1. The Boston Celtics: (Future potential: As bright as the sun)
More than having secured building around an All-Star level young core, the Celtics have their financials well under control and are a desirable destination for players... They have very little to add in order to secure contending for the title for the next decade and have the advantage over the Bucks to not be dependent on one player only, like the Bucks are on Giannis.
2. Miami Heat: (Future potential: As bright as the sun)
Similar to the Celtics, the Heat are a desirable destination for FAs and players wanted to be traded and are run by one of the most experienced and capable F.O. as well as with superb coaching in the league...
3.The Milwaukee Bucks: (Future potential: As bright as the sun)
After a very difficult off-season, where they had to establish a long term and sustainable contending team, the Bucks have ended up better and more experienced than before, but with great financials and full of highly desirable in the market assets in what is generally admitted to be the "deepest roster in the league"...
The Bucks have all they need to upgrade further and contend for the title in each and every year over the decade that follows...
Only handicap for today's best team in the league, is that Miami and Celtics are less dependent on their best player like the Bucks are on Giannis, but instead, are having a core of multiple players who can make up for an injury or other shortcoming in their main roster...
4. Memphis Grizzlies: (Future potential: As bright as the sun)
Practically a "copy" of the Bucks model, the Grizzlies don't have a player on Giannis' level, but like the Heat or the Celtics, have a young core on Mitchell and Jackson Jr. which can make the difference in the upcoming years, as well as securing the team's longer term progressing...
A legitimate force in the West coming up, the Grizzlies are all set to make an immediate impact after having landed what used to be the Bucks coaching assistance for them to be their head coaching team...
5. Detroit Pistons: (Future potential: Great)
Like the Bucks have back in 2013 draft night, the Pistons have added a real "steal" during the 2019 draft on Sekou Doumbouya and are building around him, but without ever blowing the team up, in what seems to be an "internal rebuilt"...
Doumbouya seems to be the only alternative capable to challenge Giannis' domination in world's basketball as of today... A future top-5 player and then on the hands of coach Casey who has proven himself on having players to develop fast in order to be "Star level" with the examples of Siakam, Anunoby and Van Vleet in Toronto proving him... The Pistons have a great future ahead of them despite the "Griffin fiasco" that has proceeded a couple of seasons before...
6. Dallas Mavericks: (Future potential: Great)
By having achieved "the deal of the century" during the 1918 draft, which has allowed them to add one of the best talents that the game has ever seen, the Mavs have great financials and are carefully building around Luka... They look to be the longest lasting force in the West for the future.
7. Utah Jazz: (Future potential: Great)
The Jazz have great financials and the Stars a contending team needs still not having reached their peak... They are carefully (and perhaps more slowly than they should) adding valuable depth to their roster at reasonable cost and look to have established great future potential... They are expected to be better for each and every season that follows...
8. OKC Thunder: (Future potential: Great)
The Thunder have get out of the financial trouble they had and still have a core to keep them in the playoffs, but by having collected an army of picks and having added the highly future promising S.G. Alexander, they look in a position to soon be back into contending...
9. Charlotte Hornets: (Future potential: Great)
The Hornets were expected to be one of the worst teams in the league during the 2019 off-season, but have proved themselves to be far from that...
They have an exceptional talent in their roster on Devonte' Graham and by having added Rosier and drafted high potential P.J Washington and Monk as well as having Bridges taking the next step up, they've ended up being better than they ever were when Kemba was in their roster... Soon to be contending for the title as long as they add a center that fits well with the rest of their youth talent...
10. New Orleans Pelicans: (Future potential: Great)
Having ripped the Lakers off during the AD deal, the Pels are playing some of the most exciting to watch basketball in the league... Ingram and Ball have been taking the next step up and Zion is expected to soon join them into forming a "dreadful team"... They clearly are spending this season in order to favor their "next day", but they have all the means to be contenders in the West for all the upcoming decade...
11. The Los Angeles Clippers: (Future potential: Possible to be good, but questionable...)
Perhaps not as long future promising as the Mavs or the Jazz are in the West, the Clips have added in their roster two prime All Stars at the right age and have great financials to keep them and secure contending for the title in the long term, however they seem blocked by their own Stars to take the next step and have given their assets and picks away...
12. Minnesota Timberwolves: (Future potential: Possible to be good, but questionable...)
KAT is a legitimate piece to built around and Wiggins too... The Wolves seem to have left the Thibs/Butler issues behind them in disturbing the locker room and the F.O. of the team up and by having built a young and talented core around KAT and Wiggins, are looking to be back ASAP.
13. Golden State Warriors: (Future potential: Uncertain but possible to be good)
GSW has now spend a season wasted in order to take under control the financial and roster depth issues that have plagued the team a season before... They've managed to retain their (contending) core but KD and have even added a valuable asset on Russell on their roster... Future will much depend on the decisions they will make here after...
14. The Toronto Raptors: (Future potential: Uncertain but possible to be good)
The Raptors almost have the entire roster expiring this season... Their future is a mystery even if they resign most of their about to be free agent players among which, the most valuable ones are aging.
Never the less, the Raptors have now an NBA title in their pocket and the F.O. has proven the willingness to be supporting the team's future... The future is uncertain, but the executives dedication is not....
15. The Washington Wizards: (Future potential: Uncertain but possible to be good)
The Wizards are expecting Wall back and have their financials under control, they also have managed to resign Beal and have drafted highly promising Hatchimura... Unless things turn over again, they seem to be back on a stable truck...
16. The Indiana Pacers: (Future potential: Uncertain but possible to be good)
Victor Olandipo is expected back within the end of this month after a very serious injury, which makes his performance ability questionable... But even if Victor can be at the level he was before the injury, the Pacers will need more to add in order to take the next step and seriously contend for the title and that, doesn't look easy to achieve...
17. The Chicago Bulls: (Future potential: Uncertain)
There is talent and enough quality roster depth with the Bulls, but unless they find a real leader, they can do no better than some surprising wins when in their better day on the floor...
18. The Orlando Magic: (Future potential: Uncertain)
There is talent on the Magic, but not enough to lift up from the lower playoff seeds, or contend anywhere in the near future... Fournier (their best scorer) is expiring this season and they don't have "hot" picks... Financials are not stellar either... The Magic seem able to retain what they've got, but unable to take the next step in the future.
19. The Denver Nuggets: (Future potential: Uncertain)
Not enough talent to content and neither it looks like there is some light at the end of the tunnel that will help them to take the next step in the future... Another team in front count that seems not to be able to take the next step and contend...
20. Atlanta Hawks: (Future potential: Uncertain)
Is this rebuilt ever gonna end? The fans and Trae Young seem to have their patience diminishing...
21. Cleveland Cavaliers: (Future potential: Uncertain)
Where all this rebuilt is going is still questionable... Like the Hawks before them, they seem to be "all over the place"...
22. Sacramento Kings: (Future potential: Uncertain)
Nobody expected the Kings to be able and contend this season, but neither anybody expected them to be one of the worst teams in the league... The Kings have Bogdanovic and Holmes expiring this season and Fox following a season later... They therefore can't upgrade the roster, but are also stacked in a situation where stellar players (like Bogdan) are coming from bench, while the main roster has "holes" in the same time...
Nobody else to blame but their selves, they have to go back and start from scratch just after they've finished their rebuilt...
23. Brooklyn Nets: (Future potential: Mediocre)
The Nets have among the worst financials in the league after having signed KD and Kyrie this season, they are into the lux tax for the next season and the following ones if they are to retain their roster and additionally, have their best shooter on Harris expiring this summer and key core players on Allen and Dinwiddie (who is expected to reject his P.O.) expiring a season later as well as many empty roster spots to fill...
Their potential to upgrade the roster further is practically non existing, but most probably they will have to trade two out of Dinnwidie, LeVert, Harris or Prince and certainly dump the salary out of at least one of them, in order to avoid the (coming) repeaters tax being over 100M on top of the lux tax they'll certainly have to pay... Optimism for the future can only be low in an increasingly stepping up competition...
24. The Los Angeles Lakers: (Future potential: Mediocre)
The Lakers have expelled all their near future picks and assets but Kuzma during the past two seasons in order to sign Lebron and add AD through a (forced) trade, but what has blocked their future above all, is that they had to sign KCP and Rondo on contracts that have "trade blocking" provision and therefore, only have (low salary) Kuzma as an asset to use on a trade...
Clearly a contending team this season, they have Lebron on his (inevitable due to age) descent signed for another two seasons, but they have poor roster depth too... With no provision to make back for Lebron or add roster depth during the following seasons, this season looks to be their best (and only) shot.
25. The Houston Rockets: (Future potential: Poor)
Very similar to the Lakers before but albeit with less chances to contend, the Rockets have established a team that will be in the front court for the next two seasons, but can't be significantly upgraded or has established a long term future.
26. Philadelphia 76ers: (Future potential: Cloudy)
The Sixers lost their sharpshooter on (aging) Reddick, but lost their best player (for who they've payed heavily for) on Butler too... Like with the Nets, their ability to improve the roster through additions is practically zero and by signing (aging) Horford to an enormous contract, as well as extending Simmons and Harris to insane super max contracts, they have blocked their financial future even before Embiid's contract expires. Clearly lucking depth in their bench, they don't have the means to upgrade it either...
Unless they can contend for the title this season on a highly competitive environment, the future looks much tougher in the seasons that will follow since they are expected not to be able to upgrade, while the competition will most certainly will...
27. Phoenix Suns: (Future potential: Cloudy): Still looking to establish a truck for their future, the Suns have nothing but Ayton to hope upon and this ain't the best other teams have...
28. New York Knicks: (Future potential: Cloudy): Like the Suns before them, the Knicks look to not have a clear future target yet, but even worst than the Suns, they still are looking on roster solutions to be based upon...
29. The Portland Trail Blazers: (Future potential:Bad)
After having established a playoff seed team, the Blazers seem to be unable to follow the competition in taking the next step. Last year, on last year's (poorer) competition seems that it was their roof... Future looks bad unless a radical change happens and it doesn't look like there's is a solution in the end of the tunnel given their financial condition...
30. San Antonio Spurs: (Future potential:Bad)
Still capable of being in the playoffs, the Spurs look like they live under their past weight... They need a rebuilt and starting over from scratch, if they want to be back into contending... The existing situation have them trapped were they are and unable to take the next step...
More than having secured building around an All-Star level young core, the Celtics have their financials well under control and are a desirable destination for players... They have very little to add in order to secure contending for the title for the next decade and have the advantage over the Bucks to not be dependent on one player only, like the Bucks are on Giannis.
2. Miami Heat: (Future potential: As bright as the sun)
Similar to the Celtics, the Heat are a desirable destination for FAs and players wanted to be traded and are run by one of the most experienced and capable F.O. as well as with superb coaching in the league...
3.The Milwaukee Bucks: (Future potential: As bright as the sun)
After a very difficult off-season, where they had to establish a long term and sustainable contending team, the Bucks have ended up better and more experienced than before, but with great financials and full of highly desirable in the market assets in what is generally admitted to be the "deepest roster in the league"...
The Bucks have all they need to upgrade further and contend for the title in each and every year over the decade that follows...
Only handicap for today's best team in the league, is that Miami and Celtics are less dependent on their best player like the Bucks are on Giannis, but instead, are having a core of multiple players who can make up for an injury or other shortcoming in their main roster...
4. Memphis Grizzlies: (Future potential: As bright as the sun)
Practically a "copy" of the Bucks model, the Grizzlies don't have a player on Giannis' level, but like the Heat or the Celtics, have a young core on Mitchell and Jackson Jr. which can make the difference in the upcoming years, as well as securing the team's longer term progressing...
A legitimate force in the West coming up, the Grizzlies are all set to make an immediate impact after having landed what used to be the Bucks coaching assistance for them to be their head coaching team...
5. Detroit Pistons: (Future potential: Great)
Like the Bucks have back in 2013 draft night, the Pistons have added a real "steal" during the 2019 draft on Sekou Doumbouya and are building around him, but without ever blowing the team up, in what seems to be an "internal rebuilt"...
Doumbouya seems to be the only alternative capable to challenge Giannis' domination in world's basketball as of today... A future top-5 player and then on the hands of coach Casey who has proven himself on having players to develop fast in order to be "Star level" with the examples of Siakam, Anunoby and Van Vleet in Toronto proving him... The Pistons have a great future ahead of them despite the "Griffin fiasco" that has proceeded a couple of seasons before...
6. Dallas Mavericks: (Future potential: Great)
By having achieved "the deal of the century" during the 1918 draft, which has allowed them to add one of the best talents that the game has ever seen, the Mavs have great financials and are carefully building around Luka... They look to be the longest lasting force in the West for the future.
7. Utah Jazz: (Future potential: Great)
The Jazz have great financials and the Stars a contending team needs still not having reached their peak... They are carefully (and perhaps more slowly than they should) adding valuable depth to their roster at reasonable cost and look to have established great future potential... They are expected to be better for each and every season that follows...
8. OKC Thunder: (Future potential: Great)
The Thunder have get out of the financial trouble they had and still have a core to keep them in the playoffs, but by having collected an army of picks and having added the highly future promising S.G. Alexander, they look in a position to soon be back into contending...
9. Charlotte Hornets: (Future potential: Great)
The Hornets were expected to be one of the worst teams in the league during the 2019 off-season, but have proved themselves to be far from that...
They have an exceptional talent in their roster on Devonte' Graham and by having added Rosier and drafted high potential P.J Washington and Monk as well as having Bridges taking the next step up, they've ended up being better than they ever were when Kemba was in their roster... Soon to be contending for the title as long as they add a center that fits well with the rest of their youth talent...
10. New Orleans Pelicans: (Future potential: Great)
Having ripped the Lakers off during the AD deal, the Pels are playing some of the most exciting to watch basketball in the league... Ingram and Ball have been taking the next step up and Zion is expected to soon join them into forming a "dreadful team"... They clearly are spending this season in order to favor their "next day", but they have all the means to be contenders in the West for all the upcoming decade...
11. The Los Angeles Clippers: (Future potential: Possible to be good, but questionable...)
Perhaps not as long future promising as the Mavs or the Jazz are in the West, the Clips have added in their roster two prime All Stars at the right age and have great financials to keep them and secure contending for the title in the long term, however they seem blocked by their own Stars to take the next step and have given their assets and picks away...
12. Minnesota Timberwolves: (Future potential: Possible to be good, but questionable...)
KAT is a legitimate piece to built around and Wiggins too... The Wolves seem to have left the Thibs/Butler issues behind them in disturbing the locker room and the F.O. of the team up and by having built a young and talented core around KAT and Wiggins, are looking to be back ASAP.
13. Golden State Warriors: (Future potential: Uncertain but possible to be good)
GSW has now spend a season wasted in order to take under control the financial and roster depth issues that have plagued the team a season before... They've managed to retain their (contending) core but KD and have even added a valuable asset on Russell on their roster... Future will much depend on the decisions they will make here after...
14. The Toronto Raptors: (Future potential: Uncertain but possible to be good)
The Raptors almost have the entire roster expiring this season... Their future is a mystery even if they resign most of their about to be free agent players among which, the most valuable ones are aging.
Never the less, the Raptors have now an NBA title in their pocket and the F.O. has proven the willingness to be supporting the team's future... The future is uncertain, but the executives dedication is not....
15. The Washington Wizards: (Future potential: Uncertain but possible to be good)
The Wizards are expecting Wall back and have their financials under control, they also have managed to resign Beal and have drafted highly promising Hatchimura... Unless things turn over again, they seem to be back on a stable truck...
16. The Indiana Pacers: (Future potential: Uncertain but possible to be good)
Victor Olandipo is expected back within the end of this month after a very serious injury, which makes his performance ability questionable... But even if Victor can be at the level he was before the injury, the Pacers will need more to add in order to take the next step and seriously contend for the title and that, doesn't look easy to achieve...
17. The Chicago Bulls: (Future potential: Uncertain)
There is talent and enough quality roster depth with the Bulls, but unless they find a real leader, they can do no better than some surprising wins when in their better day on the floor...
18. The Orlando Magic: (Future potential: Uncertain)
There is talent on the Magic, but not enough to lift up from the lower playoff seeds, or contend anywhere in the near future... Fournier (their best scorer) is expiring this season and they don't have "hot" picks... Financials are not stellar either... The Magic seem able to retain what they've got, but unable to take the next step in the future.
19. The Denver Nuggets: (Future potential: Uncertain)
Not enough talent to content and neither it looks like there is some light at the end of the tunnel that will help them to take the next step in the future... Another team in front count that seems not to be able to take the next step and contend...
20. Atlanta Hawks: (Future potential: Uncertain)
Is this rebuilt ever gonna end? The fans and Trae Young seem to have their patience diminishing...
21. Cleveland Cavaliers: (Future potential: Uncertain)
Where all this rebuilt is going is still questionable... Like the Hawks before them, they seem to be "all over the place"...
22. Sacramento Kings: (Future potential: Uncertain)
Nobody expected the Kings to be able and contend this season, but neither anybody expected them to be one of the worst teams in the league... The Kings have Bogdanovic and Holmes expiring this season and Fox following a season later... They therefore can't upgrade the roster, but are also stacked in a situation where stellar players (like Bogdan) are coming from bench, while the main roster has "holes" in the same time...
Nobody else to blame but their selves, they have to go back and start from scratch just after they've finished their rebuilt...
23. Brooklyn Nets: (Future potential: Mediocre)
The Nets have among the worst financials in the league after having signed KD and Kyrie this season, they are into the lux tax for the next season and the following ones if they are to retain their roster and additionally, have their best shooter on Harris expiring this summer and key core players on Allen and Dinwiddie (who is expected to reject his P.O.) expiring a season later as well as many empty roster spots to fill...
Their potential to upgrade the roster further is practically non existing, but most probably they will have to trade two out of Dinnwidie, LeVert, Harris or Prince and certainly dump the salary out of at least one of them, in order to avoid the (coming) repeaters tax being over 100M on top of the lux tax they'll certainly have to pay... Optimism for the future can only be low in an increasingly stepping up competition...
24. The Los Angeles Lakers: (Future potential: Mediocre)
The Lakers have expelled all their near future picks and assets but Kuzma during the past two seasons in order to sign Lebron and add AD through a (forced) trade, but what has blocked their future above all, is that they had to sign KCP and Rondo on contracts that have "trade blocking" provision and therefore, only have (low salary) Kuzma as an asset to use on a trade...
Clearly a contending team this season, they have Lebron on his (inevitable due to age) descent signed for another two seasons, but they have poor roster depth too... With no provision to make back for Lebron or add roster depth during the following seasons, this season looks to be their best (and only) shot.
25. The Houston Rockets: (Future potential: Poor)
Very similar to the Lakers before but albeit with less chances to contend, the Rockets have established a team that will be in the front court for the next two seasons, but can't be significantly upgraded or has established a long term future.
26. Philadelphia 76ers: (Future potential: Cloudy)
The Sixers lost their sharpshooter on (aging) Reddick, but lost their best player (for who they've payed heavily for) on Butler too... Like with the Nets, their ability to improve the roster through additions is practically zero and by signing (aging) Horford to an enormous contract, as well as extending Simmons and Harris to insane super max contracts, they have blocked their financial future even before Embiid's contract expires. Clearly lucking depth in their bench, they don't have the means to upgrade it either...
Unless they can contend for the title this season on a highly competitive environment, the future looks much tougher in the seasons that will follow since they are expected not to be able to upgrade, while the competition will most certainly will...
27. Phoenix Suns: (Future potential: Cloudy): Still looking to establish a truck for their future, the Suns have nothing but Ayton to hope upon and this ain't the best other teams have...
28. New York Knicks: (Future potential: Cloudy): Like the Suns before them, the Knicks look to not have a clear future target yet, but even worst than the Suns, they still are looking on roster solutions to be based upon...
29. The Portland Trail Blazers: (Future potential:Bad)
After having established a playoff seed team, the Blazers seem to be unable to follow the competition in taking the next step. Last year, on last year's (poorer) competition seems that it was their roof... Future looks bad unless a radical change happens and it doesn't look like there's is a solution in the end of the tunnel given their financial condition...
30. San Antonio Spurs: (Future potential:Bad)
Still capable of being in the playoffs, the Spurs look like they live under their past weight... They need a rebuilt and starting over from scratch, if they want to be back into contending... The existing situation have them trapped were they are and unable to take the next step...
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