The NBA 2024-2025 season is expected to kick off next week, and with both conferences looking very strong, the playoffs are expected to be extremely competitive.
Among the top concerns going into the new seasons are the team dynamics, the impact of trades and the fans’ engagement. Many teams have made significant roster changes during the offseason, which drastically impacts the competitiveness of the teams.
Cade Steel, a junior history and philosophy major, has opinions about the roster changes and which teams had the most significant trades during the offseason.
“The biggest trade was the Knicks and the Timberwolves trading Julius Randal and Dante Devenchenzo for Carl Anthony,” Steel said. “I think the Timberwolves lose a lot of 3-point shooting but they gain depth. I think the Knicks will be the best they have ever been since Patrick Ewing.”
Steel also gives his opinions on the player most likely to break out this season. A breakout player is an already very tempered professional player who is likely to perform well and enter the spotlight amongst other great players.
“I mean, the first one is pretty easy, Victor Wembanyama on the Spurs,” Steel said. “All he needs to succeed is for his teammates to give him the – ball, no one wants to give him the ball, and all his teammates are shot chuckers.”
Opinions on the trades in the Eastern Conference seem to be circulating the most among the NBA fanbase, with many fans like Steel having differing opinions on who came out on top in this trade.
Cooper Treadaway, a junior business administration major, also explores his opinions on the recent roster changes, and which team he believed had the most significant trade.
“I think the Orlando Magic will definitely be a dark horse this year,” Treadaway said. “I think the trading of Jonathan Issac for Boston’s Robert Williams III was a great move for the team’s overall defensive game.”
Additionally, Treadaway gave his opinions on the Hawks’ trade this season, which players he thought might excel in their roles and how they would do that.
“Oh definitely Jaylen Johnson for the Hawks, I mean he was a rookie last year and scored a ton of points,” Treadaway said. “The only thing he needs to excel is for Trae Young not to be traded, I think.”
The Eastern Conference is expected to be much stronger this year due to these trades, with the West also expected to have a great season.
Steel explores his opinion on how fan engagement has evolved throughout the season.
“I’d say right before the season started people expected a really weak eastern conference, although the Celtics totally dominated last season,” Steel said. “Now the east is much more healthy heading into the season, with the Celtics, Knicks and Sixers. The Sixers signed Paul George so they’re looking very competitive this season.”
Even though the East is looking especially strong this season, the West is also dominating as usual, with Treadaway offering his opinion on the state of the West’s game.
“The West is definitely at its strongest point ever this century,” Treadaway said. “I mean it’s going to be an extremely competitive season for them, pretty much every team has a shot at making the playoffs.”
With a lot of emerging talent, interesting trades and new trends in team strategies, this season of the NBA is shaping up to be very competitive and engaging.
