Breaking News:
Man, this has not been a great year for Ja Morant. According to Statmuse, Morant has averaged 19 ppg, 3.3 rpg, and 7.6 apg while shooting a career low 20.8% from three. Coupled with his off-court shenanigans, this has lowered the two time All-Star’s value to the Grizzlies, with recent reports stating that they want to move away from the Morant era. The leading landing spots for Ja include the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Sacramento Kings, the Brooklyn Nets, and Toronto Raptors, with the Miami Heat having the highest likelihood of getting the star. Possible trade offers in a deal include Tyler Herro (and possibly picks) and salary fillers for Morant.
Three Biggest Risers
Detroit Pistons:
Honestly, in the entire time in which I have watched the NBA, I have never seen as fast of a progression as the Detroit Pistons. In the 2023-2024 season, they had secured the last seed in the East with a meager record of 14-68. The next season, the Pistons shot up nine seeds to the 6th place in the East, clinching the playoffs and bringing the two-seeded New York Knicks to six games. Pistons fans went from wearing trashbags to games to proudly rocking their Cade Cunnigham jerseys in a matter of years. Now, in the 2025-2026 season, the Pistons have secured the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, holding a four game margin with the second-seeded Knicks.
All of this success can be attributed to several factors, including the emergence of Cade Cunningham and several key decisions made by Detroit’s front office. Currently, Cunningham is dropping career-high averages across the board with 25.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 9.8 apg, and 1.4 spg. The Pistons are supported by elite defenders such as Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, and Isaiah Stewart. As for the offseason, the Pistons signed Duncan Robinson, who has been giving a solid 11.8 ppg off the bench. Along with them securing the second-highest Defensive Rating in the league, it’s evident that the Pistons efforts to improve their roster have paid out.
San Antonio Spurs:
While some of you may call me a Wemby glazer, you’ve got to admit, a 12 seed increase in three years is impressive. The Spurs ended the 2023-2024 season with the second-to-last seed in the West, with a team that was simply not suited to their young superstar. The next season wasn’t much better, with them only rising to the 13th seed. This, however, can be attributed to the fact that Victor Wembenyama was out with a blood clot for half the season, leaving a newly-traded De’Aaron Fox to lead the team. Now, in the 2025-2026 season, San Antonio has secured the second seed in the West and has developed a fierce rivalry with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In fact, Wemby and the Spurs have won 3 out of their 4 games against the defending champions, accounting for almost half of the losses in OKC’s 36-8 record. This season, Wembenyama is averaging a double double of 24.4 ppg and 10.8 rpg, all the while leading the league in blocks, with 2.5. The 2025 RTOY Stephon Castle has also stepped up as the starting SG, averaging 16.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and 7.0 apg. Other notable players include their rookie Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and their new trade acquisition Luke Kornet, who has been filling in as a backup center for Wemby.
Toronto Raptors:
Who would’ve thought that WASHED Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes actually have it in them? Again, just like the Spurs and the Pistons, the Raptors have made insane leaps in the last three years. In the 2023-2024 season, Toronto was the 12th seed in the East, in which they, similarly to the Spurs, only climbed up one spot in the 2024-2025 season. Now what do you think that their ranking for the 2025-2026 season is? 10th seed? 13th seed? WRONG! As of writing this, the Toronto Raptors have clinched the fourth seed in the East, with the team currently being on track to make the playoffs by the end of the season.
All of this success can be attributed to Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Immanuel Quickley, who have been playing like dogs. BI is averaging 21.7 ppg and Barnes is averaging 8.2 rpg. Quickley has been playing especially well, averaging 16.9 ppg and recently hitting a game winner in their 97-96 win against the Charlotte Hornets.
Conclusion
There really is something special about seeing a team go from being absolute garbage to a contender in just three seasons. All of these teams have experienced brutal rebuilds, hoped for draft picks, and now are finally seeing success. Are these teams just pretenders, or will they make it far into the playoffs? Good thing there’s still half a season left for them to prove their worth.
