5 NBA Teams Under Pressure to Win Now

As the NBA approaches the second half of the 2024-25 season, many teams will be closely scrutinized to evaluate the effectiveness of their recent changes. Some of these alterations are so significant that, if they prove unsuccessful, we may see head coaches and general managers fired and players traded.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns find themselves in a pivotal situation in the NBA, boasting a 26-28 record that places them 11th in the Western Conference. With the league’s highest salary cap exceeding $200 million, their financial difficulties may escalate next season, especially with key players such as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal poised for salary increases. Should the Suns miss the playoffs, a trade for Kevin Durant might be a viable option, given his significant trade value and the likelihood of him being the first to request a trade.

2. New York Knicks

Last season, the New York Knicks finished with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Since then, they have added Karl Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges to their lineup. However, this has come at the cost of increasing their salary and giving up draft picks. Although the Knicks have been performing well, they currently sit in third place, trailing behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. Notably, the Knicks hold a 0-3 record against these two top teams in the Eastern Conference.

3. Golden State Warriors

When the Golden State Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler, I didn’t think it significantly improved their chances. So far, the Warriors have a record of 3-1 with Butler and currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference. While Butler will provide a boost for Golden State, Draymond Green’s claim that the Warriors will win the Championship seems absurd. The team’s top two players, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler are 36 and 35 years old, respectively, making this a critical moment for Butler, who has never won an NBA championship.

4. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks traded their star player, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving many fans visibly upset. The team’s General Manager, Nico Harrison, offered a vague explanation, stating, “Defense wins championships.” It seems he overlooked the fact that everyone knew Luka would be eligible for a $345 million contract extension next summer, a figure that was evidently too steep for Dallas to manage. Alongside Luka’s departure, Anthony Davis joined the Mavericks, but he has a track record of injuries. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury during the first half of his first game with the Mavericks and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month. So while “defense wins games,” injuries can lose them.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are included on the list because their star player, LeBron James, is 40 years old. While Father Time hasn’t completely caught up with him, we can observe some signs of LeBron slowing down. James has won four championships and one in-season title. After becoming the all-time leading scorer in the NBA, it would be great to see the King add one or two more rings before he retires.