Win-Loss Predictions for Every NBA Team Post-2015 NBA Draft
Not every team made major improvements during Thursday night's NBA draft, but many of them did show off some form of an offseason strategy.
Whether that came from making a trade or drafting a player who won't be able to help until years down the line, organizational philosophies shined through in plenty of instances at Barclays Center.
Now, as the draft ends and teams prepare for free agency, we have a slightly better idea of each roster's DNA heading into the prime of the offseason.
No one can be sure of what will unfold during free agency, but that doesn't mean it's too early to speculate on where the teams stand going forward.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
After their first-round struggles against the Brooklyn Nets and their second-round woes against the Washington Wizards, some started to look at the Hawks as frauds: a team that won 60 games but wasn't actually a 60-win squad. That wasn't the case, though.
Atlanta dominated the first 55 or so contests of their season in every fashion: on defense, with ball-movement, with player movement. It was beautiful. The Hawks got away from that as the year went on and, finally, they fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. But that's still a major step up from what they did a couple of years ago, when they only won 38 games and lost in the first round to the Indiana Pacers.
Now, Atlanta has some issues of its own.
Paul Millsap is a free agent, and the rumors of him returning to his former team (h/t to James Herbert of CBS Sports), the Utah Jazz, have already begun. DeMarre Carroll's contract is up, too. If both or either of those guys leave, Atlanta won't be able to match the 60 victories it posted in 2014-15, and the addition Tim Hardaway Jr. won't make much of an impact if he performs like he did with the New York Knicks.
The Hawks can still be one of the better teams in the East because of Mike Budenholzer's system and players like Jeff Teague and Al Horford, but they'll fall off to some degree.
Predicted Record: 49-33
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
Boston began off slow, but finished the year as one of the stronger teams in the East. After a 23-35 start, the Celts' defense picked up and carried them to a 17-7 finish before eventually being swept out of the playoffs by the Cavaliers.
It was a bittersweet ending to a surprising campaign. Sure, no one wants to get eliminated from the postseason, but at the same time, there was no way general manager Danny Ainge or coach Brad Stevens thought (at the start of the year) that this team was capable of playing into the beginning of May. Yet, it did just that.
Boston has loads of assets heading into the offseason, and you'd have to imagine it's planning on using at least some of them to make a splash.
The Celts will be players for Kevin Love (h/t to Jack Andrade of Boston.com), even if Love does ultimately end up going back to Cleveland. They'll go after other big names in free agency, too, like Robin Lopez or even...(gasp)...Paul Pierce. But you know Ainge, one of the more patient GMs in the league, isn't going to ruin his chances to contend in the future for a short-term fix.
Ainge made a questionable decision when he selected Terry Rozier 16th in Thursday's draft. The Celtics later took R.J. Hunter. Those guys may be able to help on the fringe, but neither should be expected to make a major impact.
In the end, the Celtics may end up coming back into training camp with a similar roster that just happens to be bolstered around the edges. That could be good enough to contend for another playoff appearance in the East, but Boston wouldn't be able to do much after that.
Predicted Record: 42-40
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
Oh, Nets. How sad you are.
Brooklyn somehow snuck into the playoffs this past season, but now the team with possibly the worst future of any NBA organization has even more problems.
Thad Young has officially opted out of the final year of his contract (h/t to ESPN's Mike Mazzeo) and will become a free agent this summer. Brook Lopez, though he hasn't announced it yet, is likely to decline is player option, as well (h/t to Mazzeo).
That means the Nets' two best players are going to hit the open market, a bad sign for a team whose declining win total has become a year-to-year theme.
General manager Billy King has been public about his desire to bring back both Lopez and Young, but he may have to pay through the nose to retain them, and that could mean bringing in even more bad contracts to add to the Joe Johnson and Deron Williams ones which are already in town, though Brooklyn will try to ship off one of or both of those guys over the summer.
Still, the Nets are likely coming back next year with the same roster as they had this season along with a few draft-day adjustments which included trading Mason Plumlee (h/t to Dan Feldman of NBC Sports). It'll be hard to depend on Chris McCullough or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson right away, the two kids Brooklyn drafted Thursday.
So, let's continue with the same running theme: another season with a declining win total.
Predicted Record: 35-47
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
The Hornets are weird. They were ripping off deals even before the draft.
There was, of course, the Lance Stephenson trade, sending him out for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes, who they eventually dealt for Jeremy Lamb. Thirdly was the trade bringing in Nicolas Batum and sending out Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson.
The team's makeup is interesting. Charlotte won 43 games a couple of years ago and put up enough of a fight to make the playoffs in the East. Last year, it was supposed to be better after signing Stephenson as its huge offseason get. It didn't work, and the Hornets plummeted to only 33 victories.
Now, with the troubled Stephenson out of the picture and Batum, who is coming off one of the worst years of his career, in it, Charlotte has somewhat reinvented itself. It still has Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker, but its chemistry is just a tad different.
It's clear by taking Frank Kaminsky ninth and trading for Hawes that the Hornets are looking for big men who can stretch the floor around Jefferson. They can improve from last year's disappointing season, but it might not be enough to reach .500.
Predicted Record: 39-43
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
There's a new leader and a new philosophy in Chicago. For the first time since 2010, Tom Thibodeau isn't the coach of the Bulls.
Now, it's Fred Hoiberg's turn to take the reins of an organization which hasn't won a championship since 1998, but which has contended for one on numerous occasions since.
Chicago will likely return the same roster for the most part, as long as it makes sure to re-sign Jimmy Butler, a restricted free agent essentially guaranteed a max contract offer. But the Bulls were far from perfect this year.
The offense was unsettling at times. The defense didn't look as strong as it once did. Joakim Noah's performance fell off a cliff, and the combination of he and Pau Gasol never truly looked comfortable. Still, even if Mike Dunleavy, an underappreciated player for Chicago in recent years, darts in free agency, the Bulls are looking good in a weak East.
They'll contend for the best record in the conference, but a win total in the low 50s seems like the right way to go.
Predicted Record: 52-30
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
Hey, Cleveland fans. Did you know LeBron James can become a free agent this offseason? Are you freaking out, yet?
Nah, he wouldn't leave again, right? Right?? Right???
OK, so I'm messing with you. LeBron could never treat the city of Cleveland like George Steinbrenner did Billy Martin. It's simply too cruel. LBJ threw the opt-out into his contract for financial reasons, so he could stand to make more money down the line. But the status of Kevin Love could be an actual problem.
Love is officially going to be a free agent now (h/t to Tom Withers at NBA.com), and he'll have his pick of teams. Will he go to the Celtics? The Los Angeles Lakers? Will he remain in Cleveland?
The Cavs have plenty of other free agents, too. Iman Shumpert is restricted, and will command some money. Tristan Thompson, who is also restricted, will want and deserve even more. If Cleveland wants to bring those guys back along with re-signing Love, it'd almost certainly have to branch into the tax to do it.
Ultimately, you have to be a relatively unstable person to leave end-of-prime LeBron and early-prime Kyrie Irving to go to a rebuilding Lakers or Celtics squad. But Love will flirt with other organizations like any free agent would. If he comes back to Cleveland, which seems like the most likely scenario for now, the Cavs will be the favorites to win the conference once again.
Predicted Record: 55-27
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
Monta Ellis is likely out after opting to hit free agency instead of to stay in Dallas for the final year of his contract (h/t to Dan Feldman of NBC Sports). There could be more, too.
Tyson Chandler will be a free agent, as well. So will Rajon Rondo, which won't be that bad.
But there goes the Mavs defense...and maybe part of their offense.
Ellis turned around his career and reputation playing for Rick Carlisle in Dallas. He was a major part of an attack which finished fifth in points per possession this past season. If he doesn't come back, it'll be difficult to replace him on a contract as team-friendly as the three-year, $25 million one he signed back in the summer of 2013.
This offseason almost feels like a 2012 Mavs summer, when Dallas would go out and find makeshift veterans like Chris Kaman and Elton Brand to plug holes so that they could go after guys the following season. Dirk Nowitzki might be too old for that at this point though, even if Dirk did have another solid season this past year.
Ultimately, Dallas can likely sustain its position as a contender for a playoff spot, but it may not get any higher than that.
Predicted Record: 45-37
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
You know how teams constantly try to copy the San Antonio Spurs? You get organizations taking their philosophies, their plays, even their coaches.
Heck, the Hawks are commonly referred to as 'Spurs East' among the jokiest NBA diehards.
Well, the Nugs have gone in a slightly different direction: They're the Mountain Kings.
Denver hired former Sacramento general manager and former former Nugs assistant GM Pete D'Alessandro away from the Kings this offseason. They also hired former Kings coach Mike Malone to that same position. They're stealing away parts of a mostly failed organization.
Now, it's time to see if that will work.
Moves are going to go down for the Nuggets. The DeMarcus Cousins rumors are lingering (h/t to Nate Timmons of Denver Stiffs), but that seems mostly to be a factor of George Karl wanting his former players Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson. The Nuggets could enter breakdown mode, though.
They could deal Lawson for a bevy of pieces. Same with Faried. Same with Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari. Denver could end up breaking it down and trying to start over this offseason. If it does, it's going to win even fewer games than the 30 it did in 2014-15.
Predicted Record: 28-54
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
Let's assume Detroit brings back restricted free agent Reggie Jackson, who it traded for midseason. Let's assume Stanley Johnson, who the Pistons selected eighth in Thursday night's draft, is an actual contributor as a rookie.
Are the Pistons even a .500 team in those circumstances without Andre Drummond hitting peak levels of dominance?
Unrestricted free agent Greg Monroe has to be gone since almost no player in his right mind would turn down big money to take a qualifying offer, only to re-sign with that same team the following offseason.
Ersan Ilyasova could be a valid replacement for him. He actually provides a nicer complement to Drummond since he can shoot threes and space the floor at the 4, but Detroit's roster is still very much rebuilding, and it's difficult to imagine the Pistons breaking out just yet unless they add some more pieces this summer.
Predicted Record: 37-45
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
A drop of 11 wins isn't meant as a slight to Golden State. It's simply the realistic scenario.
The Warriors are still the clear best team in the NBA as long as they make sure to re-sign free-agent-to-be Draymond Green. But there's always the chance of the championship hangover. Of course, that's a relative term.
It doesn't mean the Warriors are going to fall apart. It doesn't even mean they'll be worse by the end of the season. But how many times have we seen a team keep its stars healthy for virtually an entire season, win 67 games, dominate through the playoffs and then turn around and get better the next year?
It just isn't possible.
The Warriors were an all-time team this year. You can debate amongst yourselves whether you think that means they were top-five or top-10 or top-20. But any way you slice it, they were one of the best championship teams ever put together.
It would be silly to hold them to the same standard for a second straight season. But they're still going to be pretty darn incredible, especially if they get a reasonable package in return for the soon-to-be-traded David Lee (h/t to ESPN's Marc Stein).
Predicted Record: 56-26
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
James Harden was tremendous in 2014-15, but the Rockets were also somewhat fortunate. With all the injuries, with all the struggles, they still ended up winning 56 games and going to the Western Conference Finals. Pretty incredible for a squad who lost Patrick Beverley, Donatas Motiejunas and, of course, Dwight Howard, for long stretches of the season.
It really shows how tremendous Harden was this year. But can he replicate this again? And even if he does, can the Rockets perform as well around him as they did this season?
Houston GM Daryl Morey is notoriously one of the most aggressive front-office minds in the league. Because of that, we can't be exactly sure what the Rockets have planned for the summer. Morey always has something up his sleeve, whether it's going after Chris Bosh or anyone else he's targeted in past offseasons.
Now, we know he's already placed Terrence Jones on the block (h/t to Dan Feldman of NBC Sports).
Houston will be up to something, whether that means going hard for LaMarcus Aldridge or doing the same for Love. But it's difficult to predict a team will win more than 55 games. The Rockets can contend to be one of the best squads in the NBA next year. That should be good enough for them.
Predicted Record: 55-27
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
Are the Pacers on the verge of a rebuild, and we don't even realize it yet?
They lost Lance Stephenson last offseason. Now, David West has opted out of his contract and B/R's Jared Zwerling has reported he is "very likely" to sign with the Knicks. And he may not be the only guy heading out of town.
Indiana drafted former Texas center Myles Turner with the 11th pick Thursday night. As soon as Roy Hibbert opted into his deal later that evening, the trade rumors began (h/t to James Herbert of CBS Sports).
So, if the Pacers do actually deal Hibbert, will they be looking for help right now or will they be prioritizing young pieces for down the line? Paul George is still only 25 years old. Indiana can stand to form a team around him over the next couple of years and still put a quality squad together during his prime.
Indy's win total depends most on what happens with Hibbert: if he stays, if he goes, and what the Pacers get for him if he does actually leave down. But a 40-win season seems like the safest guess for a team that could be on the brink of transition.
Predicted Record: 40-42
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
Anyone have any idea how Lance Stephenson is going to be this year? He was great with the Pacers a couple of seasons ago. He was atrocious with the Hornets during 2014-15.
If anyone out there knows how he's going to perform in a Clippers uniform, telling everyone else be a huge help...
As for the rest of LA's roster, the team still has only six competent rotation players, even after acquiring Lance last week for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes.
The Paul Pierce rumors are all over the place (h/t to Ananth Pandian of CBS Sports), and it appears the Clips are in good shape to sign him.
If he were to come out West for the mini mid-level exception—their only way to sign non-minimum free agents who weren't on the team last year—the roster could still be too shallow to dominate next season. But if he's willing to take the minimum to come play for his old coach, Doc Rivers, that's a different story.
Then, the Clips could actually use their mini mid-level to sign a big man, and all of a sudden, you've got yourself an eight-man roster, something the Clippers haven't boasted in a few years.
Either way, a core of Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan (assuming he re-signs in LA) has shown it's good for 55 wins a year.
Predicted Record: 55-27
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
Welcome to Hollywood, D'Angelo Russell.
Russell's arrival in LA means Kobe Bryant is likely shifting over to play the 3 next season with 2014-15 point guard Jordan Clarkson moving to shooting guard. That all changes, of course, if the Lakers end up dealing for DeMarcus Cousins (h/t to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports).
But for now, since the rumored predraft deal could now be off the table with Thursday night in our rearview mirrors, let's pretend that the most talented center in the league awkwardly remains on the Kings.
The Lakers can improve next year. That's certainly possible.
They're obviously going to make a run at a few of the big-name free agents, like LaMarcus Aldridge and Love. They're the Lakers. That's what they do. But it's no guarantee any star would want to leave a winning team for a squad coming off a 21-win season.
Julius Randle will be coming back from a broken leg after essentially missing his entire rookie season. Russell is a tremendous passer and scorer and could make an immediate impact. But there still isn't much talent or scheming on this roster, and it's hard to imagine Kobe is capable of playing another healthy season while carrying as large a load as he desires.
It looks like it'll be another rebuilding season for the Lakers, but at least they can feel comfortable moving forward with some nice, young pieces.
Predicted Record: 28-54
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
The Griz have already made a couple of moves this offseason, trading for Luke Ridnour and then flipping him for Matt Barnes (h/t to ESPN's Marc Stein) to add some grit and a little grind to what's already one of the most physical teams in the league.
Barnes, though, might not really move the needle on a team whose biggest need now and always has been shooting. He may have drained 36 percent of his threes last season, but that was while playing in an offense that opened up the floor for him with Paul and Griffin. Now, he's moving to a far more scrunched and predictable attack.
If Memphis is able to go out and find some shooters, it can contend for a championship. After all, this is a team which made it to the Western Conference Finals in recent years, and you could argue it was one of the five best teams in the NBA this past season. It just happened to get unlucky playing in the West.
As long as Memphis brings back unrestricted free agent Marc Gasol, you know it's going to continue to compete. The question is, can it finally take the next step and win the West?
Predicted Record: 51-31
Miami Heat
16 of 30
Take a look at the Heat's possible starting lineup for next year, and it's hard to imagine how a roster that talented could fail to make the playoffs in the East.
Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside could team up to make one of the conference's best fivesomes. Add in a healthy Josh McRoberts coming off the bench along with some other possible contributors, and the Heat's future could look far better than the team did this past season, when it won only 37 times.
That doesn't even include Justise Winslow, who fell right into the Heat's hands at No. 10 Thursday evening. Winslow is already a two-way player who could make an impact off the bench.
Miami had some bad luck last year.
Bosh missed the second half of the season after doctors found blood clots in his lungs. Dragic spent the larger slice of the year playing for another team. Whiteside didn't emerge as a viable threat until January.
If the Heat retain their free agents (Dragic, possibly Wade and Deng), then they could be in better shape than people realize heading into next year. If the team mostly stays healthy, that's a roster which could easily be top-four in the conference.
Predicted Record: 46-36
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
Rebuilding teams in small markets don't always shoot up the power rankings right when everyone expects. Sometimes, it takes a little longer than the fans want.
After jumping from 15 to 41 victories last season, the expectations will be high for Jason Kidd's team entering 2015-16. But even if the Bucks do re-sign restricted free agent and essential defensive cog Khris Middleton, they may not be armed for a great season.
There are still plenty of positives, though.
The offense will likely look better than it did this past year, when it was lost and stagnant at times, and Thursday's addition of Grievis Vasquez will help (h/t to ESPN's Marc Stein). Jabari Parker will return to play a full NBA season for the first time ever. The 20-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely improve once again.
But there still isn't enough offensive talent there to scare anyone, and Milwaukee's slow finish to the year may indicate that it played over its head when it got out to a 31-23 start.
There is a chance at signing a big-time free agent. The team has lots of cap room and will actually meet with DeAndre Jordan come July (h/t to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times), but given Milwaukee's history, it'd be surprising for it to sign a player of his caliber.
The Bucks are certainly heading in a good direction. It's just unfair to expect anything major from them next year.
Predicted Record: 41-41
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
The Wolves may have officially hit League Pass must-watch status.
After drafting Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick Thursday evening, Minnesota could have one of the most fun teams in the NBA.
Who's saying no to the two-way magic that Andrew Wiggins brings to the court on a nightly basis? Who's turning down some flashy Ricky Rubio assists? Who's shying away from Towns dunks or blocks? Who's scoffing at the opportunity to make jokes about how horrifying Nikola Pekovic is?
Minny will be fun, and there are tons of great pieces for the future, but the talent is yet to develop enough to form a winning squad. It appears that's going to happen down the line, but not yet.
Predicted Record: 29-53
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
Maybe the best part of the Warriors' championship celebration was Alvin Gentry jumping on camera and screaming at Anthony Davis through the television. He was exactly as excited as you'd imagine a man with the opportunity to coach A.D. would be after winning a ring in another city.
Gentry can bring a new style to an offense which had a history of going stagnant over the past few years. The pieces are still a little awkward together, but New Orleans has too much talent to own a mediocre scoring attack.
Jrue Holiday is a talent if used properly. So is Tyreke Evans. Eric Gordon is still a capable contributor. And then there's that guy, the one Gentry was yelling at from thousands of miles away.
If you get to coach prime A.D., you do whatever you can to accentuate his positives. Gentry's style of offense and free defensive philosophies could be a perfect fit. New Orleans can certainly get better for next year without making any major personnel moves, but that won't guarantee it a playoff spot in the West, considering the Oklahoma City Thunder are bound to have a healthier season than they did during 2014-15.
Predicted Record: 47-35
New York Knicks
20 of 30
Props to Phil Jackson for ignoring the Carmelo Anthony contract (and his own) when figuring out a timeframe for a rebuild.
The Kristaps Porzingis pick is a risk—the incoming rookie is super scrawny and is going to get bullied during his early days in the league—but has tremendous upside if the Knicks develop him right. How many 7-footers are able to shoot as well as him while also running the floor and finishing like some of the most athletic bigs in the game?
But he won't help the Knicks this year. And though New York pulled off a heist when it gave up Tim Hardaway Jr. for the 19th overall pick, which netted it Notre Dame's Jerian Grant (h/t to Brett Pollakoff of NBC Sports), the Knicks are still stuck in that rebuilding stage. Even signing Greg Monroe would keep the roster far from perfect.
The Knicks will probably win more games than the franchise-worst 17 they picked up last year if only because Anthony will likely be healthier in 2015-16. But unless they make some major offseason changes, it's hard to imagine them being notably better in only a season.
Predicted win total: 27-55
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
This year was probably the worst-case scenario for OKC and, still, the team managed to reel off 45 victories behind the immaculate Russell Westbrook. Imagine what it's capable of doing once Durant and Ibaka get back onto the court.
It wouldn't be surprising to see the Thunder get off to a slow start next year as Durant and Ibaka ease their ways back onto the court and learn their new coach, Billy Donovan. Then again, the opposite wouldn't be too shocking either considering the talent level.
We don't know exactly what's going down with Enes Kanter, who is a restricted free agent come July 1, just yet. OKC did trade for him midseason in a lost year, which would imply they'd prioritize keeping him around, but if Kanter gets a huge offer elsewhere, it's always possible he walks.
One thing we know for sure: Oklahoma City will be dominant as long as the core can play a reasonable amount of basketball, and the team gets a little deeper with the addition of Cameron Payne. In what will be Durant's final season before hitting free agency next summer, the organization is going to do everything it can to win a title. Maybe this time, it'll finally happen for a group that's deserved it for a few years now.
Predicted Record: 54-28
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
Orlando is a backwards team. The guards and wings mostly aren't shooters. The bigs, meanwhile, are the ones knocking shots down from the perimeter.
The Magic have more talent than their 25-57 record last year would lead you to believe, but they're not exactly ready to content just yet. With a new coach in town, things could be different, but Scott Skiles hasn't led a team since 2012. It would be acceptable if he took a bit of time to ease back into NBA life.
The core, meanwhile, is still full of babies.
Victor Oladipo is possibly a future All-Star, but is only 23 years old. Elfrid Payton is 21. Aaron Gordon is 19. Thursday night's fifth-overall selection, Mario Hezonja, is 20. Nikola Vucevic is 24 and is still learning the defensive side of the game.
If Orlando ends up losing Tobias Harris in free agency (Harris is restricted so the Magic could end up keeping him if they're dying to do so), the team can still make a leap just from improvement within a young group. But give the Magic one more year before you start saying they're a definitive playoff team in the East.
Predicted Record: 33-49
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
76ers general manager Sam Hinkie's team has been far better than he would've liked the past couple of years.
Only the second-worst record in the league two years ago? And the third-worst this past season? They're getting better! Oh no!
The Sixers are tanking in just about the most public way as anyone in recent years. And he's completely disregarding positional need in the draft to do so.
Once again, Hinkie went with the best player and not the best fit in the draft, selecting Jahlil Okafor with the third overall pick. But with Joel Embiid possibly out again next season, and with Dario Saric not coming over to the league, the Philly frontcourt may not be as crowded as it seems for now.
The Sixers will do everything they can to lose next year, because, well, they're the Sixers and that's what they do. If they get too good, but not good enough, they'll trade someone for 14 future second-round picks if they have to do it. They're merciless in throwing up the white flag. It's like nothing we've ever seen before. And there's going to be another year or two of this before the team actually starts trying to win games.
Predicted Record: 18-64
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
Phoenix started to fall off during the second half of the season last year, but the 39-win Suns were also one of the unluckiest teams in the NBA during 2014-15 considering how many close games they lost. No one got beat at the buzzer like this Suns team. No one.
But Phoenix has a bunch of free agents heading into the offseason, and it if can't retain them, it could go into rebuilding mode. If it ships off Eric Bledsoe for pieces and elects to hold onto restricted free agent Brandon Knight instead, the win total could fall even more for a squad which pulled off 48 victories just a couple of years ago.
If Bledsoe remains, it's not like the Suns will have no talent around him. Markieff Morris remains one of the more underrated power forwards in the NBA, and his bro, Marcus, is no slouch, either. But the Western Conference is tough, real tough, and that could mean a long season for coach Jeff Hornacek & Co.
Predicted Record: 32-50
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
What the heck is going on in Portland?
The Blazers dealt Nicolas Batum for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh earlier this week. Now, they're possibly in danger of losing more key players.
LaMarcus Aldridge is "99.9 percent" gone, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Wesley Matthews, meanwhile, is unrestricted, as well, and could end up signing elsewhere, especially if the Blazers deem a guy coming off an Achilles tear to be too much of a risk. Then, there's Robin Lopez, who is unrestricted and will be looking for the best possible deal, also, which may not come from Portland
So, what do the Blazers have? Damian Lillard...and then what? Henderson? The recently acquired Mason Plumlee? C.J. McCollum? That's not a competitive team in the West.
Portland could fall off a cliff next year. General manager Neil Olshey has proven in the past he's capable of building teams from the bottom up. This could be the start of another one of those processes for him and the Blazers.
Predicted Record: 27-55
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
Speaking of teams who elicit confusion, let's talk some Kings basketball.
Obviously, Sacramento's biggest offseason questions surround DeMarcus Cousins.
Is he staying? Is he going? How will he be with coach George Karl, who reportedly wants him gone (h/t to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports), if he does stick around? Where will he go if he leaves? What kind of package could the Kings get for him in a deal?
No matter what happens with Cousins, though, it's difficult to picture a situation where Sacramento can contend. The Kings' priorities are all off as they try to scheme ways to sign the ever-struggling Rajon Rondo (h/t to Scott Ridge of Sporting News). If they end up successful in that endeavor, a potential personality clash between Rondo and anyone might be uncomfortable, too.
If Cousins sticks, the situation could be unrecoverably awkward. If he goes, he won't bring back enough talent to justify his departure. It's all kinds of strange in Sacramento, and none of the weirdness makes you think the team is anywhere near winning.
Predicted Record: 26-56
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
They're the Spurs. They'll be good. Do I need to write anything else?
Restricted free agent Kawhi Leonard will be back. Even if he does surprisingly want to leave San Antonio, the Spurs would match any offer made to the former Finals MVP.
San Antonio's biggest problem will likely be trying to hold onto unrestricted free agent Danny Green. If he walks, the Spurs certainly have a problem on their hands, but it's nothing the NBA's best organization hasn't dealt with before.
San Antonio is always dominant. Manu Ginobili is rickety but still effective. Tony Parker remains a quality point guard. Tim Duncan legitimately must be drinking Michael's Secret Stuff. It's the only explanation for him still being an All-NBA level performer at age 39.
The Spurs have won 50 games or more every season since drafting Duncan in 1997, except one. That single time they failed to do it was the strike-shortened 1998-99 season, which was only 50 games long. And how'd they do that year? Just went 37-13 and won the Finals.
It's silly to pick San Antonio to win anything fewer than 50 games. So, why start now?
Predicted Record: 52-30
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
The Raptors could be about to reform their roster after an up-and-down season.
Toronto dealt Greivis Vasquez in a future-building move, which netted a first-round pick among other assets during the draft (h/t to ESPN's Marc Stein). It could also end up losing reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams in free agency. Amir Johnson and Tyler Hansbrough could walk, as well.
So, what does that mean for the rest of the team? Is general manager Masai Ujiri about to break the whole thing down and trade his big guns, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, for boxes to put in the attic and save for years down the line? Is he going to head into next year with Lowry and DeRozan leading a depleted team which went just 25-26 to end this past season?
The Raps got swept in a hapless first-round series against the Wizards. That shouldn't have happened to a team with their talent level. If Ujiri wanted to break it down and start over, he'd be justified in doing so. It'll be fascinating to follow his train of thought throughout the offseason.
Predicted Record: 39-43
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
Get ready for your 2015 sleeper team: The Utah Jazz!
We can't say for sure without knowing their offseason plans, but the Jazz are looking good for the start of next year after posting what was by far the best defense in the league on a points-per-possession basis after the All-Star break.
Look at all the young talent on this team, which contributed heavily last year and stands to get even better by October: Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks (who can hopefully come back healthy next year) and Rodney Hood. That doesn't even include Trey Burke and Dante Exum, who could improve, as well. Then there's the wildcard, Trey Lyles, the first-round pick from Thursday.
Utah's 21-11 finish to the season was no fluke. If the Jazz can bring in a few more contributors this offseason (there's that talk they end up signing former Jazz star and current free agent Paul Millsap before trading Favors), they have a realistic shot at jumping into the Western Conference playoff picture next year.
Predicted Record: 47-35
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
It won't be easy for the Wizards to get better next year while also leaving open a bunch of cap room for the summer of 2016 when Washington could be a possible destination for Durant, who is from the D.C. area.
The Wizards will still have the improvement of John Wall and Bradley Beal to rely on, but Pierce has already opted out of his contract. Nene and Gortat, meanwhile, could be on a downward slide, especially Nene, who was inconsistent throughout last year.
There are some possible replacements for Pierce, though. Otto Porter came on near the end of the year and earned ample playing time in the postseason. Kelly Oubre, though he's only 19 years old, could provide some support, as well.
The Wiz looked great in the postseason when they changed their offensive philosophy, shooting tons of threes and going small much of the time. But that may change with a tweaked roster in the future, and coach Randy Wittman didn't show a propensity to go to those strategies much or at all during the regular season.
It's possible we see a similar Wizards season to the one we witnessed in 2015: with an unexpectedly impressive postseason run led by "Playoff Wittman," one of the most wonderful concepts in basketball.
Predicted Record: 45-37
Follow Fred Katz on Twitter at @FredKatz.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise. Unless otherwise noted, all statistics are current as of June 26 and are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
