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5 Contending NBA Teams With The Narrowest Window To Win A Title

By Fran Leiva,

8 days ago

The NBA can be unforgiving, especially when time is working against you. Several of the league's top contenders are facing the reality that their window to win a title is closing fast. LeBron James is turning 39 this season, and while he's still performing at an elite level, the Los Angeles Lakers know they don’t have much longer with him.

The Golden State Warriors are in a similar spot with a 36-year-old Steph Curry, as the core that won multiple championships is aging without Klay Thompson anymore. Meanwhile, teams like the Clippers, who just lost Paul George to the 76ers , and the Miami Heat, with Jimmy Butler turning 35 soon, are also feeling the pressure. Here's a look at five teams with the narrowest window to win a championship before it’s too late.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers head into the 2024-25 season with their championship window rapidly closing. LeBron James, who turns 39 this year, remains the team’s cornerstone after re-signing, but Father Time is catching up. Alongside Anthony Davis, LeBron still gives the Lakers a fighting chance, but the team failed to make any blockbuster moves this offseason to secure a reliable third star . While they were rumored to be interested in players like Jerami Grant, no major trades materialized.

Instead, the Lakers focused on keeping their core intact by re-signing key contributors like Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura last year, as D’Angelo Russell came back on his player option this offseason. These moves give the team continuity, but they don't address the glaring need for a third option behind LeBron and AD. The lack of a big-name addition means the Lakers will once again rely heavily on their two stars, both of whom have struggled with injuries in recent seasons.

With limited cap space and the team's salary close to the second tax apron, the Lakers couldn’t land a major free agent either. Instead, they added depth with minimum-contract signings like Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish since 2023, who provide some insurance but aren’t game-changers. While these additions bolster the roster, they don’t move the needle significantly in terms of championship contention.

The Lakers’ biggest challenge remains the health of their stars. Anthony Davis, despite playing a career-high 76 games last season, has been injury-prone throughout his career. LeBron, while still defying his age, can't carry the same load he once did. Without a third star to take some pressure off them, the Lakers’ success hinges on their ability to stay on the court. This is a gamble the team has been forced to take due to the lack of other options.

Adding to their difficulties is the ever-tough Western Conference. Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, and Dallas Mavericks have only gotten stronger, making the road to the Finals even more challenging. The Lakers are certainly a playoff team, but without that extra firepower, it’s hard to see them getting past the heavyweights of the West. A potential deep run would require near-perfect health from LeBron and Davis.

In short, the Lakers are entering this season with a shrinking window to win another title. LeBron’s time at the top is running out, and without the addition of a third star, the Lakers will need everything to break their way if they want to contend for a championship. Their current roster is solid but far from bulletproof, leaving fans wondering if this could be their last real shot before LeBron’s illustrious career winds down.

2. Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns still have massive expectations but a very narrow window to capitalize. Their "Big 3" of Kevin Durant , Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal was supposed to dominate the league after the big trade for Beal last year. Yet, their first season together was far from ideal, as the trio struggled with injuries, only appearing in 41 of 82 regular-season games, and were ultimately swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Amid these setbacks, the Suns have doubled down on their stars. General Manager James Jones and team owner Mat Ishbia made it clear this offseason that they believe in the trio and won’t be breaking them up anytime soon. Instead, the Suns shifted focus towards tweaking the roster around the Big 3, trusting in Jusuf Nurkic to keep his starting center spot since trading Deandre Ayton last year. They also extended role players like Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to long-term deals, to provide shooting and defense for the long run.

Still, the clock is ticking for this squad. Kevin Durant, who turns 36 this season, always plays at a high level, but his injury history is a real concern. Bradley Beal, 31, is also on a massive contract with a no-trade clause, meaning the Suns are heavily invested in this core. With a salary cap situation that has them way over the second tax apron, the Suns are limited in making any major moves in free agency or via trade. This is their squad, and they’ll need to make it work.

Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia has already hinted that this current construction of the team has about two years left before major changes are forced due to salary cap constraints. By 2026, Durant will likely be a free agent, and Beal will be in the final year of his deal, likely leading to a reset if they haven't captured a title by then. It's a make-or-break period for the franchise.

The problem isn't just time but fit. While Booker, Durant, and Beal are elite scorers, none of them are natural playmakers, which was a glaring issue during their playoff exit. They lacked a true point guard to run the offense, leading to turnovers and disjointed play under pressure. This offseason they added a reliable guard in Tyus Jones, but if he doesn’t become the solution, their championship hopes might fall short yet again.

With their stars aging and the Western Conference getting tougher, the Suns need to maximize this window while they still have the firepower to compete at the highest level. It's all-in for Phoenix, but the clock is ticking, and they can’t afford another misstep.

3. Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are entering the 2024-25 season with a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of their core, particularly Jimmy Butler . After numerous rumors of potential trades, the Heat didn’t make any major moves this offseason, including holding on to Tyler Herro, who was constantly mentioned in trade talks. While Herro remains a solid contributor, averaging 20.8 points per game last season, the Heat were unable to pull off a deal that would land them the superstar they’ve been chasing.

Butler, who has led the Heat to two NBA Finals during his tenure, has had a bit of a rocky offseason with the franchise. There have been whispers of tension between Butler and the front office, as they lost in the first round and failed to bring in the reinforcements he had hoped for. Butler, who will be 35 this season, has a player option for the 2025-26 season, and if things don’t improve, he could opt out and test free agency next summer.

This situation puts a lot of pressure on the Heat to perform this season. If they don’t make a deep playoff run or show signs of improvement, they could be facing a tough decision at the trade deadline regarding Butler’s future. While the Heat still have Bam Adebayo and a solid core of young players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, losing Butler without getting anything in return would be a significant blow.

The Heat’s quiet offseason also saw them miss out on big free-agent signings. They let several veterans go and didn’t bring in any high-impact players to bolster their bench. This lack of movement raises concerns about their depth, especially given Butler’s and Herro’s injury histories. The Heat will need to rely heavily on internal development and hope their current roster can stay healthy.

Another major question is whether Herro can elevate his game and become a more consistent playoff performer. He missed much of last year’s regular season due to injury, and while his numbers are solid, he’ll need to prove he can be a reliable option in the playoffs if the Heat want to make another Finals run.

In short, the Heat’s 2024-25 campaign feels like a make-or-break season for this core, particularly Butler. If they don’t live up to expectations, Butler could be on his way out, and the team may be forced to pivot toward building around Bam and the younger players. Either way, this season will be pivotal in shaping the future direction of the franchise.

4. Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a tough reality heading into the 2024-25 season. After the departure of Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, the Clippers are left with a retooled but still uncertain roster. George, who had been one of the franchise’s key players since joining in 2019, left after failing to secure the contract extension he wanted. While the team made him a strong offer, it wasn’t enough to keep him in Los Angeles. The Clippers are now relying on Kawhi Leonard and James Harden to lead them, but both players come with significant concerns.

Leonard’s health has been a constant question mark throughout his time with the Clippers. He’s struggled with staying on the court, and his availability will be crucial if the team hopes to compete for a championship. Harden, on the other hand, is no longer the dominant scorer he once was. His performances have declined, and the Clippers will need him to find some of his old form to give them a chance in the highly competitive Western Conference.

Despite these challenges, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer remains optimistic. He believes the team still has enough talent to be competitive, especially with Leonard and Harden leading the way. Ballmer is banking on the supporting cast around them, which includes players like Nicolas Batum, Terance Mann, and newly signed Derrick Jones Jr. However, depth and consistency will be major concerns, especially with the team’s lack of draft assets and financial flexibility.

The Clippers’ title window is narrowing quickly. Both Leonard and Harden are aging stars, and the team is running out of time to make a deep playoff run. They are also severely limited in terms of future draft picks, making it difficult to trade for the necessary pieces to improve their roster. Their hard cap due to the new collective bargaining agreement further restricts their ability to add significant talent.

What makes the situation even more urgent is the looming free agency of both Harden and Leonard. If the Clippers fail to contend this season, it’s very possible that they could lose both players in the 2026 and 2027 free agency, forcing them into a rebuild. Ballmer’s willingness to spend has kept the team competitive, but even he acknowledges that the penalties for exceeding the luxury tax are making it harder to build a contender.

With their roster as it stands, the Clippers are in a precarious position. They need everything to go right this season—health, chemistry, and perhaps a little bit of luck. If they can’t capitalize on this window, their chances of winning a title in the Kawhi-Harden era might be gone for good.

5. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are going into the season with a fresher look after their first campaign without James Harden, traded to the Clippers in October of 2023-24. While the trade was a major shakeup, it allowed the Sixers to move forward and fully commit to Tyrese Maxey, who has blossomed into a star. Maxey’s career year led to him signing a massive extension this offseason , cementing him as a core piece for the future alongside Joel Embiid.

With Harden gone last year and Maxey now the clear second option, the 76ers also made a splash by signing Paul George to a four-year, $212 million deal this offseason. Adding George gives them a dynamic Big Three with Embiid, but time isn’t on their side. Embiid’s injury history and George being 34 create urgency for the Sixers to capitalize on this championship window. They’ve failed to advance deep into the playoffs every year of The Process, and with these stars aging, the pressure to win is higher than ever since they’ve never stepped in a Conference Finals series yet.

Maxey’s extension signals the franchise’s long-term commitment to building around him and Embiid, but it’s clear the team is in win-now mode. Maxey’s breakout performance last season, where he averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists, proved he’s capable of being a true running mate for Embiid. His development has been one of the team’s biggest positives and solidifies him as a key part of the Sixers' present and future.

While the Sixers now have the star power in George, Maxey, and Embiid, depth remains a concern. They cleared some cap space by moving on from Tobias Harris, but many of the offseason acquisitions are short-term fixes, like Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, or Kyle Lowry. The team could still be exploring options to solidify their bench, knowing that they can’t afford to fall short in the playoffs again.

For Joel Embiid, staying healthy will be key. After winning the MVP in 2023, his injuries hampered the Sixers’ postseason success last year, and the clock is ticking for the franchise to build a title contender around him. There are even whispers that Embiid could explore his options if the Sixers fail to make significant strides this season, adding even more pressure to win now.

The 76ers are all-in on their current core, and with Maxey’s extension, the pieces are in place for a serious run. But with Embiid’s durability in question and George not getting any younger, the Sixers know that their window for a championship is narrow. This season will be crucial in determining whether they can finally break through or face tough decisions in the near future.