After a few days of free agency and offseason trades, the dust has somewhat settled at least for now. We might get some big moves later in the offseason, but for now, it seems like teams are mostly set. With that in mind, some of these NBA players will be under immense pressure to deliver instantly. Even though they are the newcomers, they might be called upon to help teams win.
Fresh Starts, High Pressure: Five NBA Players Who Must Win Now
When we look at some of the players who switched teams, some of them will have an impact on the future of the brightest stars in the league. Without further ado, here are five NBA players under pressure to win and win quickly.
Deandre Ayton
Let’s put this simply and blatantly. Deandre Ayton might very well decide the fate of LeBron James in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey. The Lakers have used almost all of their assets this summer to bolster their rotation. Ayton was their pick for center, and now the former No.1 overall pick has to show he can be part of a winning team. Let’s not forget that he was a large reason why the Phoenix Suns made it to the 2021 NBA Finals.
If Ayton doesn’t fit and the Lakers are struggling, LeBron might as well ask out. Los Angeles has a young superstar to build upon in Luka Doncic. They can afford to lose James and retool around their young perennial All-Star.
Kristaps Porzingis
Before joining the Boston Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis had a reputation of someone who was constantly hurt. Winning a championship at least partly erases that. Will he be a team player on the Atlanta Hawks? After canvassing the Eastern Conference, it seemed like the Hawks went all-in this season with their core. But depending on how Porzingis performs, they might call it quits at the end of the season and prioritize their young players.
Cam Johnson
For two postseasons, Denver Nuggets fans complained that Nikola Jokic needs more help. They talked about how Michael Porter Jr. has more bad games than good ones in the playoffs. Now, Cam Johnson comes in and has to replace MPJ. Johnson has some playoff experience with the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets. The last time he was in the playoffs, he averaged 18.5 points on 42.9% shooting from three-point range for the Nets. Yet the team was swept in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. With Johnson and other signings, the Nuggets have had a good offseason. But Johnson is their big addition that can improve their title chances.
Myles Turner
Myles Turner will be partly responsible for whether one of the top three players in the league asks for a trade or remains in Milwaukee. That is the reality of the situation. The Milwaukee Bucks went all-in by waiving Damian Lillard and signing Turner. This year, the Eastern Conference will be significantly weaker, giving them a proper chance to compete. But if they cannot do it in a weaker conference, how can they hope to compete after next season, when the Boston Celtics will have Jayson Tatum back and healthy? And will Giannis Antetokounmpo finally asks out?
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant has won two playoff series since leaving the Golden State Warriors. He was part of the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns, both teams with multiple All-Stars alongside him. Now, he is part of a different team. The Houston Rockets are a young, deep, and versatile team that needs only a scorer and a closer. Durant is the perfect fit for this young Rockets team to make the jump to contender. If KD cannot carry them to at least the Western Conference Finals, his reputation may suffer.
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