SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 18: Teammates Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat touch heads before tip off in the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on February 18, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
1.
If tampering is what is required to take the next step, and all it ends up costing you is a fine and maybe some future draft picks that won’t affect this year’s squad, then that’s just the price of doing business in the NBA. Especially in the Eastern Conference.
According to a recent ESPN report, the league is looking into whether Miami and Chicago allegedly violated protocols and started courting Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball, respectively, earlier than is allowed. Teams aren’t supposed to chat up free agents until a designated start time (specifically that was 6 p.m. ET, August 2nd), but when news starts flying on Twitter that highly prized players are signing with new squads seconds after said start we all know something has been in the works for more than a hot minute.
Fans don’t care about tampering and nor, apparently, do most teams in the NBA if we’re being real. Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein laid out some tampering truths the other day that’s worth a read. After the Bulls and Heat significantly upped their talent level, I highly doubt that either squad, if found guilty, will regret the modest punishment likely to be handed down by the league. Both teams drastically improved their lot in a conference that made big strides in free agency. The East is no longer the “Leastern Conference.” In fact, it arguably hasn’t been this stacked in years.
Over a week after free agency opened up and rosters were altered—legally or by the book—it’s worth surveying all 15 teams and putting them in some kind of order well before training camps open in the fall. Rest assured there was no tampering with our order—we played by the rules—and there’s a decent chance the rankings could look different just before the season tips. That’s because there’s still one big roster move a particular squad seemingly has to make that would yet again alter the competitive landscape of the East.
2.Nets
2020-21 Record: 48-24, 2nd in East
Key Additions: Signed Patty Mills, drafted Cameron Thomas
With the No. 1 player in the world—that would be Kevin Durant—and his two amigos—that would be James Harden and Kyrie Irving—running it back for a second season, the only thing keeping Brooklyn from waltzing right to the NBA Finals will be the health of the NBA’s best big three. When KD, Harden, and Irving are in the lineup, there isn’t a defense in the league that can keep them in check over a seven game series. Bringing back Blake Griffin was a nice move and signing Patty Mills as the backup point guard makes Brooklyn’s roster a beast in the East.
3.Bucks
2020-21 Record: 46-26, 3rd in East
Key Additions: Acquired Grayson Allen
The champs didn’t do much in free agency because they really couldn’t thanks to their cap situation. But the Bucks will largely look the same as last season and remain one of the top teams in the conference next season because they have the second-best player in the world—the newly minted NBA immortal Giannis Antetokounmpo—paired with two All-Stars/gold medal winners—Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday—that will allow Milwaukee to ferociously defend its title. Losing PJ Tucker wasn’t ideal, but bringing back Bobby Portis was huge and don’t overlook the addition of Grayson Allen who can provide some pop off the bench.
4.Heat
2020-21 Record: 40-32, 6th in East
Key Additions: Acquired Kyle Lowry, signed PJ Tucker
Debatably, the Heat have the third best roster in the East after acquiring Kyle Lowry, luring PJ Tucker away from the Bucks, and re-signing sharpshooter Duncan Robinson. Whether you want to blame Miami’s first-round flameout against the Bucks this past postseason on an NBA Finals hangover or health issues or roster deficiencies, you can’t deny that the Heat re-loaded and upgraded at several key positions during free agency. While the roster may not feature a true superstar—depending on how strict your personal definition of “superstar” is—it is way more dynamic and has the potential to be even better than last year’s squad that finished seventh in adjusted defensive rating.
5.Hawks
2020-21 Record: 41-31, 5th in East
Key Additions: Drafted Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper
Practically the same roster as last season’s crew that made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference finals and they did beat Philadelphia...so why wouldn’t we slot them at No. 4 ahead of the Sixers? Trae Young is one of the top 10 point guards in the game—and he’s rapidly approaching top 5 status. The re-signing of John Collins was huge for Atlanta. If players like Cam Reddish and Onyeka Okongwu keep improving, and Atlanta can keep its young core together, the Hawks will be among the top teams in the East for years.
6.76ers
2020-21 Record: 49-23, 1st in East
Key Additions: Signed Andre Drummond
This roster probably looks way different than it does now before the season tips as we all wait on the inevitable—a Ben Simmons trade. If the offensively deficient point guard can somehow net Philadelphia Damian Lillard then the Sixers instantly feature the East’s second best roster. If Simmons brings back something more modest, like CJ McCollum, maybe Philly rolls into the regular season a touch better than the Heat. Regardless, the Sixers still feature Joel Embiid and a competent complement of role players like Seth Curry, Danny Green, and Tobias Harris. But Embiid needs more firepower than that if the Sixers really want to make a run at the franchise’s first Finals since 2001.
7.Celtics
2020-21 Record: 36-36, 7th in East
Key Additions: Acquired Al Horford and Josh Richardson, signed Dennis Schroder
Lot of frustration from Celtics fans who hated seeing their squad make little noise in free agency until they landed Dennis Schroder on a one-year, taxpayer mid-level exceptions deal. Regardless, when you have a duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way you should be able to avoid the Play-In Tournament in the East and that’s why we placed the Celtics sixth. Everything was a struggle last season for Boston and with marginal roster improvements—like bringing back Al Horford—and a new voice in first-time head coach Ime Udoka, I’d bet the Celtics are better than .500 next season.
8.Knicks
2020-21 Record: 41-31, 4th in East
Key Additions: Signed Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier
The East’s surprise squad last season ultimately did well for itself in free agency with Kemba Walker stabilizing the starting point guard position and Evan Fournier providing firepower to alleviate some of the offensive burden from Julius Randle. So why did the fourth best team in the East last season end up seventh in our summer rankings? Well, it’s tough to put New York higher than six other squads when you’re not sure if its best player is now perennially an All-NBA talent (as Randle was last season) or more of the guy we saw in the postseason. Overall, it’s a better roster than last season’s. The problem is the East got a lot deeper.
9.Bulls
2020-21 Record: 31-41, 11th in East
Key Additions: Acquired DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball, signed Alex Caruso
Other than Washington’s, no roster in the East looks as different from last season’s as Chicago’s. Zach LaVine now gets to hoop with some legit ballers thanks to the Bulls’ aggressive moves in free agency. While some might argue the roster was put together awkwardly—there wasn’t a ton of praise over the addition of DeMar DeRozan while landing Lonzo Ball was a home run—you can’t deny that Chicago isn’t way more talented than last year’s team that briefly flirted with earning a Play-In berth. The Bulls are going to score; the question is whether then can adequately defend. It feels like no team in the conference has a higher potential ceiling versus its floor than the Bulls.
10.Pacers
2020-21 Record: 34-38, 9th in East
Key Additions: Drafted Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson
A good, but far from great roster that should once again compete for a berth in the Play-In Tournament. Remember that Rick Carlisle takes over coaching duties for a team that hasn’t made it past the first-round of the playoffs since back-to-back conference finals appearances in 2013 and 2014.
11.Hornets
2020-21 Record: 33-39, 10th in East
Key Additions: Drafted James Bouknight and Kai Jones, Signed Kelly Oubre Jr.
There’s a lot to like about what Charlotte’s doing. You just wish they more adequately addressed their biggest issue entering free agency—the center position—than trading for Mason Plumlee. Kelly Oubre is a solid addition on the wing and it’s not hard to imagine James Bouknight and LaMelo Ball developing into a dynamic offensive backcourt. Competing for a second-straight Play-In Tournament berth sounds about right for this club.
12.Wizards
2020-21 Record: 34-38, 8th in East
Key Additions: Acquired Spencer Dinwiddie, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Aaron Holiday
Short term, the Wizards are worse off for dealing Russell Westbrook to the Lakers. Westbrook’s energy is so valuable during the regular-season, Washington will absolutely miss the spark plug point guard who helped lead the Wizards, along with sharpshooter Bradley Beal, to an unlikely playoff berth last season. Over the long haul, it’s probably better for the Wizards that Russ was dealt since it frees up substantial money over the next few summers to potentially attract a second star to DC should Beal decide to sign a max extension. The roster now features a bunch of good players, but only one great player and in an increasing stacked East it could be tough for the new-look Wizards to make the playoffs.
13.Raptors
2020-21 Record: 27-45, 12th in East
Key Additions: Drafted Scottie Barnes
Too low for a roster featuring Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam? No. The Raptors are going through a soft rebuild and don’t be surprised if Siakam ends up being dealt. If Scottie Barnes, who surprised many draft observers by going fourth to Toronto, provides offensive pop then maybe the Raptors can surprise and flirt with a Play-In berth. The champs from three seasons ago look destined to be a lottery team for the second straight season.
14.Pistons
2020-21 Record: 20-52, 15th in East
Key Additions: Drafted Cade Cunningham
Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart performed above and beyond expectations as rookies last season. Now Detroit adds No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham to the mix, exponentially improving the talent level of the young team from just a couple of campaigns ago. The Pistons actually appear to have a decent a future, if they exercise some patience, when it wasn’t so long ago that the franchise looked completely lost.
15.Cavaliers
2020-21 Record: 22-50, 13th in East
Key Additions: Drafted Evan Mobley, acquired Ricky Rubio
On a positive note, Cleveland should feature one of the best defensive frontcourts after taking Evan Mobley third in the draft and signing Jarrett Allen to a big deal in free agency. On the other end of the spectrum, Kevin Love’s days with the organization will probably come to an end via buyout and there’s a pretty good chance the Cavs breakup the Darius Garland-Collin Sexton backcourt. The Cavs will struggle, again, since LeBron James is not walking through that door to save Cleveland.
16.Magic
2020-21 Record: 21-51, 14th in East
Key Additions: Drafted Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner
Orlando started tearing it down at the trade deadline this past March so besting last season’s 21 wins will be a helluva accomplishment considering how young and inexperienced the roster is heading into next season. The Magic lucked out snagging the accomplished Jalen Suggs in the draft, but it’ll be picking high in the lottery for next few seasons.