Three NBA bottom-dwellers that have improved the most

An NBA roster can transform with the addition of just a few players. However, it's not always the players you expect who end up helping a team shatter its preseason expectations, as fit often supersedes raw talent in the Association.

The league's worst teams in 2023-24 have been busy this offseason, with some making excellent moves while gearing up for big improvements in 2024-25.

Here are three bottom-dwellers that appear to have improved the most:

Detroit Pistons | 2023-24: 14-68, 15th in Eastern Conference

There wasn't much room for the Pistons to get worse, but the franchise did more than just not get worse this summer. 

Signing Tobias Harris to a two-year, $52M contract was an overpay, but overpaying becomes necessary when you're coming off a 14-win season. Plus, Harris immediately becomes the Pistons' best wing scoring option, and though he isn't the most consistently efficient scorer — right, Sixers fans? —  he's a capable NBA player, an archetype for what Detroit desperately needs.

Tim Hardaway Jr., whom Detroit acquired in a trade for Quentin Grimes, fell out of the Mavericks' rotation in the postseason but still has plenty left, especially on a team so desperate for consistent scoring. Malik Beasley and Paul Reed are smart depth signings, too. 

No one should pick Detroit to win the Eastern Conference next season (or even make the playoffs), but these additions — plus another year of experience for Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Cade Cunningham — means the Pistons will be competitive for the first time in years.

San Antonio Spurs | 2023-24: 22-60, 14th in Western Conference

A point guard changes everything, even when that point guard can almost apply for an AARP membership. (Kidding.)

San Antonio's signing of 39-year-old Chris Paul after his unceremonious waiving by the Golden State Warriors is one of the more intriguing moves of the summer.

If Paul has one more productive season left, he could elevate Victor Wembanyama to the All-NBA, possible MVP candidate he's destined to become as soon as this season. It sounds hyperbolic, but Wemby is on that track already. Playing with one of the league's smarter players will only accelerate the 20-year-old's development.

San Antonio will be better than last season, and Wemby might already be good enough to carry a team to (at least) mediocrity by himself. Flank him with real NBA players — the acquisition of Harrison Barnes is cool, too — and the Spurs are in business. 

Memphis Grizzlies | 2023-24: 27-55, 13th in Western Conference

This is kind of cheating. The 2023-24 Memphis Grizzlies weren't really the Memphis Grizzlies as an egregious number of injuries caused what was basically a G League version of the team to win just 27 games.

Memphis enters the 2024-25 season with a chance to finish top three in the Western Conference (or maybe win the conference if you're feeling crazy). That's a big improvement.

The Grizzlies' leap back to relevance will be less reliant on new guys, instead hinging on the guys they'll be getting back from injury. 

No Grizzlies player played more than 70 games last season, and outside of Jaren Jackson Jr, all of the team's major contributors missed at least half of the season. 

Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and JJJ form a capable core. Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Santi Aldama and Brandon Clarke form a good supporting cast, and the emergence of Vince Williams and GG Jackson last season gives the Griz a breadth of options for lineup tinkering.