Three NBA teams primed for breakout seasons in 2023-24
With four months to go until another NBA season begins, we highlight three teams who could break out in 2023-24.
Houston Rockets
With new head coach Ime Udoka, the expectations in Houston are switching from a full-on rebuild and culture building to it's time to start winning some games. In his one-and-done run as a head coach with Boston, Udoka led the Celtics to their first NBA Finals since 2010.
The Rockets had one of the best drafts across the board, landing two of the more talented prospects outside of the first overall pick Victor Wembanyama: athletic playmaker Amen Thompson (No. 4) and 18-year-old Cam Whitmore (No. 20), a 6-foot-7, 232-pound forward and admirer of Russell Westbrook's game.
Thompson and Whitmore could easily serve as key members of the rotation next season.
Houston has a young roster with lots of raw talent and plenty of room for further development. Alperen Sengün, a 20-year-old center, looks like he's going to be an elite big man. He averaged 14.8 points, nine rebounds and 3.9 assists and shot 57 percent from inside the arc last season. He also showed flashes of Jokić-like post dominance.
For Houston (22-60 last season) to make a leap next season, the backcourt of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. must play more efficiently. Both are solid scorers, averaging 22.1 and 19.2 points last season, respectively, but neither shot above 44.2 percent from the field.
Orlando Magic
The Magic started 5-20 last season but played a game over .500 (29-28) the rest of the way, so it's clear this team is ready to take the next step in its development.
Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero flashed star potential and could lead the Magic to the playoffs for only the third time since the 2011-12 season. The 6-foot-10, 250 pound forward averaged 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists and had a 52.9 true shooting percentage. In the last 12 games of the season, Banchero averaged 8.5 boards. He's a jump shot away from being an unstoppable offensive force.
Besides Banchero, 21-year-old Franz Wager (18.6 PPG) flashed promise in his second season, as did former No.1 overall pick Markelle Fultz (14.9 PPG/3.9 RPG/5.7 APG). Acquired from the 76ers in 2019, Fultz finally is playing up to his potential, but like Banchero, he needs a jump shot.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans would have made the playoffs had Zion Williamson not gotten hurt Jan. 2. Before the New Year, New Orleans was tied for second in the Western Conference at 23-13. Afterward, the Pelicans — who finished 42-40 — were a disaster.
If Williamson is healthy — and that's a huge if — the Pelicans will be among the Western Conference elite. For his career, he averages 26 points, seven rebounds and 4.6 assists and shoots 61.5 percent from the field. Williamson, however, has played in only 114 of 328 (34.7 percent) regular-season games over four seasons.
Alongside the uber-athletic Williamson is three-level scorer Brandon Ingram, who averaged 24.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists and had a 58.2 percent true shooting percentage. Additionally, Trey Murphy III took a significant leap in his second season, averaging 14.5 points (5.4 his rookie season) and shooting 40.6 percent from three.
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