NBA: Reasons for all 30 teams to be optimistic heading into 2021-22

Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo (Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo (Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Golden State Warriors: A mix of old and new

Assuming Klay Thompson is healthy enough to play at some point this season, Golden State will have their original championship core of Steph Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala back together again. That group may be past the time in their careers where they could be enough to win it all, but they could get some help from an exciting young core.

Rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody add a pair of versatile wings to go along with James Wiseman and Jordan Poole as promising young pieces. If two or three of those guys can really pop this year, the Warriors could be a sneaky threat to win the Western Conference.

Miami Heat: Kyle Lowry could be the missing piece

It felt like Miami was missing something at the lead guard position but that will no longer be the case after acquiring Kyle Lowry during the offseason.

Lowry should seamlessly fit in with what Miami wants to do. He’s a smart player and a tough competitor who has played in big games which makes him a great culture fit. But he’s also capable of playing with or without the ball which should help him coexist playing next to Jimmy Butler. Miami will be a tough out in the East this year.