{"id":23864,"date":"2019-07-19T17:58:27","date_gmt":"2019-07-19T21:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=23864"},"modified":"2019-07-19T17:58:27","modified_gmt":"2019-07-19T21:58:27","slug":"five-future-nba-contenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2019\/07\/19\/five-future-nba-contenders\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Future NBA Contenders"},"content":{"rendered":"

In today’s NBA, the league is getting taken over by powerful duos. The\u00a0Brooklyn Nets<\/a>, Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>, and even the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> have power duos on their roster. Those teams are playoff made and built to win now. There are five future NBA contenders teams that have been silently building for the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Five NBA Teams Built For The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n

5. New Orleans Pelicans<\/b><\/h3>\n

The New Orleans Pelicans snagged the number one pick in the 2019 NBA draft lottery and selected\u00a0Zion Williamson<\/a><\/strong>, from Duke. The Pelicans also made another fantastic move when they traded away franchise cornerstone\u00a0Anthony Davis<\/a><\/strong> to the Lakers. They were able to add more young pieces around Williamson in\u00a0Lonzo Ball<\/a><\/strong>, Brandon Ingram<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Josh Hart<\/a><\/strong>, and a veteran in\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Jrue Holiday<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

4. Atlanta Hawks<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Atlanta Hawks<\/a> have the potential to be scary good. Is it fair to say Trae Young<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>may have a ceiling close to that of Stephen Curry<\/a><\/strong>?\u00a0Probably not, but he will be a great point guard in the future. To surround him with young talents like\u00a0<\/span>John Collins<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Kevin Huerter<\/a><\/strong>, De’Andre Hunter<\/a><\/strong>, and Cam<\/strong> Reddish<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0gives the Hawks an incredible young core.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Phoenix Suns<\/b><\/h3>\n

Year after year the Phoenix Suns<\/a> land a high pick in the draft, pick a good player and stay terrible. Maybe, their luck can change this upcoming year. Their star player\u00a0<\/span>Devin Booker<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is already arguably a top 25 player in the NBA. The Suns have paired him up with Deandre Ayton<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and rookie\u00a0Jarret<\/strong> Culver<\/strong><\/a>. Can this be the Suns team that grows together and performs well? If they do, they will be a team that will compete in the future years. The Suns should, however, use some of their assets and try to trade for an impact veteran or two.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Sacramento Kings<\/b><\/h3>\n

This Sacramento Kings<\/a> team has been through a lot in past years.\u00a0<\/span>Those days have come and gone, and the Kings are stacking their young players in hopes of making a haymaker team in the future. Their star PG, De’Aaron Fox<\/a><\/strong> had a breakout year last year and showed his potential of being a top ten point guard in the future. The other young players such as\u00a0<\/span>Marvin Bagley<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Buddy Hield<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>can also develop nicely in the league. If they can learn to play together with chemistry, and they live up to their potential, watch out NBA.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Chicago Bulls<\/b><\/h3>\n

Chicago Bulls<\/a> fans have struggled a lot in past years. Jimmy Butler<\/a><\/strong> wanted to leave the franchise. Derrick Rose<\/a><\/strong> and his terrible injury. For a team that was amongst the elite in the Michael Jordan<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0years, they certainly had a bunch of disappointing seasons. The Bulls have been undergoing a re-build for a few years now. Drafting a potential young star in Coby White<\/a><\/strong>, to pair along with Zach LaVine<\/a><\/strong>, and\u00a0<\/span>Lauri Markkanen<\/a><\/strong>, they have set themselves up for a potential big three later on. If these players live up to their potential, and progress nicely, the Bulls can be a nice team once their time comes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>