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NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 20 things to watch this NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a foul shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 12, 2017 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a foul shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 12, 2017 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Barring a massive wave of injuries, the Golden State Warriors are going to win the 2017-18 NBA championship.

Don’t let that inevitability dampen your excitement for the upcoming season, though.

An already historically great Warriors squad somehow managed to get even better throughout the offseason, adding the likes of Nick Young, Omri Casspi and shot-blocking rookie big man Jordan Bell to their incumbent Big Four. While an ill-timed injury for Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant or Draymond Green could submarine Golden State’s title chances, the Dubs will enter the 2017-18 campaign as the overwhelming favorites to repeat as champions next June.

Many of the league’s other 29 teams aren’t willing to roll over as the Warriors steamroll their way toward a third title in four years, however. Over the past four months, a stunning number of All-Stars found themselves on the move via trades or free agency. Between Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward in Boston, Paul Millsap in Denver, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in Oklahoma City, Chris Paul in Houston, Jimmy Butler in Minnesota and Isaiah Thomas in Cleveland, the league underwent its most dramatic offseason overhaul in recent memory.

Seeing all those new faces in all of their new places will be one of the most fascinating subplots of the 2017-18 NBA season, but that won’t be the only reason to tune in come mid-October. A new wave of rookie point guards could take the league by storm, while budding “unicorns” such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid could force their way into the All-Star picture. Some players will enter the year in search of redemption, while others will be bloodthirsty for revenge. Hell, even the NBA’s bottom-feeders carry some intrigue.

Aside from the dawn of the Swaggy P era in Golden State, keep an eye on the following 20 storylines once the 2017-18 NBA season kicks off.

Next: 20. Boston's new Big Three