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With the superteam in Golden State finally dismantled, there is more competitive balance in the league today than there has been for many, many years. Yes, two of the top teams indeed play in the same city but there was not another year where so many different teams had a realistic chance of winning the championship.
The following list is not a reflection of how teams will likely fare in the regular season where things like load management could affect the outcome. It is more geared towards their chances at winning the ultimate prize -- an NBA Championship.
#5 Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are the only team that ever came close to beating the Warriors superteam at full strength. Many believe they were a Chris Paul injury away from upsetting the Warriors in 2018. They had another chance this year when the the series was tied 2-2 after Kevin Durant went down with a calf strain. However, they were unable to get the job done.
The team today is quite different from the one in years past. Paul, who was the floor general on those teams, was traded for Russell Westbrook. While there are question marks on how the two ball-dominant former MVPs will play together, it is pertinent to note that the same questions were asked when Paul first joined James Harden two years ago. While that union might not have lasted long, they were still highly effective and caused problems for even the best teams in the league.
The Rockets have retained their other starters -- Eric Gordon, Clint Capela, and PJ Tucker and the addition of former Defensive Player of the Year, Tyson Chandler will shore up their defense for a possible title run.
James Harden is the greatest offensive threat in the NBA and Russell Westbrook is a walking triple-double. The two former OKC teammates have expressed a desire to play together and their mere presence should make the Rockets a regular-season powerhouse that provides many highlight wheel-worthy moments.
The only question mark surrounding the team is how far they would go in the playoffs. Both Harden and Westbrook are known to underperform in the postseason and while coach Mike D'Antoni has produced many spectacular regular season teams, he is yet to prove that his style of play can win a championship
#4 Milwaukee Bucks
After finishing the 2018-19 season 60-22, the Bucks were the number one team in the regular season. They were led by none other than league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was surrounded by a solid supporting cast that had numerous shooters to make up for his lack of long-range shooting.
They were dominant in the first two rounds of the playoffs, dispatching both the Pistons and the Celtics with ease, dropping just a single game in the process. The Raptors, however, proved too much for the Bucks, who after taking a 2-0 lead, lost four consecutive games and crashed out.
The 24-year-old MVP is not one to rest on his laurels and has stated that he has only reached 60 percent of his potential. Despite all the media attention that surrounds winning the award, Giannis appears focused on improving his on-court skills and leading the Bucks to their first championship since 1971.
The Bucks will return this season with much of the same squad, resigning Khris Middleton and Brooke Lopez to long-term contracts. The loss of talented young guard Malcolm Brogdon will, however, be felt on both sides of the floor.
The abilities of head coach Mike Budenholzer, who transformed a middle-of-the-road team into an eastern conference powerhouse, cannot be underestimated. With much of the same lineup returning this season, they will benefit from the continuity and will be among the favorites to make it out of the east.
#3 Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers were the only team in the 2019 playoffs to push the eventual champions, Toronto Raptors to a Game 7 which they lost to a buzzer-beater from Kawhi Leonard which will be remembered as one of the most iconic shots in NBA history.
The franchise is built around 25-year-old big man Joel Embiid and 23-year-old point guard Ben Simmons. Both are supremely talented and could realistically develop into being the very best in the league. Embiid's on-court abilities are already at a near MVP level and the only thing that could stop him from going down as an all-time great center is injuries. Embiid's health issues cost them dearly in the 2019 playoffs and they should consider managing his load during the regular season so that he can play to the best of his abilities when it matters the most.
The Sixers had an eventful off-season, signing veteran All-Star big man Al Horford and sharpshooter Tobias Harris to long-term deals. They also acquired young ascending guard Josh Richardson who has shown improvement every year of his career.
Despite the loss of Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick, the Sixers still have one of the most talented rosters in the league. As long as Embiid can stay healthy, they are a force to reckon with and are the favorites to make it out of the east.
#2 LA Lakers
The storied LA Lakers just had its worst stretch in history, failing to make the playoffs for six consecutive years. Even LeBron James, who signed a four-year deal with the franchise last summer, was not enough to pull them out of their slump.
This year, however, things look a lot brighter for them with James now joined by Anthony Davis. Not only is Davis supremely talented, but his game also perfectly complements LeBron's. The Davis-James pick-and-roll is something we should see a lot of in the upcoming season.
The Lakers have also managed to build a well-rounded team around the two superstars with the likes of Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso returning from last year. They also signed some good free agents, first among which is DeMarcus Cousins, who was Davis's teammate at the Pelicans. The addition of Danny Green and Avery Bradley will bring some much-needed defensive toughness. Quinn Cook is a more than competent shooter and his stint with the Warriors gave him the experience of playing in the biggest stages.
With two of the five best players on the planet on their roster, the Lakers are legitimate contenders and a threat to any team in the NBA. If LeBron James continues to play at his usual level, it should surprise no one if the Lakers add another championship to their tally.
#1 LA Clippers
The Clippers have forever been the "other team" in Los Angeles with all the fanfare and adulation going to the Lakers with whom they share the Staples Center arena (new Clippers arena expected by 2024). The Clippers moved to LA in 1984 and haven't had much success, with their best result being second round exits. The team has seen a turnaround of sorts since it was purchased by Steve Ballmer in 2014, having only missed the playoffs once since the takeover.
The Clippers exceeded all expectations last season, making it to the playoffs in a highly competitive western conference despite not having a single All-Star on their roster and trading away one of their best players mid-season. They put up a very respectable performance in the postseason, pushing a Warriors team that was at full strength, to 6 games.
The Clippers couldn't have had a better off-season, signing the number one free agent in the market -- Kawhi Leonard and also managing to trade for Paul George who is coming off an MVP caliber season. They also have most of their players from the previous season returning. This includes Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley, Ivica Zubac and Landry Shamet. They are also coached by Doc Rivers who has been a head coach in the NBA since 1999 and is widely regarded as one of the best in the league.
Leonard and George in addition to being offensive geniuses are also the two best wing defenders in the league. With Beverly and Harrell, both of whom are exemplary defenders already on the roster, opposing teams will find it very difficult to score freely against the Clippers.
Although their cross-town rivals probably have the best duo in the NBA, the Clippers have the better, younger team and should be the favorites to win the 2019-20 NBA Championship.
