On the Cusp of Contending: NBA’s Dark Horses

By Niyam Badani

While the current buzz in the NBA may be about Damian Lillard to the Bucks, a Big Three in Phoenix, a well-rounded Celtics team, or James Harden to the Clippers, the irony of trading for a star player often doesn’t result in how teams expect it to. As blockbuster trades, involving some of the league’s biggest stars, stack the best teams, there are several teams that should not be overlooked due to their potential to make major playoff runs this year. The NBA is constantly evolving, and the importance of gradual improvement, youth, depth, and chemistry are becoming increasingly evident. The past two NBA champions, the Nuggets and Warriors, did not make any significant trades for a star in the offseason, they improved their depth and won with their core group. Three teams that are comprised of these qualities and poised for success in the coming year are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are still yearning for an exceptional year since LeBron James signed with the Lakers in 2018. Over the past several years, they have gradually improved their roster with young, talented players such as Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Isaac Okoro. Additionally, they traded for Donovan Mitchell to lead the team, Caris LeVert to be a solid bench spark, and Max Strus just this past offseason. The Cavaliers have shown massive improvement over the last couple of years as their win total progressed from 22 in 2021, to 44 in 2022, and 51 this past season in 2023. Darius Garland has improved immensely as a scorer and is playing a vital role as the team’s facilitator. Donovan Mitchell has been the star of the team, averaging 28.3P PPG last season, and being the go-to guy down the stretch. Evan Mobely has emerged as this team’s defensive anchor, rebounding leader, and a very solid two-way player. Though this team doesn’t play the flashiest basketball, the Cavaliers allowed the least PPG to opponents last season and finished 4th in the East. The Cavaliers also turned the ball over the 6th least in the league and had the 5th best FG%. With improved depth and a more experienced coach, if the Cavaliers’ stars can take the next step and continue to get better, this defensive-minded team has the ability to make a deep playoff run. Sitting at +2600, with the 11th best odds before the season to win the championship, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a serious chance at a title.

In the West, the Sacramento Kings have recently emerged as a high-powered offense that has taken tremendous steps of growth these past couple of years. Former Coach of the Year and current head coach Mike Brown, led the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 16 years last year, finishing 3rd in the West. Mike Brown, who was an assistant coach for the Warriors for 6 years prior to coaching the Kings, has applied the offensive firepower of the Warriors dynasty in Sacramento. In 2023, the Sacramento Kings led the NBA in PPG and finished second, only to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets, in FG%. Though this team had defensive struggles, their high-powered and highly efficient offense led to their best season in years, continuing to Light the Beam and provide faith for the future of the organization to the loyal Kings fans. Returning this year with an almost identical roster and coaching staff, the Kings look to build on their success. As their young players such as Davion Mitchell and Keegan Murray continue to develop, they anticipate scoring at a high rate again and improving on the defensive end of the ball. Sitting at +4300 odds before the year, the 14th best, the Kings are being heavily underrated. At their best, this well-rounded team, with a lead scorer, playmaker, and facilitator in De’Aaron Fox, now has an ounce of playoff experience and is being overlooked when they have a shot to hang up a second banner in Sacramento.

Also in the West, is a team that no one believed would be anywhere near the conversation of contending, however, GM Sam Presti has begun a transformation of the Oklahoma City Thunder. After years of failed championship runs, while having the league’s top superstars, Presti created a vision to turn the franchise around, and he is well on his way to doing so. The process began when he traded Paul George in 2017, for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and four first-round picks, cementing the now center of the team’s core. Since then, he has acquired tens of draft picks including 15 first-rounders and 11 second-rounders in the next 5 NBA drafts. Though the Thunder finished 10th in the West last year, they were only 4 wins away from being the fifth seed, thus highlighting the tight competition of the lower seeds. In 2023, the Thunder had the 5th most PPG and 4th least Turnovers per Game. As one of the youngest teams in the league, these numbers are a sign of success in the near future. This year, they return with a similar core to last year, however, former 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft Chet Holmgren is returning to play. Last season, Holmgren suffered a season-ending foot injury in the offseason, leading him to not touch the court once. In his absence, Jaylin Williams had a promising rookie year while fellow rookie Jalen Williams was selected to the All-Rookie First Team. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being selected to the All-NBA First Team, the Thunder seem to have found their franchise player to lead them down the line. With a young roster, Holmgren returning, and a plethora of draft picks, the Thunder foresee a big year. It is entirely possible that they could make a major move for a young star to pair up with Gilgeous-Alexander due to their abundance of draft picks, solid young pieces, and 9th most cap space in the league. At +12000, with the 19th-best odds to win the championship, the Thunder are poised to exceed expectations. If this young team can take a leap and potentially add to their roster, the Oklahoma City Thunder have the opportunity to make some noise in the playoffs.

Despite how stacked the NBA’s top teams look, these teams should not be overlooked and could easily have big years. It would not be a surprise if any of these teams came out of their conference and potentially hang a banner up in June.