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The 2021-22 NBA season seems to be an exciting campaign for multiple reasons. The league will be returning to its normal 82-game format this time around, and fans will also be back with Covid-19 restrictions eased.
Another reason is the 2021 NBA Offseason. The free agency and trade market has been buzzing for the longest time now, with multiple blockbuster deals going through two months before the new season even started.
The draft prospects from this year are also looking really sharp, which has only made it difficult to predict which teams will make the NBA playoffs next season.
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5 Lottery teams who have a great chance of making the NBA Playoffs this year
The majority of the 14 lottery teams from last season have bolstered their squad with either draft picks or offseason acquisitions that have given them a boost in their hopes of making the NBA Playoffs this time around. Quite a lot of them showed glimpses of how good they could have been last campaign.
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This time around, there is a feeling they could be good for a consistent period because of various factors. On that note, let's take a look at five lottery teams who could make it to the NBA Playoffs in the 2021-22 NBA season.
#5 Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered an injury-riddled 2020-21 NBA season. Both of their key pieces, D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns, missed a significant amount of time due to injuries and Covid-19 that hindered their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
The Timberwolves did show glimpses of how good they can be towards the end of the season, though, especially after D'Angelo Russell's return. Minnesota had a 9-9 record in their last 18 games, including two back-to-back wins against the league's best record holders, the Utah Jazz.
2020 Draft's #1 overall pick Anthony Edwards had a solid rookie season, averaging 19.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Karl-Anthony Towns once again displayed his All-Star caliber potential, scoring 24.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest, while Russell wasn't far behind either, managing 19 points per contest.
With the team's three leading players playing at that level last season, one can only imagine what they could do if they manage to stay healthy for the majority of the next campaign. On top of that, Jaden McDaniels is coming off a terrific summer league campaign and is expected to play a more prominent role as well.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' acquisition of Patrick Beverley from the Memphis Grizzlies has given them more defensive depth and veteran experience. A top-six finish could be a bold prediction to make, but there is a great chance the T'Wolves could end up grabbing one of the three play-in tournament spots.
The Memphis Grizzlies made the most of that opportunity last season and qualified for the playoffs. It is definitely something the Timberwolves and other teams can take some inspiration from.
#4 New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans endured another difficult campaign, finishing with a 31-41 record. They had a lot of positives to take home after their early exit, though, which will be crucial for them as they prepare to end their three-season drought of not making the playoffs next season.
Zion Williamson had a stellar sophomore year, averaging 27 points and 7.2 rebounds per game on 61.1% field goal shooting. Brandon Ingram played a great supporting role, averaging 23.8 points. The Pelicans failed to re-sign Lonzo Ball, though, but did have a respectable offseason otherwise.
They acquired Jonas Valanciunas and Devonte Graham and also managed to re-sign Josh Hart. On top of that, they added great draft prospects like Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones to their ranks. They look better defensively and have better depth than they did in the 2020-21 NBA campaign.
Additionally, Williamson now has multiple scorers around him this time around. Valanciunas averaged 17.1 points, while Graham scored roughly 15 points a game last year. That will ease the pressure on Williamson to a great extent and could be crucial in helping the Pelicans advance to the playoffs this time.
#3 Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets surprised everyone with the way they played last season. Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball and other stars like Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges and Gordan Hayward played some really great basketball to make it to the NBA play-in tournament. Akin to many other teams, the Hornets saw their playoff hopes diminish after injuries hurt them towards the end of the season.
They were also in the running to grab a top-six spot at one stage. Nonetheless, the upcoming season seems a lot more promising. Ball will be entering his sophomore year and is expected to make a significant leap. The Hornets have also acquired a solid 3-and-D player in Kelly Oubre Jr., who is expected to play a key role alongside veterans Gordan Hayward, Terry Rozier and Mason Plumlee.
The Hornets have great depth this time around. The likes of PJ Washington, Miles Bridges and rookies James Bouknight and Kai Jones are all looking set to go, which once again makes the Hornets look like one of the most fun youthful teams to keep an eye on.
#2 Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have been trying to get to the playoffs for the longest time now and have shown the urgency to improve their roster to make it happen. They finished with a 31-41 record and failed to make the cut for the play-in tournament, despite acquiring Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline.
Adding Vucevic evidently did not solve their problems, and the Bulls had to make sure they made the best use of their resources in the 2021 NBA Offseason. That is exactly what they did.
They have acquired some of the biggest free agents like Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, who will be suiting up for them next season. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic have a very talented squad to work with, which makes them one of the favorite lottery teams from last season to make it to the NBA Playoffs in the 2021-22 NBA campaign.
The Bulls now have three or four All-Star caliber players in their ranks, something that hasn't happened in the longest time. They look like the team that has improved the most. It would be surprising not to see them play some playoff basketball next season.
#1 Golden State Warriors
Despite one of the best seasons of Stephen Curry's career, the Golden State Warriors failed to make it to the playoffs in the 2020-21 campaign.
They looked like the favorites to grab one of the two remaining playoff spots post the play-in tournament, but an OT loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament elimination game saw their second consecutive season end without them making it to the postseason.
Klay Thompson's absence hurt the team massively after the sharpshooter missed his second full season due to injury. The Warriors had to rely on Curry to carry them, and he did all he could, amassing 32 points per contest, finishing third in the MVP voting. He also won the scoring title.
The Warriors will see Thompson return next season and have also added some really intriguing prospects from the 2021 NBA Draft like Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga to their squad.
They have also acquired veteran Andre Iguodala, who won the Finals MVP award in their 2015 NBA championship run along with veteran wing Otto Porter Jr. in free agency.
Two straight years without playoff basketball will be a motivating factor for Stephen Curry and his crew for next season. As per rumors, the Warriors' three leading players, Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green, are all eyeing to win their fourth championship together this time around, which is a clear indication of what one can expect from the former NBA champions.
Warriors Nation! You can check out the latest Golden State Warriors Schedule and dive into the Warriors Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.
