We’re finally about a week away from the start of the 2016-17 NBA regular season, so it’s about time for some previews at The Comeback. Earlier, we looked at five teams on the rise and follow up with the five teams taking a step back.
Each NBA season brings has a yin and a yang. As some teams improve, there are those teams which inevitably must get worse, be it a rapid decline or a slow atrophy. These five teams are going to take a slide this coming season.
Miami Heat
A certain set of circumstances evoking a wide range of emotions will almost certainly knock Miami into the lottery this season.
A widely-publicized game of monetary chicken caused Dwyane Wade to do the unthinkable and leave the Heat for his hometown Chicago Bulls. That, coupled with Chris Bosh being physically unable to return to the court due to his health issues, has expedited Miami’s descent.
Eight players started at least 10 games for Miami last season; only Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic remain on the team. The Heat will have to rely on a group of young holdovers and veteran misfits to compete in an underrated Southeast Division. Promising youngsters Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson, and Josh Richardson will be joined by vets Derrick Williams, Dion Waiters (!!!), James Johnson, Wayne Ellington, Luke Babbitt, and Beno Udrih.
The first season of the post-Big Three era in Miami seems like it’s going to be a painful one.
Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s a bit unfair to categorize OKC as a team that will fall, but losing one of the five best players in the game has that effect.
Kevin Durant’s shocking defection to Golden State decreased the Thunder’s expected win total from 55 last year to 44 in 2016-2017, according to ESPN’s projections. That move was preceded by a draft night trade which sent longtime big Serge Ibaka to Orlando, bringing in 2013 second overall pick Victor Oladipo, versatile forward Ersan Ilyasova, and promising 2016 first rounder Domantas Sabonis.
But the spotlight, the burden and the onus now rests on Russell Westbrook’s shoulders, something he’ll likely embrace. The Thunder still have a very talented and intriguing team under Billy Donovan, with Steven Adams, Enes Kanter, Andre Roberson, Cameron Payne and Kyle Singler returning, but it’ll be tough to envision OKC going back to the conference finals without big KD.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago finished ninth in the East last season despite 42 wins. Despite the addition of a lot of big names, it’s hard to envision this team being better than mediocre in 2016-2017.
Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo have 16 All-Star selections between them, but the Bulls’ new backcourt won’t really help an offense which ranked in the league’s bottom third in 3-pointers made and attempted last season. (Though Rondo’s 36.5 shooting percentage from deep last season was a career-best.) Of the seven Bulls who shot better than 36 percent from three in 2015-2016, only Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic remain.
Robin Lopez, acquired in the Derrick Rose trade with New York, will have to be the primary rim protector with Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol gone. Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis and promising Brazilian Cristiano Felicio will help. Newcomers Michael Carter-Williams, Isaiah Canaan and first round pick Denzel Valentine will produce positive results for head coach Fred Hoiberg, but it likely won’t be enough.
Shooting is such an important part of the modern NBA, and it’s something the Bulls just don’t have enough of to help them from escaping mediocrity’s unkind grip.
Dallas Mavericks
Will this be the year that old age finally catches up to the Mavericks?
Four members of the Mavs’ starting five and seven projected rotation players will be north of 30 years of age. Dirk Nowitzki (38) enters his 19th NBA season with Deron Williams (32,) as his starting point guard. Wes Matthews (30) is still recovering from major knee surgery, alongside D-Will in the backcourt, and Andrew Bogut (31) will start at center after coming over in a salary dump from Golden State. They’ll be joined in the rotation by veteran guards Devin Harris and J.J. Barea, and Salah Mejri, the 7-2 Tunisian center who played meaningful minutes for Dallas in the playoffs last season.
Dallas’ younger players will have to help Dirk reach the playoffs for the 16th time, led by max free agent signing Harrison Barnes. 2015 first-rounder Justin Anderson and big man Dwight Powell are joined by signings Quincy Acy and Seth Curry to try infusing some relative youth to this aging team.
With the West as tough as it is, Dallas’ margin for error continues to decrease as the team gets older.
Brooklyn Nets
While Philadelphia hit rock-bottom last year, the Nets will likely find themselves as the league’s worst team this season under new head coach Kenny Atkinson.
With their own first-round pick gone to Boston as part of the ill-fated Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett trade, Brooklyn sent Thaddeus Young to Indiana in exchange for a pick that ended up being University of Michigan guard Caris LeVert. Under new general manager Sean Marks, the Nets are fully, and smartly, embracing a youth movement surrounding Brook Lopez and big free agent signing Jeremy Lin. 2015 first-rounders Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough are joined by rookies Isaiah Whitehead and Yogi Ferrell, along with 2013 top overall pick Anthony Bennett.
The Celtics have swap rights on the Nets’ pick this season, meaning that Brooklyn’s rebuilding process will be a lengthy one. And that begins with a decline from their 21-win season from a year ago.
