What Is Every Contender’s Biggest Regret? Week 19 Power Rankings
Regret. A feeling that everyone (unfortunately) feels at one point or another. Can the same be said about all 30 teams? Let’s find out!
regret/rəˈɡret
- feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity).
Everybody has felt regret at one point or another. It could be something as consequential as school or what you had for lunch that day; regret is unavoidable. The same goes for NBA teams.
Today, on top of ranking the 10 best teams, I’ll list their biggest regret. Here goes nothing.
(1) Phoenix Suns: Financial Decisions
Record: (51-13)
Offensive Rating: 113.8 (3rd)
Defensive Rating: 106.1 (3rd)
Net Rating: 7.7 (1st)
The Phoenix Suns have been the most dominant team in the league this season. While they’ve hit some injury road bumps as of late, they remain the top seed in the NBA. If they have any regrets, it’s with their financial decisions from last offseason.
The Suns made three financial decisions last summer. They go as follow;
- Mikal Bridges – 4 years / $90.9 million
- Landry Shamet – 4 years / $42.5 million
- Deandre Ayton – $0
The Mikal Bridges extension is well worth it. I can’t say the same for the other two, however. Landry Shamet has bounced around from contender to contender over the past few seasons. I think he’s one of the best role players in the NBA. This season, his production is at a career-low. Good thing that extension kicks in next year, right?
As for Ayton, that’s an even worse decision. The #1 overall pick from 2018 has blossomed into one of the best two-way bigs in the NBA. He was highly productive during the 2021 postseason, all but stamping his name on a new extension.
Or not. Robert Sarver, the nicest guy on the planet, was hesitant in paying the former Wildcat. They didn’t want to pay him the $172 million dollar extension that Ayton’s fellow draft mates got. As an RFA this summer, Ayton will get a lot of offers.
Ayton has handled the situation well, not publically saying anything about the situation, but I’m sure he’s disgruntled. Who wouldn’t? Even if Ayton re-ups with the Suns for years to come, he won’t forget their hesitance to pay him.
If there’s one thing the Suns regret, it’s been their financial decisions.
(2) Memphis Grizzlies: N/A
Record: (44-22)
Offensive Rating: 113.2 (6th)
Defensive Rating: 108.8 (8th)
Net Rating: 4.4 (6th)
There’s not a lot to regret if you’re Memphis. They are tied with the Warriors for the second seed in the Western Conference. Ja Morant is shaping up to be the best player from the 2019 draft class. Their blend of an underdog style and swagger is fun to watch. It’s hard not to like this team.
Their remixed style of Grit and Grind guarantees them homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. For a team built on draft picks, they’re doing just fine.
Even without Dillon Brooks for the majority of this season, Memphis has chugged along at a steady pace. The postseason will be a test for the young, up-and-comers of the West.
(3) Miami Heat: Paying Duncan Robinson
Record: (43-22)
Offensive Rating: 112.3 (9th)
Defensive Rating: 107.4 (5th)
Net Rating: 4.9 (5th)
Paying pure-shooters has become a risky business over the past few seasons. Joe Harris and Davis Bertans are two other marksmen that have earned multi-year contracts from their respective teams. In the case of Bertans, it’s shown to be risky to pay a one-trick pony. The same might be true about Robinson.
His 2021 season was a step back in production from his Bubble breakout. That didn’t stop the Heat from giving him a 5-year extension worth $90 million. Things haven’t started on the right foot.
Robinson is having the worst season of his career. Career lows in points, field goal percentage, and 3-PT percentage have led to Robinson’s worst season to date. Miami remains a top seed in the East despite his struggles.
It’s early, but Robinson’s extension is another warning to teams about paying their shooters.
(4) Golden State Warriors: Benching Jordan Poole
Record: (43-21)
Offensive Rating: 111.8 (10th)
Defensive Rating: 105.5 (1st)
Net Rating: 6.3 (2nd)
Klay Thompson’s return was supposed to be messy. A player returning from 2+ years of injuries would certainly mess up the flow for a Warriors team doing just fine without him. The player affected most? Jordan Poole.
Poole had taken over the starting two-guard spot after flashing his potential off the bench last season. Alongside Curry, Poole was having a breakout season. He hasn’t been the same player once Klay returned to action.
| Jordan Poole as a Starter (35 games) | Jordan Poole off the Bench (23 games) |
| 18.3 points | 13.1 points |
| 43% Field Goal | 47% Field Goal |
| 35% 3-PT | 31% 3-PT |
| Having fun* | Not having fun* |
Look, I get that Klay Thompson has the stature and the championships. But, I think that Poole starting makes more sense for the Warriors. They have a 27-8 record when Poole starts. I get that Thompson has earned his spot from previous years, but he hasn’t been better than Poole this season.
I think the Warriors are more dangerous when Poole starts. Thompson could be the perfect 6th man off the bench at this point of his career. In tight contests, his defense and experience would be valuable. Why not use him that way instead of sabotaging Poole?
(5) Philadelphia 76ers: Paying Tobias Harris
Record: (39-24)
Offensive Rating: 111.7 (11th)
Defensive Rating: 109.2 (9th)
Net Rating: 2.5 (11th)
The good news is that the James Harden trade has been a slam dunk. The bad news is that Philly is paying Tobias Harris nearly $114 million dollars over the next three seasons. Harris owns more % of the 76ers cap space than Joel Embiid. Think about that for a moment.
When Jimmy Butler decided he didn’t want to stay in Philly, the 76ers gave Harris $180 million. This signing didn’t make sense three years ago, and it still doesn’t make any sense.
Tyrese Maxey has emerged as the third option in Philly. He and Matisse Thybulle are going to have to get paid. In order to get that done, the 76ers have to try and get rid of Harris. He’s not worth the money owed to him for the next three seasons.
Take a page out of Dallas’s book and move him for two other bad contracts. You’re not going to get equal value for him, but it’s going to be hard to retain their youngsters with Harris on the books, if not impossible. Trading him is the only option.
(6) Milwaukee Bucks: Losing PJ Tucker
Record: (40-25)
Offensive Rating: 113.2 (4th)
Defensive Rating: 109.7 (12th)
Net Rating: 3.5 (8th)
The defending champions are rounding into form at just the right time. After a stretch of mediocre basketball, the Bucks have won their last four games. A brilliant effort from Middleton and Jrue Holiday gave them a win against their rivals, the Suns, last night.
They’ve been without Brook Lopez for all but 28 minutes this season. Their defense as a collective has taken a step back. To me, their biggest regret has to be losing PJ Tucker this offseason.
Tucker was a midseason acquisition from Houston, proving to be the ideal defensive-minded forward for Milwaukee. The reason Kevin Durant stayed somewhat in check was because of Tucker. Since his surprising departure in free agency, things haven’t been the same.
His toughness and tenacity are unquantifiable. Even at age 36, the Bucks could use him on their weakened front line. For the time being, however, they’ll have to rely on a washed-up Serge Ibaka. The defending champs could use the shoe connoisseur right about now.
(7) Chicago Bulls: Not Having Better Health Insurance
Record: (39-25)
Offensive Rating: 113.2 (5th)
Defensive Rating: 111.8 (20th)
Net Rating: 1.4 (13th)
While the Bulls have lost the #1 seed, they’re somehow still in the hunt. They’ve faced as many injuries as one could expect, and yet they’re still standing. They may be staggering right now, but they haven’t submitted to that knockout punch yet. If they get fully healthy before the playoffs, they’re dangerous.
They’ve been without Caruso and Ball since mid-January. They both provide defense, playmaking, and shooting. Patrick Williams has played five games this year. There’s also a chance he returns before the postseason.
If not for a historic scoring streak from DeRozan, who knows where this team would be. When healthy, I’ll give this team a chance against anybody with homecourt in the postseason.
(Ok, but like, how does one team get so injured? The Bulls have had to have broken some record. RIght?)
(8) Boston Celtics: First-Round Drafting (Thanks Danny!)
Record: (39-27)
Offensive Rating: 111.2 (16th)
Defensive Rating: 105.6 (2nd)
Net Rating: 5.6 (4th)
It’s hard to make Boston feel regret right now. They’re 14-2 in their last 16 games. Jayson Tatum just played the best game of his career against the Nets last night. The 5th seed in the East has been the hottest team in basketball, primed for another deep run.
If there’s one thing to feel regretful about, it’s with their draft picks. Other than Tatum and Brown, two home-run selections, the Celtics haven’t exactly done a great job with their first-rounders in recent years. Here’s a recap, if you want it;
- 2019: Draft Romeo Langford – no longer on team
Trade away Matisse Thybulle to rival 76ers - 2020: Draft Aaron Nesmith over Saddiq Bey
Trade away Desmond Bane for two second-round picks
Imagine if the Celtics had players like Bane and Thybulle right now! Instead of prioritizing mainly on veterans, they would have two budding stars off their bench. Instead, they have Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard.
You’ve got to love Danny Ainge.
(9) Utah Jazz: Not Prioritizing Perimeter Defense
Record: (40-23)
Offensive Rating: 115.9 (1st)
Defensive Rating: 109.8 (13th)
Net Rating: 6.1 (3rd)
The bane of the Jazz’s existence continues to be defense. Their offense is easily the best in the league. To be the contending team they hope to become, a lot of praying is in order.
For the second straight season, Rudy Gobert anchored the Jazz defense. Outside of the best interior defender in the NBA, the Jazz don’t have a single perimeter/wing defender who can hold their own. If not for Gobert, the Jazz would be one of the worst defenses in the NBA.
Utah again failed at the trade deadline to add any defense. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was their one new pickup, and he’s done nothing.
Utah’s record and stats suggest they’re a contending team. Instead, they’re a team begging to be exposed in the playoffs by a spread offense. It’s going to be deja vu in the postseason for this Utah team.
(10) Dallas Mavericks: Not Trading Porzingis Sooner
Record: (39-25)
Offensive Rating: 111.3 (15th)
Defensive Rating: 107.8 (6th)
Net Rating: 3.5 (7th)
The Kristaps Porzingis trade was polarizing. I was one of the few who said that Dallas may have made the right move at the time. Dallas traded away the man who bled them dry of draft picks a few years ago, just for him to be a disappointing second option next to Luka.
They traded the unicorn for two more manageable contracts. So far, it’s worked wonders. Dinwiddie gives them another creator on offense, providing more spark to the offense without Luka having to do everything.
Playing smaller and spreading the floor is now more possible. Dallas ranks 30th in pace, but their new lineup combos make it possible for them to speed things up. Since this trade has worked out so well, I think Dallas regrets not doing it sooner.
The Mavs wanted to give KP a chance with a new coach in a new system, but could they have gotten more for KP had they traded him last year? Getting Spencer Dinwiddie in this trade was great, but were other guys like Harrison Barnes or Myles Turner available?
I guess we’ll never know. What I do know is that Dallas is glad that Porzingis is gone. A healthy, in-shape Luka Doncic is hoping to give them their first playoff series win since 2011. Without Porzingis dragging him down, I think he can do it.
What Are Your Thoughts On These Regrets/Power Rankings? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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