What’s subsequent for Nuggets, Thunder, Cavs and Knicks after shedding within the NBA playoffs?

The 2024 NBA Playoffs has already been very eventful to say the least. A number of superstar-heavy groups had been despatched packing means sooner than they hoped, and now the defending champions and two different top-seeded contenders will be part of them in Cancun after simply the second spherical.

This low season was already anticipated to be a busy one, however after these powerful losses, rumblings of huge trades are solely going to develop louder. So the place do the Nuggets, Thunder, Cavaliers, and Knicks go from right here?

Do they begin an entire rebuild? Reload and check out once more? Someplace within the center? That’s what we’ll strive to determine right here, as we run down the following steps for each NBA group that confronted a second spherical exit.

WEST

Denver Nuggets

57-25 season, No. 2 seed within the West, Misplaced 4-3 to Timberwolves

Below contract: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Zeke Nnaji, Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, Jalen Pickett, Hunter Tyson

Participant choice: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Jackson

Workforce choice: Vlatko Cancar

Present group wage: $191 million, in response to Wage Swish

Projected wage cap house: $32 million to $71 million over the cap (already over the second apron)

Subsequent strikes: Get a backup level guard, enhance the bench and check out once more.

Picture by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Publish by way of Getty Photos

Who might’ve predicted that the reigning champion Nuggets wouldn’t get previous the second spherical? And for that to occur after a Recreation 7, the place they had been up 20 at house? Bananas!

Simply a few months in the past, it will’ve appeared inconceivable for the always-poised defending champions to lose three house video games and exit like that, however right here we’re. I’m positive sizzling takes will fly, however regardless of the Recreation 7 loss, the Nuggets are nonetheless reliable contenders and may positively attempt to proceed with this championship core.

The problem they’ll begin to run into, although, is with the luxurious tax and all of the added restrictions. They had been within the second apron this yr and certain will probably be once more subsequent season. They’ll have very restricted choices for enhancements, however with some actual holes to handle.

The Nuggets misplaced some depth in comparison with their championship yr, and positively can’t afford to additionally lose Caldwell-Pope, who additionally they can’t correctly change if he opts out of his $15 million deal. Murray additionally appeared banged up even from the primary spherical – years of lengthy playoff runs will do this – and so they’ll positively want a greater backup level guard than Reggie Jackson.

Children like Christian Braun and Peyton Watson soaked up prolonged minutes throughout the season, with the Nuggets attempting to each relaxation their core stars and nurture depth for the longer term. It’s a wise technique, as fellow second-apron groups just like the Suns, Bucks and Clippers shortly received outdated, however the Nuggets will nonetheless want higher bench assist than they’d this postseason.

They’ll have the twenty eighth and 56th picks within the draft, Zeke Nnaji’s $8.8 million contract to match salaries in a commerce, plus minimal contracts to signal free brokers to. Denver should get inventive to enhance, with essentially the most evident wants at backup heart and level guard positions held by DeAndre Jordan and Jackson, respectively.

They’ll attempt to lure veterans to chase a hoop, or hope they take a reduction to play with the three-time MVP in Jokic, a prepared passer who recurrently makes gamers look higher. The sector of minimum-player free brokers can embrace somebody like Andre Drummond or Patrick Beverley, nevertheless it’ll be slim pickings.

It was a disappointing exit and it will likely be a problem so as to add to this roster, however exterior of Nuggets possession’s willingness to cope with the tax, there’s actually no must panic simply but.

The sky isn’t falling. The MVP in Jokic remains to be simply 29, and everybody on their core group exterior of Caldwell-Pope (31) is youthful.

Reload or Rebuild?

No must overreact. Simply reload with a number of minor additions.

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

57-25 season, No. 1 seed within the West, Misplaced 4-2 to Mavs

Below contract: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren, Josh Giddey, Kenrich Williams, Cason Wallace, Ousmane Dieng, Jalen Williams, Adam Flagler

Workforce choice: Lindy Waters III, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins

Non-guaranteed: Jaylin Williams

Present group wage: $102 million, in response to Wage Swish

Projected wage cap house: From $35 million to $37 million below the cap

Subsequent strikes: Use cap house to enhance on an already promising roster

Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Photos

Shedding an elimination sport they led by 17 at one level will sting fairly a bit. There are nonetheless a whole lot of positives for the Thunder although, after a breakthrough yr that noticed them get the highest spot within the West. Not solely did this very younger group get invaluable playoff expertise, additionally they have some ways to enhance on what’s already a top-notch group.

OKC already has an MVP-caliber chief in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and promising future stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams that had them wanting like an actual contender at factors this yr. With younger gamers nonetheless on rookie offers and Gordon Hayward’s large contract coming off their books, the Thunder can have a whole lot of cap house to choose up key items that would get them over the hump.

The Thunder will get costly within the coming years when extensions kick in, however now could be the proper time to strike.

Match and timelines are debatable, however veteran free brokers like Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan and Tobias Harris may be out there for less-than-max offers. The Thunder can even use their cap house and large trove of picks to outbid anybody and get even better-fitting gamers in a commerce.

The Thunder even have a necessity for rebounding bigs, with names like Jarrett Allen and Julius Randle doubtlessly out there on the commerce block (extra on that later), however they’ll probably need somebody that may nonetheless match of their 5-out offense. In return, they will construct a bundle round picks and the proficient however questionable slot in Josh Giddey, who misplaced his minutes and starter spot within the Mavs sequence.

After their offseason strikes replenish the cap, they will in all probability even carry again Hayward on a smaller deal in the event that they select to take action. They’ll even have a few exceptions to choose up extra veterans and assist these children make that leap.

It appears fairly loopy to suppose {that a} 57-win group nonetheless has a whole lot of room to develop and enhance, however that’s precisely the place the Thunder is now. The long run is vivid, and Sam Presti nonetheless has a whole lot of property and adaptability to try to take them from a promising playoff group to elite championship contender for years to come back.

Reload or Rebuild?

Reload round SGA and this younger core, however hopefully with one other key piece and veteran assist.

EAST

Cleveland Cavaliers

48-34 season, No. 4 seed within the East, Misplaced 4-1 to Celtics

Below contract: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Georges Niang, Dean Wade, Ty Jerome

Non-guaranteed: Sam Merrill, Craig Porter Jr.

Present group wage: $156 million, in response to Wage Swish

Projected wage cap house: $19 million to $48 million over the cap

Subsequent strikes: Determine Donovan Mitchell’s subsequent steps, then type out the roster log jam.

Picture by Jason Miller/Getty Photos

This whole offseason will probably be centered on what Donovan Mitchell needs to do subsequent.

The Cavs had been hoping for a deep playoff run to appease their star, however after barely scraping previous the Magic in seven video games, they had been booted within the second spherical. You may argue there’s no disgrace in shedding to the top-seeded Celtics, particularly with all these accidents, however will Mitchell see it that means? Does it even matter?

There are early studies that the Cavs are contemplating letting go of fifth-year head coach JB Bickerstaff, however that type of appears like a option to appease Mitchell greater than the rest.

The Cavs might want to have a severe speak with the five-time All-Star, after which determine the place to go from there. He’s nonetheless below contract till no less than subsequent season, so whereas it looks as if there’s technically no must rush, he’s already concerned in a whole lot of commerce hypothesis for a purpose.

Mitchell is due for a max extension, which the Cavs will provide, however ought to he decline, he can opt-out in 2025. And with the group beforehand giving up three first spherical picks, two choose swaps, Collin Sexton, and a participant who turned an all-star in Lauri Markkanen, they won’t wish to threat shedding Mitchell for nothing.

Groups just like the Lakers and Nets reportedly have commerce presents prepared, and the Rockets could specific curiosity as effectively. Mitchell may even have some management, as he can threaten being a one-year rental to groups he doesn’t wish to transfer to.

Would the Lakers’ three first spherical picks and younger gamers like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jalen Hood-Schifino be sufficient? Mitchell is a New Yorker, and Brooklyn can have a whopping seven tradable first spherical picks and possibly everybody not named Mikal Bridges out there. The Pelicans (with Ingram) and Magic might additionally swoop in and outbid everybody with their picks and house in the event that they needed.

There’s a lot that may occur, however anticipate issues to go shortly as soon as Mitchell makes that call.

As soon as that domino falls, there’ll be different issues to type out, particularly with their logjams of getting two undersized, ball-dominant guards, plus two non-shooting bigs of their present beginning 5.

Ought to Mitchell signal his extension and keep, Darius Garland’s future reportedly turns into unsure. Outdoors of their guard scenario, Jarrett Allen may be on the transfer, as he doesn’t have one of the best match with Mobley, who’s seen as their star large man for years to come back.

Each gamers made the All-Star group throughout the Cavs’ 51-win marketing campaign in 2022, and may in all probability fetch the Cavs an honest haul. Garland, nonetheless simply 24, can curiosity younger groups or be a comfort prize for whoever hoped to land Mitchell, Trae Younger or Dejounte Murray. There additionally gained’t be a scarcity of suitors for a former All-Star heart like Allen, who averaged nearly 17 factors and 11 rebounds.

The Cavs are already an honest playoff group with a celebrity in Mitchell and three fringe All-Stars, however anticipate a drastically different-looking core, and probably even a brand new coach within the subsequent a number of weeks.

Reload or Rebuild?

Whether or not Mitchell strikes or not, we are able to anticipate main trades as this group rebuilds their proficient however mismatched core.

New York Knicks

50-32, No. 2 seed within the East, Misplaced 4-3 to Pacers

Below contract: Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride

Participant choice: OG Anunoby

Workforce choice: DaQuan Jeffries, Jericho Sims

Non-guaranteed: Bojan Bogdanovic, Mamadi Diakite

Present group wage: $150 million, in response to Wage Swish

Projected cap house: From $25 million below the cap to $67 million over the cap

Subsequent strikes: Get wholesome, hold Anunoby… commerce Randle?

Picture by Mitchell Leff/Getty Photos

The Knicks appeared like a drastically improved group after buying and selling for OG Anunoby, so their principal precedence this low season needs to be getting a dedication and never threat shedding him to any of the groups going big-game looking.

Jalen Brunson’s gutsy playoff run and emergence as a celebrity has been unbelievable, however taking place with a damaged hand in Recreation 7 was the ultimate intestine punch for a group completely decimated with accidents. Whereas outdated and never fully honest, the narrative on Thibodeau working gamers down will solely proceed after Brunson, Anunoby, Hart, Randle, Robinson and Bogdanovic all received damage this season.

Even with a wholesome group although, the Knicks nonetheless have flaws of their roster, which they need to handle this low season.

Fortuitously, they’ll have commerce property, some cap flexibility, and a whole lot of draft picks to observe up on that mid-season rebuild. They’ll have two first spherical picks within the upcoming draft, plus a number of extra within the years to come back. With Thibodeau unlikely to need that many rookies, anticipate them to be featured in almost each commerce rumor this summer season… once more.

Randle had shoulder surgical procedure and hasn’t performed since January, however the second-seeded Knicks performed very well in his absence, so he would be the identify introduced up essentially the most. He can have $30 million within the books for yet another season and may choose out within the following yr, so it does make sense to attempt to transfer him now. Randle nonetheless averaged 24 factors, 9.2 rebounds and 5 assists, nevertheless it’ll be curious to see what occurs to his commerce worth after solely enjoying 46 video games this season.

Isaiah Hartenstein additionally confirmed a whole lot of promise in Randle’s absence, however the seven-footer’s large yr will probably price the Knicks much more than his earlier $9 million deal in free company. DiVincenzo was the opposite breakout participant, and fortuitously for them, he will probably be on a team-friendly contract till 2028. Bogdanovic’s $19 million contract can be non-guaranteed, so the Knicks can have some attention-grabbing and movable items to go star looking once more.

Knicks principally had a profitable “pre-agency” or mid-season rebuild that made them a 50-win group for the primary time in over 20 years. They actually ought to proceed that now as they transfer ahead with Brunson, Anunoby, and probably DiVincenzo and Hart as effectively.

Reload or Rebuild?

Knicks already overachieved and may proceed their rebuild round Brunson and Anunoby.