Title: The Persisting Challenges for the Sixers and Suns, and the Future of NBA's Super Teams
The 2024-25 NBA season saw the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns leading the charge with championship ambitions. However, midway through the season, the duo is barely clinging to playoff spots, with the 76ers in 11th place in the Eastern Conference at 15-26 and the Suns in 10th place in the West at 21-21.
The Sixers' campaign has been marred by injuries, leaving them scrambling to keep their head above water, just two games behind the Chicago Bulls who could be gearing up for a considerable roster shakeup ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. Despite the team's struggles, star center Joel Embiid's persistent knee issues have all but shattered the team's title hopes for the season.
Meanwhile, the Suns are aiming to acquire Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, but their chances seem unrealistic given their current situation and having traded away their remaining second-round picks for center Nick Richards earlier in the month. Despite being just two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the sixth seed, the Suns have shown no signs of contending for the championship.
On the other hand, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder have stepped up as the new faces of the NBA, leading their respective conferences. Teams like the Houston Rockets, whose roster features only one max contract player, Fred VanVleet, have also been shining brightly.
Jason Lloyd of The Athletic explained how the Cavs and Thunder are embodying the NBA's new trend of featuring deep rosters, versatile lineups, and a relentless playing style. As the era of dominant superstars begins to fade, the league is slowly adapting to a new, team-centric approach.
The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has essentially forced front offices to rethink their team-building strategies. Key features of the updated agreement include stricter luxury tax and second-apron rules, salary cap restrictions, and a chilling effect on teams offering long-term deals for players who have yet to prove their championship worthiness.
The CBA restricts the ability of teams to sign multiple max players, either through free agency or trades. The luxury tax and second aprons play a significant role in deciding how competitive teams can be in the offseason and during the season.
Trade flexibility has also been impacted, with teams like the Milwaukee Bucks struggling to make deals given their high-payroll situation and limited draft capital. In addition, the shift in player contract values and expectations has made it harder for teams to assemble and sustain a Big Three without incurring significant financial risks.
However, as the Cavaliers and Thunder demonstrate, Big Threes are not completely obsolete. The key lies in building methodically, focusing on roster depth, and being strategic with draft picks and player contracts. This approach can still lead to championship-caliber teams despite the stricter CBA constraints.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, despite not being championship contenders in the 2024-25 NBA season, have replaced the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns as the new faces leading their respective conferences. The Thunder and Cavs are implementing the NBA's new trend of deep rosters, versatile lineups, and a relentless playing style, as explained by Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been linked with acquiring Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, but their chances seem slim due to their current situation and trade history.
