A new NBA season is upon us and as usual there are so many stories to deal with - the league is celebrating 75 years since its inception, the Cold War between Daryl Murray and Philly White Simmons and Clutch, the Lakers' aging ulster team, how Kyrie Airing's situation in Brooklyn could develop and why One does not count the champion Milwaukee and her deputy Phoenix ?!
But leave you with all the great narratives that have been grinding for months and more will grind from every direction during the season.
Let’s go to the edges, and talk about teams that won’t necessarily be competitive this season, but very fun.
Those who have no stated goal to fight for or even a place in the playoffs, but every time you open your TV / computer / tablet / phone you can fall for a good game, or at least see a move or two that will enter the top ten of the evening.
Or as another Simmons says league-pass teams.
Houston Rockets
One of the most fun things for a sports fan is to see great talent come true before our eyes from the very first steps in the league.
So Houston is right at the point where the talent is bubbling in his pot, and is about to erupt.
The question is just when, and the logical answer would be - probably not this season.
But that does not mean it is not worth seeing the young Rockets.
Jaylen Green (19), the second choice in the draft, has so far looked in the warm-up games and in the summer league like someone who comes nervous and determined to prove he was not selected in the place he deserves.
A little weird considering he was taken second, but that's exactly the mentality that could help him become a superstar in this league.
Meanwhile, at every opportunity he has, Green tries to drown the defenders on their heads or break their ankles.
But he is not the only one who comes with a mentality of proving to everyone that they were wrong about him.
Kevin Porter Jr. also came into the season with this approach after bringing on a wave of slander last season in Cleveland.
Already last season we saw him explode in the Houston uniform and become the youngest player to score 50 points (and 11 assists) in a win over Milwaukee.
The young and promising trio is complemented by Turkish Alpern Shangon (19), probably the most intriguing European selected in the draft (16th place), who joins a tough front line with Chris Wood, and Daniel Thays.
Jeshon Tate and Eric Gordon add depth to a young, promising team, loaded with talent and with very little pressure to succeed now.
Oh, and we almost forgot about John Wall, who probably also forgot about himself.
He does not seem to want and due to mentally be this veteran - but Wall could be the perfect mentor for the young Rockets.
He just needs to take on the role.
Green (left).
Arriving determined and nervous, Photo: USA TODAY Sports
Sacramento Kings
Diaron Fox, Tyrese Haliberton and Devion Mitchell.
Hold on tight because this guard trio creates a jet-set, athletic back line, with a very high IQ, but mostly with a murderous defense.
It is no coincidence that coach Luke Walton has set a goal to bring the team this year to at least the top 15 in the league defensively.
This is a trio that can produce for itself, produce for others and perhaps produce for a change a slightly more winning group.
After the huge success with Aliberton in the previous draft - one of the most enjoyable players in the league you probably haven’t heard of - the Kings seem to have hit a bull with Mitchell this year as well.
Not that it atones for the historic relinquishment of Luka Doncic in favor of Marvin Bagley.
If we have already mentioned Bagley, I must admit that I have not given up on it yet.
And apparently neither does Sacramento.
We’ve seen small sparks of potential in his two years in the league, and maybe this season his jump from a reasonable player to a good player will finally come to fruition, which should be reflected with better averages of 14 points and 7 rebounds.
A veteran like Tristan Thompson can help Rishon Holmes get better and become a serious weapon on both sides of the court.
Buddy the Boy and Harrison Barnes add off-the-bow shooting ability (which Fox is not strong at) on the wings and they are equally candidates for trade with relatively tradable contracts - 22 and 20 million.
Did anyone say Ben Simmons?
CJ McCollum?
Haliberton, Fox and Mitchell.
Lethal trio, Photo: USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma City Thunder
First and foremost because of Foucault (Alexei Fukushevsky).
If you are not yet familiar with the phenomenon, run to the nearest YouTube near you and stay updated.
Foucault has the potential to be a unicorn, with qualities that every team in the league will be happy to have.
He is 2.13 m who can maintain a position from 2 to 5, knows how to lower a ball to the floor, has a good passing ability and if he improves percent of the three and there is a stable threat outside the arc, he will at least be an improved (and less lazy) Kristaps Forzingis.
Shay Gilges-Alexander, or henceforth the required GA, has received a maximum contract but there is a general feeling that he is not valued enough, even though he is one of the best guards in the league. With 1.98 (6'6) he can replace a save in almost every pick and Roll, and last season he scored 41% off the arc (about 5 shots per game). Shaga is also very effective in the mid-range, a very important tool especially for playoff teams, and in the future it can certainly be seen as a second fiddle in a championship team.
Australian rookie Josh Gidi is set to give another dimension of playmaking in positions 2-3.
Lou Dort will continue to be a look-down defender, who also scores quite well the free threes he gets in the corner.
Darius Beasley loves to fly for dunk lovers.
And that’s without mentioning that the first disappointed star will be an immediate suspect to get there in favor of a first-round pick - a commodity that Sam Presti has been obsessively hoarding in recent years.
Foucault (left).
Improved Kristaps Forzingis ?, Photo: AFP
Cleveland Cavaliers
Judging by the Cubs' roster, it seems the organization's most recent strategy is to go big.
But the biggest.
This is reflected in the front line of Jarrett Allen, the promising Evan Mobley (3rd pick in the draft), Laurie Markanen, Kevin Love and the Senegalese giant Taco Paul (on a two-way contract).
The big question that hovers around lovable Cleveland is: Laurie Markanen, who are you?
The Finn is starting a fifth season in the league and it seems impossible yet to determine if he is good enough or good at all, probably for a winning team.
If he's really good as they promised us, then he and Colin Sexton could be deadly pick and roll and equally produce a gap with steady off-arc shooting, with Sexton or Garland getting high blocks from Allen or Mobley.
In the back line, the wonderful Sexton who are making their first steps towards All-Star status, and Darius Garland (Steph Kerry said last summer that he really likes his game) can learn from the tricks that Ricky Rubio has up his sleeve.
The Spaniard, who is starting his 11th season in the league, seems to be on the staff's sticking standard, one that focuses on producing comfortable shots for others, making sure everyone gets their touches on the ball and has experience in various and odd situations in the league.
Isaac Okuro on the wing should bring mostly energetic defense, athleticism, basket cuts and the ability to finish strong in the ring.
If that did not convince you, then just know that taco pool alone is a good enough and entertaining reason to watch the Cubs.
By the way, do not be surprised if you see them in the play-in at the end of the regular season.
Marknan.
Good enough for a winning team ?, Photo: EP
They are also worth watching:
Charlotte Hornets
The main reason is of course Lamello Bull.
Bull is the kind of player who can stick you to a chair in any of his actions on the floor, but the expectation from him this season is for a significant improvement in decision making, and generally to make a big leap in his second year in the league, as prompted by a future superstar.
But with all due respect to Lamelo, the Hornets' ability to be more competitive this season depends largely on Gordon Hayward's health.
By the way, also pay attention to the James Rockett rookie from Yukon, who is supposed to grab Malik Monk's box.
stamp.
Must make a leap in his second season, Photo: EP
Minnesota Timberwolves
Carl Anthony Towns, DiAngelo Russell and Anthony Edwards are an intriguing trio by all accounts.
If it somehow connects along with Malik Beasley and Torian Prince (40 percent to three last season) on the wings and Patrick Beverly, the T-Wolves could mistakenly still be a play-in team at the expense of the Spurs.
Just do not open expectations for the restoration of Kevin Garnett's historic season (03/04) that ended in a loss in the Western Conference Finals to Kobe's Lakers.
Towns and Russell.
Will they take the Spurs' place in the play-in ?, Photo: AFP