13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts – Are the Cavs, Knicks, and Magic Better After a Wild NBA Offseason?

Make sure to listen and add the 13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts podcast to your list! This week Steve shares his thoughts on the most interesting Eastern Conference teams after a wild NBA Offseason.

Wild NBA Offseason

This week we look at the seven most interesting teams in the Eastern Conference and try to predict if they are better or not after a busy offseason.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs were upset in the semifinals of the Eastern Conference by the Indiana Pacers. They
return the same team except for losing Ty Jerome and Caris LeVert. Jerome was great during the season but became a defensive liability during the playoffs while Lavert was a good player coming off the bench for them.. The Cavs are a very talented team one of the two most talented teams in the conference. It all comes down to Donovan Mitchell and if he steps up in the playoffs. In his career he has yet to do it so I believe their ceiling is the conference finals.

2. New York Knicks

The Knicks had a good offseason and successfully improved their bench adding Guerschon
Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson. Along with Mitchell Robinson the Knicks have a bench. The pressure is on new coach, Mike Brown. The Knicks have made steps to make themselves the favorites in the conference. I don’t think the Knicks have enough talent to win a title but they are a force to be reckoned with and a key injury to another team could push the Knicks over the top.

4. Orlando Magic

The Magic added Desmond Bane and along with a healthy Jalen Suggs making them dangerous.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are an excellent one two punch offensively and will only continue to get better. I can see the Magic getting to the conference finals as they begin to make noise as a future Eastern Conference power.

5. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons made some changes adding Duncan Robinson and Caris LaVert. They also have Jaden
Ivey returning from injury this year as well as a great defender in Ausar Thompson.. Cade Cunningham, their only true star, has a developing cast that maybe a year away. In a league where stars carry a team the Pistons have only one. I don’t see them improving as much as predicted. A fourth place finish would be their ceiling and that’s only if Cade gets another star to play with.

6. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks got rid of Damian Lillard as they waived and stretched him. Their big signing was
Myles Turner, who is a good big but not a big difference maker. They also added Cole Anthony, a scorer not known for his defense. The rest of the cast is average at best. Unless Giannis completely dominates, which he is capable of doing they will be a team in the middle of the pack, winning forty-five to fifty games.

6. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks added Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander -Walker to their roster in the offseason. Put them with a healthy Jalen Johnson, improving Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels and Trae Young and they have some talent. It’s difficult to predict what the Hawks will do because of Porzingis health and the mercurial Trae Young but I think the Hawks will end up with the fourth seed.

7. Toronto Raptors

When I look at the Raptors I see an organization that went out and got some talented players with no regard to how they will fit. Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley, Grady Dick and Brandon Ingram can all play. Who knows if they can play together. If I were to guess on their season I would think they would be a play in team but with their talent could surprise.