With the NBA Free Agency’s signature slowing down and the Summer League raised the steam, the League dropped the groups for the third annual NBA Cup this year, and the distribution of teams this year is very diverse.
Each conference has a “group of death” and a weak group, so let’s break these groups long earlier at the beginning of the year.
Eastern Conference
Group B: Boston, Detroit, Orlando, Brooklyn and Philadelphia
East is less depth than West, but Group B has four teams that can easily make it in bracket play.
Boston would be without his star player, Jason Tatam, and Crystaps will try to do his roster together with Porzis and Junior Holiday’s departure. This may be a conflict for Celtics in the early days of the season, but I love what Majulla can make as a coach, and I think the core of Annaprane Simmons, Deric White and Jelane Brown is still one, if not, if not, the best core in the east.
Detroit and Orlando are just behind Boston, but in addition to another year of development and sharp-shooting guard Desmond Ban, both these teams can be prepared for breakout years. If Cad Cunningham can be the best player in this group, I can easily see the piston theft group B.
Filling the group is Sixers and nets.
Is Joel Ambid going to be healthy?
Will Tyrese Maxey stay up to his star capacity?
Will VJ Edgecombe be missing piece for this 76ers core?
There are many questions from this squad.
And the traps are also there…
Winner: Detroit piston
Sleeper: Philadelphia 76ers
Group A: Cleveland, Indiana, Atlanta, Toronto and Washington
May 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavalers Guard Darius Garland (10) drives for a basket against Indiana pacers, which carries forward Aaron Nemith (23) during the first quarter of the second round game five for the 2025 NBA playoffs in Rocket Arena. Compulsory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imgon images Pacers Eastern Conference is the champion, but how will they rent their team without heart and soul? Tyrese Haliburton will recall the entire 2025-26 season, and I can’t see them copying their magic from last season. Caves would be preferred to this group, as they return to most of their core that won just 60-Plus regular-season games.
Cleveland may be a favorite, but Atlanta always finds her number. I love Porzis and Nikkil Alexander-Wocker’s offsen addition. After connecting Desmond Ban, Orlando is attracting all the media attention, but in addition to the young core of TRAI Young, Jalen Johnson and Zachachri Researchers, this team makes this team my favorite dark horses in the past.
Washington is very young and unexpected to do much in the NBA Cup, and I am not really sure that Toronto is going in the right direction, so I will probably count them out of dispute in 2025.
Winner: Cleavland cavelers
Sleeper: Atlanta Hawks
Group C: Milwauki, New York, Chicago, Miami and Charlotte
28 February, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; The New York Nix Center Carl-Antony Town (32) reacts during the second quarter against Memphis Grizzle’s at Fedexforam. Compulsory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagon Picture This group smells like this group.
New York is still a favorite here. Nauge is returning to most of its unit which was only in the final of the Eastern Conference and at the same time some people were also made for some people.
Miles was a good pickup for Turner Box, and Gianis Antatoconmpo is still the most prominent player in the league, but I really do not think they can match most teams that have any kind of shelling.
Chicago, Miami and Charlotte. Pu. Only three bad teams.
Winner: new York Knicks
Sleeper: Milwouki box
Western conference
Group C: Houston, Denver, Golden State, Portland and San Antonio
6 December, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets carried forward the Jabri Smith Junior (10) to protect Fred Wanwett (5) during the Oklahoma City Thunder Timeout in the second quarter at the Toyota Center. Compulsory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagon Picture Unlike Group C in the east, this fivesom is amazing.
If you told me that all these teams made a playoffs next year, I would not really be surprised. Houston was already two -wise in the West last year, and he added a top -10 player to the NBA history at Kevin Duvent. This is not very bad.
Denver decided that he still wanted to try and compete when he has the best player in NBA to take Michael Porter Junior for Came Johnson-one of the tricks that feels like a no-starrer for Denver. Just a great step that easily improves the floor of this team.
Stephen Curry. Jimmy Butler. Essentially in a one-game chain, they are two friends you don’t want to see.
Then the back end of this group is still so deep. Portland added a great experienced to one of the top rescue in the second half of the year by adding JRU Holiday. The spurs already had Victor Vambanyama and also added the second overall pick, Dylan Harper. I am not sure if the spurs are still good, but they have to watch the TV once again.
Winner: Houston Rockets
Sleeper: Portland Trail Blazers
Group A: Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Sacramento, Phoenix, Utah
March 9, 2025; Miniapolis, Minnesota, USA; The Minnesota Timbervols Guard Anthony Edwards (5) held his hand by celebrating a three -point shot against San Antonio Sprows in the first half at the Target Center. Okay, there is nothing in the half of this group. This can easily be the three worst teams in the West. However, a Western Conference Final Remach between Oklahoma City and Minnesota is actually looking for NBA fans. I think anyone who wins comes out of this group.
In addition, since the bottom half of this group is at least depth, I think OKC and Minnesota may be able to achieve sufficient point difference to win the wild card in the loser wild.
Sacramento and Phoenix can be very difficult to see this season, but I am conspiring by Utah. Danny Ang is taking a lot of strange risks, and I do not love his trades of John Colins and Colin Sexton. Nevertheless, I think this team can surprise people a little this year.
Winner: Minnesota timbervols
Sleeper: Utah jazz
Group B: L. Lake, La Clippers, Memphis, Dallas, New Orleans
February 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; During the second quarter at the Delta Center, Los Angeles -Luc’s Guard Luka Donic (77) shot at YouTa Jazz Forward Lawry Markn (23). Compulsory Credit: Chris Nicole-Imgan Picture I don’t think this will be Lebron’s final season, but I am not sure that they have more than two to three sessions left in the tank. Despite being 40 years old, I like him and Luka Donic very much in Group B. I think they match very well with this entire group.
Healthy Kavi in clippers can be the first full season of Leonard, and it is dangerous. They are the top threats easily, but I think they are a matchup that can exploit the lax – a very old team that will not be able to run them out of the gym.
Memphis seems to be that it wants to immerse its toes in the idea of a reconstruction. Then we go to Dallas, who made their way into the Cooper Flag. Will they have healthy team companions for the NBA Cup? I have no idea.
I know that I have just made fun of Maverix for their injuries, so it can be hypocritical, but I think Pelican is the largest sleeper team in NBA. In fact healthy Pelican team can win 50 games. Seon Williamson is finally coming into shape, and when he is actually played, he has been the top -10 player in the league. They also have a bunch of fun pieces around Zion. Do not sleep on New Orleans.
Winner: Los Angeles Lakers
Sleeper: New Orleans Pelican
