A 2015 NBA season that saw the winningest team of all time fall to LeBron and his once-cursed-Cavaliers and a shockingly more surprising offseason is behind us. Here are other stories without KD we’d love to see develop this coming season.
All length Bucks, yay or nay?
After a surprising entry into the playoffs in 2015, the Bucks struggled mightily in the East last season, finishing with a disappointing 33–49 record. Coach Jason Kidd, though, continues his pursuit of lengthy, versatile athletes with the drafting of controversial big man Thon Maker. With Giannis taking a point-forward role more and more in Kidd’s offense, one has to think point guard Michael Carter-Williams might be on the move.
2015 Class sophomore slump looming?
It’s hard to say we expected the likes of Karl Anthony Towns and Porzingis to be as good as they were last year. The 2015 draft class took the league by storm and has supplanted the supposed once in a generation batch in 2014 that struggled with injury. Expectations will be high for the duo as both their teams have made huge strides in surrounding them with better talent. How they fare in supposedly better situations team-wise, we will have to find out. The bucks don’t stop with the two. A year settled in, D’Angelo Russell, Devin Booker, and Myles Turner will have a full season to prove their worth.
Could Blazers build on overachieving 2015 team?
It’s hard not to root for the Blazers and especially taking into account last year’s performance in the midst of losing 4 of its starters. They’ve locked up their core of young guns (for cheap) in Lillard, McCollum, and Crabbe while adding former #2 pick Evan Turner. Turner showed off his wares with Boston last year, coming off the bench in one of his more successful seasons.
Is Lord Embiid winning ROY?
Joel Embiid will finally have to take his talking to the court this season. With first overall pick and fellow rookie Ben Simmons likely missing a ton of time with a foot injury, Embiid will be called on to deliver the goods for the Sixers.
It’s easy to see him putting up huge numbers for his long struggling team if he is indeed as good as advertised. As for Sixers fans, it might take a couple more years to finally see the end of The Process.
Will Hezonja have breakout year?
Orlando parted with starting guard Victor Oladipo in the offseason while bringing in a pair of shot blocking behemoths in Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo.
It could mean they’re easing in Croatian sensation Mario Hezonja to a starting spot. He will have to share minutes at the two-spot with Evan Fournier who’s shown he could score in bunches last year. With Frank Vogel at the helm, Magic fans could be on their way to seeing better days.
Did not make the cut
Will Boogie finally get traded?
Is this the year AD breaks into MVP conversation again?
Has time finally caught up with the Clippers?
