The Sage Publication is the student news site of Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, CA

The Sage

The Sage Publication is the student news site of Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, CA

The Sage

The Sage Publication is the student news site of Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, CA

The Sage

2021 NBA Season Preview

The 2021 NBA season is only months away, and reporter Jacob Martin has everything you can expect from the upcoming season.

Below are predictions of each and every NBA team and a brief explanation of what is expected to happen not only this year, but in following years as well. At the top, it states the best three players on each team based on past performance, and under it is an explanation detailing what you can expect this year from the teams listed, plus, what they might do to improve, and why they are strong or weak.

76ers: Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris

Expect a lot of change from this roster before the season starts due to trade rumors of them possibly getting rid of either Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid and rumors of acquiring former MVP James Harden. This team will make the playoffs no matter what they do but depending on what they do they could be amazing or mediocre.

With Lebron James and company the Lakers are poised for a great 2021 season. Expect them to possibly be repeat champions.

Lakers: Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma

They are the 2020 champions and are expected to return with a similar roster next year and expect a possible back-to-back championship.

With Steph Curry at the helm the Warriors can return to greatness. Despite a disappointing 2020 season the Warriors are expected to return to dominance.

Warriors: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green

This team was bad last year due to injuries but they have a high draft pick. Expect them to return to their dominant performance.

 

Celtics: Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown

They are a good, young, up-and-coming team that could make it to the finals, they are a rare team with three 20+ point per game scorers and are possibly going to trade for Andre Drummond.

 

Raptors: Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Fred Vanvleet

The 2019 Champions have an excellent team, but they need a better superstar if they want to contend for a title again. Expect  them getting eliminated in the second round unless they do this.

 

Heat: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic

They shocked the world last year upsetting the Celtics and the Bucks and made it to the finals but they just don’t have enough talent to beat a team like the Lakers but there are rumors the Heat are going to offer Giannis a deal which could be what they need to win a championship.

 

Rockets: James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Robert Covington

This team has always been good but they are never good enough, and there is a good chance they rebuild after many disappointing early playoff exits but if they don’t rebuild they will still be a solid threat in the west.

 

Bulls: Zach Lavine, Lauri Markannen, Wendel Carter jr.

Decent young core but  they want an even better core and will want to give up Zach Lavine in the near future for future first-round picks, if not Zach Lavine will still thrive here and continue to be a 20+ points per game scorer.

Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers can be expected perform better in the 2021 season. They are unlikely to forget their disappointing loss to the Nuggets.

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Lou Williams

Probably the most disappointing team last year after most people thought they would be champs in 2020 they lost in the 2nd round to an extremely young Nuggets team. They should stick together and try again to build chemistry.

 

Knicks: Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett

They are a young team that I believe need to be patient because in a city as big as New York they could eventually sign a big name star, other than that expect the knicks to be horrible every year.

 

Bucks: Giannis Antetekounmpo, Kris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe

Another team that was disappointing, most people believed the Bucks would make a trip to the finals but then lost in the second round. They need more playoff experienced players and hope they keep the back to back MVP Giannis.

 

Spurs: Demar Derozen, Lamarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay

The Spurs missed the playoffs for the first time in 22 years and after losing Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli it’s time to rebuild and trade their stars for draft picks.

 

Mavericks: Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr,

This team has tons of potential and it wouldn’t be surprising if they are title contenders next season with superstars like Luka Doncic and Star Porzingis, they are a force to be reckoned with and hopefully will continue to develop their players.

 

Thunder: Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, Steven Adams

They have an excellent all-around team, but they lack the star power to win a title, look for them to attempt to win another championship, and after a few years, if that does not pan out they will be forced to rebuild.

 

Suns: Devin Booker,  Deandre Ayton, Kelly Oubre Jr,

They need to rebuild. They haven’t been a relevant team for years and the team they have will not change that, sometimes they look like they have potential but they never make the playoffs.

 

Nets: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie

If Kevin Durant comes back 100% from his injury this team will be a huge threat in the east, with supporting stars like Kyrie Irving on this team and former MVP Steve Nash as their coach this team has a solid chance at a championship.

 

Nuggets: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.

A very young but talented team that can be title contenders in the near future if they continue to develop their team. They have the best center in the league in Jokic, an elite point guard in Jamal Murray and high potential young players like Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol, if they can develop into superstars they are future champions.

 

Blazers: Damian Lillard, CJ Mccolumn, Jusuf Nurkic

They are a talented team but have issues on defense and injuries, and will probably get some defensive players as well as some players to give them better depth. If they want to be champions in the near future they either need to rebuild or add a superstar to the roster.

 

Cavaliers: Andre Drummond, Kevin Love, Colin Sexton

They have young talent and a high pick and are ready for a rebuild but if they keep Andre Drummond and Kevin Love they wouldn’t rebuild to full potential because they could trade those for more young players or for picks, they will not make the playoffs this year no matter what they do.

 

Jazz: Donavan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Jordan Clarkson

Very talented team but just not talented enough to win a title so they either need to clear up cap space to sign a big-name free agent or need to get some picks because many don’t believe it’s time for this team to rebuild, they have good pieces and are almost title contenders.

 

Timberwolves: Karl Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley

Two good players in Towns and Russell but the supporting cast is one of the worst in the league. They should try to get a player like Devin Booker and see how that helps and if that doesn’t work they need to learn to develop their players better. Many predict them to not make the playoffs this year.

 

Pelicans: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday

Fans believe these are two future superstars and I think they will make the playoffs if everyone stays healthy. If they want to be contenders they need to continue to add good young pieces and then they can most likely evolve into an elite team.

 

Hornets: Devonte Graham, Terry Rozier, PJ Washington

The Hornets are seen as the least talented team in the league but they are rebuilding and have a good pick in this year’s draft and are heading in the right direction if they keep it up.

 

Pacers: Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, TJ Warren

The Pacer could be title contenders but they always have a key player injured, they have Malcolm Brogdon a great leader who can pass and score very well, they have Victor Olidipo who can score 20 in his sleep while being an elite defender, they have TJ Warren who is a flat out elite scorer and can give you over 20 most nights, they have an elite rim protector in Myles Turner, an all-star in Sabonis who is a double-double machine and averaged 17 points and 13 rebounds while being an elite passer for his position. If they stay healthy they could beat most teams.

 

Pistons: Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, Christian Wood

This team needs to rebuild and get back to their early 2000’s ways, because the team they have is not going anywhere they can’t score, can’t defend, and can’t rebound. Hopefully, they can get a key player for a rebuild in this year’s draft.

The Kings rebuild is not over yet but with promising players like De’aaron Fox and others they should improve slightly. If the team fails to improve, further rebuilding is necessary.

Kings: De’aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley

They need to continue their rebuild until their players develop into stars but if this does not happen they need to hope they get lucky in the draft because they never make the playoffs and many are predicting they don’t again this year.

 

Magic: Nikola Vuecvic, Jonathan Issac, Aaron Gordon

They have proven to barely be a playoff team but they are nowhere near championship level, they are predicted to be a solid playoff team the next couple of years then they will rebuild and hope to make a championship-contending team.

 

Hawks: Trae Young, John Collins, Clint Capela

They are not good right now but in the future, this will be a great team if they stay patient and add some vets and some defenders. The could be a playoff team soon and be contenders in five years if their main players stay.

 

Wizards: Bradley Beal, John Wall, Thomas Bryant

John Wall is finally back after being gone for three years from his injury, if this team is good again when he comes back they should try to build around them and try to make this team contenders, if not they need to rebuild and get rid of their stars for picks.

 

Grizzlies: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jonas Valanciunas 

A good, young team that barely missed the playoffs, many see them going into playoffs this year, and if Morant keeps getting better this team could be elite sooner rather than later.

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