playoffs can be a cruel mistress. Nothing would be worse for Washington fans than to enjoy the team's first division title since 1978-79, only to see a heavily favored Wizards squad fall in the opening round of the playoffs to a scrappy upstart.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com or NBA.com/stats. All salary information via Spotrac.com.
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