Someone *has* to be at the bottom of the NBA next season. But who?

In a league with no one activating tanking, the bottom of the table becomes more a result of chance.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

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Las Hilanderas; Diego Velazquez; 1657-58

The Washington Wizards looked like they were preparing for tankdom when the new front office decided to traded Bradley Beal and sell off on Kristaps Porzingis. But then the team re-signed Kyle Kuzma, traded for Tyus Jones and flipped one of the assets gained in the Beal trade for Jordan Poole. The team has, to this point of the offseason, kept a number of its other rotation-caliber players. The Wizards could still be bad, but they don’t appear set up to be awful.

The Houston Rockets, as we discussed yesterday, made the affirmative decision to set up to win more games next season than they have in three years. It’s hard to imagine them winning less than 25 games again.

The San Antonio Spurs added Victor Wembanyama, re-upped Tre Jones and kept all of their other interesting young players.

The Portland Trail Blazers would appear potentially headed for tankdom once they consent to Damian Lillard’s trade request, except for the fact that they re-signed Jerami Grant and appear to want a solid player in exchange for Lillard, not just draft equity.

The Detroit Pistons didn’t add much short-term help, but were crushed by Cade Cunningham’s 70-game absence in 2022-23. Assuming he’s back for opening night, he should keep them from being a sub-20 win team.

The Charlotte Hornets had less than half of a season of LaMelo Ball and no Miles Bridges last year. Add those back in and they should be better.

No other playoff or playoff contender teams wholesale cut talent. All the play-in level teams kept their stars, with the exception of Fred VanVleet with the Raptors. The teams above the play-in retooled in various ways, but none in ways that make you think they are planning to pivot to the bottom for a high draft pick.

So who are the real candidates for the worst records in the league next season? Here are some very early assessments.