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Washington Wizards Review

Washington Wizards have been the definition of mediocre for many, many years and the 22/23 season was no different. While not often being the absolute worst team in the NBA, they have not been able to put it all together to make a contending team.

Bradley Beal put in a shift as he has the last 10 years he’s been on the team, averaging over 23ppg while versatile centre Kristaps Porzingis produced the same output. The issue the Wizards ultimately had was lack of availability from their stars as well as rotational pieces that provided no spark for the team off the bench.

The Wizards finished the season with 35 wins and 47 losses.

At the conclusion of the season the Wizards have traded away both stars Beal and Porzingis meaning a huge rebuild is on the cards maybe for years to come for the team based out of Washington.

Signings/Trades

Traded Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul

Traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics for picks

Traded Monte Morris to the Detroit Pistons for picks

Received Jordan Poole from the Golden State Warriors for Chris Paul

Re-signed Kyle Kuzma

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Utah Jazz Review

After losing pillars of the franchise Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the outlook for season 22/23 was not a bright one for the Jazz. However, with new names such as Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen the Utah Jazz had a far better season than most fans expected.

Ultimately the run stumbled towards the tail end of the year and the Jazz missed out on playoffs, but what they did achieve was a synergy and baseline level of play that they knew was capable of winning many games.

Lauri Markkanen played at an All-Star level averaging a career best 25.6ppg and was voted as the Most Improved Player winning the yearly award.

Signings/Trades

Traded Rudy Gay to the Atlanta Hawks for John Collins

Signed free agent Omer Yurtseven

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Toronto Raptors Review

A few years removed from that miraculous championship run, expectations in the Raptors building heading into the 22/23 season was one of a return to the NBA Finals. Stars from that run like Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby remained on the team so the foundation was still there in Toronto.

Unfortunately, the basketball on the court was not enough to get them into the playoffs and it was mixed with off court noise with players seeking trades or bigger contracts. Even with Pascal Siakam performing at an All-Star level averaging over 24ppg the Raptors had to settle with a Play-In spot.

The Toronto Raptors finished the season even with 41 wins and 41 losses, additionally losing in the Play-In tournament missing out on the Playoffs.

Signings/Trades Signed free agents Dennis Schroder, Jakob Poeltl and Jalen McDaniels

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San Antonio Spurs Review

One of the youngest teams in the league, it was clear to most that it was going to be difficult for legendary coach Greg Popovich to weave some magic during the 22/23 season. With a young core means exciting talents and Keldon Johnson and Tre Jones fit that bill.

San Antonio probably ended up being the most competitive young side with most games played against them no easy feat even though they were a team that ultimately finished with a record of 22 wins and 60 losses, one of the worst in the NBA.

This poor record put them in the picture to grab the number 1 draft pick from the lottery and with luck on their side they did just that. This gave them the means to draft generational talent Victor Wembanyama, a freakish 7-foot 5 inches athlete who can do it all and potentially bring them back to the glory days.

Signings/Trades

Re-signed Tre Jones

Traded picks to the Phoenix Suns for Cameron Payne

Part of a 3-team trade with the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics receiving Reggie Bullock

Part of a 3-team trade with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers receiving Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens

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Sacramento Kings Review

For well over a decade the Sacramento Kings have been languishing below the playoff bar, going into the 22/23 season the Kings last playoff appearance was 16 years prior. Expectations from the outside were again not too high for this team but inside the building they must have known they were cooking something up with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis leading the line.

Sacramento Kings became that team that almost every neutral fan was rooting for because for the first time in 16 years they were going to the playoffs, finishing as the 3 seed with a 48-34 record.

The aforementioned De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis were standouts all season long with Fox being named ‘Clutch Player of the Year’ which was the inaugural edition of this award. Along with spark off the bench in Malik Monk, the Kings were a brilliant team to watch this season but ultimately fell in the first round to last season’s champions, the Golden State Warriors.

Signings/Trades

Re-signed Alex Len and Trey Lyles

Signed free agent Nerlens Noel

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Portland Trailblazers Review

The Trail Blazers entered the 22/23 season with many questions surrounding if they had done enough to help their star player Damian Lillard one of the best shooters in the league who has been the definition of loyal for better or for worse.

Damian Lillard had a superb year finishing 3rd in points per game with 32.2 but the positives just about ended there. While there was decent production from players like Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons it was evident that not for the first time the Portland front office had setup to ultimately fail.

The Trail Blazers missed the playoffs finishing with 33 wins and 49 losses.

With year after year of missed opportunities the final straw has seemingly risen for Damian Lillard who has requested a trade ahead of the next campaign.

Signings/Trades

Re-signed free agents Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle

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Phoenix Suns Review

The Phoenix Suns have been looked at as a genuine contender since they made and lost the NBA Finals a couple of seasons ago. The 22/23 season held similar hopes that this team comprising of stars such as Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Mikal Bridges could be the ones to bring home the championship for the first time in the franchise’s history.

Arguably one of the biggest moves in NBA history was pulled off by the Sun’s during the season. They acquired Kevin Durant which saw Mikal Bridges and other pieces go the other way. This made already huge expectations, astronomical for this team.

The team finished the regular season with 46 wins and 36 losses leaving them in the 4th seed of the Western Conference.

Ultimately the stars of this team showed up in the playoffs, but a lack of solid, reliable depth meant a second-round exit to eventual champions, Denver Nuggets.

Signings/Trades

Signed free agents Chimezie Metu, Yuta Watanabe, Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks, Eric Gordon and Bol Bol

Re-signed Damion Lee and Josh Okogie

Traded Cameron Payne for picks

Traded for Bradley Beal from the Wizards

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Philadelphia 76ers Review

Expectations in Philadelphia have skyrocketed ever since the emergence of dominant centre Joel Embiid a number of years ago now, and this 22/23 campaign was no different. A big three of Embiid, Harden and Maxey was to be led by Doc Rivers hoping to get over the hump and make an Eastern Conference Final at least.

The regular season was a definite success with Joel Embiid finishing as the number 1 scorer in the NBA averaging 33.1ppg. His dominance was supported by the superb vision of James Harden and the electric twitchiness of Tyrese Maxey.

The 76ers finished as the 3 seed in the East with 54 wins and 28 losses.

Ultimately the 76ers could not get over the hump and reach an Eastern Conference Final, losing to the Boston Celtics in an epic 7 game series.

Signings/Trades

Re-signed free agents Montrezl Harrell and Paul Reed

Signed free agents Patrick Beverly and Mo Bamba

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Orlando Magic Review

The Orlando Magic has unfortunately finished their season in a bit of a car wreck. They have struggled to click as a team.

Their roster is bluntly filled with mediocre players with no real decent depth that can change a game. Paolo Banchero is Orlando's poster boy with 20.0 ppg and being the highest scoring of the roster.

However, next season there is a glimpse of hope, with the signing of Joe Ingles, an Aussie with experience on successful teams, he can help drive this relatively young side with his knowledge.

As well as this, Orlando have also managed to pick up two rookies with great quality and have potential to support the Magic in growing to be contenders.

Jett Howard and Anthony Black both being first round picks will hopefully dominate next year alongside Banchero as the Magic try and become an all rounded team.

Trades/Signings:

Signed Jett Howard and Anthony Black

Signed Joe Ingles

Signed Jay Scrubb

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Oklahoma City Thunder Review

I've talked a lot about other teams excelling with young stars as these teams try and coordinate egos, playing styles and what have you. The Oklahoma City Thunder are underdogs that will come out of nowhere.

Why?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

Shai is a Ja Morant-esque type players with explosive ball handling skills and consistent point scorer. Shai averaged 31.4 points per game and single handedly brought Playoff talks back to the franchise.

Alongside him is the Aussie star Josh Giddey who is dominating as a youngster, averaging 16.6 at 20 years of age. Giddey's ball movement and game sense and knowledge will only grow. His awareness on the court is second to none which allows him to make outrageous passes and assist his teammates for easy baskets.

With these two playing well, an injured Chet Holmgren will be joining the squad after a foot injury which made him sit out the entirety of last season. Holmgren a lengthy centre will suit Shai and Giddey and hopefully will eventuate in an all rounding solid team.

Signings/Trades:

Signed Patty Mills

Signed Cason Wallace

Signed Keyonte Johnson

Signed Ty Washington

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New York Knicks Review

One of the best series' to watch was the Knicks vs Cavs due to the similar playing style, similar matchups and same consistency. The Knicks have perfected a playing style with younger teammates and their coordination is trending in the winning direction.

With players like Julius Randle, Jaylen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Immanual Quickeley. The Knicks have a variety of both depth and stardom on their roster. The Knicks managed to go through to the second round of the Playoffs after beating the Cavs and unfortunately losing to Miami.

The Knicks are trending in the right direction and I believe they could win a championship in years to come.

One thing to note about the Knicks is that they don't have one or two particular key star players. Across the board, their team consists of role players that do their job perfectly.

Brunson averaging 27.0 ppg

RJ Barrett averaging 19.3 ppg

Julius Randle averaging 16.6 ppg

This Knicks team is one of the best teams they've had since 1994

Trades/Signings:

Signed Jaylen Martin

Signed Obi Toppin

Signed Donte DiVincenzo

Signed Nathan Knight

Signed Dylan Windler

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New Orleans Pelicans Review

The Pelicans are struggling. To put it bluntly, they are having some issues. There is no real decent playing style at the Pelicans. It seem's as if they are playing a "give Zion the ball" type game and the rest if history.

Zion Williamson, being conned as the next Lebron James, has struggled to get going and live up to that big name. His playing style while explosive, isn't reflecting in his stats.

His averaged 26.0 points per game throughout the regular season. He was the highest scoring player on the Pelicans roster.

So where do the Pelicans go from here?

Zion needs some form of support. Some decent role players that put up more stats than what they have previously. As well as maybe one other star from another team. Having someone with playoff experience and veteran game sense would help drive the young up and comers such as Dyson Daniels to strive to play better than what they have.

Trades/Signings:

Signed Rookie Jordan Hawkins

Waived Garret Temple

Signed Cody Zeller

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Minnesota Timberwolves Review

I imagine the Timberwolves to be like Lego Pieces. They have all the right bits but together and without instruction, they're missing something.

Anthony Edwards, touted as being one of the best guard in league averaged 24.6 ppg in the normal season and 31.5 ppg in the post season.

Being assisted by Karl Anthony-Towns, who is a veteran centre. These two worked together to bring the Timberwolves to the first round of the Playoffs.

That's the thing about Lego Pieces, if they're broken, you can put them back together and that's what the next season is going to be. Making sure the role players step up and support KAT and Edwards more than they did in the last season.

Trades/Signings:

Signed Jaylen Clark

Signed Leonard Miller and Troy Brown

Anthony Edwards signed extension

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Milwaukee Bucks Review

The Bucks unfortunately had a heartbreak of a season. Getting knocked out of the first round of the Playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo avergaed 31.1 ppg throughout the regular season, making himself still the best player in the league at this current moment.

The Bucks on paper has a team of great role players with Brooke Lopez who stood out as one of the defensive greats of the season, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton who consistently support Giannis and drop a solid amount of points per game and with Bobby Portis stepping up to the plate, it makes sense that the Bucks should have done better this year.

Though due to being swamped with injuries throughout the regular season, the Bucks struggled to get on track and unfortunately got knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by Miami.

For next season, I believe the Bucks need some explosive youngsters to change up their playing style and bring more speed to the game alongside Giannis.

Giannis needs more help...he can't do it all....

Trades/Signings:

Re Signed Khris Middleton and Brooke Lopez

Signed Andre Jackson Jr and A.J Green

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Miami Heat Review

A heartbreaking finish to a true underdog story. A team that scraped it's way into the Playoffs, making it all the way to the championship series and unfortunately fell flat to Denver.

It is no doubt that Miami have the skill and potential to go all the way. Jimmy Butler, or now conned "Himmy Butler", grabbed the team, put them on his back and carried them up the mountain to become eastern conference champions and staple themselves as one of the best teams in the league.

Beating Boston in the eastern conference was a bullet point as they were the favourites to win the series.

Jimmy Butler alongside Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Gabe Vincent, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin. The heat have a perfect mix of stardom and depth to strengthen their playing style.

Butler averaged 26.9 in the post season and 22.9 in the regular season.

The big talks for the upcoming 23/24 season is the potential to acquire one of the greats Damian Lilliard. Lilliard has expressed extreme interested in joining the heat, stating "I wanna play with Bam [Adebayo], he's my boy".

He has also stated that he doesn't want to play anywhere else besides Miami. This could be a huge turning point for the heat as Lilliard scored bulk points and has that game experience that the Heat may need in high pressure games.

Trades/Signings:

Potential signing of Damian Lilliard

Traded gabe Vincent

Signed Kevin Love

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Memphis Grizzlies Review

Sometimes it's not the on court performances that affect outcome of the team. The Grizzlies managed to solidify their villain arc the past season due to their off court shenanigans. A team that was built with young stars and a lot of hype crashed and burned. Much like Icarus, they flew too close to the sun. Or if you're Ja Morant, too close to the hood.

Ja Morant, notably has been hyped over the past few seasons as the next star. His explosive ability to throw down extreme dunks, get amazing steals and passes and turn the game on its head.

However,

Morant, seemingly managed to get involved with the wrong crowd throughout t season, showing off his guns (yes firearms) in Instagram Videos, threatening store workers in the shopping malls and get into fights with teenagers.

Morant has been suspended for 25 games of the next season due to his sporadic behaviour. Hopefully, his basketball can reconcile all the harm he's done to the Memphis fans and to the younger generation who look up to him.

As well as this, Dillon Brooks. The most hated players in the league managed to anger almost every team in the league just by taunting other players. The funny part is, his stats give him no justification. He averaged 14.5 ppg throughout the regular season.

I hope the grizzlies do well next season as they have rid Brooks from infecting their squad any longer. Their young team has harnessed a playing style like no other team and once Morant is back, they will be one to watch.

Trades/Signings:

Re Signed Desmond Bane

Signed Marcus Smart

Signed Josh Christopher

Signed Kenneth Lofton Jr

Traded Dillon Brooks

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Los Angeles Lakers Review

The mighty Lakers had a stellar 22/23 season. With the continuation of the GOAT Lebron James averaging 28.9 ppg in the regular season and 24.5 in the post season.

Though it wasn't smooth sailing throughout the entirety of the year. The team lacked coordination and an element of togetherness.

Talks of Lebron retiring as well as Westbrooks talent were being scrutinised by the media due to poor performance the Lakers were putting up.

The second half of the season was a complete flip. With the likes of Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura (coming off the bench) and Dennis Schroder. The Lakers looked to dig further into their bench players and give them more playing time to affect games.

This worked out greatly, as it took the Lakers who scraped into the Playoffs all the way to the Western Conference finals where they unfortunately lost against Denver.

Looking at next season, the Lakers will continue with the same roster it seems, with Anthony Davis dominating alongside Lebron, Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell.

This squad will be one to watch. Never count them out.

Trades/Signings:

Signed Gabe Vincent from the Miami Heat

Signed Taurean Prince

Signed Cam Reddish

Signed Jaxon Hayes

Re signed, D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves