A View From the Bottom

The bottom teams usually have many titles placed upon them. Are these titles and phrases right or wrong? These seem to be used like some Mask reincarnation shot with the scatter-gun nature of a tommy-gun. Bottom-feeder. Bottom of the rung. Cellar dwellers. This article is an expos� on the teams that find themselves duking it out or non-so duking it out at the bottom of the NSL. We will look at each team and the position they find themselves in as the league slowly edges away from them. Are they suffering through circumstance or have they reshuffled the deck and are looking for a better hand?

With the league hype-competitive, teams seem forgiven for considering a slow and sombre demise to find draft capital strength, but we don�t see such a position with all teams in this piece.

We will be starting from the bottom of the league and working our way up. For time and recording purposes we will be analysing the situation of the top-5 teams with the worst record.

A VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM � Who? / What? / Why?

1.       Los Angeles Lakers

A lot has been made about the positioning of the Los Angeles Lakers. Currently standing 4-53 they are by far the lowest rank team in the NSL. Home to Number 1 draft pick the Lakers have not been able to find supplementary assistance from too many players. With PJ Washington as the only other player rated 78 or above, the Lakers are definitely in the rebuild and reimagine phase. Their view to a better existence has to come from the draft, and through their results that seems obvious. Picks from the Timberwolves and the Kings for the first round, as well as their own pick will need to be well-researched and accounted picks to bring some semblance of respect back to this well-regarded ball-club. With GM JustinG having his work cut out for him, the Lakers depth and asset retention with become more important coming into season 22-23. This year seems locked in.

Star Power � Cade Cunningham

2.       Phoenix Suns

One thing that has been ever-present is the Suns desire to shape-shift and adapt. GM Laddas has never backed down from admitting the need for change. This has worked in two distinctly different ways; culminating in what we currently see � a Suns outfit that sits 9-48. The Suns on paper shape up incredibly well, it simply boils down to active players and partnerships. The Suns have flipped and flipped again to get a roster that sees depth at most positions and a team stacked with the favourite and despised word �POTENTIAL�. The most recent injury to Hayward seemed a dagger in the side of the organisation when they just seemed to have shifted into a team that could mix it with the mid-tier. Don�t get me wrong I believe they still can cause problems. But it�s on their terms � with their pick in hand�do they want to be in that mud-slinging contest or would they rather be on the periphery to snag a top 5 rookie, while also retaining some key players such as Carter Jr, Simons and Bryant.

Star Power � Anfernee Simons

3.        Utah Jazz

13-44 for a team with the two best players being rookies. Is that win? Part of me thinks it is a huge win. Especially in Giddey and Wagner. The Jazz have obviously been a melting pot of bodies and the depth of this team still has question marks, but the core youth is very exciting. Developing in the right way could bring forward a team with Giddey, Wagner, Duarte, Vassell and Hachimura that cause headaches for everyone. Smart drafting. They also are a team that kept their pick meaning that the next player to join could be another top 5 pick. Throw another 80 rated rook into the mix with those others developing is very ominous. This season is all about identify and supply � who does GM Jason give the minutes, who does he want to see in what role? The only need is depth � certain bodies in the supplementary and rotational positions that are chewing up cap space, which isn�t a concern for them�

Star Power � Josh Giddey

4.       Miami Heat

We can chalk up this season for the Heat in one word �injuries�. Furthermore, the absence of Ben Simmons aka 2k Jesus, has been a huge blow for the organisation. GM Pistolpk has been under no illusions when it comes to the issues that the team has faced. It is just unfortunate to see � no Issac, no Simmons, no Brogdon, no McCollum, no Bamba, no Fultz� They haven�t had their team, but when they do, they will be in the mix without any shadow of a doubt. But that is the NSL, a slight injury here and there can take you from the pinnacle to the gravel pit. With their pick in hand it isn�t the worst situation to be in, but a winning record would be helpful for the Heat to try and retain players such as Bamba, Campazzo, and Nwora. Now that Simmons looks to see game-time will the Heat jump out of this slump � with only a few weeks of the regular NSL season remaining. I say yes. I think the Heat rise like a phoenix out of the ashes. That 13-45 record will see far more added on the left hand side, should he find the court.

Star Power � Ben Simmons

5.       Dallas Mavericks

Closing out the top 5, is the surprise packet of the list, the Dallas Mavericks. Must published is the demise of the Dallas Mavericks. Without their own pick, akin to the Brooklyn Nets, the Mavericks needed to make decisions � the movement of Durant was made. We won�t go into the deal, but the Dallas GM LjMaverick brought into a slew of assets to turn things around. At 15-43, the Mavericks are surely a better team. With a lineup of Mills, Brunson, Tate, Ingram and Porzingis, the Mavericks have a solid team � but it is all about that phrase �supply and demand�. Who is picking up the slack on both ends of the court. The Mavericks can score, but have seen teams run past them on the defensive end with such ease. How can they fortify the lineup to reduce the points rush? This is a wait and see. Can it all click? Or will their season go begging?

Star Power � Kristaps Porzingis

A View From the Bottom � Who has the pick?

The top ten projected picks based on team rank are listed below.

How does this shape the year ahead for teams?

Who does it matter most for?

Evidently the pick distribution means the most for the Nets and the Mavericks as they are the only two teams in the bottom 10 to not hold their picks.

Should make for interesting viewing from both a tanking and clawing back perspective.