BY: DONOVAN HOLDEN
No. 5
2019-20 Season Record: 20-46
The Detroit Pistons did not impress last season. The bad news for fans, is that you can expect there to be more of the same this season. Are the Pistons setting for a rebuild, or trying to stay relevant, and still not win? Their roster at this point in the offseason is strange. A sign/trade deal with the Denver Nuggets brought in Jerami Grant, and they also signed center Mason Plumlee to a 3-year $25 million deal. On the flip side they drafted 19-year-old point guard from France, Killian Hayes. The Pistons selected Hayes 7th overall, and already have a lot of trust in him. He will likely see some starting reps this season, whether it is from the jump or further along this season.
Another issue with the Pistons roster is Blake Griffin is under contract for more money than you want to be paying him, especially when you consider the Grant and Plumlee signings. Then you have Derrick Rose who averaged 18ppg last season, but is just not a great fit for where this Detroit team is at right now. He needs to be on a playoff team or someone who is ready to make a title run. It would be surprising if both Rose and Griffin aren’t traded or at least shopped before the trade deadline this season.
You add Josh Jackson, and Jahlil Okafor to the mix, who are both considered busts in their own right, and outside of all these names the roster is quite pitiful. Moves will be made before the trade deadline, but unless a superstar talent walks through the door, the Pistons could easily have the worst record in the entire NBA next year.
No. 4
2019-20 Season Record: 19-63
The Cavs finished dead last in the East a season ago, and haven’t done much winning in recent years without LeBron James in town. Though they have some exciting young players, Cavs fans should not be thinking playoffs for their team just yet.
They drafted Isaac Okoro at 5th overall in the draft this year, and believe he will immediately be competing for Cedi Osman’s starting job at small forward. This should not be a difficult task for the 6-foot-6 rookie from USC considering Osman is someone who nestled himself into this role by being below average on a consistent basis, on a really bad team.
Colin Sexton, and Darius Garland are the Cav’s young talented guard duo, who really have the potential to surprise people across the league with both their scoring and intensity. Sexton was the more impressive of the two last season, where he averaged over 20ppg for the first time in his young career. Garland was a bit of a let down, considering the hype he had behind him entering the league, but there isn’t much doubt he will have a better sophomore season.
Their other first round pick from 2019 Kevin Porter Jr. has shown he is allegedly a shooter both on and off the court. Porter Jr. has no timetable as of right now on when he will resume basketball activities, because he was arrested on gun charges on November 15th. Porter Jr. is another player much like Garland who fans should anticipate taking a big step in the right direction for year 2. This all just rests on when he can return to the hardwood.
Much like Detroit, the Cavs roster looks a certain way that makes you think a trade is happening sooner rather than later. Kevin Love and Andre Drummond are both under big contracts with the Cavaliers, and honestly aren’t the best big man pairing. They also have Larry Nance Jr., Thon Maker, and new signing JaVale McGee rostered. You would assume Love or Drummond would be moved, seeing as you could get the most in return for one of those two, and it frees up the most cap space.
Cleveland fans, please be prepared for another run at the bottom of the east, but you can be pleased about your young core, and ability to make a big move if necessary.
No. 3
2019-20 Season Record: 22-43
The Bulls will be trying to turn a new leaf in this upcoming season, they fired Jim Boylen and brought in former coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Florida Gators, Billy Donovan. Donovan is a known winner, and a very well respected coach among players, Chicago believes he is the right fit for this young group who are really getting set to blossom.
Outside of Kris Dunn leaving and signing with the Atlanta Hawks, the Bulls still have their core group. The starters should look like; Colby White, Zach Lavine, Otto Porter Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter Jr. Also having Denzel Valentine and Tomas Satoransky as noteworthy bench pieces.
With the 4th overall pick in the NBA draft the Bulls selected Patrick Williams, a forward from Florida state, they also added Garret Temple (former teammate of Otto Porter Jr.) and Noah Vonleh in free agency.
The Bulls could have an explosive team that plays very fast and gets out in transition, and they believe Billy Donovan is the guy who can help them start winning too. Their win total from a season ago should increase and they could be competing for a play-in game towards the end of next season.
No. 2
2019-20 Season Record: 45-28:
The Indiana Pacers lost to the Miami Heat in the first round of the Playoffs this past summer in the NBA Bubble. It is now approaching the holiday season, and two out of the three Holiday brothers, along with the rest of this Pacers team, are ready to push for the playoffs once again. They have potential to be an even better team than they were a season ago, but this depends on All-Star talent Victor Oladipo’s future with the team.
Once the NBA Bubble Playoffs were finalized a lot of reports started to come out stating that Oladipo wanted out of Indiana, and he was asking opponents after games when he was shaking their hands if they would take him on their team next year. As you could guess this would rub his teammates and the entire organization the wrong way. However Oladipo addressed the media and told them that these accusations were false. Oladipo missed a lot of time last season due to injury, but when he played this team was clearly better, so keep an eye on this saga as the season begins.
Domantas Sabonis is clearly this team’s best player, and he continues to elevate his game each season. Sabonis is coming off of a season where he was named an All-Star and averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds per game. He and Myles Turner hold down the paint on this team, while Malcom Brogdon will look to continue to mesh with the Holiday brothers in the back court for his second year with the team.
Also please do not forget about the enemy of Jimmy Butler, Mr. T.J. Warren. Warren was a great scoring option for this team last season, and put on some unforgettable performances in the bubble, including a 50-point game!
Indiana made a coaching switch from Nate McMillan to Nate Bjorkgren, and the Pacers will once again find themselves in the playoffs as a team who others would want to avoid in the first round.
No. 1
2019-20 Season Record: 56-17
Milwaukee went “Buck” wild in the regular season last year, but fell to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The whole future of this team really depends on the decision of Giannis Antekounmpo, and whether or not he is going to re-sign with the Bucks. There have been several rumors over the last year about “The Greek Freak” playing for teams like the Warriors, Heat, and Lakers (any of those moves would be frightening), but at this moment in time it is anyone’s guess on what Giannis is thinking.
He has until December 21st to make his decision on signing an extension with this team, and if he doesn’t, then the Bucks may be having to make a decision of their own. Giannis is a type of player who organizations would never dream of trading, but if he indicates this will be your last year having him, and you traded away a lot of future assets to bring in Jrue Holiday from the Pelicans, then what would you do? Teams would give up immense talent, lots of future picks and, or a combination of those things for Giannis, so it is likely the Bucks at least consider this option.
As for the current roster, the Bucks did improve their starting lineup by bringing in Jrue Holiday. He is an incredible two-way player with years of experience and should be able to fit nicely alongside Giannis and Kris Middleton. Outside of these guys you really worry about the team’s overall depth in an offseason where they lost, Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, Robin Lopez, and Ersan Ilyasova.
As long as this team still has Giannis and Middleton they should be competing as a top 3 team in the Eastern Conference. But the future could be a big question mark depending on the choices of their superstar.
The Sports Desk can be reached at editorialtrainwrecksports@gmail.com
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