Western Conference
- Warriors – Really a question? The might win 83 regular season games….
- Rockets – Loss of Ariza outweighs the addition of Melo, but still enough firepower to outscore opponents
- Lakers – Improved the 2nd half of the season and look for Josh Hart to build the confidence from Summer League into an expanded role this year. Oh…and LeBron.
- Thunder – Addition of Dennis Schroeder will add some consistency to the 2nd unit.
- Jazz – Mitchell won’t surprise anyone, and look for Joe Ingels to continue is steady uptick as a player in the league.
- Blazers – Lillard/McCollum still around, and keep an eye on 2nd year Zach Collins
- Spurs – Lower than most years, but the Pop-effect is still a thing
- Wolves – Talent to be 6, teamwork to be 14.
- Pelicans – Is AD enough to carry them to the playoffs?
- Nuggets – Lot of steady players, the Joker is just missing a top tier henchman
- Mavs – Can Doncic live up to the hype? Going to need him to.
- Clippers – Who’s going to help Lou Williams score?
- Kings – Talent is there. Check back when they can all get in a bar.
- Suns – Drafted Ayton was enough to get them out of the basement, but just barely.
- Grizzlies – Marc Gasol can only do so much, especially in the twilight of his career.
Eastern Conference
- Celtics – Losing Hayward help Brown and Tatum develop. Most skill, and deepest team in the East.
- Sixers – Embiid is an MVP candidate. Saric will continue to be one of the most underrated players in the league while putting up 15 PPG.
- Wizards – Can Howard go back a few years and be an upgrade from Gortat? Rivers adds much needed offense to the 2nd unit.
- Raptors – Post-injury Kawhi without a HOF coach. Not sure that replaces DeRozan
- Pacers – Will Oladipo take another step? Or was last year a flash in the pan?
- Bucks – A lot of good young talent surrounding Giannis, who keeps getting better each year.
- Heat – Decent role players. Good enough to get a playoffs spot in the even weaker East.
- Cavs – No LeBron, but still a lot of pieces from the reigning EC champs. Sexton is the playmaking PG LeBron wanted all those years.
- Bulls – LaVine is back to full strength. They will like to get out and run, can they score enough to cover the poor defense?
- Hornets – Hopefully Bridges is enough to help Kemba. If not, look for him to look elsewhere in Free Agency next summer
- Pistons – Is Blake Griffen enough to make a run in the East? I don’t think so.
- Knicks – Please get the unicorn some help.
- Hawks – Trae Young thought he had to do it alone in college. Even if he allows John Collins to help, the ATL is in for a long season.
- Nets – Jarrett Allen has promise…..as a role player. 20 wins might be a good season.
- Magic – Good bigs with a lot of potential, too bad they don’t have any guards who can get them the ball.
