One reason to be pumped about each 2022-23 NBA non-playoff team

For the 14 of 30 NBA teams that missed the playoffs last season, we offer a reason to be hopeful for  2023-24. (Teams are listed in alphabetical order.)

Charlotte Hornets | ReMember LaMelo: The public perception of LaMelo Ball's career and what he's capable of have skewed much too far toward the negative. Yes, some of Ball's game is questionable. He's never shot over 54% at the rim and has never fully bought in on defense. Let's look at the bright side, though: Ball is a 6-foot-7, 22-year-old passing genius with unlimited range. Plus, he's already made an All-Star Game appearance.

Chicago Bulls | In P-Will we trust: We might be on the cusp of a Patrick Williams renaissance. He shot 41.5% from deep last season, has developed into a near-elite defender who can play multiple positions and still occasionally shows flashes of creation. If Chicago hits the reset button, Williams will be in line for a much bigger role.

Dallas Mavericks | Filled out: The Mavericks' strategy down the stretch last season was essentially "Luka, Kyrie, go figure it out." That didn't work. However, after picking up Grant Williams, Derrick Jones Jr. and Richaun Holmes and drafting defensive big Dereck Lively and super-utility man Olivier-Maxence Prosper, the Dallas roster looks far more complete. Are the Mavs a sneaky contender in the West?

Detroit Pistons | Au-star is born: There's plenty to be excited about in the Motor City, and a player who has yet to play a regular-season game might be at the top of that list. Ausar Thompson would very well have been in the No. 1 pick discussion most years. His combo of size (6-foot-6 and 218 pounds), speed, intelligence, aggression, defensive instincts and vision is rare in a prospect. His fit with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey might look a little wonky at first, but Thompson's path to stardom is pretty clear.

Houston Rockets | New faces: Houston's quick rebuild doesn't quite reach "Process" levels like we saw in Philadelphia last decade, but the Rockets should go from bottom-dweller to competitive pretty quickly thanks to the additions of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and hyper-talented rookie Amen Thompson. At the very least, Rockets fans can look forward to more wins than last season's 22.

Indiana Pacers | Haliburton & Co.: Indiana has its point guard position locked down for the next decade. Tyrese Haliburton won't just be a "big stats on a bad team" guy, either. The additions of Bruce Brown (two-year, $45 million contact) and Jarace Walker (eighth pick in 2023 NBA Draft) are going to pay dividends, too.

New Orleans Pelicans | The pieces are there: Not only does New Orleans have All-Star talent at the top of its roster in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. It also has a more-than-adequate bench with Dyson Daniels and Jose Alvarado playing irritant roles while Trey Murphy bombs threes (40% career percentage from deep).

Orlando Magic | A BIG future: Orlando's future rests on the big shoulders of Paolo Banchero (6-foot-10) and Franz Wagner (also 6-foot-10). Banchero averaged 20 points as a rookie, which is rare even in the era of massive stat lines. Wagner might not be a household name, but if he continues the steady growth he's shown in two seasons, that will change quickly. Both players have All-Star appearances coming soon.

Oklahoma City Thunder | A cornerstone duo: By himself, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is worth getting excited about. The 25-year-old was dazzling last season, posting 31.4 points per game with elite efficiency. That was propelled by his propensity to get to the free-throw line (10.9 attempts per game) and then make the shots there (90.5%). SGA, however, also has a potential long-term running mate in Chet Holmgren, last year's No. 2 overall pick who missed 2022-23 with a broken right foot. Holmgren isn't Victor Wembanyama, but he shares some of the same unicorn-like traits. 

Portland Trail Blazers | Brighter days ahead: When a team deals its franchise player, as Portland did this offseason with Damian Lillard, the roster often looks pretty bleak, and the team must rebuild from the ground up. That's not the case in Portland. The additions of Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams, Scoot Henderson and the promise of second-year shooter Shaedon Sharpe could lead to a better record than last season (33-49).

San Antonio Spurs | Beyond the Unicorn: Victor Wembanyama is the big story, but Wemby isn't joining a roster bereft of talent. Devin Vassell just got a $135 million contract that might end up looking like a steal, Keldon Johnson is still an impressive scorer and Tre Jones is a perfect distribution-first point guard. Even with Wemby, San Antonio is a few years from really making noise, but the core is in place.

Toronto Raptors | The Scottie show: The time is now for Scottie Barnes to show that his traits — size (6-foot-8 and 225 pounds), passing feel, ball-handling ability and defensive upside — can be more practical than hypothetical. Barnes didn't make the leap between year one and year two that many folks were expecting, but with Fred VanVleet gone, Barnes has a huge opportunity to become the franchise cornerstone.

Utah Jazz | The kids will be all right: This year's NBA Draft had more than a few consolation prizes for the teams that didn't win the Wemby sweepstakes. The Jazz secured two of those prizes. Keyonte George, the 6-foot-4 guard from Baylor, has elite shooting upside even if his raw numbers at BU betrayed him a bit in that regard (33.8% from deep). Taylor Hendricks, meanwhile, brings even more interior defense to a team that has one of the best young defensive prospects in the league, Walker Kessler (2.3 blocks per game as a rookie). Hendricks + Kessler = not a lot of fun for driving opponents.

Washington Wizards | A fresh start: Washington won't likely be contending for a title — or even for a playoff berth — this season, but that's because this season isn't the Wizards' end goal. Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis are gone. Kyle Kuzma is still in D.C., and he now fully takes the reins alongside Jordan Poole, who was acquired from Golden State. It might not be pretty for a bit, but Washington appears to have a direction at last.