By Joel Perez 
It’s the NBA offseason, and I can’t wait for the new season to tip off. Opening night is just under six weeks away on October 21st, and the league is already giving us a treat. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder take on the new-look Houston Rockets with KD leading the charge, followed by a primetime clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
With the countdown officially on, I wanted to take a look around the league and share my take on a few teams that could make some noise while flying under the radar heading into the season. For starters, let’s get one of the most obvious teams out of the way: the Dallas Mavericks. They’re set to make a huge jump strictly based on their roster and depth compared to the second half of last season, which went horribly wrong after arguably the biggest trade in NBA history.
Despite that trade, the basketball gods rewarded Dallas with the number one overall pick in Cooper Flagg, alongside superstars Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the Luka Doncic trade, and Kyrie Irving, who will miss most of the regular season due to a torn ACL but is expected to return before the playoffs. A trio of Kyrie, AD, and Flagg is one of the most talented in the league on paper, though two of those guys are considered injury prone and Flagg is an untested rookie. Even so, he has all the tools to be a star. Beyond the big three, Dallas has depth everywhere. Daniel Gafford, fresh off an extension, and Derrick Lively Jr. both bring size, athleticism, and rim protection next to Davis. Together, they could make Dallas one of the toughest defensive teams in the league. Add in guys like PJ Washington, Klay Thompson, and Naji Marshall who can all fill their roles effectively, and this roster feels ready.
The Mavericks were stuck in the play-in tournament last season despite all the injuries and chaos, but with this revamped roster they’re set to make serious noise in the West. Davis will be the leader until Kyrie returns, which gives Flagg time to adjust to the NBA without too much pressure. If they can stay healthy, Dallas has a real shot at making a championship push and bringing another banner back to the city.
Another team I believe can make some noise this season is the Orlando Magic. They’ve gone from being an up-and-coming team to one that looks set for the long haul, with four core players already locked into extensions. The big move this offseason was adding Desmond Bane, who feels like the perfect fit for this roster as the shooter they’ve been missing. Jalen Suggs continues to be as tenacious as they come, doing everything on the floor and improving each year. Franz Wagner has the size, skill, and versatility to score, defend, and create for others, and with more consistency from deep he could take a major step. And of course, Paolo Banchero is already one of the most exciting young stars in the league, with the whole offensive package and the frame to be a force for years.
The group of Suggs, Bane, Wagner, and Banchero is already strong, but the Magic also have more talent waiting. Anthony Black brings size and length on defense, and rookie Jase Richardson, the son of Jason Richardson, adds even more excitement. On top of that, they’ve got solid veterans like Goga Bitadze and Tyus Jones, who brings steady playmaking and experience off the bench.
For Orlando, it comes down to growth and health. If their core continues to improve and they stay on the court, this team has real sleeper potential in the East. At the very least, they’re going to be one of the most fun League Pass teams to watch this season, and if things click, they could surprise a lot of people come playoff time. For my last choice of sleepers, I’d definitely pick the Milwaukee Bucks, even though they do have the Greek Freak in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The rest of the roster is iffy. After last season’s debacle, the Bucks have been on a wild rollercoaster ride since their championship run in 2021, when they beat the Phoenix Suns to win their first title since 1971. Now obviously you may ask how a team with a guy like Giannis can possibly be a sleeper… well, let’s take a peep at this roster.
For starters, the good: they’ve got the perfect center to pair with Giannis in Myles Turner, who stretches the floor as one of the best shooters in the league at his size. The way they acquired him is questionable, but regardless, that’s a major talent to put next to Giannis. Beyond that, Bobby Portis is still around as a steady veteran presence.
Now for the not-so-great. The roster is thin. They’ll likely need another desperate trade, even if it costs them future assets they barely have. Still, they’ve added Kyle Kuzma, who can’t get any worse, and Cole Anthony, who’s streaky but has a chance to prove himself in Milwaukee. The rest of the crew feels like misfits, but if guys like AJ Green, Taurean Prince, and Gary Trent Jr. can knock down shots, they’ll fit just fine around Giannis and Turner. This team still feels like one move away, whether it’s a trade or a buyout pickup. At the end of the day, someone will want to play with Giannis. With him, you always have a chance, and that alone makes the Bucks a sleeper despite their messy roster construction.
I believe these three teams have what it takes to go the extra mile and make some noise in the playoffs. I don’t necessarily think any of them can win it all, but they’ve got a shot to make a deep run if things break their way — and with a little bit of luck. Best of luck to the fans of those franchises, and man oh man, I can’t wait for opening night.
Angel Rivera