Whether it was Damian Lillard to the Bucks, Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics, or Kai Jones to the Shanghai Sharks, it has been one wild offseason leading into the new season. Could we be seeing the beginning of the Detroit Pistons rise? Are the Celtics or Bucks the team to beat in the East? Will Ben Brock stop his “Clint Capela is a top-5 center” agenda? I’ll answer all these burning questions. These are my 2023-2024 Eastern Conference predictions.
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 62-20
After recently acquiring a top-2 point guard in Damian Lillard, this Bucks team looks scary. They were able to retain Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton giving them an elite big four. The new coaching staff is good and they have the Greek Freak himself. This team is SCARY.
Biggest Addition: Damian Lillard
Biggest Departure: Jrue Holiday
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 53-29
This Cavs team is my biggest sleeper coming into this season. The frontcourt consists of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, both underrated 7-footers. The backcourt is one of the best in the league with Darius Garland and Donavan “Spida” Mitchell. The bench is good and watch out for the rookie Emoni Bates.
Biggest Addition: Max Strus
Biggest Departure: Cedi Osman
3. Boston Celtics 52-30
This is the best roster in basketball. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the reigning highest-scoring duo in the league. Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are both former all-star centers, with KP still being in his prime. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are the best defensive guard duo in the league. I think the team will struggle at first without the leadership of Memphis Grizzlies’ guard Marcus Smart, but this team is going to win the title (not biased I promise).
Biggest Addition: Kristaps Porzingis
Biggest Departure: Marcus Smart
4. Philadelphia 76ers 48-34
Joel Embiid and James Harden are a top-three duo in the league. Tyrese Maxey is extremely underrated and is potentially a top 10 point guard in the NBA. Tobias Harris is an extremely viable fourth option. The biggest question with this team is James Harden’s willingness to cooperate and be with the team during his current dispute with the 6ers owner. Per usual they will choke in the playoffs.
Biggest Addition: Kelly Oubre
Biggest Departure: Shake Milton
5. Miami Heat 47-35
While I do not think this roster is that special outside of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, I will never count out Coach Spoelstra and Butler. Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry had much-needed championship-winning experience to this roster. While I think they are first-round exits, they’ll be decent.
Biggest Addition: Thomas Bryant
Biggest Departure: Max Strus
6. New York Knicks 47-35
This Knicks team is fun. They have the Villanova squad of Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, and Ryan Arcidiacono. Julius Randle leads this team and is a great power forward. Immanuel Quickly is my favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year. This team is very young, so it is a bit too early for them to win now.
Biggest Addition: Donte DiVincenzo
Biggest Departure: Obi Toppin
7. Detroit Pistons 42-40
This team is incredibly young, but I’m big on the Pistons. Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey man the 1 and 2 and are quite the electric duo. Ausar Thompson looks like he is one of the future stars in the league. Jalen Duran, Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III, and James Wiseman are very young promising bigs. Watch out for Detroit.
Biggest Addition: Ausar Thompson
Biggest Departure: N/A
8. Orlando Magic 41-41
Another incredibly young team I think could make noise. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are two very young wings/bigs. Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, and Jalen Suggs are very good guards. Johnathan Isaac when healthy is one of the best defensive players in the league. Wendell Carter is an absolute force down low. This is a sneaky good team.
Biggest Addition: Anthony Black
Biggest Departure: N/A
9. Atlanta Hawks 40-42
I am not big on this team at all. They got a terrible return for John Collins. Trae Young is incredibly overrated. Clint Capela is mid. Bufkin could be good, but we have not seen much of him. Bogdanovic is alright. Just not a great team, I am not hopeful for the Hawks this year.
Biggest Addition: K0be Bufkin
Biggest Departure: John Collins
10. Brooklyn Nets 40-42
Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson are bright spots, but the Nets have gotten worse since the end of last year. Yuta Watanabe and Seth Green were huge losses for their rotation. Ben Simmons is washed and Nic Claxton is good, but neither can be on the court at the same time due to the lack of spacing they produce.
Biggest Addition: Darius Bazely
Biggest Departure: Yuta Watanabe/Seth Curry
11. Toronto Raptors 37-45
This team is young and is not very good. Siakam and Scottie Barnes are good. Dennis Schroeder is serviceable. OG Anunoby is one of the best two way players in the league. The rest of the team is average, unproven, or incredibly young.
Biggest Addition: Gradey Dick
Biggest Departure: Fred Van Vleet
12. Indiana Pacers 36-46
This team is irrelevant.
Biggest Addition: Bruce Brown Jr
Biggest Departure: Oshae Brissett
13. Chicago Bulls 30-52
This team just keeps getting worse and worse, just two years ago the team was seen as a contender. DeRozan and Lavine are good, but the rest of the team is average. The loss of Lonzo Ball deeply hurts this team. Vucevic is washed. Coby White and Patrick Williams were not worth their pick. Alex Caruso is a meme. This team has zero upside.
Biggest Addition: Julian Phillips
Biggest Departure: Patrick Beverly
14. Charlotte Hornets 27-55
#goatlife.
Biggest Addition: Brandon Miller
Biggest Departure: Kai Jones
15. Washington Wizards 20-62
This team is going to be a mess. Jordan Poole is good, but he’s a glorified shotchucker and is about to have the most inefficient year in his young career. Deni Advija looks disappointing for what he was supposed to be. Kyle Kuzma could be good, but he is very inconsistent. This team is about to reenter its dark ages and its very apparent. Washington fans I am so sorry.
Biggest Addition: Jordan Poole
Biggest Departure: Bradley Beal
