Which NBA pre season contenders will miss the playoffs?

The 2024-25 NBA season is down to the final week left. A lot has happened in the last 6 months among all 30 NBA teams. Injuries, blockbuster trades, and coach firings have all played a role throughout this memorable season. Several playoff contenders have clinched their playoff spot and lived up to their expectations, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder. There has also been a mix of surprise teams clinching playoff berths after long playoff droughts, including the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets. Seeding is mostly decided in the Eastern Conference, but that is not the case in the Western Conference. In the Eastern Conference, the Play-In Tournament teams are set. The Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat will battle it out through the Play-In Tournament. Out of the 4 teams, the Miami Heat had the higher expectations entering the season. Their season took a turn following the trade of All-Star Jimmy Butler. The Heat is now in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The Western Conference Play-In is very complicated at best as the season concludes. The current play-in tournament picture includes the LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings, with the Phoenix Suns missing the play-in by 1 or 2 games. All 5 of these teams entered the season with playoffs-or-bust mentalities. The Clippers and Grizzlies have the strongest possibility of making the playoffs, as both teams sit with records of 46-32. The Mavericks experienced the worst of all contenders after trading All-Star Luka Dončić. They have underachieved and dealt with injuries to All-Stars Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. The Sacramento Kings traded away All-Star De’Aaron Fox for All-Star Zach LaVine at the 2025 trade deadline. The trade has been unsuccessful, as the Kings have lost more than they won. The Suns, on the other hand, could experience the biggest letdown out of all the contenders. The payroll of the Suns ranks first out of all 30 NBA teams. They are the most expensive roster in the league, consisting of three max contract All-Stars: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. There is a very strong possibility that the Suns roster is completely restructured following a failed All-In season. A lot can be decided in one week. Will the fate of these NBA preseason contenders change? What will the aftermath be for these teams missing the playoffs? The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on April 15th. 

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