Hunter Blevins

April 2021

Western Conference

As usual, the Western Conference is tough this year as multiple .500-win teams are not in the playoffs. As of April 28, only 5 games separate the 5th-seeded Lakers and the 10th-seeded Warriors. With the addition of the play-in tournament, the tough grind for the 7-10 spots will be especially heated this late into the season. With the trade deadline and most of the season over, an eleventh hour push could make the difference for several borderline teams.

1. Utah Jazz (44-17)

Despite being slandered by Lebron James and Kevin Durant at this year’s All-Star Game Draft (and Vernon Maxwell all year on Twitter), the Jazz are the NBA’s most improved team this season with a dark-horse MVP candidate and star in Donovan Mitchell, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Rudy Gobert, and 6th Man of the Year candidate in Jordan Clarkson all putting up career numbers. A resurgent Mike Conley leads a cast of steady role players that hits threes and plays good defense. In fact, the Jazz have ridden their blistering 3-point shooting and elite defense to the best record in the league. While there is still half a season to go, the Jazz certainly look like one of the top teams in the league and seems ready to finally contend for a championship. One question to consider: can Rudy Gobert maintain his elite defense in the playoffs when teams go small? The answer to this question will determine how far the Jazz go in these playoffs.

2. Phoenix Suns (43-18)

The Suns have not been this good since the Steve Nash teams of the late 2000s. Most responsible for their success is none other than the Point God himself, Chris Paul. He is assisted by (although CP3 does most of the passing!) big man Deandre Ayton and sharpshooter Devin Booker. Currently at the two-seed and with impressive role players like Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder plugging up defensive holes, for the first time in a while, the Suns are looking to compete for a championship rather than the first overall pick. Should they achieve their goal, CP3 will finally have a ring and be the lynchpin of one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NBA history. One question to consider: is Deandre Ayton good enough to be the Sun’s third star? Ayton’s progression will determine whether this team’s ceiling is championship contender or conference final contender.

3. Los Angeles Clippers (43-20)
Eager to not repeat last year’s disappointing exit at the hands of basketball’s closest thing to a polar bear, the Clippers added Serge Ibaka and Nicolas Batum in the offseason to shore up their defense. This season, they are arguably in a better position than last, albeit with some injuries along the way. Most recently, they traded perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate Lou Williams for Rajon Rondo in an effort to up their playmaking and capture the magic that is “Playoff Rondo.” With Kawhi Leonard, PG13%... ahem sorry Pandemic P… oops sorry again… Paul George, and improved scoring, defense, and versatility, the Clippers are looking to advance past the second round for the first time in franchise history. One question to consider: is the Clippers’ isolation-heavy offense potent enough to beat elite teams like the Lakers or Jazz, or will it falter over a series as teams get used to Kawhi and PG13 isolations? Tyronne Lue will have to solve this question as he tries not to coach a repeat of next year.

4. Denver Nuggets (40-21)

While their record does not indicate it, the Nuggets have become significantly better this season. After a rough start, the team has gelled together as of late. Jokic is playing like an MVP, Michael Porter Jr is scoring like a star (although there is one shot he does not want to take), and the team filled the hole left by Jermani Grant’s departure by adding Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline. Like they have been for the last couple of seasons, the Nuggets look to be a tough draw in any playoff series. One question to consider: how good will Jamal Murray be? In the 2020 playoffs, he looked like the second star that the Nuggets have been looking for— however, this season, he has been his same inconsistent self. How good Murray is will determine how far this team will advance in the playoffs.

5. Los Angeles Lakers (36-25)

The defending champions have had a trying year clutching onto their crown. After somehow improving over the offseason by bringing in Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrel, Wesley Matthews, and Marc Gasol, they started off well. Fast forward four months and the Lakers are currently at the 5th seed, having lost both Ruffles enthusiast Anthony Davis and 36-year old movie star Lebron James due to injury no doubt partially caused by the wear-and-tear of playing late into October. With CJ McCollum returning to the Blazers and the Mavericks hitting their stride, the Lakers are one losing streak away from dropping to the play-in tournament. After making no moves at the trade deadline, LA can only hope to stay afloat and for Lebron and AD to come back healthy and rejuvenated. The one obvious question remains: Will Anthony Davis and Lebron James come back healthy? The former has returned, but the upcoming weeks will determine whether or not he’s here to stay. Ankle and Achilles injuries are fickle and any setback can have huge impacts on the playoff picture.

6. Dallas Mavericks (34-27)

After a rough start, the Mavericks have been hitting their stride as of late. Luka Doncic has built on his breakout sophomore campaign and firmly entrenched himself among the top 10 players in the NBA. Kristaps Porzingis has shaken off some of the rust from his meniscus injury joining Luka to form a duo that rivals any in the NBA. With the trade deadline addition of sharpshooter, GOAT podcaster, and the NBA’s most attractive dad, JJ Redick, and with Luka flirting with refs during games, the Mavericks have become the hottest (pun intended, again) team in the league. One question to consider: how healthy will Porzingis be? After an ACL tear and a meniscus tear, Porzingis’ health is no longer a guarantee. The Mavericks will have to choose between keeping him or trading him as their window to sign max players closes with Luka’s incoming extension. I guess you can say they are in the Shark Tank (I’m sorry, Mark Cuban forced me.)

7. Portland Trail Blazers (33-27)

Portland has been ravished by injuries to Zach Collins, CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic this year. Despite this, Damian Lillard and a dynamic set of role players have kept the Blazers afloat with seemingly sheer determination and duct tape. As more players return, they should land comfortably in the playoffs, but despite adding Norman Powell over the trade deadline, do not look poised to make much noise. I guess there are limits to how far duct tape and determination gets you. One question to consider: if the Blazers are an early out this season, will they finally pull the plug on the CJ McCollum Damian Lillard backcourt and look to trade CJ? Dame Time is already 30 and the clock (pun intended) is ticking louder and louder. The last thing the Blazers would want is to become the Timberwolves to his Kevin Garnett.

8. Memphis Grizzlies (31-29)

With a young star in Ja Morant and a cast of equally young but capable role players (including Kratos from God of War), Memphis looks to have a promising future. Once they get Jaren Jackson Jr back from a meniscus tear, they should have enough firepower to seriously bother teams in a potential first-round series. For a team as young as the Grizzlies, being 9th place in the Western Conference while missing their second best player is nothing to scoff at. One question to consider: is JJJ good enough to be the star next to Morant or will he just be Myles Turner 2.0? JJJ’s development will play a huge role in determining the Grizzlies’ ceiling in a star-run league.

9. San Antonio Spurs (31-29)

Post-Kawhi, the Spurs of recent years have looked decidedly un-Spursy. Do they rebuild (they have drafted good players like Dejounte Murray and Derrick White) or do they contend (they have had Demar Derozan and Lamarcus Aldridge on the roster)? After missing the playoffs for the first time in 20 years last season, they seem to have finally settled on a game plan: rebuild on the fly while contending for the playoffs. Although Aldridge has departed, Derozan keeps the Spurs in competitive shape. Add in promising young pieces and Gregg Poppovich’s coaching magic and the Spurs have a team that punches well above its weight. While they will not do much if they make the playoffs, the future is bright. One question to consider: who will be the next Spurs star? All of the Spurs’ young core are poised to become valuable NBA players, but none of them scream “star potential.” As the NBA is a star-run league, the Spurs will soon have to make a decision on how to get their next Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, or Tony Parker.

10. Golden State Warriors (31-31)

After missing a year because of injury, Stephen Curry has returned with a vengeance, shooting, shimmying, and setting nets on fire to a season near-identical to his 2016 unanimous MVP season. However, the team as a whole has fallen a tad short. For the first month of the season, Kelly Oubre was doing his best Pandemic P impression and (rookie!) James Wiseman is still getting benched for skipping practices and breaking COVID protocol. Like Michael Porter Jr, Andrew Wiggins has also found a shot he does not want to take. At times, it seems though Steve Kerr is trying to run a calculus level offense with a bunch of pre-algebra students (I saw this on Twitter a while back). The team’s inconsistency has resulted in a .500 record, not good enough to secure a playoff spot in the West. It seems like this season will be another transition year as the Warriors hope for Klay Thompson to return from injury next season. One question to consider: how can the Warriors get any better? Draymond, Klay, and Steph are all on the wrong side of 30. Because they have been over the luxury tax for years now, even signing a player to a minimum contract costs around $20 million. GM Bob Meyers and ownership will have to find creative ways to improve the roster. If they cannot, the Warriors will be stuck as another tough, but ultimately not title-contending Western Conference team and eventually have to make tough decisions (including possibly trading one of Draymond or Klay) to shed payroll.

11. New Orleans Pelicans (27-34)

Even though they are one of the league’s youngest teams, the Pelicans probably expected a better season than the one they are having this year. The offseason additions of veterans Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe have underperformed and worse, are taking up minutes that can go to their young players. On a schematic level, their defense has been a disappointment and the fit between Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson still needs ironing out. With that being said, there are more than a few bright spots this season. Brandon Ingram has proved last year’s All Star season wasn’t a fluke. Lonzo Ball is playing the best basketball of his career. Most exciting of all, Zion looks poised to become basketball’s next megastar, putting up Shaq-like numbers on insane efficiency. What might look like a disappointing season may end up being a blessing-in-disguise as one as the Pelicans’ young studs continue to come into their own. One question to consider: will the Pelicans ever go all in and trade for a disgruntled star like Bradley Beal? Even though Zion and BI are young, they are already good enough to rank among the best duos in the league. With the millions of draft picks from the Anthony Davis and the Jrue Holiday trades, one has to wonder if GM David Griffin will pull the trigger and trade for a star, signaling to their young superstars that they are serious about contending.

12. Sacramento Kings (25-36)

The Kings are the definition of NBA purgatory: not in playoff contention and not really tanking for the lottery. Perennial contenders for the 11th seed. Despite this, their young players continue to make strides (except Marvin Bagley who they can’t even trade for a bag of pretzels). Franchise cornerstone De’Aaron Fox has continued his development into John Wall lite, averaging his career high in points and assists. Rookie Tyrese Haliburton already plays like a 10-year NBA veteran. 28-year old Buddy Hield remains an elite shooter. One question to consider: what are the Kings going to do? NBA purgatory sucks. Fox and Haliburton (somewhere Dick Cheney is smiling) are not going to stick around forever. Pretty soon, management will have to make changes, whether that be finally firing Luke Walton or overhauling the roster. Those cowbells have not rung in a long time.

13. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-41)

Thunder GM Sam Presti loves two things in life: draft picks and athletic, long-limbed players with questionable jump shots. After the Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul trades (along with other smaller moves) the Thunder own the most draft picks in the 2020s. This season is a developmental year as Shai Gilgeous Alexander has improved to a 20 point scorer, Lu Dort looks like the next coming of Michael Jordan, and the rest of their athletic, long-limbed players with questionable shots somehow make this team decent. With so many picks, the future looks lightening-bright (pun intended) for the Thunder. One question to consider: what will the Thunder do with all those draft picks? The Thunder can do almost anything they want. Trade for a star? They have the picks. Trade up in the draft? They have the picks. Trade for more picks? Let me check… they have the picks! Presti has been criticized for failing to surround Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook with enough talent before but, like 12-year old me, now he can literally NBA 2K myGM his way to a championship.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves (19-44)

Perhaps the saddest team on this list, Minnesota still hasn’t won with D’Angelo Russell, Karl Anthony Towns, and Rookie of the Year contender Anthony Edwards on the same roster. In fact, since he was traded to the Twolves, Russell has only played five games with Towns due to injuries and COVID-19. With only 19 wins, the Timberwolves are the second-to-worst team in the league. Their one bright spot this season was when Anthony Edwards absolutely destroyed Yuta Wantanabe with a GOAT dunk candidate. Other than that, Timberwolves fans really have nothing to look forward to. Their draft pick goes to the Warriors this year if it lands outside the top four and even with the worst record in the league, due to the new lottery rules, it only has a 50% chance of staying with the team. One question to consider: will the pain ever end?

15. Houston Rockets (15-47)

The Rockets have missed more this season than in Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals. They began by ending last season’s Westbrook experiment, trading him for Wizards guard John Wall along with bringing in rising star Christian Wood and redemption-arc Demarcus Cousins in an effort to appease disgruntled franchise centerpiece James Harden. As promising as this group looked, the season quickly fell apart as Harden demanded (by gaining 30 pounds seemingly overnight and breaking the NBA’s COVID protocol while partying in Vegas) a trade and was quickly dealt. Now, the Rockets have just snapped a 20 game losing streak and the future looks bleak. Coach Stephen Silas has been coaching on Hall of Fame Difficulty and looks sadder than UC Berkeley students during his press conferences. Fans can’t even take solace in their draft pick as it is owed to (who else) Oklahoma City if it doesn’t fall between 1 and 4. One question to consider: Dodgers fans, have the other Houston sports teams suffered enough karma for the Astros’ sins?

The Current State of the NBA

Eastern Conference

While not as tough as the West, the elite of the East are all title contenders and the conference as a whole has grown considerably stronger over the past few years. From the rising Knicks to stalwart powerhouses such as the Bucks, the East has many suitors vying for its throne. Between old blood and new life, the conference has more vitality than it has had in years and may well crown the next NBA champion from the brutal clash of its champions.

1. Brooklyn Nets (42-20)

Brooklyn has the most top-end talent of any team in the NBA. Between Pepsi enthusiast Kyrie Irving, Twitter star Kevin Durant (seriously go look at his replies… bathwater), and a revitalized James Harden, the Nets easily could win each game off offense alone. Add in white-hot Joe Harris and aging star Blake Griffin, the Nets will seem destined to become one of the greatest offensive teams in NBA history. They are also quickly becoming one of the NBA’s most hated teams ever as any team with Kyrie, Harden, and KD will surely attract controversy. One question to consider: who’s going to play defense? Right now, their three best defenders are Kevin Durant, sophomore Bruce Brown, and rookie Nic Claxton. While the Nets can outscore any team, even La Habra high school’s Varsity team can put up 120+ on them. Harden, Kyrie, and the corpses of Deandre Jordan and Blake Griffin don’t inspire much confidence on defense. Come playoff time, we will find out how far purely offense can take a team.

2. Philadelphia 76ers (40-21)

After overhauling their basketball operations by hiring Sam Hinkie and their X’s and O’s by hiring Doc Rivers, the 76ers have responded with the best regular season of the Joel Embiid/Ben Simmons era. Both Embiid and Simmons are having the best seasons of their careers with Embiid becoming many fans’ MVP favorite. Their defense has been elite as the additions of Danny Green and Dwight Howard only magnify Simmons’ and Embiid’s Defensive Player of the Year worthy defense. While “Danny Green” still trends on Twitter after he has a particularly bad shooting night, him rediscovering his stroke along with the addition of sharpshooter Seth Curry and a revitalized Tobias Harris perfectly compliment Embiid’s best impression of prime Hakeem Olajuwon. Even Ben Simmons has started taking threes (albeit only wide-open at the end of the shot clock). Currently, Embiid is out with a knee injury, but should be back healthy and ready for the playoffs. One question to consider: how effective will Simmons and Embiid be in the playoffs? The duo’s weaknesses— Simmons’ inability to shoot and Embiid’s conditioning— have consistently been exploited by smart, well-coached teams. The duo will have to prove that they can overcome their weaknesses or chatter about breaking them up will undoubtedly start up again.

3. Milwaukee Bucks (38-23)

For the past few years, the Bucks have found great regular season success by playing a brand of defense that allows nothing at the rim but a whole lot of three point shots. However, last year in the second round, Bam Adebayo and the NBA’s coffee mogul showed just how far that game plan could go and eliminated them. So it seems as though the Bucks entered this season with one prerogative: learn how to adapt. Trading for Jrue Holiday and PJ Tucker gave the Bucks one of the most versatile lineups in the NBA with Jrue, Donte Divenchenzo, Khris Middleton, Tucker, and Giannis. Turn on any Bucks game and among the Giannis dunks that look like travels but aren’t actually travels because gather step and the Khris Middleton Kevin Durant impersonations only against the Celtics and you can see the growing pains of converting to a switch-heavy defense: miscommunication, incorrect positioning, and misread actions. However, these sacrifices will be worth it in the playoffs when it will become truly difficult to score on this team. Additionally, as the keystone of the 2017-2018 Rockets’ “switch-everything” defense, PJ Tucker should truly unlock this team’s defensive potential. One question to consider: how much will coach Mike Budenholzer lean into adjustments? Coach Bud is infamous for trusting his game plan (often to a fault) and not adjusting during a playoff series. His decisions when teams decide how to best counter the Bucks is the most important factor in this team hitting its title contender ceiling.

4. New York Knicks (34-28)

Donald Trump said that he could go out on Fifth Avenue, shoot someone, and he would not lose voters. Well, if Julius Randle went out on Fifth Avenue and shot someone I really think he wouldn’t lose any Knick fans. This year, Randle looks less like a human Beyblade and more like Lebron lite. He’s fulfilled the potential that Laker fans saw in him and led the Knicks right into the playoff hunt. Even Spike Lee has returned to Madison Square Garden! The rest of the roster is filled with intriguing prospects like Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Mitchell Robinson, along with competent veterans like Nerlens Noel and Elfrid Payton (who may or may not have a burner account— look up “knicksfan63” on Twitter). With president Leon Rose turning the Knicks into the East Coast’s equivalent of Klutch Sports and the Lakers, it seems as though the Knicks will finally sign that coveted superstar (probably from CAA if Rose has anything to say about it). Regardless of the future, for the first time since the Kristaps Porzingis trade, Knicks fans have something to cheer for. Let them believe they can beat the Nets. They deserve that and more after all those years in the wilderness. One question to consider: who will the Knicks go after in free agency this offseason? As one of the teams with the most cap space this summer, the Knicks can really dictate where the top players in free agency go. They can throw $20-million+ offers at Lonzo Ball or John Collins, or steal Victor Oladipo from the Heat. Maybe if the Clippers choke again they can get Kawhi. Whatever the do, for the first time in a long time, the present— and the future— look bright for New York Knicks.

5. Atlanta Hawks (34-28)

Poor Lloyd Pierce. After the former Atlanta coach was fired, the Hawks went on a long winning streak and have begun to look like the team that everyone imagined coming into the season. Their offseason additions of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallanari are finally healthy and Trae Young and John Collins have seemingly worked through any of the differences between them. Trading for Lou Williams at the deadline only gives them another ball handler that can take over when Trae sits. As of now, the Hawks looked poised to fly into the playoffs. One question to consider: what will they do with John Collins? Collins is a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Hawks can match any offer he signs. While the Hawks have looked to trade him previously, they must now rethink that plan after seeing what their full roster can do. With all the top players in the vaunted free agency class of 2021 signing extensions, a lot of teams will have money to throw at Collins.

6. Boston Celtics (32-30)

To the joy of Laker fans everywhere, the CeLtics have taken a major step back this year. Gordon Hayward is gone, Kemba Walker looks washed, and they just traded starting center Daniel Theis. Even coach Brad Stevens has faced rumors that he will return to the college ranks and coach for Indiana. I guess holding onto all those picks really worked out huh Danny Ainge? Over the deadline they added Moe Wagner and Evan Fournier (Google his last name for a fun surprise) which will help the team, but ultimately doesn’t propel them into the elite of East. Their two bright spots have been Jayson Tatum and especially Jaylen Brown, who has taken an All-Star level step forward. Still, it is hard to call this season anything but a disappointment. I guess the Celtics will have to wait until next season to compete for their second championship in 30 years. Do not despair Celtic fans. You still have your 15 championships before the introduction of the three-point line to celebrate. One question to consider: what can the Celtics do to improve the roster? Tatum and Jaylen can only take them so far and with Tatum’s extension kicking in, there will be little cap room left for them to operate. In the coming years, we could see them trade Marcus Smart or dump Kemba Walker’s contract. One thing is for sure— the current roster is not good enough, and Danny Ainge must make drastic changes for the Celtics to return to their former glory.

7. Miami Heat (32-30)

A combination of short turnaround time, COVID-19, injuries, and just bad basketball have the Heat in the 7th seed right now. This team is better than their record indicates and will be a tough matchup for any top seed in the East. Recently, they have started hitting their stride as more players are coming back from injuries and COVID-19. At the trade deadline, Pat Riley somehow converted Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley, and a pick swap into Victor Oladipo, then filling Olynyk’s role by trading for Nemanja Bjelica, proving under Florida governor Ron DeSantis, you really can do anything you want. One question to consider: what version of Oladipo will the Heat get— the disengaged Houston version, the underwhelming post-injury Indiana version, or the All-NBA superstar pre-injury Indiana version? Where Miami Heat Oladipo lies on this spectrum will determine the Heat’s playoff chances. They need another ball handler and stopper next to Jimmy to truly challenge teams like the Nets and the Lakers and Oladipo (in theory) is the perfect fit.

8. Charlotte Hornets (30-31)

After the large dropoff, we have arrived at the East’s middle class. This year, the Hornets are having one of their most exciting seasons in recent memory. With the combination of Miles Bridges slams, Lamelo Ball dimes, Gordon Hayward isos and whatever Scary Terry does, all soundtracked by a great broadcasting team (seriously, why hasn’t their play-by-play guy replaced Marv Albert on TNT— the dude is going senile), the Hornets have become the definition of an NBA League Pass team, meaning you should get NBA League Pass to watch them! Even though Lamelo Ball will be out for the season with a broken hand, he looks like a potential megastar. The Hayward signing does not look like the overpay everyone thought it would be. Terry Rozier has legitimately been better than Kemba Walker this season.For the first time in years, the future is bright in Charlotte. One question to consider: will this season’s success ultimately hold back the Hornets? The 2021 draft is all-caps LOADED, but with how good the Hornets are and how bad the East is, they may have missed out on a prime chance to add a second superstar next to Lamelo. If they continue on this trajectory, next year they will be too good to land a top pick. Nevertheless, it is hard to call this season anything but a success.

9. Indiana Pacers (29-32)

The 9th seed isn’t where the Pacers expected to be this year. However, it is hard to say that their record is indicative of their true talent. The Pacers have been short on wing depth this year, losing TJ Warren early in the season, then trading Victor Oladipo for Caris Levert. Unfortunately (actually fortunately), a physical found that Levert had a benign mass on his kidney and he had surgery to remove it, leading him to miss two months. Now that he is back, with a loaded frontcourt of Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Turner and All Star Domantas Sabonis, the Pacers look to get back to their winning ways. One question to consider: what will the Pacers do with Myles Turner? Rumors about him to the Hornets were flying around as recently as the trade deadline. The Sabonis-Turner frontcourt has only been a small net positive when they share the court together for a couple years now. If two of your three best players aren’t a huge positive, then what is your team’s ceiling? This offseason, they will have to ask themselves if they are better with Turner or if they would benefit more from trading him.

10. Washington Wizards (27-34)

Last offseason, the Wizards traded franchise cornerstone John Wall for Russell Westbrook. For most of the season it’s looked like a steal for Houston as Wall is playing close to his former self while Westbrook’s athleticism has seemingly been stolen by the Monstars. Fortunately, Westbrook seems to have recovered from knee surgery by now and looks like his old self, a good sign for a Wizards team that hopes to make the playoffs. Bradley Beal leads the NBA in scoring and sophomore Rui Hachimura has significantly improved (check out his shoes). However, the Wizards’ defensive woes have persisted. This team is built to outscore you.One question to consider: will Bradley Beal finally request a trade this offseason? The rumors about Bradley Beal have been floating around for what seems like an eternity. Reports indicate that this season, after seeing the Westbrook experiment out and weathering a pandemic, Bradley Beal is prepared to make a career-altering choice— stay with Washington or request a trade. A Bradley Beal trade request would shift the balance of power in the NBA. Imagine trying to guard Beal, Jokic, and Murray or Beal, Zion, and Ingram. Maybe Pat Riley works his mafia magic and brings Beal down to South Beach with Jimmy Butler and Bam. Whatever happens, it is a certainty that this offseason will be one of change in Washington.

11. Chicago Bulls (26-35)

Chicago won the trade deadline by bringing in former USC Trojan Nikola Vucevic and Bulls fans everywhere are currently praying to their effigies of Artūras Karnišovas. A mere two games from the 10th seed, the Vucci Mane’s presence should give the Bulls a lethal offensive threat besides Zach Lavine, albeit one that needs some more juice. The Vucevic/Lavine two-man game will be one of the most devastating actions in the NBA. It is looking like this trade is just the beginning of Karnišovas transforming the Bulls into a perennial playoff contender and potentially, an attractive free agency destination. One question to consider: what is going to happen to Lauri Markkanen? The Finnish forward, once seriously considered the next Kristaps Porzingis, has underwhelmed for three straight years. With his restricted free agency coming up, the Bulls must make a decision on whether to keep him, trade him, or let him leave. If they keep him, a Markkanen/Vucevic front court might be the worst defensive frontcourt in the league. Additionally, Markkanen would block promising forward Patrick Williams from playing time. Perhaps the Bulls will look to trade him (maybe for Lonzo!) Whatever they decide to do, it is a new era of Chicago basketball and I’m sure Bulls fans are happier for it.

12. Toronto Raptors (26-36)

The Raptors have fallen off considerably since winning the 2019 NBA Finals. After losing Kawhi, Danny Green, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol to Los Angeles (seriously, they all left for LA), Toronto is in a transition year. Currently playing in Tampa Bay due to Canada's COVID restrictions and with trade rumors flying around Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and coach Nick Nurse constantly arguing, and Raptor fans turning on the AronBaynesFanClub account on Twitter, this might be the perfect year and the perfect draft to bottom out. While a playoff berth is still in reach, the odds remain thicc for Lowry and company to put a new spin on their season (I hope you all got my two puns). One question to consider: should the Raptors bottom out this season? Even if they manage to make the playoffs, the Raptors will be destroyed by one of Philadelphia, Brooklyn, or Milwaukee. With all the dysfunction of the 2021 season and the extreme star potential in the 2021 draft, it might be time for Masia Urjiri and Nick Nurse to put on their helmets and lead the tank. Imagine Jalen Green, Cade Cunningham, or Evan Mobley running alongside Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. By tanking for a top pick, the Raptors will have restocked their store of young talent and be primed for a playoff run next season.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-40)

Forget the Splash Brothers— the NBA’s best backcourt nickname belongs to Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. I’m not sure if I can say that in a school blog, so just take the first part of Sexton and the last part of Garland and put them together. Fueled by their explosive young backcourt and few savvy veterans, the Cavaliers started off the season as the NBA’s top team, even beating the Kyrie, KD, Harden Nets two games in a row. Now, they have fallen back to Earth. They should again land a high draft pick but development from Sexton, Garland, rookie Isaac Okoro and new addition Jarrett Allen have brought the most hope to this franchise since Lebron returned. It seems like GM Koby Altman is trying to build a winner that does not rely on the birthplace of the greatest player of his generation. One question to consider: what will the Cavaliers do about Kevin Love? Since he signed his max contract with Cleveland, Love has not played very much, has been injured a few times, but it seems like his on-court absence is more an agreement between himself and management to keep him healthy until they find a trade partner for him. With two years and nearly $60 million left on his deal, it is going to take a very specific team to trade for Love and give the Cavs something in return.

14. Detroit Pistons (19-43)

“When I was growing up, I didn’t stick my toe in the pool, I jumped in. I sit on the front of the rollercoaster with my hands up. I’m not going to come in and be gun shy. My clip will be empty.” With the quote of the century, Pistons GM Troy Weaver explains why Detroit has had such an interesting year. It started in the offseason when the Pistons signed 4 centers in free agency but not their young star Christian Wood. It continued when they signed Nuggets glue guy Jerami Grant (who has really broken out for them). Most recently, they bought out Blake Griffin. There is no mistaking it— Weaver is driving the tank. In a decade of painful seasons, this one might be the worst for Pistons fans. Avert your eyes. One question to consider: will the pain ever end?

15. Orlando Magic (18-43)

The Magic can’t seem to catch a break. After losing top prospect Jonathan Isaac to a torn ACL in the bubble, they lost Markelle Fultz to the same injury early this season. With that, the writing on the wall for too many seasons became clear— it was time to deal Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier. At the trade deadline, they dealt all three players and received Wendell Carter Jr, RJ Hampton and three first rounders to add to their warchest. Orlando has finally given up and pressed the reset button. Sadly (maybe fortunately for the elite in the East) we won’t see Game 1 Magic this year. One question to consider: will the Magic actually do a proper rebuild this time? After Dwight Howard left, the Magic floundered in mediocrity for years. They essentially became a minor league team for the entire NBA with Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Domantas Sabonis playing huge roles for their new teams. They did not embrace the tank, trading for players like Serge Ibaka and Terrence Ross and being a perennial 14th seed. If the Magic properly rebuild and fill their roster with young talent, then maybe people would come to Orlando for something besides Universal Studios and Disneyworld.