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The Biggest Factors That Will Affect Each NBA Franchise Moving Forward

ATLANTA HAWKS:
– Who they take in the upcoming NBA draft.
– Deciding whether Dennis Schroeder is really going to be their franchise player for the next 5 years.
– Rebuilding the right way.

BOSTON CELTICS: 
– The development of Jayson Tatum.
– Who they take in this off season’s NBA draft.
– Whether Gordon Hayward is the same player after his injury.
– Juggling rebuilding and seriously contending at the same time.
– How long you wait until you think LeBron won’t rule the East anymore before attacking with big name free agents worthy of bringing a championship.

BROOKLYN NETS:
– The continued development of D’Angelo Russell.
– The development of Jahlil Okafor.
– Manufacturing a way to gain multiple picks and putting together a comprehensive rebuilding plan.

CHARLOTTLE HORNETS: 
– Whether they stick with Dwight Howard long term or not.
– If they’re happy to remain a “middle of the pack” team in the East.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS:
– LeBron James’ free agency decision.
– Whether they use the Brooklyn pick to bring in a big name that can bridge the gap between themselves and the Warriors.
– Whether or not they keep Isaiah Thomas long term.
– The future of Tristan Thompson.

CHICAGO BULLS: 
– The development of Lauri Markkanen.
– How they go about their guard situation moving forward.
– Whether the front office ever sort their sh*t out properly and run like a normal franchise who keep their better players.

DETROIT PISTONS:
– Deciding whether Reggie Jackson is the man the run their team long term.
– If they want to believe in Stanley Johnson as a long term prospect.
– If they’re happy to just make the playoffs or if they seriously want to contend one day.

INDIANA PACERS: 
– Building around Victor Oladipo.
– Believing in the development of surrounding pieces Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.
– Continuing to make moves for quality young guys and pick who can all develop together who are all around the same age.

MIAMI HEAT: 
– Deciding whether or not Dion Waiters is a long term thing.
– How much stock to you place in Hassan Whiteside.
– If they can seriously attract big free agents in order to put them among the absolute elite in the East.
– Hanging onto productive role players.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS:
– The health of Jabari Parker moving forward.
– Keeping Jabari Parker, Eric Bledsoe and Giannis Antetokunmpo on the floor at the same time with their health.
– Determining the amount of stock you put in Thon Maker.
– The continued development of Malcom Brogdan.
– Deciding how to really push to become an elite Eastern Conference team.

NEW YORK KNICKS: 
– The continued upward spiral of Kristaps Porzingis.
– The development of Frank Ntilikina.
– Surrounding him and Porzingis with the right talent to move the franchise forward.
– Drafting the correct pieces to keep the forward momentum.

ORLANDO MAGIC:
– How much money you want to give Aaron Gordon.
– If you want to hang onto Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier.
– Establishing the overall direction of the franchise.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: 
– The health of Markelle Fultz, and if he’ll ever grow into the player we thought he’d be from college.
– Fultz’s jump shot.
– The development of Ben Simmons.
– The health of Joel Embiid.

TORONTO RAPTORS:
– Figuring out how to up your production come playoff time.
– Trying to add a big name to join Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan to genuinely be a threat in the East.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: 
– Similar to Toronto, figuring out how to make that next step to be a genuine contender.
– Trying to bring another big man to DC to form a serious threat in the East.
– Playoff production.

DALLAS MAVERICKS: 
– The development of Dennis Smith Jr.
– How to move on after Dirk Nowitzki retires.
– Selecting the right player in this offseason’s NBA draft.
– Working out whether Nerlens Noel is apart of your future long term.

DENVER NUGGETS: 
– The development of all your young talent.
– If you’re happy to be a fringe playoff team every year or seriously contend one day.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS:
– Staying healthy.
– Complacency.

HOUSTON ROCKETS: 
– Ensuring the production stays the same come playoff time.
– Ensuring James Harden produces come playoff time.
– Working out a way where you can genuinely compete with Golden State.
– The continued development of Clint Capela.
– Trying to land another big name free agent this summer.
– Capturing the number one seed in the West to give yourself every chance to make the Finals.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS: 
– The future of Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle.
– Offloading Loul Deng’s contract.
– The development of Lonzo Ball.
– The development of Kyle Kuzma.
– Whether or not you can realistically bring in big free agent names that can put you among the West’s elite in the next couple of seasons.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS:
– The future of Deandre Jordan.
– The future of Blake Griffin.
– If you want to make the playoffs or offload your big names now while they still have value and you can get a lot back for them.
– How much money you give Lou Williams.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES:
– Whether or not you want to genuinely rebuild or not.
– The future of Marc Gasol if you opt to rebuild and what you get for him.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES:
– The continued development of Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
– Reducing your starters minutes before the playoffs so they’re not burnt out.
– Hanging onto a top-four seed in the West.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS:
– Whether or not you stick with the Anthony Davis – DeMarcus Cousins experiment.
– Deciding whether you keep Rajon Rondo long term.
– Acquiring some serious wing players that can help you moving forward this off season and at the trade deadline.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER:
– Whether or not you believe in this new big three moving forward.
– Whether or not to trade Paul George in the hopes of getting something substantial in return.
– If you can ever find the right pieces to surround Russell Westbrook in the hopes of bringing a championship to the franchise.
– Climbing the conference ladder.

PHOENIX SUNS:
– The continued development of Devin Booker, Marquesse Chriss and Josh Jackson.
– How much money you’ll give Devin Booker moving forward.
– Continuing to draft intelligently.
– Not giving away their best guards.
– Whether or not they will buyout Greg Monroe and let him go.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS:
– Making the playoffs.
– Deciding if they’re happy to make the playoffs every season without really challenging for a title.
– Surrounding Damian Lillard with the right pieces to realistically challenge.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS:
– The health of Kawhi Leonard moving forward.
– Believing in the LaMarcus Aldridge project long term.
– Life after Manu Ginobilli and Tony Parker.
– Possibly making a play at LeBron James this offseason.
– Capturing home court advantage in the playoffs.

SACRAMENTO KINGS:
– The development of De’Aaron Fox.
– How much you’ll invest in Willie Cauley Stein and Buddy Hield as serious NBA players.
– The situation with the older veterans on the team, do they stay or do they go this off season.
– Selecting the right fit this upcoming NBA draft that will help them.

UTAH JAZZ:
– The development of Donovan Mitchell.
– Building a contending team around Mitchell.
– How much money they’ll give to Joe Ingles.
– Whether they trade Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood for something in return rather than seeing them walk for nothing come seasons end.