Legacy matters in the playoffs. Earned and lost funds might be the subject. They can have to do with jobs, both preserved and lost.
The most crucial part of the year, the postseason, begins in just under a month.
Take a look at this list of players that could benefit or suffer the most from this postseason.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum
Tatum will become the first NBA player to earn a $300 million contract when he signs his supermax with the Celtics this summer, breaking teammate Jaylen Brown’s current record of $288 million. The way these playoffs play out for Tatum will determine how he lives with that contract linked to his name, but he has earned the prestige and the money. Tatum had a disappointing two seasons, despite playing through some minor injuries.
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
What’s on the line: Jokic has nothing to prove but he has more to win and is on the verge of joining the all-time greats. He is the favorite to win his third MVP. If he’s able to back up last season’s dominant playoff showing with another, it’s downright historic. Players with three MVPs and two Finals MVPs: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (the Finals MVP didn’t start until 1969, but Bill Russell certainly would be another name on this list otherwise). Jokic can join that unimpeachable group this season.
James Harden, New Orleans Pelicans
Williamson’s post season debut is at stake because he has never played in one before. He and his team utterly bombed against the Los Angeles Lakers in the most important game of his career thus far—the NBA in-season tournament semifinals in December. His effect as a scorer and facilitator, as well as his enhanced fitness, have garnered him a lot of accolades. However, he has never had a better chance to change the league’s perception of him and restart his career than this post season.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid
The stakes are high since Embiid might have earned MVP for the second year in a row if he hadn’t had knee surgery. He plans to make a full recovery in time for the playoffs. However, he has struggled to perform in the playoffs due to injuries and a lack of clutch performance. He battled a knee injury all season long last year, but his contributions were crucial as the Sixers just missed out on a conference finals trip. Just like before, he was unable to call upon them. His career is marred by his disappointing 27-26 playoff record.
The Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler
The stakes are high: Playoff Jimmy exists, despite his protests. The Heat have been able to put their troublesome winters involving Butler’s injuries and his sporadic fights with coaches and teammates behind them thanks to these fantastic springs. An extension could be granted to Butler this summer if he is 34 years old. The Heat’s readiness to commit again is uncertain, as he has two years (the second being a player option) and $100 million remaining on his agreement. However, Butler has another opportunity to establish himself as a vital player, particularly if he spearheads another Heat playoff run.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The stakes are high: SGA will be named to the All-NBA first team for the second year in a row, which will guarantee a future supermax offer from OKC and a strong showing in MVP voting. However, he has never won a series and hasn’t participated in the playoffs since making consecutive trips with the Thunder and Clippers in 2019 and 2020. Gilgeous-Alexander has to have a monster postseason performance if he wants to be seriously considered one of the top players in the league and maybe even pave the way for an MVP breakthrough in the road.
The Boston Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis
What’s at stake: Porzingis has been sensational this season, showcasing both his offensive prowess and his exceptional defensive play. Despite having inked a $60 million agreement with the Bruins, his reputation and worth have taken a hit due to his career’s string of disappointments and wasted opportunities. He has the opportunity to change his career trajectory with a robust and healthy postseason.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley
What’s at stake: A string of ailments has delayed Mobley’s third season, which was supposed to serve as a springboard. As always, when he’s been healthy, he’s been a monster defensively. But the anticipated offensive growth has not materialized. After last year’s lackluster playoff performance, he needs a strong playoffs to earn an extension by July 1. The Cavaliers are debating whether to grant Mobley the maximum contract he seemed to have locked down.
Phoenix Suns’ Bradley Beal…
At stake: Last summer, Beal used his no-trade clause to secure a deal with the Suns, a move that was widely anticipated to produce a superteam. Unfortunately, injury and inconsistent play have plagued Beal’s season once again. He has been selected for one All-Star squad in the previous five years. His last playoff victory was in 2017. The Suns, who are stocked with talent, are battling for survival. Of course, there are other reasons for all that failure, but it has been the distinguishing feature of his career up until this point. The Suns’ and Beal’s season will be defined by the playoffs.
The Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant
A two-time Finals MVP, two-time champion, regular-season MVP, one of the all-time greats in NBA scoring, and a legendary figure in USA basketball’s Olympic history—that is what’s at stake here. Last season, he not only fought his way to the Suns, but he also helped bring Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on board. Complex and intricate is the task of evaluating Durant’s career; his talent and lack of team success after leaving Golden State make for a difficult whole. It would mean the world to him if he won again.
Warriors forward Giannis Antetokounmpo
The stakes are high because the Bucks, who had a 58-win season the year before but lost in the first round due to Giannis injury, took some bold risks. The team traded championship guard Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard and fired coach Mike Budenholzer, bringing in first-year coach Adrian Griffin in the middle of the season. Griffin was then replaced by Doc Rivers. This was done in part by Milwaukee in an effort to entice Antetokounmpo, who changed his mind and agreed to a three-year agreement following the developments. Antetokounmpo wants to win another championship, but he has to have a good year to justify taking such big chances.
Milwaukee Bucks-Damian Lillard
Whatever happens, Lillard wanted to join a team that could challenge for the championship immediately when he requested a trade out of Portland last summer. Milwaukee wasn’t his top pick, but it was perfect for what he needed. Lillard, known for his clutch performance in the playoffs, will confront the greatest expectations of his 12-year career against a Bucks team that is now built to compete.
Magic of Orlando’s Paolo Banchero
At stake: Banchero has had a fantastic start to his career, earning Rookie of the Year and earning a spot on the All-Star squad in just his second year of professional baseball. Despite only making the playoffs twice in the previous 12 seasons and failing to win a playoff series since the acquisition of Dwight Howard in 2011, Orlando has battled its way into a position where it may potentially have home court advantage for the first round. A strong showing by Banchero in his debut postseason could pave the way for future success for the Magic.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Everything is at stake: A change was necessary after Dallas’ implosion last season. In the offseason, they controversially kept their top-10 protected draft pick to get center Dereck Lively II, invested heavily in Kyrie Irving, and then mortgaged their future to acquire P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, two crucial role players. All in an effort to bolster Doncic’s case and demonstrate that the conference finals appearance in 2022 was not an anomaly. With a genuine superstar performance in the playoffs, Doncic must pull it off, but he must also control his emotions. Among league players, Doncic has racked up the most technical fouls (8).
Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George
At stake: George’s sixth All-NBA team appearance might be his reward for a healthy and productive season. Even though George had a fantastic 14-year career, he has never reached the Finals and the Clippers have had very little playoff success during his time there. In addition to being eligible to become a free agent, he and the Clippers have been in contract negotiations for months without success. As they did before signing Kawhi Leonard to a three-year extension—in which he took a small salary cut—the Clippers are likely maintaining their stance. If George can finally raise the Clippers in the playoffs, the entire offseason can be reframed.
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
The stakes are high since Leonard has a $152 million contract, two Finals MVP awards, and two NBA titles to his name. He will get into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. The Clippers have built practically their whole franchise around him, and he has only won one postseason series since joining the team. Because of ailments, his last five years have been utterly disappointing. He and his franchise still have a lot of untapped potential.round of 16.
Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden
Everything is at stake since Harden isn’t and hasn’t been his team’s top performer for quite some time. The crux of his argument for a massive new deal with the Clippers this summer is that despite his dismal playoff record, he can still have an impact at the age of 34. During last year’s discussions, the 76ers’ disbelief in his ability to be that player became apparent. In light of Harden’s spring success, the Clippers’ approach to offseason negotiations is likely to be different.
Timberwolves center Anthony Edwards
What’s at stake: Edwards has, for the time being at least, supplanted Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies in the “new face of the league” debate that began earlier this season. Thanks to Edwards, the Wolves have their finest squad in 20 years, matching Kevin Garnett’s performance level. To keep this momentum going, he needs to have a solid postseason performance to back it all up.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns
What’s at stake: Towns’ recovery from a torn meniscus is uncertain, and he is still healing. The Wolves’ salary is about to explode, the team is subject to the largest luxury tax in franchise history, and a new ownership group has no spending record. It is uncertain if the Wolves can afford to retain Towns, despite his prioritization of being a team player and supporting the emergence of budding star Edwards. The playoffs have not historically been Towns’ strong suit, so this spring will be a nail-biter.
Philadelphia 76ers teammate Tobias Harris.
What’s at stake: Harris has been a scapegoat this season, hiding behind his impressive statistics (17.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 48.6% shooting), especially after Embiid’s knee injury (worst 28.9% on 3-pointers and 15.9 ppg). The 76ers are considering using their cap space to sign a star player, therefore Harris and the franchise may part ways this summer. Even if Embiid ends up somewhere else, the 31-year-old may still benefit greatly from a solid postseason run if he can hit a few shots with the expectation that he returns.
