The latest strength echelon in the East: Cavaliers Knicks Target Finals, Magic Hawks are ready to go after strengthening

(The original article was published on July 9, and the author is Chris Herring from ESPN website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's opinion)

As this year's playoffs progress, the cruel wave of injuries has completely changed the pattern of the Eastern Conference. Stars such as Lillard, Tatum and Halliburton have suffered Achilles tendon injuries one after another, and even reshape the competitive trend in the Eastern Conference before we ushered in a frequent offseason with trades. Now that the aftermath seems to have subsided, we can finally evaluate the current situation of the Eastern Conference team. The division is eager to overthrow the strong Western Conference dominance, although its power structure is completely different from three weeks ago. Based on the current situation, the 15 teams in the East are now divided into six echelons, from strong teams that are expected to compete in the finals to teams that are still in the early stages of reconstruction.

First Echelon: If you don't enter the finals, you will lose

Cleveland Cavaliers

After winning the brilliant season of 64 wins, this top seed team in the East this season seems to continue the main rotation framework...but it is not entirely true. All-Star guard Garland will miss the early months of the new season due to rehabilitation in toe surgery, and substitute guard Tay Jerome also switched to the Grizzlies in the offseason. However, Lonzo Ball, who traded with the defensive pioneer Ocorro, will effectively fill Jerome's vacancy. Even if Garland will be absent for a long time and reduces the burden of the team's huge luxury tax through adjustments to the edge of the lineup, the Cavaliers, who have three core cores, Mitchell, Mobley Jr. and Jarrett Allen, as well as high-quality puzzles such as Struce, Merrill and Hunter, will remain one of the most powerful contenders for the Eastern Conference champion in their second year as coach Atkinson.

 

New York Knicks

It can be said that no Eastern Conference team will face higher expectations than the Knicks. After they entered the first division final in nearly 25 years, they immediately fired head coach Thibodeau and claimed that the team's only goal is to win the NBA championship. With the addition of substitutes Clarkson and Yabuselle, the team's cohesion and lineup depth have been greatly improved, although the Pacers exposed some of their shortcomings when they eliminated the Knicks in the division final. But now the Pacers who have lost Halliburton (season reimbursement) and Turner (signed with the Bucks) have greatly reduced their threat, and so have the Celtics, who will be missing Tatum, Porzingis (traded), Ju Holiday (traded) and Connet (signed with the Spurs). The road to championship is already open to the Knicks, and with Mike Brown taking over as head coach, the team is now truly under pressure to "not enter the finals is a failure."

The Second Echelon: After strengthening, it is ready to go

Orlando Magic

If there is any team that takes the lead after Tatum is injured, it is the Magic. This injury seems to indicate that the East will compete for the next season. The Magic sent out Pope, Cole Anthony and as many as four first-round draft picks, and exchanged star Bain from the Grizzlies. This is undoubtedly a big gamble, but if you want to make a leap, it is the best time. This season, when three core players, Ban Kairo, Wagner Jr. and Sargers, remained healthy, the Magic showed competitiveness that should not be underestimated with their strong defense (although the outside shooting is poor). After introducing the sharpshooter Bain, the Magic had four clear cores, which also brought greater spatial pressure to the opponent's defensive arrangement. As long as you stay healthy, the Magic have every reason to win more than 50 games in the new season.

 

Atlanta Hawks

Similarly, it can be said that no Eastern team has improved more significantly than the Hawks this offseason. They strengthened their defense by introducing Porzingis and all-around wing Alexander Walker, and also obtained sharpshooter Luke Kennard. In addition, the Hawks moved only 10 picks backwards at this year's draft, which was in exchange for the Pelicans' unprotected first-round pick next year. This seems to be the theme of the Hawks this summer, and the price the Hawks pay for these squad upgrades is minimal. It was a rewarding summer for the Eagles. This season, they have achieved miraculous results by arranging defensive champion Dyson Daniels next to Trae Young. Now they have not only greatly improved the defensive system, but also created one of the most in-depth rotation lines in the East. Like Magic, the Eagles are also fighting for the eastern pattern that seems to be amassing together.

 

Philadelphia 76ers

76ers

The reason is obvious: they have the talent and experience to hit the championship, but whether Embiid and his teammates can stay healthy for a long time is always an open question. After experiencing disastrous performance this season, the biggest reinforcement of the lineup is the ability to recover health, so this question will once again become the focus. When Paul George was introduced, he had hope of winning the championship, but he and Embiid missed a total of 104 games, with the 76ers winning only 24 wins. Another problem is: The Sixers do have a deep lineup and may even leave Grimes, a restricted free agent who broke out at the end of the season, but how to balance cultivating young talents with impacting the championship goal? It is not common for new players like VJ Edgecom to fight side by side with the Big Three, and McCain (one of the best performers before the meniscus tear of his left knee in December, now only 21) should be the key force.

The third echelon: dark horses with still-established foundations, potential stocks... or the desperate army wearing the cloak of hope

 

Boston Celtics

From before Tatum was injured, due to the salary pressure caused by the second rich line, the Celtics were destined to enter next season with a completely different look. To some extent, Tatum's Achilles tendon tear only accelerates this inevitable process. Porzingis, Ju Holiday and Connet left the team one after another, and the return of free agent center Horford has not yet been confirmed. With the backcourt combination of Jaylen Brown and Derek White, the Celtics still have a solid foundation for competition, and the team also traded Ju Holiday to get defender Anthony Simmons who averaged 20 points in the past four seasons. However, the heavy blow to the depth of the wings and forward line has made the Celtics today at least two levels different from the top teams in the East. Before Tatum's health returns, it may be difficult to launch a substantial impact. The Pistons, who just finished their first playoff journey in six years, has the real star Cunningham, and the future looks bright, especially as guard Jayden Ive recovered from a fibula fractured injury (which caused him to end the season early). The Pistons' young core showed exciting potential in the first round of the playoffs with the experienced Knicks. To some extent, the Pistons' progress will mainly rely on the internal growth of players such as Cunningham, Ivey, Osal Thompson and Jaylen Durham. LeVere and Duncan Robinson introduced in the offseason are more like tie-level reinforcements used to replace Schroeder, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley. Beasley ranked second in the league with 319 three-pointers this season and is currently under federal investigation for suspected gambling violations.

 

Milwaukee Bucks

If the Bucks could break through the siege with Kevin Porter Jr. as the stadium commander after three consecutive years of point guards but stopped in the first round of the playoffs, wouldn't this be a dramatic turn? This kind of idea sounds inconsistent because it is really unimaginable. In order to remain competitive while Antetokounmpo is in charge, the Bucks have taken unprecedented radical measures. After Lillard suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the playoffs, he chose to cut him directly and pay his huge contract in installments. The salary space freed up in this operation is used to sign center Miles Turner (he is undoubtedly an excellent player). But even with the league's top superstar Antetokounmpo and the Eastern Conference turmoil, the Bucks, who lost Lopez (although they welcomed free agents such as Portis) seemed to have not occupied a favorable position. Perhaps the Bucks can convince free agents like Paul to invest at a low price?

Fourth Echelon: Teams that are in a dilemma

 

The Indiana Pacers

Few fan groups have experienced such drastic emotional ups and downs in the past few weeks, like the Pacers fans. They witnessed the team's upset to the NBA Finals, fighting with the 68-win Thunder to the tiebreak, but witnessing Halliburton's Achilles tendon to tear in the championship decisive battle. This injury that was enough to change the team's fate immediately reversed the management's planning ideas for salary space. The most obvious example is that Turner, who is one of the best players in the team, was released, allowing the team to continue to avoid paying luxury taxes for 20 years. Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Prichard announced on Monday that Halliburton would miss the entire new season, and with Turner's departure, the reality almost declared the Pacers withdraw from any substantial competition. After their stars return, the Pacers deserve to return to the top of the Eastern Conference team. But IMHO, although Siakam is still on the team, it is hard to imagine that the Pacers who lose Halliburton and Turner will remain top-notch competitiveness next season.

Fifth Echelon: Playoff Contenders

Miami Heat

The Heat completed the most important signings in the offseason this week, getting Powell, who just scored his career best performance from the Clippers. In addition, the Heat also retained substitute point guard David Mitchell. But Duncan Robinson switched to the Pistons, and Love and Lee Kyle were sent to the Jazz in a tripartite deal for Powell. Considering that Powell, 32, is still doubtful whether these operations can make the Heat jump to the upper half of the eastern region. However, Coach Spoel is still a top coach. In the absence of a truly strong team in the East, the Heat may be able to create sounds beyond expectations.

 

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are eager to end the embarrassment of participating in the playoffs for four consecutive years and directly lock in the playoff spot, but the team will most likely maintain the original team next season. The biggest suspense this summer is how to resolve the contract of restricted free agent Josh Gidey, and few teams in the league can provide the offer he expected. Can this almost unchanging lineup break through the Eastern Conference play-offs? Maybe it's possible. The Bulls scored 17 wins and 10 losses after the All-Star Weekend this season, and young players are eager to prove that they have stronger strength.

 

Toronto Raptors

In this gear, the Raptors have the potential to climb one to two echelons. Their core players are still young and have experienced varying degrees of absence this season: Quickley missed 49 games, Barrett 24 games, and Scottie Barnes 17 games. What is more noteworthy is that the 27-year-old star Ingram, who was exchanged from the Pelicans on the trading deadline, has not yet represented the Raptors. This does not mean that this lineup can be integrated perfectly immediately, nor does it guarantee that the young substitutes are enough to support the playoffs. But the Raptors have huge room for upward movement, and they may show an overall combat power beyond expectations in time.

6th echelon: Lotto teams

 

Charlotte Hornets

exchange center Mark Williams and Nurkic for defender Sexton and three draft picks, one of which selected Liam McNeley with the 29th overall pick in the draft last month, and these assets will help the team rebuild. The team coached by head coach Charles Lee will not bear too high expectations in the new season. From LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller to the last of the lineup, the core goals are to improve stability and continuity. These advancements will help management plan their future direction after years of injuries undermining team cohesion.

 

The Washington Wizards traded Poole and Sadiq Bay to the Pelicans for McCollum, Olynick (who was later traded to the Spurs) and Whitmore, and selected Trey Johnson with the No. 6 pick, but the rebuilding team (with six rotation players 21 and under) is still expected to be in the late Eastern Conference. The realistic expectation should be to witness young players such as Carrington, Saar, Kulibaly and Trae Johnson showing signs of growth under the leadership of veterans such as McCollum, Middleton, and Smart.

 

Brooklyn Nets

If someone had previously questioned the Nets' planning direction for the new season, when they set a record of five first-round picks in the single draft in NBA history (three of whom were point guards), all questions had disappeared. These operations clearly convey that the Nets are still a long way to go from truly competitive. As they send the best trading chip Cameron Johnson to the Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr., the reconstruction signal becomes clearer.

 

Original text: Chris Herring

 

Compiled by: Li Taibai

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