'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#10 Sacramento Kings
The Kings have a very young and athletic team across the board. At the guard positions, they have an explosive two-way player in De'Aaron Fox and a sharpshooter in Buddy Hield. Forward Harrison Barnes is a scorer who can average 20+ points per game and Ariza is an experienced 3-and-D player.
Big men Marvin Bagley III and Harry Giles have a lot of talent meanwhile free agency signing Dewayne Dedmon is a veteran stretch 5 who can block shots and rebound. So overall, these are very promising signs for Sacramento moving forward- they may actually break their playoff drought in the next few years.
#9 San Antonio Spurs
Unfortunately, next season could be the end of the historic Spurs streak of making the playoffs for 22 consecutive seasons. As usual, San Antonio are a strong defensive team with long guards on the perimeter (such as Dejounte Murray whose return from injury will certainly provide a boost on both ends of the floor for San Antonio) and then Aldridge and Poeltl inside.
However, Aldridge is getting older and DeRozan's role could become unclear as the younger players will get more playing time at SG whilst Rudy Gay will take up quite a lot of time at SF. In fact, there is a chance that DeRozan gets traded once again for more young pieces that fit in better.
#8 New Orleans Pelicans
Through this year's NBA Draft and the acquisitions they received in return for Anthony Davis and free agency signings, the Pelicans have assembled one of the best young teams in league history. A starting lineup of Ball, Holiday, Ingram, Williamson, and Favors with Alexander-Walker, Redick, Moore, Miller, and Hayes as part of the second unit as well as the options of Hart, Melli, Louzada-Silva and Okafor truly is an incredible all-round roster with unlimited potential.
They're expected to be a good playoff team for the next couple of seasons but after that, they'll be amongst championship favorites with the proper development of the talented rookies, sophomores and third-year players.
#7 Portland Trail Blazers
Lillard and McCollum will be tipped to lead the team to a playoff place once again but it is very doubtful that they'll be able to gain homecourt advantage because of the injury to Jusuf Nurkic as well as the free agency departures of Al-Farooq Aminu, Mo Harkless, Seth Curry, and Jake Layman.
On the other hand, they managed to acquire Kent Bazemore in exchange for Evan Turner whilst acquiring Hassan Whiteside as part of the 3-team Jimmy Butler trade. They also signed Mario Hezonja and Pau Gasol after drafting Nassir Little, so overall they should remain a playoff team but aren't seen as legitimate contenders.
#6 Golden State Warriors
Golden State lost its superteam status this summer as a result of Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Quinn Cook leaving the franchise. Furthermore, Klay Thompson will be injured for around half of the regular season. However, they managed to land All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell who will start alongside Curry in the backcourt.
In contrast, Russell will likely be an acquisition that lasts only until the beginning of February 2020 as Warriors will probably trade him away for a forward and young assets. This is because once Thompson returns, it's very difficult to see the 3 guards fit in with each other.
