Top 5 NBA champions after Damian Lillard's trade

A healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo will make his return in the 2023–24 season, making the Milwaukee Bucks one of the favourites to win the championship. But now that Damian Lillard has joined the group, their chances of winning the championship this year have increased. The ability of Khris Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and Lillard will be eagerly anticipated by the crowd. The Bucks appear to be a more reliable club heading into the 2023–24 NBA season given the events that occurred. Milwaukee won the first seed last year despite not having Damian Lillard on their roster. Given this, the team may become the odds-on favourite to win the championship this year if Lillard joins them.

Here are the top five NBA championship contenders for 2024:

NBA champions in 2024 after the trade for Damian Lillard

1) Milwaukee Bucks

2) Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets shocked the world by winning their first championship in franchise history last season, thanks in large part to Nikola Jokic. Fans will undoubtedly support the Serbian giant and his teammates to retain their crown, especially in light of the fantastic playoff performance they gave. They will need to improve, though, as Damian Lillard and the Bucks could pose a threat to them in the upcoming season.

3) LA Lakers

One of the teams that shocked the NBA last season was the Los Angeles Lakers. After making some late changes to their roster in the middle of the season, LA went from a 2-10 start to becoming a real Western Conference contender. The Lakers were able to advance all the way to the Western Conference finals as a result. Los Angeles has already made major roster adjustments this offseason, suggesting that they have learnt from their past failures. Fans will be interested to see what the Purple and Gold can do with their new roster next season after that.

4) Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns also took part in a three-team deal earlier this offseason, just like Lillard did. Bradley Beal was already acquired by the Suns, creating a brand-new big three in Arizona. While many detractors think their team’s makeup is doomed to failure, others are excited by the prospect of this highly offensive trio in the NBA.

5) Boston Celtics

Thanks to superstars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics have been among the East’s top contenders for a time. But despite numerous Celtics legends having succeeded in the past, they were never able to win the desired title. The Celtics made a major improvement by adding Kristaps Porzingis, given their current situation. During his time with the organisation, the former Washington Wizards big man put on some outstanding performances. He might be able to assist Brown and Tatum in achieving their ultimate aim if he can channel the same energy in Boston.