text: This will be the season the 'Greek Freak' applies his talent and makes a true impact for his team, leading them to a top-four seed amidst the wild volatility that is currently present at the top of the Eastern Conference. Giannis will finish in the top three of MVP voting and Milwaukee will win around 50 games, entrenching themselves as one of the elite teams in the East.
  Turner has been trending upward since the playoffs of his rookie year where, after an inconsistent regular season, he proved he belonged in the league by displaying elite shot-blocking ability. He then proceeded to effectively extend his range as a sophomore, and the former Longhorn is now ready to take on the responsibility of leading a young team.
  As a long, rangy big, Turner is a hot commodity in the transforming NBA. His athleticism allows him to be a playmaker, and his talent affords him the ability to be consistent. While his production may struggle early on in his new high-volume role, he has the tools to eventually succeed and thrive as the top option for the Pacers.
  Detroit has struggled to break the ceiling with Drummond as the team's centerpiece, every year showing promise and every spring failing to deliver. It’s time for the Pistons to put their foot down and blow it up. Drummond is the most valuable piece they have, which says a lot considering his clear deficiencies on offense, but they should be able to get a good return for both he and Reggie Jackson - enough to make a rebuild worth it in the long run.
  This Bulls team is awful. In fact, it’s so awful, they really can't be compared to any Bulls team that has been assembled in the last 19 seasons. Not since the end of the Michael Jordan era has a Bulls team been so devoid of talent or leadership. Though their 13-win total in 1998/99 came in a shortened season, the roster comparisons are evident.
  Their best player is a third-year guard coming off of an ACL tear and, for as talented as Zach LaVine is, most of his ability was based on his athleticism - which is, at the very least, hindered post-injury. Dwyane Wade might compete for the title of most talented, but his tenure in Chicago could be gone with the wind as soon as the season opener.
  After dealing their only valuable asset for pennies on the dollar, the Bulls and GarPax have set themselves up for a rough five-year window. This is just the beginning, folks.
  A lot of rosters have been shuffled since the end of last season, and among the commotion, Washington stayed together. Thanks to this, they are now the most stable and talented team in the East and will prove so by securing home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
  Their entire starting five will return, while John Wall has gotten better each season in the league, especially since rehabbing from his latest knee surgery. Otto Porter’s contract is a big bite out of their cap space, but his salary ultimately won’t affect his on-court play. While they don’t have a 'big three,' Washington has one of the best starting groups in the East.
  Looking at what Charlotte gave up for Dwight Howard, you would think he’d be cut before training camp. But, Steve Clifford will succeed in finding a solid role for the dinosaur and taking advantage of his size and rebounding on a stout defensive team.
  Kemba Walker and Nic Batum will also excel, finding great success on the perimeter thanks to Howard’s strength in the post. Along with his rebounding and defensive ability, Howard will be one of the best pick and roll partners Walker, one of the league's best PnR scorers, has ever played with. Once again, roster continuity plays a big role in the success of the team.
  Despite Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside doing what they do best, the Heat will miss the playoffs for the second straight year, mainly due to Dion Waiters having a tough time replicating his stellar play of last season.
  Lacking a second scorer will prove to be fatal for the Heat’s hopes of reaching the postseason for the first time since the departure of all three superstars. This will trigger Pat Riley to rethink the current makeup of the team and we could finally see Dragic traded after Miami flirted with the idea so often the last few seasons.
  With a few bottom dweller teams finally gaining some traction this offseason, Orlando will become the worst team in the league. Following a lackluster summer where they failed to make any big splashes during free agency, on top of selecting the biggest risk in the top ten of the draft, expectations are low and agitation is high.
  Their core of Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, and Nikola Vucevic is defensively inept, and none of them can shoot from long range. The team has plenty of holes to fill and no clear way of filling them this season. Orlando is home to one of the worst rebuilds of the decade, following the 2012 departure of Dwight Howard, and this season will also be a huge disappointment.
  Much like Orlando, Atlanta is in a dire position to start the season. Their best player is Dennis Schroder, followed by career journeymen and a plethora of youth. Rookie first-rounder John Collins will see all the opportunities he can handle this season and could end up being the most successful story of the year. Taurean Prince showed glimpses of potential last season and should get all the time he needs to develop on the court at the small forward spot, while newly inked center Dewayne Dedmon could prove to be a diamond in the rough, with a chance to play big minutes on a team without much frontcourt depth.
  However, without a true leader or star, Atlanta has fully committed itself to what will be an ugly rebuild – a far cry from the franchise record 60 wins they enjoyed just three years ago.
  After finishing as a finalist for both last season, Leonard will continue his ascent as the best two-way player in the NBA by taking home each of the major player awards, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win both the MVP and DPOY awards in the same season.
  Leonard, who has proven himself a tactician on both ends of the court, will also lead the Spurs to a rematch in the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
  With all the questions surrounding Harden and Paul, one thing is certain: they are offensive wizards. Head coach Mike D'Antoni will employ what he knows best, which is a fast-paced offense that puts up a lot of points.
  In what will end up being the most interesting story in the West, both Harden and Paul will take turns running the point, each racking up big numbers through two different styles of play. Paul will run a slower half court oriented style while Harden will push the tempo much like the team did last season. This change of pace mid-game will cause a lot of problems for opposing defenses, making Houston one of the best offensive teams in the NBA.
  Things were confusing for New Orleans' frontcourt last season as Davis and Cousins struggled to coexist. Following a full summer to get acquainted, however, the two should work better together this upcoming season. Cousins' increasing ability to stretch the floor will help facilitate a successful gameplan in which Davis runs the middle of the floor while Cousins plays all the way out to the three-point line.