It has been an off-season of substantial change in the NBA and following the Damian Lillard trade to Milwaukee, and Jrue Holiday landing in Boston, it appears we now have three super teams in the NBA that should be winning it all in 2024, the Bucks, the Celtics & the Phoenix Suns, who added Bradley Beal to their squad in the summer.

But not all super teams deliver on their promise and often there's an outsider that spoils the premature party. So which three teams could play 'party wrecker' in 2024?

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1. Denver Nuggets

Why the Nuggets:

The Denver Nuggets are the defending NBA Champions, they are close to being an after thought in terms of title chances heading into next season but they are still a formidable force in the Western Conference.

Nikola Jokic established himself as the best player in basketball during the NBA Playoffs last season and he will no doubt deliver similar levels of performance in 2024. The difference makers/question marks are those around him.

Jamal Murray re-established himself as a star in the NBA last season, averaging 26/6/7, and shooting 40% from three on the teams run to the title. If he builds on that throughout the season, he will be an All-Star for the first time and when it comes to the playoffs we know he always delivers when he is healthy. You know what you get from Aaron Gordon, good two way play and elite athleticism, then you get to the major x factor, Michael Porter Jr.

MPJ had his best ever season last year but did not match those levels during the playoffs. However, if he can take his game another step closer to the levels expected, he becomes a knock down three point shooter and a legit two way player. If that happens, the Nuggets have another legitimate All-Star candidate.

The Nuggets are a worse team than last year on paper, having lost Jeff Green & Bruce Brown from their championship roster but there is still huge talent there and if the players around Jokic take another step forward you would be a brave man to bet against them repeating. Continuity is key!

2. Los Angeles Lakers:

Why the Lakers:

The Lakers finally have a roster that makes sense, for the first time since the team won the championship in 2020. If it all comes together as planned they will be a force throughout the 2023/24 season.

Anthony Davis is the key man for this team, he has to become the lead guy on both ends. If he can get his offense flow/touch back to levels we saw in 2019/20 then watch out, because as we saw in last years playoffs, he is arguably the best defender in the league when healthy, but getting his offense to match that is crucial.

Then there's the small matter of LeBron James, he is heading into his 21st season in the league, what sort of decline will we see from him and will the team finally be able to take care of him to an extent where he is in the best position to dominate come the postseason.

Austin Reaves & Rui Hachimura have been talked about a lot this off-season after some breakout performances in last years playoffs. If they both build on those games and become game winners for the Lakers, they take some pressure off their two stars especially in the regular season, which would be crucial.

The Lakers had a great off-season and now have three legitimate starters at each position on their team. They should not have to rely on AD & LeBron as much during the regular season and that should bear fruit come the off-season. Let's not forget this team made it to the Western Conference Finals last season, they ain't done yet.

3. Miami Heat

Why the Heat:

The Miami Heat are the ultimate underdogs, yeah they had a bad off-season. Losing the likes of Gabe Vincent & Max Strus, while failing to add either Damian Lillard or Jrue Holiday but bet against them at your peril.

Despite a difficult off-season they still have Jimmy Butler (Elite playoff performer), Bam Adebayo (Potentially great defender) & Tyler Herro ( Bucket getter) along with vets like Kevin Love & Kyle Lowry who have been there and done that when it comes to championships.

This team reached the NBA Finals last year without Tyler Herro, arguably their best three level scorer. His return is huge, of course he isn't Damian Lillard but he does fill a gap that was missing from this team last playoffs. And he will have a Dame sized chip on his shoulder all-season, hopefully making him more determined that ever.

The Miami Heat have arguably now got a worse roster than last season, when it was predicted they would have a far better one with potential addition of Lillard but this team always performs beyond expectation and maybe not getting Dame will work in their favor. With Butler leading and Spoelstra at the helm, they've always got a shot.

Let's not forget this Miami team has been to two of the previous four NBA Finals and back to back Eastern Conference Finals. They didn't get their star but they will no doubt have another couple of guys we expect nothing from, deliver in a big way.

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Yes, one of the Suns, Bucks or Celtics should and probably will win the NBA Championship in 2024 but let's not forget with the talent around the NBA there is always a team ready to spoil the party!

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Photo Credit- Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

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