NBA: Draymond Green’s future and Ben Simmons’ return among five stories to watch during the 2022-23 season | NBA News

With the 2022-23 NBA season nearly upon us, listed below are five of the largest storylines to watch out for.

The new season begins on Tuesday night time, with each of final season’s NBA Finals groups in motion, dwell on Sky Sports, as the Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers earlier than the Golden State Warriors start the defence of their title towards LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sky Sports may even provide prime time weekend protection, with the opening week’s Sunday marquee recreation seeing the Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers at 8:30pm.

Will the Warriors commerce Green?

About two weeks in the past, the Golden State Warriors appeared to be completely positioned to launch the defence of their NBA title.

With Steph Curry displaying no indicators of slowing down, Klay Thompson a yr additional faraway from his harm woes, and Jordan Poole main a bunch of gifted younger gamers whose affect is barely doubtless to develop, the scenario seemed very rosy for the reigning champions.

That was till experiences emerged that the coronary heart and soul of the Warriors locker room, Draymond Green, had struck Poole during a bodily altercation in pre-season observe. The story remained considerably below management initially, however when footage was leaked of the brutal incident, it turned the largest speaking level in American sport.

Green, who has received 4 titles with Golden State since being drafted by the group in 2012, held a press convention during which he apologised to Poole and his team-mates’ household, together with the remainder of the Warriors’ gamers, teaching workers and senior administration.

The Warriors introduced that Green could be spending a while away from the group however have since confirmed he’ll return for the begin of normal season, together with his punishment being in the type of a advantageous reasonably than a suspension. That resolution means the Warriors do not have to fear about enjoying with out their defensive lynchpin, however the incident has left Green’s future with the franchise in enormous doubt.

The 32-year-old’s present contract has two years remaining, the second of which is a ‘participant possibility’ that he can resolve whether or not to activate. There was already loads of hypothesis about whether or not the Warriors would provide Green an extension, however that scenario will now command much more consideration.

Before the Poole incident, the group might have had a tough time explaining to its fanbase a choice to transfer Green on, however now it might be onerous to argue that buying and selling the veteran away may make sense on a number of ranges.

While group chemistry is a priority in the wake of the altercation, there may be additionally the actuality that Green’s performances have been declining in current seasons, and a commerce for a extra inexpensive possibility could possibly be to the advantage of the group over the subsequent few seasons.

In the quick time period it will likely be price maintaining a tally of the physique language between Green, Poole and the remainder of the Warriors on the court docket, whereas consideration ought to be paid to the Golden State entrance workplace proper up till February’s commerce deadline.

Can Simmons assist the Nets contend?

Having been the largest cleaning soap opera in basketball over the final couple of years, the Brooklyn Nets promise to present loads of leisure as soon as extra this season.

After sitting out final season with a again harm following his commerce to Brooklyn from the Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons has been again on the court docket during pre-season and is about to make his aggressive debut for the Nets, dwell on Sky Sports, towards the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night time.

The polarizing three-time All Star is a complete wildcard for the Nets, however they are going to want him to rediscover the elite defensive play he has proven in the previous if they’re to be thought-about a critical contender for the title.

Simmons is becoming a member of forces with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who’ve each created their fair proportion of controversy in current occasions. Durant handed in a commerce request over the summer time, however ultimately withdrew it with no passable provides materialising. The 33-year-old cited considerations over stability and group tradition, however insists he’s dedicated for this season.

Durant’s commerce request took the headlines away from Kyrie Irving, whose resolution not to be vaccinated towards the coronavirus created a prolonged saga that noticed him miss a lot of the season due to restrictions.

With the two having arrived in Brooklyn as a pair, the reality Durant’s commerce request got here simply days after Irving had activated his participant possibility to stick with the Nets was notable, and suggests the relationship between them might not be as sturdy because it as soon as was.

The Nets have made some fascinating off-season additions in Royce O’Neale, TJ Warren and Markieff Morris, however significant success will in the end come down to their stars.

If the Nets’ season doesn’t begin nicely, it might be little shock to see Durant searching for a approach out as soon as extra.

Wembanyama to create ‘tankathon’

Despite the reality he will not be enjoying in the NBA, 18-year-old Frenchman Victor Wembanyama continues to be anticipated to have a huge effect on the season.

The seven-foot, three-inch huge man is – and has for some time been thought-about – a lock for the primary choose in subsequent yr’s draft, together with his unimaginable mixture of dimension and talent producing the most pleasure round the draft since LeBron James got here into the league in 2003.

As a consequence, the race to the backside of the NBA is about to be nearly as fierce as the race to the high, with the prize of Wembanyama being sufficient to instantly rework any franchise, and luring a number of groups into deliberately setting up a weak group for this marketing campaign, in any other case referred to as ‘tanking’.

Wembanyama is conscious of what is going on on, however insists he’ll try to keep away from the hype as he spends another season enjoying in France, the place he’ll undoubtedly be watched in particular person by half the scouts in the NBA.

“Of course, the word and the meaning of the word ‘tanking’ is kind of weird,” Wembanyama stated. “And, personally, I would never want to lose. It’s a personal thing. But I really try to stay outside of it and don’t care about it.”

The Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder look set to lead the race, however any middling group that makes a foul begin is probably going to be tempted to put themselves in competition for Wembanyama.

The excellent news for the tanking groups is that the projected quantity two choose, Scoot Henderson, can also be a massively promising prospect. While he isn’t thought-about a generational expertise like Wembanyama, Henderson is an explosive guard who may even signify a worthwhile prize for any NBA group.

Will the Lakers make an enormous commerce?

The Los Angeles Lakers should not going to be in the race to the backside, however they, together with a number of different groups, will likely be conserving a really shut eye on the Wembanyama sweepstakes.

The Lakers nonetheless possess one in all the finest one-two punches in the league in the type of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, however past that their roster is severely missing in expertise.

However, they do have two tradeable first-round picks to bundle with Russell Westbrook’s expiring contract, which ought to assist them present James and Davis with extra help.

Normally, that bundle of picks and Westbrook may solely benefit modest returns, however the reality a number of groups are doubtless to be wanting to weaken themselves in hope of drafting Wembanyama may play proper into the Lakers’ fingers.

For instance, there have been constant rumours linking the Lakers to a commerce with the Indiana Pacers for middle Myles Turner and guard Buddy Hield.

While the addition of that duo would not put the Lakers among the favourites for the title, it might definitely make them a much more aggressive outfit.

With that in thoughts, the Lakers might bide their time to see if any extra beneficial alternatives emerge between now and February’s commerce deadline.

Regardless of who they find yourself buying and selling for, the Lakers’ success will likely be largely depending on the health of James and Davis, who’ve each suffered a number of accidents since combining to win the 2020 title.

If the pair can get wholesome for the enterprise finish of the season, it takes a courageous particular person to rely out King James.

The return of Zion

One participant that may empathise with the course of Wembanyama goes via is Zion Williamson, who turned a viral sensation due to his freakish athleticism earlier than being picked by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 draft.

Injury restricted Williamson to simply 24 appearances in his debut season, however he would start to fulfil his potential in his second NBA marketing campaign, averaging 27 factors a recreation as he made 61 appearances in the 2020-21 season.

However, that progress was halted as he missed the entirety of final season with a foot harm, amid some obvious friction between participant and group over whether or not he was wholesome sufficient to return.

Caution received out as Williamson was held out regardless of performing beautiful trademark dunks on digital camera in practices, however now the 22-year-old is again.

His return is made extra fascinating by the reality the Pelicans have strengthened in his absence with the addition of CJ McCollum, whereas Brandon Ingram continued to present he’s a succesful operating mate for Williamson.

The query with Williamson will all the time be whether or not he can keep wholesome, and there’s already been a worrying second in pre-season, when he rolled his ankle during Wednesday’s matchup with the Miami Heat.

However, breathe a sigh of reduction basketball followers, Williamson insisted that he was “fine”, and was declared day-to-day by way of availability by head coach Willie Green.

Given how little we have now seen of Williamson in the NBA, it is onerous to predict how far the Pelicans may go if he was wholesome, however they’re undoubtedly a group that rivals will not be wanting to see come April and May.