13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts – Dame’s Return and 10 NBA Teams Still Chasing Their First Title—and Who’s Next in Line

Make sure to listen and add the 13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts podcast to your list! This week Steve shares his thoughts on Damian Lillard‘s surprise return to Portland and the NBA teams still chasing a ring ranked in order of winning one!.

13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts

• It’s really heartening to see Damian Lillard return to the Portland Trail Blazers after asking to be traded from Portland a few years ago. I know he is out for the upcoming season and he will make a great deal of money, but it’s nice to see a great player pretty much give up a shot at a title just to finish his career where he started. Of course, going back to the area where his kids live is probably the main reason he went back. As a fan, I want to believe that going back to where he started was also a reason.

13 Rules: NBA Teams Still Chasing

This week we will look at the ten NBA franchises that have not won an NBA title in their history and rank them on who has the best chance to win one. To do this we look at their present team draft capital and management including ownership.

1. Orlando Magic– The Magic have the three young stars, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane, to win
   with. They will only get better over the next few years and they have a good supporting cast. The only question is ownership willing to pay the tax to keep this team together.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves– The Wolves have new ownership that appears to be willing to spend. They have a rising
   star in Anthony Edwards and a good cast around him. They also have a stable management team, coach and GM, They need one more good player to get them over the top is management and ownership willing to do what’s needed to get there.
3. Los Angeles Clippers– An owner, Steve Ballmer, willing to spend and a solid management team makes them always a
   threat to win it.
4. Phoenix Suns– An owner willing to spend is their biggest asset. They have a new management team so who knows
   about them. The question is does the owner see his past errors and work to build a solid organization,
5. Indiana Pacers– A great situation that almost won it this year. The team has talent. A great coach and good GM. The
   big question is are they willing to go into the tax and pay their players or are they just happy to be in the conversation. Ownership has never paid the tax.
6. Brooklyn Nets-I could write all day about their situation. They have an owner willing to spend however they also
   have a GM that has made some interesting choices. How many times is he going to be allowed to overhaul the team before ownership realizes he may be the problem. Looking on the bright side maybe this time he gets it right.
7. Utah Jazz-I thought Danny Ainge did a good job building the Celtics but with the Jazz I don’t think so. Since Ainge
   got there in December of 2021 he traded his two best players and the Jazz haven’t come close to contention having only one year above five hundred in his tenure.
8. Memphis Grizzlies-Trading Desmond Bane so they could pay Jaren Jackson does not say much about ownership’s
   desire to win no matter the cost. If ownership is saving money titles are not in their future.
9. Charlotte Hornets– New ownership and management give this franchise hope but it will take a while to dig out of the
   mess Michael Jordan‘s ownership left.
10. New Orleans Pelicans-They are the team that fit the motto, when something could go wrong it does. Every time they
    look to be close a problem pops up. The latest their trade for Derik Queen.