Team Previews - Fringe Playoff Teams
Jazz
Star Players - Mitchell & Gobert
Young Core - Simunic, Azubuike
X Factor - Mudiay (last chance for him to start, weakest position)
Best Trade Piece - 50 million in expiring contracts
Biggest Storyline - How do they get better talent around Mitchell ?
Biggest Question mark - PG spot as Conley is now 35 (75 ovr)
Suns
Star Players - Booker, Ayton
Young Core - Jalen Smith, Justice
X Factor - Deion Justice (74 ovr, starting, A+ 3 and A- athelte)
Best Trade Piece - Crowder Expiring
Biggest Storyline - How are they alot better with the same team minus Chris Paul ?
Biggest Question mark - PG spot with Justice and 77 ovr's Kris Dunn and Jevon Carter
Hawks
Star Players - Trae, Collins
Young Core - Hunter, Okongwu, Reddish, Yi
X Factor - Okongwu ( 1st year starting traded Clint)
Best Trade Piece - Bogdanovic and 20 million in expiring contracts
Biggest Storyline - Is Trae Young a winning player ?
Biggest Question mark - Depth at PG and Frontcourt
Thunder
Star Players - SGA, Malone
Young Core - Schrempf, Dort, Bazley, Poku, Charles Smith, Dennis
X Factor - Nukic (fills major hole and this is a larger role then last year)
Best Trade Piece - 3 1st round picks and lots of young players
Biggest Storyline - Are they ready to win ?
Biggest Question mark Will Minnesota take their offer for KAT ?
Trailblazers
Star Players - Lillard and Ewing
Young Core - Bridges, Trent, Little, Simons
X Factor - Miles Bridges (is starting over little)
Best Trade Piece - Devonte Graham (78 ovr), Covington
Biggest Storyline - The CJ and Lillard backcourt is finally broken up
Biggest Question mark - Lillard's scoring last year dropping from 23 to 17