After all the major changes we saw during the past few months of the off-season in the NBA, the balances in the league have drastically changed. The 2013-2014 campaign will be with no doubt very different from the previous one, as new some teams will emerge to the forefront of the league, while others, which lost power, will not be competitive. Let’s see which teams that were previously not very strong, will emerge as contenders next season.
The Golden State Warriors are a great example of a team that within two years became a championship contender. Stephen Curry has emerged as a leader, a consistent scorer and a lethal sharpshooter for the Warriors during the 2012-2013 campaign. He is a big difference maker for the team, a player the Warriors can rely on. If he manages to stay healthy and retain his deadly stroke, then the Warriors can be optimistic about retaining their upwards course. Of course, his fellow shooter Klay Thompson will also be a main piece of the team’s success. The recently acquired star Andre Iguodala and the All-Star forward David Lee are two more quality players, capable of carrying a big load on both ends of the floor. With Andrew Bogut at center and a couple of solid role players, like Harrison Barnes and Marreese Speights on the bench, the Golden State Warriors look like they are in the best shape they have been in years.
The Brooklyn Nets are another team that will emerge as a contender next season. After the blockbuster trade that brought Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn, alongside Jason Terry, the Nets have instantly gained enough power to chase a title next season. The Nets look dominant on paper and in fact they have one of the best starting lineup in the league. All they’ll have to do now is to prove that they can be as competitive as they are expected to when the season starts. The Nets are a team that will be in the forefront of the NBA next season, after years of struggles. After the relocation from New Jersey and the start of the new era, the team has managed to build a strong ensemble, ready to make it all the NBA Finals.
The Houston Rockets will also be a contender next season. Of course, the Rockets are a team that has been successful in the past. However, during the past few seasons, the team has not been competitive. The acquisition of megastar Dwight Howard and the strong efforts for the empowering of the team’s roster during the past couple of years have now placed the Rockets in a position to chase a ring in 2013-2014. James Harden will be the co-leader of the team, alongside Howard. The presence of Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons will also be vital for the Rockets on their way to a title. Houston will definitely need some to build chemistry and find its flow, but they are expected to quickly emerge as one of the best teams in the West.
Ron Leyba is the content manager of FantasyBasketballMoneyLeagues.Com – premier source of fantasy basketball updates, rankings and rumors. For more fantasy basketball news, follow @NBAFantasyInfo on Twitter.