With several All-Stars changing allegiances this summer, the 2024-25 NBA season is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent memory. However, while the focus is on teams that have obviously turned themselves into championship-contenders, like the Philadelphia 76ers, there are a few teams that could exceed expectations. These are the types of teams that, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, could make a run in the regular season and beyond.
3 NBA Teams That Could Exceed Expectations In 2024-25
Toronto Raptors
In what was frankly an underwhelming season, the Toronto Raptors went just 25-57 in 2023-24.
This was partially due to face of the franchise Scottie Barnes missing the final 22 games of the season with a fractured hand. In that time, the Raptors went just 3-19, losing 15 straight games at one point. A point-forward whose game is somewhat similar to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s, Barnes’s multifaceted impact makes him particularly difficult to replace.
However, there was a silver lining to his absence. After being traded to the Raptors on Dec. 30, RJ Barrett was already rediscovering himself. Confident and comfortable, he was an aggressive and efficient scorer inside and outside the arc. He was even more assertive when Barnes went down, averaging 24.6 points per game.
With that being said, Barnes will enter next season with a star-level beside him like last season. However, compared to Pascal Siakam, Barrett’s more of a pure wing whose style and strengths don’t overlap with Barnes. Frankly, this was one reason why the Raptors had to trade the 30-year-old in their effort to build another championship-contender.
While their forward duo inspires confidence in their ability to exceed expectations next season, Toronto’s also a pair of backcourt players that change their dynamic.
Traded to Toronto as part of the New York Knicks’ package for OG Anunoby, Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley has averaged 18.6 points and 6.8 assists per game since being moved.
A replacement for Fred VanVleet, Quickley isn’t a natural floor general his predecessor, but he’s a more reliable scorer. Over the past two seasons, Quickley’s made 44.1 percent of his field goal attempts and 38.2 percent of his 3s. In that time, VanVleet has shot 40.4 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3.
Ultimately, the Raptors have upgraded their Big 3. If their supporting cast can thrive off-ball, particularly in catch-and-shoot situations, they could be stronger than suspected.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have added plenty of talent to their roster over the past few seasons.
Unfortunately, those players haven’t fit together neatly, the team leaning too heavily into the ‘Best Player Available’ approach in the NBA Draft. After taking face of the franchise Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick in 2021 they should’ve built around him. Instead, they selected a highly touted prospect with ties to Detroit in Jaden Ivey with the 2022 No. 5 pick. They doubled down on shrinking their floor spacing by taking Jalen Duren eight picks later.
In a vacuum, Cunningham, Ivey, and Duren are excellent prospects. However, they’re finding it hard to co-exist in the same team. In retrospect, because they underestimated Santa Clara product Jalen Williams, they’re now in between a rock and a hard place.
Pistons president Trajan Langdon may rectify their issues though.
In free agency, Detroit has signed three efficient perimeter shooters in Tobias Harris, Simone Fontecchio, and Malik Beasley. Detroit still has to find the best lineups they can after drafting two below-average 3-point threats in Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland. However, it’s now much easier for the Pistons to mix-and-match in order to optimize their defense and spacing.
Detroit may only win between 20 and 30 games next season. Nonetheless, after losing 28 consecutive games last season, that’s a big win.
Utah Jazz
For a second there, it looked like the Utah Jazz were making a playoff push.
Led by Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton, whose careers have come to life in Salt Lake City, the Jazz were 26-30 heading into the 2024 All-Star Break. For a team that started the season 7-16, this turnaround was mighty impressive. Utah went 12-11 from New Year’s Day to All-Star Weekend, playing with more moxie than they had all season.
In that time, Markkanen averaged 23.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on .496-.438-.916 shooting splits. In that same stretch, Sexton averaged 20.8 points and 5.9 assists per game on .506-.441-.860 shooting splits. Numbers aside, the guy was playing the best basketball of his career in terms of craftiness, technique, and basketball IQ. Markkanen and Sexton, more than anyone else, had proven that they were go-to scorers who positively impact winning for the Jazz.
However, rather than being able to lean on them for the home stretch, Utah had to sit Markkanen for all but nine games after the All-Star Break due to injury.
Next season, the Jazz could have the best versions of Markkanen and Sexton. If the two work on their chemistry, perhaps even recognizing the similarities in the careers up to this point, the sky is the limit. With that being said, Utah has only added talent since last season, drafting three popular 2024 prospects.
Cody Williams appears primed to start at small forward with the Jazz failing to find one throughout last season. Long and defensive-minded, his versatility makes him a great fit in the first unit. Isaiah Collier could eventually replace Kris Dunn, who joined the Los Angeles Clippers in a sign-and-trade this offseason. Like Dunn, Collier is a physically imposing defender and true point guard. Lastly, there’s Kyle Filipowski, who appears to be a spryer version of Kelly Olynyk. A skilled big man, Filipowski may be enigmatic off the court, but he’s not hiding on it.
If Keyonte George and Jordan Clarkson improve their efficiency, largely by taking better shots, watch out for Utah.
