S66 Teams to Watch

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The 2050s Warriors’ era has come to its end, and many teams are vying to fill that void. Who will pull ahead with the vacancy at the top? Here are a few teams that we should all keep our eyes on:

Bulls

Reigning champions, the Chicago Bulls are perenially a teal to watch. They are only approaching 3rd year tax repeater status, and start the season with 100pts. They moved Charles Jarrett already, and seem to be shopping Ken Dirks and Ayo Dosunmu, though it looks as if any team looking to buy these guys might be retaining someone in free agency to make that move first. Otherwise, there’s no reason a vet GM would not have moved them already.

That, or there’s no deal on the table of interest to them, and they have little other choice than to run it back. Even though they beat the dynastic Warriors, there are plenty other squads in the league ready to take a jump.

Hawks

Seeing the Hawks active in the offseason already proves they are ready to give it all they got. Acquiring Leroy Johnston from the Lakers was a good move, but if they want to hang with the ranks of the elite teams in the league, they cannot stop there. Retaining Phil Smith is a must. Daniel Johnson may or may not be ready to lead the team offensively, but they don’t have any alternatives yet, either.

Unless they move Benfield and / or Zepeda. Getting Johnston without moving these two guys was huge, but if they’re pushing their chips in, they need to get one more piece while they still have cap space for a big acquisition. Time is running out, and key pieces are already on the move (see: Alphonse Morelock). Do they have enough energy to pull off one more big trade? This could be the difference between them winning a title in S66, or flaming out in the semi-finals. I hope they take the plunge.

Spurs

Heading into UFA, the Spurs have 8 players with blue potential or higher, and only one of them is over the insurable age. They’re already over the cap and don’t have any MLE to play with, so whomever they can retain via bird rights will be their only action in UFA (aside from at least one ridiculous blue/blue vet min signing).

I don’t wish ill on other GMs, generally speaking, but the Spurs are also due for a down TC instead of another boost. I doubt the Spurs will insure all 7 of their blue or purple potential players, and it would be crazy if not one of the uninsured got hit (I can’t imagine Eazy P spending even 30 points to insure 2 of those extra blues but maybe I’m wrong).

If the TC gods continue to be kind to San Antonio, and none of these young guys ever get hit? Talk about a budding dynasty, jesus. Let’s see if their run finally begins.

Nuggets

I might be biased, but picking up Alphonse Morelock was a brilliant move for the Nuggets. Provided they retain Johnny Davis, a trio of JD, Morelock and Amen Thompson is an absurd Big 3. Amen Thompson has so much room left to grow that I can’t imagine anything short of a top 5 TC for him, and then he’ll be on pace for one of that toughest PGs in the league.

Their front court, however, is still pretty weak. Andrew Patrick is not enough. Depending where they play Morelock, he could help the front court out at PF, but it could also weaken the JD / Morelock wing team.

I am not sure who else the Nuggets may be able to retain or add in UFA, but they’re about one piece shy of making a title run.

Or Johnny Davis MVP runs are about to begin. Look out Safi.

Raptors

The little engine that could. Toronto has made splashes in the last two playoffs and no one saw them coming. They are still an unlikely competitor with only Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney leading the way, but it was enough to give the champs a bit of playof grief last season taking 2 of 6 games, and losing game 6 by only 1 point.

So I think we all must keep an eye on the Raptors. Adding a piece to Poole and Looney could do this team wonders.

Bobcats

If the Bobcats stay the course, they’re developing a nice squad of young talent. When the Lakers offered a flash sale on Primo Spears, the Bobcats answered. Like the Spurs, the Cats have a ridiculous amount of blue potential age 25 and under. They will have a hard time figuring out who they need to insure, but with all this talent brewing, we should all keep an eye on Dr. K and his Bobcats.

Lakers

Duh.

Rockets

After the Rockets landed Sion with a supermax in RFA, it signaled to the league that 78# is back and ready for action. Last year the Northrup deal seemed to end their chances for a deep playoff run, but that deal should start paying off this year as added talent. So long as DeJuan Baker is retained in UFA, the Rockets could help turn the Buddy Pedraza division into an absolute nightmare of contenders with the Hawks (and Spurs if they cash in a few assets).

Wizards

The Wizards returned to the playoffs and all is right again in the sim universe. With Remy Martin hitting his prime, they probably could do nothing and be back in the playoffs, but if they add any big piece whatsoever, I think the Wizards will become a problem for other teams once again.

Pacers

Will the Herb Jones show return for another playoff run? Let’s just say, yeah. I don’t think I have ever seen cleaner books heading into UFA than the Pacers do this year. Already a playoff team, I think they could coax any number of players over to Indiana with a max deal. I reckon they add two more younger studs and stay a problem throughout Herb’s prime years.

Bucks

Do the Bucks retain Larry Williams? I think so. The Bulls proved to be a bad matchup for teams run by bigs, but so long as Larry returns, the Bucks stand to make another deep playoff run and possibly win it all.


Did I forget your team? Prove me wrong and become this year's Raptors, the team no one saw coming. Always love to see that.

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1000+ words, +5pts