The Los Angeles Lakers are the first-ever In-Season Tournament champions while the Boston Celtics are still undefeated at home. The Detroit Pistons have found a way to lose 26 games in a row while the Memphis Grizzlies are undefeated since Ja Morant’s return from a 25-game suspension.
Over a third of the NBA season is now complete, giving us just enough of a sample to stand on fairly firm ground with regards to where teams stand and what they most need going forward.
In keeping with the holiday season, here’s a Christmas Wish List for each of the 30 teams:
BOSTON CELTICS (22-6)
Big man depth. It’s nitpicking with a team that’s tied for the best record in the league but Al Horford is 37 years old and the injury-prone Kristaps Porzingis has missed seven games so far. Boston has been linked with the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart and an insurance big would help the frontcourt breathe a bit easier.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (22-6)
Point=guard depth. The big three of Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert have figured out plenty after struggling to put together the puzzle last season. Mike Conley’s leadership and experience is a perfect complement on this team but the Wolves, tied for the best record in the league, could use a better backup option.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (22-7)
Wing defence. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard’s chemistry is increasing exponentially on the offensive end as the season progresses but the Bucks still leave plenty to be desired defensively. Jrue Holiday’s departure has been a major loss on that end of the floor and Milwaukee has a 21-7 record despite the 20th-ranked defence. An upgrade on current shooting guard Malik Beasley is desperately needed, and preferably someone who can defend at a high level.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (20-8)
Third star. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have done all they can to lead the Sixers to the league’s best net rating, but there are some underlying numbers that might concern Philly fans. The team is just 6-7 against plus-.500 teams and Tobias Harris doesn’t quite cut it as a third option. Rumour has it that the Sixers are monitoring the situations of both Chicago’s Zach LaVine and Toronto’s OG Anunoby and they might just need someone on that level to bolster their chances against the elite.
DENVER NUGGETS (21-10) AND LA CLIPPERS (17-12)
Health. It’s been the X-Factor for the Nuggets for the past several years and there’s no reason to change that now. Jamal Murray has missed 14 games this season but if the Canadian is healthy when it matters most Denver won’t complain. It’s established that a championship is the ceiling at full strength and the young brigade of Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, and Christian Braun have thrived in increased roles stepping in for the departures of Bruce Brown and Jeff Green.
Availability has been an issue in Clipperland during the Kawhi Leonard era but the signs so far this season have been very positive. He’s rounded into MVP-level form and now it’s just a question of whether Leonard, Paul George, and the rest can keep showing up on a nightly basis.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (18-9)
Boldness from the front office. The Thunder are real and glorious. Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a legitimate MVP candidate while Chet Holmgren is playing so well he isn’t just the favourite to win rookie of the year right now, he’s in contention for both an All-NBA and All-Defensive Team. GM Sam Presti needs to be brave and look for a veteran star because Oklahoma City is ready to win.
ORLANDO MAGIC (17-11)
Patience. This season has been a coming-out party for the Magic and it appears the rebuilding process is well on the way to bearing some real fruit. Paulo Banchero and Franz Wagner make for a formidable duo and the team’s overall size and length has made for the league’s fifth-best defence. With Orlando currently in position for home-court advantage in the playoffs, there’s no need to rush into a decision before the trade deadline.
SACRAMENTO KINGS (17-11)
Wing defence. The Kings can score at will but its biggest concern lies in stopping opposing teams. If Sacramento is serious about a deep playoff run, having someone better than Harrison Barnes to throw at the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Gilgeous-Alexander is a must.
MIAMI HEAT (17-12)
Lump of coal. The Heat are the ultimate “I asked my landlord to increase my rent because that’s how much I believe in my hustle/grind” team. Why trade for Lillard or Donovan Mitchell when you can just prove people wrong with what you have? Spiting the Heat by delivering a lump of coal this Christmas will be just the petty motivation they need.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (17-12)
Size. Not everything is bigger in Texas. While Luka Doncic has been fantastic in leading the Mavs thus far, teams that have the ability to attack them inside have thrived. Derick Lively II has been excellent as a rookie big man, but Canada’s Dwight Powell has offered little resistance at the rim. If the Mavericks can secure a serviceable big man to ease the burden on their rookie, they’ll be a healthy Kyrie Irving away from thinking big again.
NEW YORK KNICKS (16-12)
Cleveland panic sale. With the injuries sustained by Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, the best thing that can happen for the Knicks is if the Cavs spiral and the front office goes into panic mode by taking offers for Mitchell. Becky Hammon is right, the Knicks are a good team but don’t have a path to greatness with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle as the two best players on the team.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (17-13)
Dedicated Zion. The fitness-related guarantee clauses in Zion Williamson’s contract revealed earlier in the week are a major red flag and speak volumes about his work ethic. From unlocking different levels of income based on games played to clauses about his combined weight and body fat percentage, it’s clear that what the Pelicans need most from the oft-injured Williamson is a higher level of dedication to his craft.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-13)
An unlikely hero. With Garland and Mobley on the shelf for at least another month, what Cleveland needs more than anything is for one of its role players to step into some bigger shoes. Caris LeVert looks the most likely candidate with his scoring ability, but Max Strus is also someone who has made the most of his expanded opportunity so far.
HOUSTON ROCKETS (15-12)
Better decisions from Jalen Green. The second-overall pick in the 2021 draft is looking like his teammates are leaving him behind. The additions of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks along with Ime Udoka’s coaching have made Houston a competitive team again but Green looks out of place taking bad shots and turning the ball over like the franchise is still striving for ping-pong balls.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (16-14)
Another co-star. The Lakers might be In-Season Tournament champions but as things stand a playoff spot is looking murky with L.A. currently languishing in ninth in the West. Having already attempted one shakeup – successfully – by moving Austin Reaves to the bench, the Lakers took another crack at it by benching D’Angelo Russell after losing four straight. At some point, the front office will have to recognize the solution to being a serious championship contender is someone who isn’t already on the roster.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (15-14)
Space Jam Secret Stuff. Draymond Green has been angry, Andrew Wiggins has been invisible, and Kevon Looney seems in a malaise. Steph Curry has been his usual self, Klay Thompson is rounding into form, while Chris Paul is shepherding the young guys expertly. Many have already called this the end of the Warriors but if those three can find what made them key contributors to a championship, there is certainly a path for Golden State to contend for at least another year.
INDIANA PACERS (14-14)
Star wing or forward. If the Indiana front office is feeling better about its team after seeing the Pacers get to the In-Season Tournament final, they should know the biggest piece missing on this team is a quality forward or wing, and preferably one that can prop up a defence that is happy to give opponents whatever they want even when it isn’t holiday season.
PHOENIX SUNS (14-14)
Bradley Beal. When you give up four first-round pick swaps, six second-round picks, and Chris Paul, you’d like to think the centrepiece you’re acquiring can actually be shown off. Instead, Beal has figured in just six games so far, including just five minutes of action before getting injured in the last game he played.
BROOKLYN NETS (14-15)
Starting point guard. Brooklyn has recovered from arguably the worst Big Three in league history by restocking the draft shelves and acquiring quality young talent including Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. Spencer Dinwiddie is not the long-term answer at point guard and is a free agent this summer. It’s time to move on.
CHICAGO BULLS (13-18)
Addition by subtraction. LaVine wants out and with the amount of fun his teammates are having without him, it makes sense for the Bulls to maintain the Febreze effect and find a suitable trade. Coby White has been sensational in December, averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists while shooting 50.8 per cent from the field and 44.7 per cent from three. There should be no looking back.
ATLANTA HAWKS (12-17)
Another big swing. The Hawks clearly envisioned much bigger things for the franchise than what has transpired since acquiring Dejounte Murray. With several young assets in tow, it’s time to double down and get a star wing player.
UTAH JAZZ (12-18)
Clearing the front-court glut. Between Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, John Collins, Kelly Olynyk, and Omer Yurtseven, there just aren’t enough minutes to go around. The Jazz have elected to take the stealth tanking route in limiting the minutes of their standout rookie from a year ago in Kessler. Utah has made recently acquired Collins available for trade so it may just be a matter of time.
TORONTO RAPTORS (11-18)
Clarity. Anyone watching this team knows what it is: a poorly constructed basketball team with results that reflect exactly that. What is this franchise doing? That’s the million-dollar question. This team is stuck in no man’s land and a sense of direction is desperately needed more than anything. Scottie Barnes is the future, but it’s time for some concrete answers about who will be alongside him long-term.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (9-19)
More Ja. Christmas came early for the Grizzlies as Morant made his return to the basketball court and Memphis is 3-0 since. In those three games, Morant is averaging 28.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 9.0 assists while shooting over 50 percent from the field.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS (7-20) and PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (7-21)
Veteran trade. In Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon, the Blazers have two quality veterans that will surely be shopped before the trade deadline. Is there a deal out there that’s worth losing some quality leadership in the locker room and on the court for a young, rebuilding team? Portland will hope.
Ditto, Charlotte, a team that is expected to dangle Gordon Hayward’s $31.5-million expiring contract.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS (5-23)
Professionalism. This is asking a lot of a team that employs both Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma but if the Wizards have any hope of trying to right the ship, it starts with getting away from looking like a team that is more concerned with
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (4-24)
Less self-sabotage. One of the questions coming into this season was whether Victor Wembanyama is so good the Spurs would immediately pivot to a win-now mentality. The answer to that question is an overwhelming no. Gregg Popovich & Co. almost seem in self-sabotage mode, starting the likes of Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell at point guard when there’s a perfectly capable point guard who has provided positive results in Tre Jones. After averaging 12.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 29 minutes per game last season, Jones is down to 23 minutes a game and putting up eight points as well as five assists in that time.
DETROIT PISTONS (2-27)
Shame. This franchise has averaged 20 regular-season wins over the previous four seasons and now owns the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history with 26 straight defeats. Going back to last season, Detroit has lost 50 of its last 54 games. Please, Santa, give this team some shame. You can tank without being this bad.
