The NBA is still more than two months away from training camp, but it’s never too early to predict which teams will be the frontrunners to win it next June.
There have been a lot of trades and overall changes in the league recently, which could make things very interesting for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Former center and current ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins thinks the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns have the best chances to take home the world championship this upcoming season.
,@kendrickperkins Name your Top 3 Title Contenders for the NBA Season 👀 🏆 pic.twitter.com/NCscACZyf9
– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 24 July 2023
The Nuggets are the defending champions, and the conventional wisdom is that one has to go with the defending champions, assuming they retain, until it becomes clear that they are no longer the best team.
Worryingly, their bench is depleted – Bruce Brown, a dominant two-way wing last season, left in free agency – but they still have two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the best starting five in basketball.
The Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, but their team remains intact, and they should have plenty of motivation after the playoff loss.
Milwaukee was able to retain starting center Brook Lopez in free agency, and they are hoping for Khris Middleton to have a full season of good health after playing only 33 regular season games.
The Suns will be very interesting to watch after overhauling their roster over the past six months to bring in Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
They are top heavy and lack a viable point guard, but they certainly won’t be lacking in star power.
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