NBA: Wrap around 2023-24 season primer for all 30 teams

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 12: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is presented the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at Ball Arena on June 12, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 12: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is presented the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at Ball Arena on June 12, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 18: Kevin Durant #35 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 18, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Clippers 123-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 18: Kevin Durant #35 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 18, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Clippers 123-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns

Starting Lineup

  • Bradley Beal
  • Devin Booker
  • Josh Okogie
  • Kevin Durant
  • Jusuf Nurkic

Key Bench Players

  • Grayson Allen
  • Damion Lee
  • Eric Gordon
  • Keita-Bates Diop

Season Overview: If championships were won based on firepower, the Phoenix Suns would win by a wide margin. Bringing in Bradley Beal gives them another elite scorer; defenses are going to have absolute headaches trying to deal with him, Devin Booker, and KD. Nurkic also gives them an option down low who should show a little more effort than Ayton did. Their bench still isn’t a strength, but I wouldn’t consider it as much of a weakness as it was last season.

Unfortunately for the Suns, defense is a thing. Typically I’d say defense doesn’t matter, but when it has the potential to be one of the worst in the league that is a clear issue when your team has championship aspirations. The total when they play the Wizards should be higher than the All-Star game.

Sacramento Kings

Starting Lineup

  • De’Aaron Fox
  • Kevin Huerter
  • Harrison Barnes
  • Keegan Murray
  • Domantas Sabonis

Key Bench Players

  • Davion Mitchell
  • Malik Monk

Season Overview: This team captured the hearts of America with their ‘Light the Beam’ campaign last season, and I expect them to continue to show signs of explosiveness throughout the year. They will depend on their stars De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis to continue to play at an elite level as well as their young players to continue to develop in order to compete.

The Sacramento Kings are a fun team, but without that next-level superstar, I see them having a tough time making a deep run in the playoffs.