ATLANTIC DIVISION
Boston Celtics
Boston lost big, just one year after being crowned NBA champions for a record-setting 18th time. Not only did they lose both of their big men, Kristaps Porziņģis and now Al Horford, but they also lost Jayson Tatum to an injury with which this year’s Eastern Conference finalist Tyrese Haliburton can sympathize. It’s all on Jaylen Brown, the other “J” with a “y” in the middle of his name, to be the man now.
Like defensive Olympian Derrick White and Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard, Brown must step up, especially now that Jrue Holiday has also left. In that deal, Anfernee Simons provides Joe Mazzulla with more scoring punch in Tatum’s absence, possibly forming a big three when he returns. Celtic pride will contend, but unless their star returns in time for the postseason, this won’t be their year.
Brooklyn Nets
In the new Netflix show ‘Black Rabbits,’ Jude Law’s son asks him why he doesn’t get along with his on-screen brother, played by ‘Ozark’ star Jason Bateman. “Because he doesn’t like the Nets,” he replies as they head towards Barclays Center. Can you blame him? Until the former New Jersey team returns to the promise of that crazy Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving combo (which turned out to be like the Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry one), Barclays will be the champion New York Liberty’s house.
And why not? The D’Angelo Russell reunion was even shorter than the streaky guard’s Hollywood stint, and Brooklyn lost a couple of Cams (Thomas and Cameron Johnson). Eighth pick Egor Demin is pressed to be a star, but it’s up to former top fifteen pick and Denver Nuggets champion Michael Porter Jr. to put the social media opinions on his phone down and lead the way. Then, New York’s other team will be trending in the right direction.
New York Knicks
The 90s Knicks were such fan favorites, even during the MJ era, that one of my students here in Japan used to fly across timelines every year just to watch them lose when it mattered. She hasn’t seen a game since, but perhaps it’s time she booked a ticket. Despite Tyrese Haliburton turning into Reggie Miller, the Knickerbockers brought that old thing back. The Big Apple was energized again; surely Tom Thibodeau had the ability to go even further this year?
Erm. Further casting out his fishing line—Thibs was fired and replaced with the decorated coach Mike Brown, who could take Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and one of the best role players ever in Josh Hart all the way.
Hart and his soul reunite with his former scoring sub teammate, Jordan Clarkson, and the Knicks look even better, despite drafting nobody and losing the talents of Precious Achiuwa. Alongside them are the young Cameron Payne and P.J. Tucker’s sneakers in the locker room. That’s OK; I’ve never seen Spike Lee wear the same thing twice courtside, and this year maybe he, Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, and co will finally see a different ending on the playbill.
Philadelphia 76ers
Coach Nick Nurse needed a night off in last season’s injury-plagued season. Hopefully, Philadelphia can rebound this year without having to rebuild again. Their personnel losses aren’t much to sniff at, but their player additions are nothing to write home about either, except for the third pick that could make the critics sick: Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe. On the edge of glory after Philly hit the lottery, V.J. is explosive on both ends of the floor but needs to develop from downtown. But don’t worry, he only played one lone college season. The guy is only 20.
He could form the next Sixers dynamic duo with Tyrese Maxey, who is maximizing his talent and new contract. Until then, it’s up to the current one-two punch to stay healthy and ready. Former MVP Joel Embiid and Paul George, who wants to be this generation’s Tracy McGrady, but not when it comes to the playoffs. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes offer more depth, but the city of brotherly love needs to show more heart when it counts. So, how about some A.I.? No, not artificial intelligence, but a true throwback, back in black.
Toronto Raptors
We’ve had a different NBA champion every year since the Raptors won back in 2019, and here in Canada, we’d love for Toronto to break that trend. More or less the same team that was flipped at last season’s trade deadline will take to the floor at the OVO Athletic Centre, and now they’ll have more time to gel like Pat Riley. Welcoming top ten pick Collin Murray-Boyles into the fold of a team whose contention window refuses to let the cold air of extinction in.
Who’s the star of the show in this rebirth reminiscent of the ‘Jurassic World’ summer blockbuster? The big trade piece, Brandon Ingram? Maple Mamba, R.J. Barrett? The 2021-22 Rookie of the Year, Scottie Barnes? Or all three? Pick your poison and then add Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and sweet sophomore Gradey Dick to the mix. This could be the most cohesive court pack since nothing seemed to stop the Raps, like that around-the-rim shot from Kawhi Leonard going in.
CENTRAL DIVISION
Chicago Bulls
Legendary writer Scoop Jackson’s Chicago Tribune columns about the Bulls, Bears, and Cubs are often as heart-breaking as they are hilarious. Chicago can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to football, baseball, and basketball – the Holy Trinity of American sports. Even the Sky have fallen since hometown hero Candace Parker left with a championship. The Bayou Barbie, Angel Reese, needing to grab more than “Mebounds”. As for the Bulls, they haven’t added much in the draft or via free agency, but don’t worry.
Despite losing Lonzo Ball and Talen Horton-Tucker, Billy Donovan’s boys are looking better. Coby White (20.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game) is finally leading the way. The trade that shipped hero Alex Caruso to another team brought in Josh Giddey as a second option. Nikola Vucevic is more than his cumbersome contract, Kevin Huerter is still a flamethrower, and Japan’s Yuki Kawamura had quite a two-way year hustling in Memphis after moving from Yokohama. The Bulls’ horns are no longer blunt, but they need a few more seasons to sharpen.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Another star who wants to follow in the footsteps of T-Mac, but not with that kind of playoff performance, Donovan Mitchell, seems to be doing the same with his Cavaliers side that he did when he was making music in Utah: incredible regular season records, poor playoff prospects. His fantastic four with Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen needs more than first steps if they hope to survive late spring and early summer.
They could claim the next NBA Cup, but without a championship, they might as well just win the Play-In. The sword has gone much deeper into the stone this off-season, mind you. Lonzo Ball will make a point of steadying the ship, but he comes with a history of injuries. Just like Josh Hart and Jordan Clarkson in New York City, Zo reunites with his former Lakers teammate, the high-flying Larry Nance Jr., also picked up from free agency. The Land is rich, but Cleveland needs to till the soil for the harvest. Unless we are about to witness a homecoming like no other, that is.
Detroit Pistons
After enduring a losing streak longer than the assembly line at a Ford factory, the Detroit Pistons are looking to make history in a different way. Cade Cunningham is their driving force. With averages of 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds, he can only get better. He truly is that guy. Now, he can rely on the support of Caris LeVert, Javonte Green, and three-point sniper Duncan Robinson in Motor City.
It’s time to take a ride down 8-Mile. Losing Tim Hardaway Jr., EuroBasket champion and MVP, along with Dennis Schröder and sharpshooter Malik Beasley, hurts. This is especially true as the latter was involved in a federal investigation of gambling allegations that ultimately that came up empty, like a poor shooting night. Perhaps a court reunion is in order, now that Beasley has avoided a legal one. Meanwhile, former star Tobias Harris brings a steady hand as Jaden Ivey looks to take the next step and inspire Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson to follow in his footsteps. Watch this space—Motown is in the race.
Indiana Pacers
After losing Game Seven of the NBA Finals to the champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the Indiana Pacers checked into the heartbreak hotel. They lost Tyrese Haliburton, who was scorching, to an Achilles injury in the first quarter that now cripples this calendar. Can they bounce back when the clutch darling returns? This could be their window, like when Reggie Miller and Larry Bird’s coaching company came up against Shaq and Kobe in the first finals of the new millennium. Or when a young Indy team turned into bad boys against the Detroit Pistons with the Malice at the Palace.
That’s because their big difference maker, Myles Turner, is now cashing in bucks in Milwaukee. Way to turn promise into what broken dreams are made of. Jay Huff is their sole veteran addition, joined by drafted rookies Kam Jones and Taelon Peter.
Yet, tenured coach Rick Carlisle knows what to do with young players and vets alike. Former NBA Finals and last year’s Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, Pascal Siakam, is really the undertaker now. He has help with Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and T.J. McConnell. Facts remain such, mind you. Like Boston and Tatum, without Tyrese, all the Pacers can keep up with is a valiant effort.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks want to start winning here, aiming for more than just one ‘chip and a cup. After Damian Lillard suffered yet another ruptured Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference playoffs, Milwaukee decided to treat him like a broken watch. They bought out Dame Time, giving the All-Star a reunion with the City of Roses. Cream City, mind you, just provided Giannis Antetokounmpo with more help after his epic and emotional EuroBasket campaign.
The silver lining in all this comes in the form of former Indiana Pacers finalist Myles Turner. The frontcourt is now formidable. Glenn “Doc” Rivers has the right prescription, thanks to last season’s deadline deal. Kyle Kuzma smooths out the frontline, while Taurean Prince can shoot royally from deep.
Losing Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton will be noticeable, even with the addition of Turner, but the Bucks still have Gary Trent Jr. and hero Bobby Portis Jr. in this junior gang (we see you, Kevin Porter Jr.). Cole Anthony is a nice pickup too. But it all begins and ends with the Freak. The Bucks are one of the many teams in the alphabet soup of champions since 2019. Can they get back to the top before Giannis gets bored?
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Atlanta Hawks
Whether you sing for ‘Atlanna’, like Jermaine Dupri and CeeLo Green, Magic City is in need of more tricks for their trade. That’s where Kristaps Porziņģis comes in. The big, former Celtic champion comes to town with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard and Jacob Toppin for Quin Snyder’s revamped roster that loses Caris LaVert, Terance Mann and George Niang. It’s not all on the dice-roll of Trae Young, either, who still leads the A as one of the best performers and villains in the game.
The Hawks have feathers with Jalen Johnson and the defensive Dyson Daniels vacuuming up opponent’s offense. Yet the future might lie in France. Sophomore Zaccharie Risacher was one of the best rookies with averages of 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds. If he takes the next step, the Hawks will fly and Centennial Tower will rise like when the late, great Dikembe Mutombo’s fingers wagged above the rim.
Charlotte Hornets
The better Ball brother needs to sing like his rapping one (GELO), before the tweaking begins in the hive of the Charlotte Hornets. LaMelo is one of the league’s best and brightest talents, and the unselfish star has plenty to pass to. Brandon Miller is developing into a real threat, and Miles Bridges puts it down hard but comes with legal troubles that can’t be ignored. This summer, the Hornets added more honeycomb with Pat Connaughton, Mason Plumlee, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Collin Sexton.
All can play big when it matters and in an agonizingly depleted East, anyone can be the beast. Meanwhile, when it comes to those Charlotte jerseys relegated to the discount rack, Seth Curry, Jusuf Nurkic, and Josh Okogie will now suit up and play for different pastures. As will Mark Williams, after surviving a rescinded trade for the Lakers’ hot-shooting rookie Dalton Knecht at the deadline. That leaves a hole in the middle, but Mark’s injury-prone availability did too. Going forward, the North Carolina franchise will look to fourth pick Kon Knueppel, who turned the Summer League into his coming-out party. The buzz is back.
Miami Heat
Nobody messes with President Pat Riley—not even a star as big as Jimmy Butler. He’s gone, but the Heat’s chances haven’t diminished. Things never seem to run cold in South Beach for a constant contender, always there or thereabouts. One that is beginning to become a storied franchise, like the San Antonio Spurs. You only have to look at the orange jacket of Hall of Fame owner Micky Arison to see how long this suit has fit. This season, the franchise, which has only been around since Showtime was calling the curtain, added Clipper breakout player Norman Powell to a competent cast of Heat Culture.
Bam Adebayo is more than a Dwight Howard lookalike, or the boyfriend of a record-breaking WNBA MVP. The Olympic gold medal winner is one of the best bigs we have left—consistently. Now, Tyler Herro is playing hero ball too; the Heat is back on for making a playoff push. With Davion Mitchell, Terry Rozier III and Nikola Jovic, we have a bolstered bench. But for the Heat to get back to where Diesel, Flash, and The King took them, Andrew Wiggins will have to return to a Golden State of championship form. Or the youthful Jaime Jaquez Jr. will have to take that step. Can they stand the heat?
Orlando Magic
Ready for the magic hour? Rabbits haven’t been pulled out of the kingdom’s hat like this since Shaquille O’Neal had pennies from heaven. Even fellow Superman, and newly minted Hall of Famer, burying the hatchet with Shaq, Dwight Howard, didn’t soar like this. The star of right now, Paolo Banchero (25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game), will battle in the East with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham to see who is the next up to take over the League. Losing Gary Harris, Cole Anthony, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has nothing on the Magic’s next trick up their sleeves.
Adding Desmond Bane in a trade that kick-started the summer was huge. The addition of Tyus Jones, more than just complementary, as the former elephant in the NBA room, has plenty of peanuts to play with. The Wagner brothers (Franz and Moritz) are back, and Franz is an underrated star (24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists), not to mention a EuroBasket winner. Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter, and the hops of Jonathan Isaac show and prove that this franchise has deep pockets. They’re not dealing in Disney dollars anymore. The Yankee pinstripes are back. Believe in Magic.
Washington Wizards
D.C. may not be the place to be for the next couple of years, but there’s always hope for the future. That hope comes in the form of Texas draft pick Tre Johnson, but he will have to get used to losing before the team improves. The former Chicago Packers franchise also lost Saddiq Bey, Jordan Poole, and Marcus Smart, who packed up their bags and left. The biggest name remaining in the office is C.J. McCollum, who came in on a multiple-team trade that sent Kyle Kuzma to Wisconsin.
He could form a nice duo with former Bucks champion Khris Middleton. Youth, and time for that to develop, is on Washington’s side. Bilal Coulibaly (12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists per game), Bub Carrington (9.8, 4.2, 4.4), Alex Sarr (13.0, 6.5, 2.4), Kyshawn George (8.7, 4.2, 2.5), and Cam Whitmore (9.4, 3.0, 1.0) all have bags of potential, now that their days of carrying bags for veterans are over. But until the Wiz does something with them, or the contracts of C.J. and Khris, the best thing about the franchise will be their jerseys. They’re propping up the Eastern Conference from the basement, as they’re doing this season.
