Winning an NBA Championship is the main goal for each team in the association. There’s nothing more rewarding than to hoist that Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of each season and call yourself an NBA Champion.
Many stars throughout the history of the league demand a trade for a chance to compete at the league’s summit as they consider winning a title the most prestigious accomplishment they could achieve in their careers.
There are teams who could stay in title contention for years and there are others who will falter due to factors like injuries and failed chemistry which could affect them in the long run.
In today’s list, we will discuss 5 NBA teams whose championship windows are wide open and 5 teams whose championship windows are slammed shut.
Wide Open – Los Angeles Lakers
Rob Pelinka has done quite some magic for the Lakers dating back to last season’s trade deadline. His moves had taken the team from near collapse into title contenders without surrendering much asset on the Lakers’ end.
The team meticulously gathered some nice young pieces such as Hachimura, Hayes, Vincent and Vanderbilt to solidify their rotation. Austin Reaves’ improvement was also a revelation and is expected to contribute as the team’s third option behind LeBron and Davis.
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Slammed Shut – Los Angeles Clippers
Since 2019, the Clippers often appeared on the list of title contenders within the league. However, the team has never reached the NBA Finals or had their title aspirations materialized and you can bet that the trend will continue this season.
A huge reason for their failure to reach the NBA summit is the injuries that continue to plague their highly touted duo, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. In four seasons, both players only played in 142 out of a possible 328 games together.
Wide Open – Boston Celtics
On paper, the Celtics probably have the best starting five on opening night. Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford will create problems for any team in the league on a nightly basis.
While Boston has struggled to get over the hump in their championship pursuit within the last few years, the arrival of Holiday and Porzingis will definitely boost their chances to win it all next year.
Slammed Shut – Philadelphia 76ers
It’s just sad to think a player as gifted as Joel Embiid may never win a championship as a member of the Sixers. The team undoubtedly has the talent to compete for a title, but their roster construction is flawed.
James Harden is no longer the player he once was and his ongoing feud with Sixers’ general manager Daryl Morey has created a toxic environment within the team. Plus, an explanation is needed as to why an ineffective 38-year-old PJ Tucker continues to start as a power forward for this team.
Wide Open – Phoenix Suns
Any team that employs Kevin Durant is automatically considered a contender. The trio of Booker, Beal and Durant will cause some headaches for opposing teams during the regular season and in the playoffs.
The Suns’ bench (often viewed as their Achilles heel) is not that bad when you look at it. They have rotation guys who can score like Yuta Watanabe, Grayson Allen, Josh Okogie and Eric Gordon. This is a fairly deep team that could go all the way in June.
Slammed Shut – Golden State Warriors
This might be a controversial one but the Warriors’ championship window may have closed for good last season. While Curry remains one of the best players in the league today, the team looked overwhelmed as they exited the playoffs last season.
Draymond Green hasn’t averaged more than 10 PPG since 2018 and Andrew Wiggins’ inconsistency might hamper their championship goals next year. Steph will turn 36 years old in March and while his game has aged gracefully, it’s hard to pin their hopes solely on him at this stage of his career.
Wide Open – Milwaukee Bucks
The recent addition of Damian Lillard definitely boosted Milwaukee’s chance to win it all next season. The Giannis-Dame duo will be hard to contain as both players have their own unique set of skills on the court.
While the majority of teams clog the lane whenever Giannis decides to attack, he could now kick the ball out to Dame to hit shots beyond the three-point line. The team doesn’t always have to rely on Giannis when they need a bucket when the game is on the line now that Dame is on the team.
Slammed Shut – Miami Heat
It’s hard to bet against Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat but with the addition of Holiday in Boston and Lillard in Milwaukee, they’ll be hard-pressed to make it out of the Eastern Conference next year.
The Heat lost Gabe Vincent and Max Strus in free agency – two players who heavily contributed to their surprising finals run last season. While Tyler Herro’s presence may negate the shortcomings of this team, it still feels like winning a title may be far-fetched due to the significant improvement of their rivals.
Wide Open – Denver Nuggets
It’s quite weird that even though the Nuggets were last season’s champions, the team is often overlooked whenever the discussion of title contention comes into play. The Jokic-Murray duo is still one of the best in the league today.
While they haven’t added anybody significant this offseason, the team is banking on the continued improvement of their young guys next season. This is a team with a solid long-term plan.
Slammed Shut – Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the world. Kyrie Irving is one of the most talented players in the world. While the duo hasn’t found the right rhythm yet on how to co-exist, there’s a good chance they’ll figure it out sooner rather than later.
The glaring problem for the Mavericks is their depth. They are thin and vulnerable on their frontcourt and opponents may exploit those weaknesses each time they face the Mavs. In addition, head coach Jason Kidd is seriously considering starting a couple of unproven rookies next season. That may end up as a disaster for a team seeking a championship like the Mavs.
