Every NBA team’s best and worst-case scenario
Atlanta Hawks
Best-case: Trae Young and other young players get plenty of playing time, but the Hawks still finish with one of the worst records in the NBA, and get a high draft pick for next year. Bonus: Dallas finishes with an awful record too, and Atlanta gets two high draft picks.
Worst -case: Trae Young struggles, and looks like a bust. Kent Bazmore and other vets lead Atlanta to 30 wins, and their pick isn’t that high.
Boston Celtics
Best-case: Boston dominates the regular season, winning 60+ games. As the one seed, they blow through the Eastern Conference playoffs, and match up with Golden State in the Finals.
Worst-case: The Celtics make it through the regular season as a top 3 seed, but lose to either Philly or Toronto in the playoffs.
Brooklyn Nets
Best-case: Young players like Caris LaVert, D’Angelo Russell, and Jarrett Allen show incredible potential, but the Nets lose enough games to add a high draft pick to the team next season, and then they try to make a splash and free agency.
Worst-case: Brooklyn’s core struggles throughout the season, and the Nets don’t appeal to any superstars as a destination this summer.
Charlotte Hornets
Best-case: Miles Bridges and Malik Monk look incredible, and Kemba and the other vets lead the Hornets to a winning record, and a first-round playoff win. Kemba re-signs, and the young wins help build a future in Charlotte.
Worst-case: The Hornets young players struggle, and Walker can’t carry them to the playoffs. Still not bad enough for a high draft pick, Charlotte finishes 10th or 11th in the East, and uncertainty surrounds Kemba’s free agency.
Chicago Bulls
Best-case: The Bulls offense outweighs their bad defense. Zach LaVine proves worth his new contract, Kris Dunn makes the jump offensively, and Markkanen and Carter prove the best young frontcourt in the NBA. Chicago sneaks into the playoffs and has an excellent young core.
Worst-case: Zach LaVine’s explosiveness just isn’t there, Kris Dunn’s offensive struggles stick around, but Jabari Parker and Lauri Markkanen win the Bulls out of a high pick. They finish 10th or 11th in the East, and don’t show much promise for the future.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Best-case: Collin Sexton wins Rookie of the Year, Kevin Love averages 25 points, and the Cavs make the playoffs. Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson show flashes, and Cleveland is set up for the short and long term.
Worst-case: Sexton struggles, Love isn’t what he was in Minnesota, and the Cavs struggle just enough to miss the playoffs, but not enough to get a good pick. Cleveland is stuck in neutral, and Love’s contract is untradeable.
Dallas Mavericks
Best-case: DeAndre Jordan is the perfect pick and roll partner for a once in a generation backcourt — Luka Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr. Luka wins rookie of the year by a longshot, and the Mavs get into the playoffs this year while showing incredible promise for years to come.
Worst-case: Luka Doncic isn’t athletic enough to hang in the NBA, DSJ’s development stunts, and the Mavs miss the playoffs. They can still hope that the development of the guards will pickup in future years, but without their 2019 pick, there aren’t a lot of other options.
Denver Nuggets
Best-case: Nikola Jokic dominates, Jamal Murary wins Most Improved Player, and Denver gets the 6th or 7th seed in the West. Michael Porter Jr. makes a recovery, and all of the sudden Denver has a scary young core, primed to take over the West.
Worst-case: Jokic’s defensive weakness hurts the Nuggets, and the lack of a true point guard is a problem, as Harris, Murray, and Barton can’t shoulder the load on the perimeter. Denver misses the playoffs, and isn’t sure where to go from here.
Detroit Pistons
Best-case: A full year of Blake Griffin and a new and improved Andre Drummond lead Detroit into the playoffs. Luke Kennard takes a leap, and there’s at least a couple reasons to be excited as a Pistons fan.
Worst-case: Detroit misses the playoffs, Blake’s contract is untradeable, and the Pistons are 100% stuck in neutral.
Golden State Warriors
Best-case: The Warriors dominate the NBA once again, winning 65+ games, and their third straight NBA championship.
Worst-case: Golden State still wins 50 games, but Boogie Cousins is a train wreck, the Warriors miss their depth, and are upset by Houston or Boston in one of the last two rounds.
Houston Rockets
Best-case: Carmelo is a difference-maker for Houston, and the Rockets get the one seed again, but this time, things go differently in the WCF, as Houston upsets the Warriors and wins the NBA title.
Worst-case: Carmelo is a cancer for Houston’s offense, James Ennis can’t replace Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, and the Rockets probably lose to the Warriors, or even worse, the Lakers, Jazz, or Thunder, in the Western Conference Playoffs.
Indiana Pacers
Best-case: Victor Oladipo is a real MVP candidate, Myles Turner makes the jump, and acquisitions like Tyreke Evans, Doug McDermott, and Kyle O’Quinn boost the Pacers up to another level. They make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, and give Boston a fight.
Worst-case: Evans is inefficient, Myles Turner’s effort isn’t there, and the league reacts to Oladipo’s breakout year. Indiana finishes as the 5th or 6th seed in the East, losing in the first round.
Los Angeles Clippers
Best-case: The Clippers hodge podge of solid players lead them to the Western Conference Playoffs, where they lose in the first round but gain some hope behind SGA, Jerome Robinson, and Montrezl Harrell.
Worst-case: The lack of a star on the Clips roster comes back to bite them, and they finish 11th or 12th in the West. With no high-level prospects and no elite-level talents, LA doesn’t know where to go.
Los Angeles Lakers
Best-case: LeBron. James. The King leads the Lakers to the Conference Finals, and gives Golden State a series. Come July, there will be free agents looking to be the missing piece that could finally dethrone the Warriors.
Worst-case: The Lakers struggle throughout the regular season, ending as a 5th or 6th seed, and get sent home early in the playoffs. If they come up empty-handed in free agency, their only hope for a supporting cast is that Ingram, Ball, Kuzma, and Hart can develop into the guys LeBron needs.
Memphis Grizzlies
Best-case: Mike Conley and Marc Gasol come back, Chandler Parsons is finally himself, and Jaren Jackson is a ROY candidate. The Grizzlies sneak into the playoffs with a combination of veteran talent and a great young prospect.
Worst-case: Conley, Gasol, and Parsons struggle throughout the season and experience various injuries. Jackson may still be a great prospect, but the Grizz finish near the bottom of the Western Conference and don’t even have their own pick.
Miami Heat
Best-case: Miami gets back into the playoffs and pulls off an upset. Their young players continue to develop and they prove a player in trade talks and free agency.
Worst-case: The Heat struggle, Whiteside drama boils over, and Miami misses the playoffs in the East. After a sub-40 win season, the Heat aren’t quite as attractive to free agents, and their young core may have found its ceiling.
Milwaukee Bucks
Best-case: Coach Bud brings the Bucks to another level, Giannis wins MVP, and Milwaukee wins 50 games, topped off with a trip to the Conference Finals, or MAYBE the NBA Finals. The future is bright.
Worst-case: The Bucks still can’t get in the top 4 of the East, and the cast around Giannis isn’t gonna cut it. They’ve hit their ceiling, and changes obviously need to be made as we approach Khris Middleton’s free agency.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Best-case: The Wolves get a good package back for Jimmy Butler, which adds some young talent to Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. They may not be great this season, but they have hope.
Worst-case: Jimmy leaves in free agency, or is traded for 30 cents on the dollar. The T’Wolves core struggles defensively, and there’s real doubt about Wiggins and Towns as the future of the franchise.
New Orleans Pelicans
Best-case: Anthony Davis wins MVP, the Pels secure a spot in the playoffs, and the cast of Payton, Holiday, Mirotic, and Randle looks good for years to come.
Worst-case: The Pelicans miss the playoffs and Elfrid Payton struggles as NOLA misses Rajon Rondo. Outside of Anthony Davis, there’s not much to be excited about in New Orleans, and there’s no cap space or high draft picks either.
New York Knicks
Best-case: Kevin Knox impresses, Frank Ntilikina is competent offensively, and New York gets a high pick in the 2019 NBA draft. These three prospects plus Kristaps Porzingis makes a pretty attractive free agent destination.
Worst-case: Porzingis comes back and wins the Knicks some games, Ntilikina still can’t score, and the Knicks’ draft pick is closer to 12 than 1. Although Knox may be promising, KP is injury prone and the Knicks don’t have a lot of other pieces.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Best-case: Dennis Schroeder is the best backup Russ has ever had, Andre Roberson comes back healthy, and the loss of Melo is beneficial. OKC upsets Houston and takes the Warriors to six in the WCF.
Worst-case: OKC has reached its ceiling, finishing as a 5–6 seed in the West and losing in the first round again. With no cap space, no high picks, and no prospects on the team, there are questions about the future in Oklahoma.
Orlando Magic
Best-case: Mo Bamba lives up to the song that’s already been written about him, Aaron Gordon has a breakout season, and Jon Isaac proves one of the best players in the 2017 draft. Orlando drafts or signs a point guard, and proves a real up and coming team in the East.
Worst-case: You can’t play Isaac, Gordon, and Bamba together, and the Magic’s awful guards really hurt them. They better hope their 2019 draft pick can offer some hope.
Philadelphia 76ers
Best-case: Markelle Fultz is a great third wheel to Simmons and Embiid, two of the NBA’s top players, and Redick, Saric, and Covington all play their roles. Philly finds themselves in the NBA Finals, with the best young core the league has seen in awhile.
Worst-case: The Sixers struggle with injuries, and Fultz proves a bust. Philadelphia finishes 5th in the East, losing to Indiana or Milwaukee in the first round, and we start to wonder whether this team will get it done without another big acquisition.
Phoenix Suns
Best-case: Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton really may be the next Kobe and Shaq, and Josh Jackson, Mikal Brides and Elie Okobo will compliment them nicely. Phoenix ends up with a decent pick in the draft and takes, say a Zion Williamson. Okobo, Booker, Jackson, Bridges, Warren, Williamson, Ayton is a scary core going forward with cap space and trade assets.
Worst-case: Trevor Ariza, T.J. Warren, and the Suns’ other vets win them too many games, while D-Book proves overrated, and Deandre Ayton doesn’t look like a #1 pick. Phoenix isn’t a lot better than they were a year ago, and they may have zero franchise players, let alone two.
Portland Trail Blazers
Best-case: Dame and C.J. lead Portland to first-round homecourt again, and this time, the Blazers advance to the second round. Zach Collins is developing nicely, and come summertime, they’ll have the opportunity to look for another piece to add.
Worst-case: The Blazers hardly make the playoffs, and are executed quickly in round one. It’s time to take a look at Portland’s long-term plan, as there’s no clear path to improvement with Lillard and McCollum.
Sacramento Kings
Best-case: De’Aaron Fox has an incredible season, Marvin Bagley wins Rookie of the Year, and the Kings turn some heads in the Western Conference. They don’t have their pick, but they have some young players with real promise.
Worst-case: Sacramento struggles, Bagley disappoints, and the Kings finish last in the West, maybe last in the NBA, and that pick goes to Philly if it’s 1, or Boston if it’s lower. The Kings young core may not be so impressive, and their win-loss record sure isn’t encouraging, either.
San Antonio Spurs
Best-case: The DeMar DeRozan revenge tour. Aldridge and Gay complimtn DeMar nicely, and San Antonio gets the 6 seed in the West. They may not win a playoff round, but when Dejounte Murray returns next year, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Worst-case: The Spurs really miss Murray and Kawhi, and miss the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference. Without a good pick or cap space, they seem to be trapped in the worst place an NBA team can be.
Toronto Raptors
Best-case: Kawhi Leonard is an MVP finalist, and the Raptors crazy defensive switchability and insane depth brings them to the ECF, where they beat Boston in seven and advance to the NBA Finals.
Worst-case: Kawhi isn’t healthy, Lowry’s decline is evident, and the Raptors lose in the second round to Philadelphia, creating real uncertainty around Kawhi’s free agency.
Utah Jazz
Best-case: Donavon Mitchell is an all-star, Gobert anchors the defense, and role players like Ingles and Rubio do their part, as the Jazz grab the 3 seed in the West, and maybe even pull of an upset to reach the Conference Finals.
Worst-case: The league is prepared for Mitchell this year, and Utah is handed a first-round exit. The buzz about the Jazz goes away by the offseason, after a disappointing year and a lack of future opportunity.
Washington Wizards
Best-case: Jeff Green, Austin Rivers, and yes, Dwight Howard, help the Wizards take another step as they sneak into the second round in the East.
Worst-case: The Dwight-bola virus runs its course, John Wall has a bad season, and the Wiz are lucky to make in into the playoffs, where they are swept in the first round. It may be time to trade one of the guards in D.C.
