Most Improved NBA Teams Before the 2021 Season

THE Phoenix Suns haven’t been to the NBA playoffs in more than a decade, when players like Amar’e Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Grant Hill raced down the court in Arizona.

In an effort to break out of its constant state of mediocrity, the franchise made some of the league’s boldest moves during the NBA’s coronavirus-condensed offseason.

The Suns traded for 10-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul in November, a move that started a series of offseason deals as Phoenix worked to build around his young point guard Devin Booker and forward Deandre Ayton.

While all teams are looking to improve, a few stand out: including the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers.

In Phoenix, Booker has been a beacon of light during the Suns’ recent playoff drought.

He has worked hard for five consecutive losing seasons in the desert since being selected 13th overall in 2015 from Kentucky. He made his first All-Star Game last season and is excited about the offseason additions.

But Booker knows that a lot of moves look good on paper and there is a lot of work to do.

“You have to build, nurture and grow,” Booker said. “We have made tremendous strides. And with the players we add, we have a deep team with a lot of IQ and guys who know how to play the game. I think everyone in this locker room is locked in.”

The Suns didn’t stop with Paul. Shortly after his arrival, Phoenix hired a handful of veterans, including forward Jae Crowder and guards Langston Galloway and E’Twaun Moore.

Paul, 35, is reunited with coach Monty Williams, who is in his second season with the Suns. Williams coached Paul in New Orleans during the 2010-11 season and the two have stayed in touch.

Paul said he loves the way Williams builds teams and the Suns match his personality.

“We have a lot of professionals,” Paul said. “Anyone who plays in the league, or is in the league, knows what I mean when I say that. The guys come in and they prepare, they work. When we have training and practice, it’s hard to get the guys out of the gym.

“When you have guys like that, you build.”

A look at some other NBA teams that made some of the biggest moves of the offseason:

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

LeBron James and Anthony Davis have some new teammates as they try to repeat as NBA champions.

The Lakers added guard Dennis Schröder in a trade and increased the volume of the front court by signing Montrezl Harrell, the NBA’s reigning sixth man of the year, and three-time All-Star Marc Gasol. Schroder averaged nearly 19 points per game last season for the Thunder and is still just 27 years old.

Harrell averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Clippers last season. The 6-foot-11-inch Gasol is nearly 36 years old, but he’s been a key driver on the Raptors for the past two years, including during his 2019 championship run.

The Lakers also added veteran guard Wesley Matthews, who averaged 7.4 points per game for the Bucks last season.

ATLANTA HAWKS

The Hawks have had three losing seasons in a row, but they made moves in the offseason to build around their young core of Trae Young and John Collins.

General manager Travis Schlenk brought in a slew of veterans, including Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo, and Kris Dunn. Gallinari and Bogdanovic have a lot of shots and combined to make nearly six 3-pointers a game last season.

“You see everything on paper. You see the sky. You see everything in front of us,” Young said. “Whatever we want, it’s up to us to go find it. I don’t know if there is a limit we can set.”

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZER

Star guard Damian Lillard wanted a little more help competing in the Western Conference and he got it.

The Blazers added two potential starters this offseason with Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. They also signed Enes Kanter, who can be a prolific offensive force in the paint.

The new additions will join the remnants CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Rodney Hood and Carmelo Anthony. Lillard, a five-time All-Star, is in his prime, averaging 30 points per game last season, a career-high.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

The Bucks hope that the addition of veteran point guard Jrue Holiday, along with a revamped bench, can help the franchise take the next step toward becoming NBA champions.

Milwaukee believes it’s close, especially after reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a five-year extension worth $ 228 million.

Holiday has averaged more than 19 points per game for the Pelicans over the past three seasons. The Bucks also have a great pool of new backups, adding forwards Bobby Portis and Torrey Craig, along with guards DJ Augustin and Bryn Forbes.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

The 76ers revised the supporting cast because they are still built around the duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid looking to go further in the playoffs.

Philadelphia became a priority for more shots, adding Seth Curry, Danny Green and first-round pick Tyrese Maxey.

The 76ers also added veteran Dwight Howard to back Embiid. Howard did well in a similar role with the NBA champion Lakers last season, averaging 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in roughly 19 minutes per game.

Philadelphia also hired veteran coach Doc Rivers. which led Boston to a championship in 2008.

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AP sports writer Charles Odum in Atlanta contributed to this story.