As the 2024-25 NBA season nears its midpoint, several teams have exceeded expectations, while others have stumbled under the weight of preseason hype. Whether it’s due to roster moves, star players underperforming, or coaching changes, a handful of squads have found themselves in disappointing positions. Let’s take a closer look at three teams that have failed to live up to their potential and why their seasons have gone awry.
Minnesota Timberwolves
When the Timberwolves lost to the Mavericks in last season’s Western Conference Finals, there was plenty of reason to believe they’d be right back in contention this year. The roster had strong balance on both ends of the floor, the league's rising superstar in Anthony Edwards, and Chris Finch was proving himself as one of the NBA’s top head coaches. But the Wolves didn’t realize how well things were clicking until they shook up the core. Right before the season tipped off, Minnesota traded longtime cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. While adjusting to a blockbuster trade often takes time, the Wolves are still searching for answers when it comes to chemistry and offensive flow.
Individually, Randle and Edwards are producing at or above last season’s levels, but DiVincenzo has struggled to replicate his success from New York. He’s averaging 5.5 fewer points per game, with his field goal percentage dropping from 44.3% to 38.8%, and his three-point percentage going from 40.1% to 35.6%. Part of the issue lies in his expanded role as a traditional point guard, moving away from the spot-up shooter role where he thrived in New York. As a result, Minnesota has a bleak 17-19 record, sitting 10th in the Western Conference—a significant drop from last year’s 56-win campaign. The Wolves opened the season with the third-shortest odds (+500) to win the West on BetMGM but now find themselves tied for the sixth-shortest odds at +1400.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers’ 2024-25 season has been a letdown so far, and much of that stems from a slow start by their star guard, Tyrese Haliburton. Coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, expectations were sky-high for Indiana, but Haliburton hasn’t quite been the dynamic playmaker he was last year. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged 20.1 points, 10.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 47.7% from the field and 36.4% from three. This season, his numbers are down to 18.3 points, 8.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game on 43.9% shooting and 35.3% from deep. While these stats have improved slightly thanks to a recent string of solid games, Haliburton’s overall decline has been a noticeable setback.
Indiana’s success last year was built around Haliburton’s ability to push the pace and create in transition, helping the Pacers become one of the fastest teams in the league. This season, with his playmaking taking a step back and his shooting less consistent, defenses have been able to key in and neutralize what made Indiana so dangerous. Now sitting at .500 and holding the No. 8 seed in the East, the Pacers find themselves 13.5 games behind the top-seeded Cavaliers—a major disappointment from where they hoped to be.
Sacramento Kings
After two straight seasons of winning records and a playoff appearance, the Kings looked like they had finally turned the corner and were ready to be contenders. But it’s been a tough start to the 2024-25 season, with Sacramento sitting at 17-19 and already parting ways with head coach Mike Brown following a five-game losing streak. With Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, and DeMar DeRozan as the team's foundation, offensive struggles shouldn’t be a major concern. However, the Kings' three-point shooting has been a significant factor in their downturn. Key role players like Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray have both seen drops in their shooting efficiency, with Huerter falling from 36.1% to 31.6% and Murray from 35.8% to 29%. With Doug Christie stepping in as interim head coach, it’s clear the Kings have a long road ahead as they try to salvage their season. The odds at BetMGM also reflect that with Sacramento sitting at +8000 to win the West and +12500 to win the title.
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