Eastern Conference power rankings: Where do the Miami Heat stand?
10. Washington Wizards
They may have traded away Russell Westbrook, but the Wizards added some solid depth. Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell are three quality NBA players.
They even managed to snag Aaron Holiday from the Pacers. Spencer Dinwiddie, Bradley Beal, and the rest of the rotation could easily lead them to the play-in.
9. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls were big-time buyers in free agency this offseason. When they traded for Nikola Vucevic last year, most expected them to be a playoff team, but they fell short.
The additions of Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso will certainly put them in contention for the playoffs. That’s the ultimate goal in Chicago.
8. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors had a tough year last season, but expect them to bounce back. Fred VanVleet was a borderline All-Star last year, and Pascal Siakam is due to have a comeback year this season.
They have a super talented roster, and even without Kyle Lowry, they should be fighting for the playoffs. It’s just a matter of whether or not they make any big trades.
7. New York Knicks
The Knicks were super active in free agency, signing Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker. They were big overachievers last year, so let’s see if they can replicate that same success.
They brought back a large majority of their players and even added new ones. It should be interesting to see how it all pans out for New York.
6. Boston Celtics
The Celtics had a very disappointing season last year, but they still have two All-Stars. Their ranking is very interchangeable with the Knicks, but those two teams should be in a very similar spot next season.
Jayson Tatum is still one of the best players in the NBA, so they should be a playoff team with him alone. Their success will greatly depend upon how well their young players develop.