'Twas the day before Christmas, with no NBA games to bet, the league's 30 teams pondered over what they should get. Should they want titles, a trade, or something much more? Well, Odds Shark knows the gifts that they need and exactly what for.
Here's 30 wishes for all on Santa's list, and not having to rhyme again will be true holiday bliss.
Atlanta Hawks: 3-Point Defense
No team in basketball allows the opposition to make, attempt, and convert 3-pointers at a higher rate than the Atlanta Hawks, who've given up 425 triples as of December 17 when no one else has allowed more than 400.
Surprisingly, Atlanta's defense as a whole isn't even ranked in the bottom-third of the Association, so climbing out of the basement with marginal improvements over the course of the next several months in this department should do wonders.
Boston Celtics: Consecutive NBA Championships
There hasn't been a back-to-back winner of the Larry O'Brien trophy since the Golden State Warriors in 2017-18, and the Boston Celtics certainly didn't assemble one of the greatest starting units we've seen in quite some time to be a one-and-done.
Even though the franchise has a league-record 18 championships to its name, Boston hasn't strung together consecutive titles since the late 60's when it prevailed in 1968-1969. Parity is perhaps stronger than it's ever been, and the Celtics have a giant red target on their back, so Santa's workshop will have to put in some overtime to make this a reality.
Brooklyn Nets: A Top-3 Draft Pick
Who is the face of the Brooklyn Nets? Is it Cam Johnson? How about Ben Simmons? Simply put, this team is in desperate need of a fresh identity, but with no one at the forefront of such change, it's difficult to truly be invested in Brooklyn for the time being.
That makes it all the more important for the organization to land a high pick in the upcoming 2025 draft, because with the likes of Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, and Egor Demin near the top of the pecking order, the next cornerstone of the Nets - barring a blockbuster trade utilizing their treasure's trove of assets - isn't too far off from arriving.
Charlotte Hornets: Relevancy ... again
This is literally what the Charlotte Hornets asked for last Christmas, and Santa dropped the ball so bad you'd think he was drafting Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Adam Morrison. Now's not the time to be opening up old wounds, though, as it's the holiday season after all.
The dynamic duo of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are vital building blocks to the Hornets' ever-evolving foundation, but so much more needs to be done for Charlotte to escape the basement of obscurity and grow into more than an afterthought in the Eastern Conference.
Chicago Bulls: Trade Partners
Again, did Santa not check last year's list twice and figure out who's naughty or nice? Finding someone to take the remaining years on Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic's respective contracts, and even the expiring of the perpetually-injured Lonzo Ball, is how the Chicago Bulls will find their salvation.
Until that day comes, Chicago will remain a middling play-in challenger with delusions of grandeur, believing that this core group can find success when history would suggest that's nothing more than a pipe dream.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Health and happiness
We're over a quarter of the way through the 2024-25 slate and the Cleveland Cavaliers are holding down the best win-loss record in basketball. A year ago, the team had lost its fourth game by the first week of November (Nov. 3, to be exact), but fast forward to today and that fourth defeat didn't come until Dec. 8.
As far as challengers to the Celtics' throne go, the Cavaliers appear to be the biggest threat, with the only thing keeping them from pushing Boston to the limit being injuries. Remember, in the second round of last year's playoffs, Cleveland was without Jarrett Allen for the entire series while Donovan Mitchell had to miss two games due to injury, as well. Throw them back in the mix and the entire dynamic changes.
Dallas Mavericks: More Respect For Luka Doncic
Someone averaging 29 points, nearly nine rebounds, and just over eight assists per game is somehow flying under the radar, despite being considered one of the five greatest players on the planet. Yes, Luka Doncic's numbers have dipped slightly, and his efficiency isn't what it once was, but his usage rate has also dropped with more production surrounding him on the Dallas Mavericks.
Perhaps the respect will come with a Most Valuable Player win, although it's unlikely to come this season. Or maybe another deep playoff run will get skeptics back on the Doncic bandwagon. Who knows. It just feels weird.
Denver Nuggets: A fourth MVP For Nikola Jokic
The reason a first MVP trophy doesn't appear to be in the cards for Doncic is because he's thriving in an era that belongs to Nikola Jokic, who is on the verge of becoming the sixth player to ever capture four Most Valuable Player wins in their career.
There's a realistic possibility of Jokic leading all players in points, rebounds, and assists and becoming the first to ever do so in a single season. To put how spectacular that would be into perspective, no one has ever led in all three categories in separate seasons, let alone the same.
Detroit Pistons: An All-Star Berth For Cade Cunningham
The 2021 draft is en route to being one of the deepest ever (it probably already is), but with Cade Cunningham going first overall, there was a degree of expectations which came with that position. Some of his fellow classmen (Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, and Alperen Sengun to name a few) have started to leave him in the dust with personal achievements and team success, and that can't feel great.
The Detroit Pistons are still a below .500 team, but they're miles ahead of what they were a year ago when they tied the record for the longest losing streak ever. Cunningham is contributing near triple-double production on a nightly basis, and undoubtedly warrants a spot on the All-Star team. There aren't ten players in the East currently better than him.
Golden State Warriors: LeBron James
This isn't a decade ago when pairing Stephen Curry with LeBron James would have sent the league into a tailspin with little incentive to care as the eventual champion was all but determined. The U.S. men's Olympic team in Paris showcased just how formidable a combination they could be despite being aging veterans of the game, but it wouldn't vault Golden State to the top of the leaderboard.
James would have to agree to waive his no-trade clause with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he currently appears to be more than content with winding down his storied career in purple and gold. Then again, if it's another ring he covets, heading to the Warriors for their slew of young parts and assets gives him his best shot, and allows Golden State to maximize the remaining years of Curry and Draymond Green.
Houston Rockets: A Playoff berth
We haven't seen the Houston Rockets compete in a best-of-seven series since the infamous Bubble out at Walt Disney World Resort in 2020 (Gawrsh). Now they're positioned as one of the top teams in the Western Conference, which means they're no longer lurking in the shadows resting on potential awaiting the perfect time to vault up the power rankings.
The Rockets' surprising defense, the coaching of Ime Udoka, the championship experience of Fred VanVleet, the aspiring superstardom of Sengun, and an exuberant supporting cast feels like enough to get them over the hump this time around and into the final mix. Hopefully, anyway.
Indiana Pacers: A time machine
The Indiana Pacers were once the fun, endearing, offensive-minded gunslingers who would run you out of the building with a buttload of points with the mentality that putting 130 on the scoreboard would be just enough to compensate for a non-existent defense.
They're not that anymore. Remember when Indiana advanced to the championship game of the 2023 in-season tournament, and then all of the way to the conference finals not long after? That feels like an eternity ago, so let's transport the Pacers back to a time when everything just clicked.
Los Angeles Clippers: Kawhi Leonard?
Santa's early Christmas miracle has been keeping the Los Angeles Clippers afloat with more wins than losses despite watching Paul George depart over the summer and not having Kawhi Leonard in uniform as of yet. Leonard's lack of availability, which is the story of his tenure since signing with the franchise, is far more frustrating as there's never any end in sight.
The Clippers have forged together a top-five defensive presence sans the services of a former multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year recipient and three-time All-Defensive First Team member. Leonard's return would fortify that side and keep Los Angeles in the hunt for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, which at one time felt like a fantasy.
Los Angeles Lakers: A Reality check
Hopefully the Los Angeles Lakers are well aware that their aspirations of a 17th championship are beyond their reach with the roster as currently constructed. This season and beyond feels like a farewell tour for LeBron as opposed to being a credible push for another ring, and much of that blame falls upon Rob Pelinka for some of his questionable decisions in the past.
The sooner everyone in and around the organization comes to terms with the cold, brutal truth of it all, the better. Los Angeles is ill-equipped for a post-James future, so Santa can create rosy cheeks with some swift slaps across the face to give those in power a wake-up call.
Memphis Grizzlies: A horseshoe
It shouldn't be surprising to see the Memphis Grizzlies back near the top of the standings in the West, because all they needed was a clean bill of health for a majority of the roster to remind everyone how much of a threat they can be.
Sure, there's still been players who've missed stretches here and there, but it's nowhere near the dire situation it was last season. A horseshoe would hopefully preserve the good luck and fortune and keep the vibes nice and strong.
Miami Heat: A Divorce Lawyer
The Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat relationship was a resounding success ... until it wasn't. All good things must come to an end, and as we've seen in the past with team president Pat Riley publicly chastising the six-time All-Star, with an apparent reluctance to lock Butler in to a new contract, the time is now to cut ties and hand over the reigns in action to Tyler Herro.
"Playoff Jimmy" is a real thing and could be a boon to a team with title aspirations. It may not be a treasure trove return since Butler is expected to enter free agency no matter which team he ends the season with, but with a proven divorce lawyer (obviously kidding), both sides could get out of this binding situation smelling like roses.
Milwaukee Bucks: A thank you card
Hopefully, there's some carryover to next year's in-season tournament, but for now, it was promising to see the Milwaukee Bucks have so much pride in winning the 2024 NBA Cup and seeing someone like the ring-less Damian Lillard revel in the moment.
The only way players will start to care is if the big names and eventual winners make it the prestigious accolade it needs to be. Only then will people start buying into its lineage like it matters. So thank you, Milwaukee, but don't let it get to your heads.
Minnesota Timberwolves: A redo
Whether it was simply a financial decision to clear up cap space or something much deeper internally, sending away Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks has backfired on the Minnesota Timberwolves, and losing by 26 at home on December 19 as KAT dropped 38-20-6 was having salt poured in what's still the freshest of wounds.
Did Minnesota mortgage what felt like a future championship after getting to within three wins of a Finals appearance to save dollars and cents? It sure looks that way right now. Taking money out of the equation entirely and looking at this from a strict basketball perspective, Santa and all nine of his reindeer can see trading Towns was a poor decision.
New Orleans Pelicans: An Exorcist
Whatever demonic entity is haunting the New Orleans Pelicans needs to have an ordained priest pay a visit to the Smoothie King Center to rid it from the team's lives, because even Santa doesn't have enough pull to make that happen.
Not a single player on the roster has competed in every game, and the likes of Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones have missed at least nine due to injury, and some even much more than that. This is worse than finding a lump of coal in your stocking. This is downright mean to have such bad luck occur.
New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson
Simply having Mitchell Robinson (ankle) back in the fold in the Big Apple is the jolt an already dominant New York Knicks squad needs. It provides an interior defender at the five spot who doesn't need the ball in his hands, moves Karl-Anthony Towns to his more natural power-forward position, and transitions Josh Hart to a sixth-man role for a bench unit which ranks last in scoring.
New York needs depth, and Robinson provides that in a variety of ways. He's a shot blocker, rebounder, and sorely needed big man on a roster devoid of length and size.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren
The Oklahoma City Thunder have done an admirable job maintaining the top spot in the Fortnite battle royal that is the West without the services of their lanky 7-footer, but as we all witnessed in the finale of the 2024 in-season tournament, the difference between having him available and not having him is night and day.
Chet Holmgren is the clear-cut No. 2 in the pecking order, ahead of even Jaylen Williams. Falling to the Bucks will have zero carry-over and not linger in the months ahead, but it should open a few eyes as to the importance of Holmgren in Oklahoma City's lineup and how much his presence boosts its ceiling.
Orlando Magic: Bubble Wrap
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner each suffering torn obliques is cruel and unusual punishment for the Orlando Magic, who have somehow managed to weather the storm and hold onto a top-four seed in the East.
The perseverance the Magic have displayed is quite admirable, but they can only continue to get away with not having their two best players for so long. Once Banchero and Wagner come back, Orlando's training staff would be best suited to wrap each of them in the limitless bubble wrap Santa will leave under the Christmas tree to protect them from any further tears, breaks, or sprains.
Philadelphia 76ers: A Conference Finals appearance
This entire "Process" in the City of Brotherly Love was orchestrated to lift the Philadelphia 76ers to the Finals and potentially win it all. Unfortunately, all that's really manifested is a slew of heartbreaking early exits and not a single run to the conference finals to show for it.
Perhaps Santa can throw the team a bone and reward the fanbase for its patience, self-control, and ... oh, who are we kidding? The Sixers are another Joel Embiid away from further devastation, so maybe asking Jolly Old Saint Nicholas to turn injuries off like it's 2K season would go further here.
Phoenix Suns: More Kevin Durant
Based on how awful the Phoenix Suns have been this season when Kevin Durant is unavailable, Santa better engulfs the former league Most Valuable Player in a protective shield to preserve the team's chances of ultimate glory.
Phoenix is 1-9 SU when Durant doesn't play, which goes to show just how significant a presence he has even at the age of 36. Injuries happen and they often can't be avoided, yet the Suns aren't designed to sustain Durant's absence for extended periods. He needs to be out there.
Portland Trail Blazers: A Shoot Scootin' Groovy
In all honesty, I was just looking for any reason to get a Brooks & Dunn reference on Odds Shark, and I don't even enjoy country music. This will all make sense, though, once you realize that sophomore guard Scoot (get it?) Henderson still hasn't been able to get into a rhythm offensively since turning pro, and his percentages continue to fall off a cliff when they were already hanging on by a thread.
There was a real palpable hype surrounding him when Henderson got selected third overall by the Portland Trail Blazers, and maybe he'll live up to it one day. His shooting will need a complete overhaul, though, and perhaps then will Rip City see a return on its investment.
Sacramento Kings: A fresh voice
The Sacramento Kings were 17-11 through 28 outings in 2023-24, and are a touch behind that pace this season at 13-15, placing the team in the bottom-third of the West. Maybe it's too early to sound the alarm, but the Kings' top-seven offense and top-15 defense would rightfully make you assume that the team isn't half bad.
It would be best to wait until after the holidays to relieve someone of their duties, but it's looking more and more like head coach Mike Brown won't make it until April if Sacramento hopes to sneak into the playoffs. Some of the offensive strategies aren't clicking, and the defensive ones don't exist at all.
San Antonio Spurs: A secondary star
Available superstars and All-Star talents don't grow on trees, and even some of the heavy hitters being tossed around in rumors in swaps haven't been linked to the San Antonio Spurs. That's a shame, really, because the Spurs have accumulated a ton of young and moveable pieces if they were ever ready to pull the trigger, but it may be another year before they can.
This is Christmas, though, when holiday magic can make anything possible. The goal is to maximize Victor Wembanyama's years sooner rather than later, and while building a young base around him feels like the correct path to take, it's hard to say how patient the 7-foot-4 unicorn Frenchman will remain over time.
Toronto Raptors: A BBQ (Barnes, Barrett, and Quickley)
The future blueprint of the Toronto Raptors revolves around the three-headed monster of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. It's a gargantuan shame that we really haven't seen that trio in action because of injuries, as they played 436 total minutes together in 2023-24 but not a single second so far this year.
The "BBQ" moniker is one of the more clever ones ever associated with a Big Three, helped in large part by the makeup of their last names. Invite the big guy in the red suit over for some charcoal goodness if that's what it takes for fans north of the border to see them play.
Utah Jazz: A decent phone plan
The phones in the Utah Jazz's front office will be lighting up until the Feb. 6 trade deadline, with contenders looking to pry some of their pieces away from them on the cheap since it appears Utah is more than willing to bottom out as much as possible.
Whether it's big man Walker Kessler, guard Collin Sexton, or an expiring contract like Patty Mills, the league's 29 other teams likely covet the Jazz's players more than they do. Phone plan's aren't so economical these days, so don't rack up a massive bill.
Washington Wizards: Anything. Literally Anything.
What do you gift a team that has nothing and needs everything? Well, anything. The Washington Wizards Christmas list needs to be ten miles long, frankly.
Being satisfied with escaping the draft with three competent pieces in Alexandre Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George isn't enough. The nation's capital hasn't seen the playoffs since 2018, and somehow, the Wizards could possibly fall short of topping last year's franchise-worst 15-68 record. They just can't afford to be greedy, otherwise Santa will skip visiting Capital One Arena entirely.
