With the NBA Draft, free agency and summer league ball in the books the focus now shifts to the 2016-17 season. We have spent the last couple of weeks breaking down all 30 rosters and we have settled on our predictions for which teams will make the playoffs. Here is a look at how we think the NBA Eastern conference standings will play out this season.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Projected Record: 57-25
The Cavaliers cruised to 57 wins a year ago in a season in which they legitimately seemed to be playing below their potential. After winning an NBA championship, Cleveland should have a measure of confidence and swagger on its side in 2016-17 with all of the key pieces from last year’s team back to lead them to another first place finish.
2. Boston Celtics
Projected Record: 52-30
An improving Celtics team added a star center in Al Horford and another lottery pick in Jaylen Brown so there is every reason to expect them to continue to improve. Boston overachieved under head coach Brad Stevens with 48 wins a year ago so it won’t be a surprise when they top the 50-win mark this season.
3. Toronto Raptors
Projected Record: 50-32
Toronto will replace Bismack Biyombo and Luis Scola with Jared Sullinger and Jakob Poeltl. The Raptors failed to upgrade a roster that registered a franchise-record 56 wins last season so it only makes sense that we will see a small measure of regression in 2016-17.
4. Indiana Pacers
Projected Record: 46-36
Jeff Teague should be a more than adequate replacement for George Hill at the point guard position and the Pacers improved their depth with the additions of Thaddeus Young and Al Jefferson. Paul George will be another year removed from his devastating knee injury and that should lead to him playing with the same confidence he showed in last year’s playoffs.
5. Atlanta Hawks
Projected Record: 44-38
The Hawks lost Horford and Teague but they did bring in Dwight Howard to hold down the center position. Atlanta still has enough talent and depth to contend for a top four seed in the Eastern Conference but we project them taking a small step backward and finishing fifth.
6. Detroit Pistons
Projected Record: 44-38
There will be a major drop off following the big three teams in the Eastern Conference with the Pistons next in line at 44 wins. Detroit brings back basically the same roster it had a year ago but another year of experience and chemistry should help elevate them in to the playoff picture.
7. Washington Wizards
Projected Record: 43-39
After a surprising one-year playoff absence, Washington should bounce back and return to the postseason in 2016-17. John Wall is a proven All-Star and Bradley Beal just signed a max contract and there is enough talent around them to take a positive step forward. There will be no excuse for that tandem not to lead the Wizards back to the playoffs this coming season.
8. New York Knicks
Projected Record: 41-41
The Knicks added a former MVP in Derrick Rose, a true starting center in Joakim Noah, a proven shooting guard in Courtney Lee and another strong sixth man in Brandon Jennings. That is more than enough talent for New York to make a return to the playoffs in 2016-17 as they edge out the Bulls and Hornets to squeeze in as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
9. Chicago Bulls
Projected Record: 40-42
Chicago might have replaced Rose and E’Twaun Moore with Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade but they also lost Noah and failed to add a veteran big man. The Bulls will remain in contention for a playoff spot for the entire season before falling just short in the final month.
10. Charlotte Hornets
Projected Record: 38-44
The Hornets managed to bring back Marvin Williams and Nicolas Batum but they lost some key depth players in Al Jefferson, Courtney Lee and Jeremy Lin and they will feel the impact of those losses. Charlotte has enough talent to hang around the .500 mark but regression makes sense in an improved Eastern Conference.
11. Milwaukee Bucks
Projected Record: 37-45
Milwaukee added Matthew Dellavedova and Mirza Teletovic but it’s hard to imagine those moves resulting in a major leap in the standings. The Bucks will be a competitive team on most nights but they are projected to miss the postseason for the second year in a row.
12. Miami Heat
Projected Record: 36-46
The Heat lost Wade, Joe Johnson and Luol Deng while Chris Bosh’s playing status remains up in the air as blood clots continue to threaten his NBA career. Miami has some intriguing youth to build around with Hassan Whiteside, Justice Winslow, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson but the playoffs seem like an unrealistic expectation for a team in transition.
13. Orlando Magic
Projected Record: 35-47
Orlando turned a lot of heads with the trade that sent Victor Oladipo and essentially two first round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Serge Ibaka. It certainly won’t help them get back in the playoff picture this year as the Magic might actually take a step back this season.
14. Philadelphia 76ers
Projected Record: 32-50
The 76ers will be the most improved team in the Eastern Conference this season but it won’t mean finishing any higher than 14th. The addition of Ben Simmons combined with the maturation of young players like Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas will help Philadelphia more than double its win total from a year ago.
15. Brooklyn Nets
Projected Record: 20-62
Jeremy Lin, Greivis Vasquez and Luis Scola will not be enough to keep Brooklyn out of the basement in the Eastern Conference next season. The Nets will likely try to move Brook Lopez at some point and it won’t surprise anybody when they finish at the bottom of the standings.
