Anybody that follows the NBA understands that with the exception of the reigning conference champions the association is in a transition period. While a couple of Western Conference teams have reloaded with the intention of challenging the supremacy of the Golden State Warriors, there is no doubt it will be a very difficult test. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference has been left nearly barren with the exception of a couple of teams that will fall to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers next season. As is the case every year, there are a number of teams that made the playoffs this past season that will not be back there next season. Here is a look at the four playoff teams from 2017 that will not be back there in 2018.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis barely squeezed in to the Western Conference playoff picture last season with a 43-39 record that locked them in to the seventh seed. The Grizzlies finally parted ways with veterans Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, a clear indication they have turned their attention to the future. Memphis had grinded it out for years but there was no doubt heading in to last year’s playoffs that they didn’t have what it takes to contend for a championship. The Grizzlies signed Ben McLemore and Tyreke Evans but it likely won’t be enough to keep them in the postseason picture next season. Instead, they will begin their rebuild with a focus on their long-term potential.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are another perennial playoff contender that will finally take a step back in 2017-18. A year ago, Al Horford left to sign with the Boston Celtics. Atlanta’s plan to trade Paul Millsap a year ago completely blew up and he finally ended up signing with the Denver Nuggets in free agency this summer. Now the Hawks will begin their rebuild with Kent Bazemore, Dennis Schroeder and Miles Plumlee among the core players locked up through 2018-19. Atlanta will undoubtedly take a step back next season and end up on the outside of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers found a trade that worked for them when they moved Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. There was no doubt that George wanted to go to the Los Angeles Lakers and that the Lakers wanted him, but it was the Thunder that made the best offer and a deal was made. Indiana didn’t stop there as they traded C.J. Miles to the Toronto Raptors for Cory Joseph. The Pacers still have some intriguing talent on their roster with Oladipo, Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young. However, after qualifying for the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference a year ago it definitely will not be easy to get back to the postseason in 2018.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls won seven of their final 10 regular season games a year ago to clinch the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. After a first-round playoff sweep, Chicago decided to turn its attention to the long-term future by trading Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bulls might not be done there with Dwyane Wade, Robin Lopez and Rajon Rondo among the veteran pieces on their roster that they could decide to trade. With the Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers set to take a step forward next season it will be tough for Chicago to get back to the postseason without Butler.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers made a lot of moves but the one that figures to be the most important is the loss of Chris Paul. Yes, they acquired Patrick Beverly and Lou Williams and Sam Dekker, and managed to get Danilo Galinari and Milos Teodosic too. But Paul is better than all of them and he was the player that elevated the game everyone around him. He’s a start; the other players are just solid pieces. And remember, they also lost their floor spacer in J.J. Redick.
The Clippers did win 51 games last season but they could easily fall back to .500. Galinari and Griffin are injury-prone and if the entirely renovated roster doesn’t gel properly, they could be on the outside of the playoffs looking in.
The 2017 NBA futures are out. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
