It may seem like the Thunder have the makings of dynasty but ESPN’s Tim Bontemps details why it’s tougher than ever to build a dominant team. He notes that the tax aprons make it tougher for teams to run it back with the same core of players and that roster mistakes can haunt contenders for several years.
We have more from around the league:
- Point guard Mike Conley will turn 38 before opening night and finding a suitable replacement could be difficult for the Timberwolves. The Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus gets creative in solving that problem, proposing a four-team trade in which Minnesota winds up with Magic guard Anthony Black.
- The Athletic’s Zach Harper provides his ratings for the ‘concern-o-meter’ regarding 10 potential red flags that have popped up around the league this offseason. Rating high on the ‘concern-o-meter’ is the demise of free agency, the moves made by the Pelicans and the continued health issues for the Sixers.
- Speaking of the Pelicans, Sam Quinn of CBS Sports takes a look at every future traded first-rounder, ranking them from least valuable to most valuable. New Orleans’ unprotected 2026 pick, which its new front office dealt to the Hawks in a draft-night trade, is considered the most valuable among those picks. The Bucks’ 2029 pick, which could go to either the Trail Blazers or Wizards, is ranked No. 2, followed by the picks the Suns dealt for 2027, ’29 and ’31.