New Year’s resolutions for every NBA team

NBA players, coaches and executives are just like the rest of us when it comes to ringing in a new year. They hope that the calendar flip will bring them better luck in the near future. Every team has an area that they could improve in, so we’ll highlight one resolution that each NBA franchise should have heading into 2024.

The Pistons are hoping to close the book on 2023 as quickly as possible. They set an NBA record for the longest in-season losing streak, and it seems like the frustration in Detroit is mounting. Everyone associated might want to hide under a desk at this point, but the team will need to focus on getting better each and every day despite the adversity.

While the Wizards could benefit from an influx of blue-chip potential, their roster also doesn’t have any legitimate leaders. Jordan Poole seems to be more interested in highlight reel plays than listening to coaches during timeouts. Kyle Kuzma also isn’t going to be the alpha dog on a winning team.

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It’s going to be extremely difficult for the Hornets to understand what they have when Ball keeps getting hurt. He’s gone down with ankle injuries each of the last two seasons. These can be “wrong place at the wrong time” ailments, but Charlotte might want to think about ways to protect Ball schematically or from an equipment point of view.

He’s been on the trading block for years, but the Raptors don’t seem to be content with the offers they’ve received for Anunoby. Toronto shouldn’t just give him away, but a trade could adequately restock the cupboard for a proper rebuild. Anunoby brings a lot to the court, but isn’t going to singlehandedly improve the Raptors’ fortunes.

The Hawks have been on a roller coaster ride during the last few years. They made the Eastern Conference Finals a few years ago, but have not been able to recapture the magic that got them there. It doesn’t seem like the Dejounte Murray-Trae Young backcourt is conducive to winning big, either. It feels like one of them may need to go in order for Atlanta to maximize their potential.

The Bulls are headed nowhere fast, and injuries to Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic to close out 2023 only exacerbate what could happen to their trade value if Chicago waits too long to act. That pair, plus DeMar DeRozan would be attractive additions to many teams in the NBA, and a deal would help Chicago exit mediocrity.

Not many fans thought that Mikal Bridges would turn into a cornerstone star, but he’s spread his wings since he’s arrived in Brooklyn. Unlike previous stars the Nets have had, Bridges is one of the most reliable players night in and night out. The front office should have few reservations about enhancing the roster around him in 2024.

The Pacers are arguably the most fun team in the NBA to watch. Their ball movement keeps everyone on the floor involved, and forces defenses to scramble. Indiana is setup nicely for the future, but might want to consider adding a player who has been through the playoff wars. Many of the team’s core pieces have little to no postseason experience.

He’s going to miss significant time due to a knee injury, but Mobley’s development is the key to unlocking Cleveland’s ceiling as a team. His arsenal around the basket seemed limited last season, but he has the potential to be a more potent offensive player. If he adds a perimeter shot to his game, he might be one of the most valuable players in the league moving forward.

New York is dealing with a tough blow in the middle, as center Mitchell Robinson appears to be lost for the year with an ankle injury. Isaiah Hartenstein is as solid as it gets as a reserve, but the Knicks would be best served bringing in another capable big man. Perhaps they’ll target someone like Andre Drummond on a struggling Bulls team.

The Heat proved last season that they are more than the sum of their parts, but they still might want to look at bolstering their backcourt. Kyle Lowry has a lot of tread on his tires, and Tyler Herro has had trouble staying on the floor. A defensive-minded guard would fit this team nicely heading into the spring.

Orlando has been one of the surprise teams in the East, perhaps coming of age more quickly than fans expected. They have an entertaining stable of young players, led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. As the season progresses, head coach Jamahl Mosley will need to find a group of eight players who will be in the rotation during important games.

Maxey’s personality has been infectious in a good way for Philadelphia, and the franchise shouldn’t be afraid to let him expand his game in the coming year. He’s becoming a star without the ego that often comes along with it, which maintains the hierarchy for a Philadelphia team with big dreams in the spring.

The league was put on notice when Milwaukee brought in Damian Lillard alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the sky was the limit for their capabilities on offense. However, Lillard is not the same defender as Jrue Holiday is, so the Bucks might want to look into bringing in a defensive minded perimeter player ahead of the trade deadline.

Perhaps more than any other team in the NBA, the Celtics are playing for April, May and June. Their final seed in the East doesn’t matter much, as long as they head into the postseason healthy. Head coach Joe Mazzulla should use the regular season to find ways to get his team over the hump when it matters most.

Victor Wembanyama is the most unique prospect to enter the NBA in a long time. San Antonio is thrilled to have him, but his singularity also comes with difficult questions to answer. They’re going to have to find out what position he plays best at, and determine what type of players will play well around him.

Once the Blazers pulled the trigger on the Damian Lillard trade, the 2023-2024 season became about rebuilding. Portland was fortunate enough to snag Scoot Henderson high in the 2023 Draft, and now they’ve got to give him every opportunity to succeed and make mistakes. His development, or lack thereof, will usher in a new age of Blazers basketball.

It may sound overly simplistic and slightly silly, but Memphis’ fortunes are much more favorable with Morant on the floor. Babysitting him off the floor seems to be a bit extreme, but the organization should do close to whatever it takes to make sure Morant doesn’t find himself in hot water again. The difference between having him available and missing his services has been stark.

The Jazz look to have a rangy frontcourt of the future locked in with the emergence of Lauri Markkanen and the shot blocking prowess of center Walker Kessler. Their future at guard is a little murkier, and Utah should use the remainder of the 2024 campaign to find out which perimeter players are going to be part of the solution moving forward.

It’s starting to feel like Bradley Beal is cursed. Just when he got over a back injury that sideline him for the first couple months of the season, he suffers a sprained ankle. It has to feel like déjà vu all over again for Kevin Durant, who is once again hoping that his team will have enough time to build camaraderie before the playoffs begin.

The Draymond Green situation is at a crossroads, thanks to the NBA’s suspension of the forward indefinitely. This gives the Warriors a chance to assess whether or not Green can and should return for the remainder of the season. His intangibles are what simultaneously make him combustible and valuable, which is the delicate balancing act Golden State will need to weigh.

The current iteration of the Lakers utilize Russell as a spot up shooter, and he’s a high priced one at that. His role will be redundant with Gabe Vincent’s once he returns from injury, so Los Angeles would be best served packaging Russell in a deal that helps them get players who fit the roster better.

The Rockets have started the season more impressively than most believed. New coach Ime Udoka, seasoned point guard Fred Van Vleet, and embattled swingman Dillon Brooks deserve much of the credit for that. It’s going to be interesting to see how Houston continues to bring Jalen Green and Jabari Smith along while competing for a playoff spot.

There’s been a lot of smoke coming out of New Orleans recently regarding the physical fitness of Zion Williamson. The Pelicans seem to be less than thrilled with the steps he takes to prepare for an NBA season, and they might be resigned to the fact that he won’t put himself in the best position to succeed. It would be stunning, but not altogether shocking, to see them move on in 2024.

The Kings have enjoyed a resurgence in the last couple of years, and are a team that will look to take the next step in the Western Conference. Their pieces fit together nicely, but Sacramento might want to look into adding a paint protector to play 15-20 minutes a game against certain teams.

In order to get superstar players, teams have to give up quality pieces in return. Dorian Finney-Smith was included in the trade to acquire Kyrie Irving last season, but Dallas could really use a player just like him to sure up their wing rotation. Look for the Mavericks to be active in the “three and d” wing market in 2024.

There might not be a team with a more talented core of top players than the Clippers. The challenge for head coach Tyronn Lue will be fostering a style of play that accommodates them, as well as keeping them fresh for the postseason. It seems like Russell Westbrook has bought into coming off the bench, which is a step in the right direction.

It seemed like the Thunder were associated with bottoming out for many years, but they have shot up the standings in a legitimate way in 2023. They’re probably not quite ready to contend for a title, but the seeds for something special have been planted. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates must continue to maintain winning habits.

The Nuggets have been one of the better teams in the NBA at identifying talent and developing it in house. The loss of Bruce Brown has magnified the roles of other bench players, who will need to step up when the playoffs arrive. Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther are all players who need to continue to improve as the season goes on.

It felt like it couldn’t be done, but Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch deserves a lot of credit for making the Rudy Gobert/Karl Anthony Towns duo work in Minnesota. Their presence also hasn’t stunted the growth of Anthony Edwards. Finch will need to be able to adjust on the fly in the postseason though, which will mean shuffling Gobert or Towns out of the lineup as needed.