Eastern Conference Preview

Another NBA season has come, so it's time to look at the teams that will be playing this year. This time we'll be looking at the Eastern Conference and trying to see how good, or bad, every team can be. Stay tuned for the Western half of the preview in coming days.

Atlanta Hawks

Sorry, wrong Atlanta

Key Addition - Trae Young (Drafted 5th Overall)

Key Departure - Dennis Schroder (Traded To Thunder)

Realistic Ceiling - 10th 

Realistic Basement - 15th

Betting Line for Title - +40,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - +1,500

Bottom Line - This could be a rough year for the Hawks, especially after losing franchise legend Carmelo Anthony. New coach Lloyd Pierce inherited a roster that is young yet lacks deep talent. Trae Young's transition to the league might be the difference between the team being half-competitive and the team competing for the top draft pick.

Boston Celtics

The superior Celtics

Key Addition - Gordon Hayward (You know, because the leg thing)

Key Departure - Greg Monroe (Signed with Raptors)

Realistic Ceiling - Top Seed

Realistic Basement - 5th Seed

Betting Line for Title - +500

Betting Line for Playoffs - -5,000

Bottom Line - The Celtics are by and large the most talented team in the East. Brad Stevens and co. get Gordon Hayward back after he got hurt in his first game with the team, which only stacks on another piece in Stevens' game of chess. Another year of development for Brown and Tatum could make things terrify for the rest of the conference.

Brooklyn Nets

Fun fact: Jay Z traded the Nets next
14 first round picks for this pretzel

Key Addition - Shabazz Napier (Free Agency)

Key Departure - Jeremy Lin (Traded To Hawks)

Realistic Ceiling - 9th

Realistic Basement - 15th

Betting Line for Title - +45,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - +250

Bottom Line - I have no idea what to think of Brooklyn. They have some nice pieces, but nothing that makes me think they can be a serious playoff team. The good news for the team is they finally get to make their own first round draft selection.

Charlotte Hornets

What's the deal with alley-oops?
There's no alley and no one says oop

Key Addition - Miles Bridges (Drafted 12th Overall)

Key Departure - Dwight Howard (Traded to Nets)

Realistic Ceiling - 5th Seed

Realistic Basement - 12th

Betting Line for Title - +30,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - EVEN

Bottom Line - The Hornets are a team that I think can either be really strong and give teams fits or be stuck in the bottom tear of the conference. I think Bridges was a good selection for them toward the end of the lottery and could fit the team's system well. Kemba Walker is poised for a career year if you ask me, which would only mean good things for Charlotte.

Chicago Bulls

Hopefully, Chicago plays those baby bulls,
because they're adorable.

Key Addition - Wendell Carter Jr. (Drafted 7th Overall)

Key Departure - Jerian Grant (Traded to Magic)

Realistic Ceiling - 7th Seed

Realistic Basement - 14th

Betting Line for Title - +30,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - +650

Bottom Line - Oh Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. This rebuild has been rough on the Bulls, especially since most of their young pieces still aren't close enough to their primes to make the team strong. Watch out for Wendell Carter, who had a great summer league, and Lauri Markkanen, who could be something special in years to come.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Please get ahead of the 90s remake
trend and bring these back

Key Addition - Collin Sexton (Drafted 8th Overall)

Key Departure - Jose Calderon...JKJK Lebron James (Signed with Lakers)

Realistic Ceiling - 8th Seed

Realistic Basement - 13th

Betting Line for Title - +45,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - +300

Bottom Line - Bad news: LeBron left again. Good news: the Cavs are in a better position than they were last time it happened. Kevin Love gives the roster some legitimacy, and the fact that they were able to have a lottery pick last draft helps, but the team isn't going to make too much noise here.

Detroit Pistons

Sorry, this was meant for my mechanic.
I wonder what I sent them then.

Key Addition - Dwane Casey (Hired)

Key Departure - James Ennis III (Signed with Rockets)

Realistic Ceiling - 5th Seed

Realistic Basement - 11th

Betting Line for Title - +30,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - -160

Bottom Line - The Pistons could be a solid team this year. They have Blake Griffin for the whole year, with a roster around him that isn't half bad. The biggest plus for this team is that they were able to hire reining coach of the year Dwane Casey after he was let go by Toronto.

Indiana Pacers

When someone asks where you want
the pizza rolls

Key Addition - Tyreke Evans (Free Agency)

Key Departure - Lance Stephenson (Signed with Lakers)

Realistic Ceiling - Top Seed

Realistic Basement - 5th Seed

Betting Line for Title - +12,500

Betting Line for Playoffs - -600

Bottom Line - Now hear me out, the Pacers are definitely a top three seed in the East. Last year's team had a strong starting five, including last year's most improved player, Victor Oladipo, who from all accounts has only gotten better. But now add onto it a much better bench. Tyreke Evans might be one of the most underappreciated signings of last summer and should be a very solid 6th man for the Pacers.

Miami Heat

Florida Man strikes again!

Key Addition - Literally No One

Key Departure - Literally No One

Realistic Ceiling - 7th Seed

Realistic Basement - 12th

Betting Line for Title - +30,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - -300

Bottom Line - Well, if you liked last season's team, you're in luck, because literally nothing changed. More likely than not, this team is going to take a step back due to their increased age. This season for Miami will mostly be a victory lap for Dwyane Wade, which might be the highlight of their year.

Milwaukee Bucks 

Found under Greek deer

Key Addition - Brook Lopez (Free Agency)

Key Departure - Jabari Parker (Signed with Bulls)

Realistic Ceiling - 3rd Seed

Realistic Basement - 10th

Betting Line for Title - +10,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - -500

Bottom Line - Mike Budenholzer takes the helm for Milwaukee in what could be a defining season for the Greek Freak. Giannis continues to get better and better, yet the Bucks aren't taking the next step up. This year could dictate whether or not Antetokounmpo has a long-term future in Wisconsin.

New York Knicks

Three of the starting five for the
New York Knickerbockers

Key Addition - Kevin Knox (Drafted 9th Overall)

Key Departure - Michael Beasley (Signed with Lakers)

Realistic Ceiling - 8th Seed

Realistic Basement - 14th

Betting Line for Title - +40,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - +600

Bottom Line - The Knick still won't be good. That's my main thought about them. The franchise is really just waiting for next offseason, where they'll be going big game hunting in free agency, but for now, they are just trying to not be the worst version of themselves they can be.

Orlando Magic

Orlando's General Manager

Key Addition - Mohamed Bamba (Drafted 6th Overall)

Key Departure - Mario Hezonja (Signed with Knicks)

Realistic Ceiling - 9th Seed

Realistic Basement - 15th

Betting Line for Title - +45,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - +300

Bottom Line - Welcome to basketball purgatory. The Magic haven't made the playoffs or really been competitive since Dwight Howard got traded during Barack Obama's first term in office. Orlando probably won't get back to relevance this year, especially since they still haven't addressed the elephant-sized hole in their roster that is the point guard position.

Philadelphia 76ers 

This has nothing to do with anything
I just think it's a funny picture

Key Addition - Zhaire Smith (Drafted 16th Overall)

Key Departure - Justin Anderson (Traded To Hawks)

Realistic Ceiling - 2nd Seed

Realistic Basement - 9th Seed

Betting Line for Title - +1,600

Betting Line for Playoffs - -2,000

Bottom Line - The 76ers are going to be a fun team to watch. The Process (Embiid) and Simmons could very well make the jump to superstar status, plus we get to see a full year of Fultz. Zhaire Smith was a good addition in the draft, even if Mikal Bridges would have been perfect both stylistically and thematically.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto trying to get Kawhi to stay like

Key Addition - Kawhi Leonard (Traded From Spurs)

Key Departure - DeMar DeRozan (Traded To Spurs)

Realistic Ceiling - Top Seed

Realistic Basement - 6th Seed

Betting Line for Title - +1,400

Betting Line for Playoffs - -2,000

Bottom Line - The Raptors were half of what was probably the craziest storyline of the offseason. Leonard joins the team coming off an injury that occupied almost all of his last season. Only time will tell if Kawhi both stays and decides to give all he's got, but even if he doesn't, Toronto will still be tough.

Washington Wizards

Remember when we questioned the President's
jump shot instead of his sanity?

Key Addition - Dwight Howard (Free Agent)

Key Departure - Marcin Gortat (Traded To Clippers)

Realistic Ceiling - 4th Seed

Realistic Basement - 10th

Betting Line for Title - +10,000

Betting Line for Playoffs - -450

Bottom Line - The Wizards are in the same boat that the Clippers used to sail back in the Lob City days. They're undoubtedly a good team and more likely than not will be a playoff team, but they don't have a strong chance at making noise in the playoffs. Dwight Howard is coming off a good year with the Hornets, but he might not be the thing the team needs to get over the hump. 

Jump to the Western Conference Preview

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