NBA Teams Best Positioned to Win the Offseason

Just because the Golden State Warriors can use Jonathan Kuminga to flesh out blockbuster-trade offers doesn't mean they will. They have all their own future first-rounders, in addition to the Warriors' 2024 selection (top-four protected).Between this draft-pick stash, a handful of desirable and short-term contracts and the capacity to include sweeteners who range from rock solid (Brandon Clarke, Xavier Tillman) to pleasant unknowns (Ziaire Williams) to outright centerpieces (Desmond Bane), they have the goods to join any sweepstakes that surface without touching the Ja Morant-Jaren Jackson Jr. foundation. They won't have any cap space, and drafting at No. 27 won't turn any heads.On the other hand: The Heat have a first-round pick at all. Their best trade offer isn't the usual contender's medley of mediocrity, either. Or maybe their rookie-year performances embolden the Pelicans to chase another blockbuster addition, something they are adequately equipped to do.On top of No. 8 in this year's draft, New Orleans has all its own firsts beyond 2022, the Los Angeles Lakers' 2024 pick (with rights to defer until 2025) and Milwaukee's unprotected 2027 selection. They just pushed the best-in-the-league-during-the-regular-season Phoenix Suns to the brink after salvaging their year on the heels of a 3-16 start—all without Zion.Their record doesn't necessarily reflect a path toward contention; not even after the McCollum trade. But if you look at the way head coach Willie Green eventually got them to defend in transition, the individual strides made by Brandon Ingram (holy playmaking), McCollum's offensive fit, the steady stoutness of Valanciunas and the compilation of intriguing Year 1s, you can see it.There is a certain aimlessness to the San Antonio Spurs' current place inside the NBA's hierarchy. And if the Spurs don't yet have their best-player-on-a-contender prospect, can they expect to draft him at No. 9?