7) Charlotte Hornets
Nic Batum resigning is huge for them, and it was smart for them to retain Marvin Williams, though his payday is based mostly off a strong 2015-16 season. I don’t think losing Jeremy Lin and Al Jefferson is enough to drop the Hornets a spot in the standings, but the additions of Marco Bellinelli, Roy Hibbert and Ramon Sessions isn’t enough for me to expect massive improvements, either. I expect the Pacers to leapfrog the Hornets, who will still be major players in a competitive Eastern Conference.
8) New York Knicks
Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee, Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, Joakim Noah: a great starting five a few years ago, and a very good starting five in 2016-17, if blessed with good health. However, with Rose and Noah in particular, we can’t assume good health. Former Piston Brandon Jennings was a steal at $5 million per year, and if he remains healthy coming off an achilles tear, he could have a successful season backing up with oft-injured Rose.
This team will be exciting. I think they could finish as high as top-4 if Rose and Noah have resurgent years and Porizingis shows dramatic improvement. But with age and injury both factors, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Next: While the league goes small the Detroit Pistons get bigger
On the bubble
The Miami HEAT aren’t a playoff team without Dwyane Wade (now a Chicago Bull) and Chris Bosh, who hasn’t been ruled out for 2016-17, but isn’t exactly a safe bet to continue a healthy, consistent NBA career. The Bulls just don’t make sense. The Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks should all be better, and I can see Washington and Milwaukee contending for the No. 8 seed until the last few games of the season.