After a pretty entertaining and crazy season last year, as well as an unpredictable offseason, the 2019 NBA season is going to start in just four weeks (even though it’s just preseason). As preparation, I have brought up questions every team has heading into this season. I also gave my insight for each question, which also serves as some predictions for how the year will go. The order of teams was determined by ESPN’s NBA Power Rankings going into the season.
Atlanta Hawks: Who will be asked to perform the largest role?
The Hawks certainly have a lot of young players on their roster now, and have completely reconstructed their roster in the last two years. They drafted Luka Doncic but traded him for Trae Young in a draft day shocker, really believing that Young can be their franchise player. But right now they don’t have a clear best player, so it can really be anyone that can rise to the task, whether it be Trae Young, Kent Bazemore, John Collins, or even a surprise player like Taurean Prince.
My Answer: I think that new coach Lloyd Pierce will trust his rookie point guard with the keys of the offense, even though he and the rest of the team will struggle heavily on the defensive end.
Sacramento Kings: How will the team fit with each other?
The Kings have brought in plenty of young talent in the last three years, focusing on adding to every position. Fox looks like a future stud at PG, they have great shooting in Bogdanovic and Hield, and they have a promising frontcourt with Bagley/Giles/Cauley-Stein. But it will remain to be seen as to whether they can develop good chemistry with such different styles of play.
My Answer: Even though this year will likely not see the Kings making that much of a power move in the West, I think they will all be extremely ready to make a run next year. Bagley will have had a year of experience, and the whole team would be getting better. They could definitely make a playoff run if they can get good free agents next offseason.
Brooklyn Nets: Will D’Angelo Russell have his breakout year?
Ever since getting drafted #2 overall in 2015 by the Lakers, D’Lo has been expected to become an all-star guard that would prove to be an excellent leader to his teammates. Well, things in LA obviously didn’t work out, as he was traded to another rebuilding team, but this one in the East. His first year in Brooklyn was decent, but not anything special. A lot of fans are wondering if he can finally become the player he was projected to be.
My Answer: I am not only expecting D’Angelo Russell to finally prove himself as one of the best young players in the league, but am also picking him to win the Most Improved Player award this season. The Nets will certainly be improved as all of their younger players have gained more experience, and they have a solid player in every spot in the starting lineup, including shooting guard for Russell. I think the Nets have a chance to make the playoffs if they go on a run in the middle of the season, as all of the teams in their general vicinity don’t have the overall depth that the Nets have acquired.
New York Knicks: How will the young players form chemistry?
The Knicks had an absolutely sensational draft, probably the best out of any team. They selected two potential cornerstones, Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. Both of these players slide into the future starting lineup full of studs. Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Kristaps Porzingis would occupy the other three spots. However, there is certainly the question of how they will start to play with each other, especially considering the fact that Porzingis will most likely not return until January or February with his terrible injury.
My Answer: Surprisingly, I do not expect Robinson to start over Kanter at the beginning of the season, but I do think he will win over new coach Fizdale with his effort and plays on both ends of the floor. I think Frank Ntilikina will make some big strides in the offense, and Knox will contribute huge things from day one. The Knicks will be very fun to watch, but probably not good enough to make the playoffs yet.
Orlando Magic: Who will start at center?
Two of the four best players on this team are both centers, being Nikola Vucevic and the #6 overall pick in the draft, Mo Bamba. It is unclear as to what the Magic will do with their lineup because they just got a new coach, Steve Clifford, whose coaching style isn’t necessarily what a normal team has. His defense mainly focuses on protecting the rim, which is Mo Bamba’s bread and butter, but Vucevic has been a Magic mainstay for the last five years.
My Answer: Vucevic will start for the majority of the first half, but he will get traded before the deadline to provide room for Bamba on the team to play right alongside Aaron Gordon in the frontcourt.
Chicago Bulls: Will they push for the playoffs or remain in the rebuild?
Trading Jimmy Butler for three young players gave Bulls fans a definitive answer for the team’s plans going ahead; they were starting a rebuild. They pretty much got rid of all the veterans on the team except for Robin Lopez, and focused on bringing in players with potential. However, it looks like the rebuild is going too fast, as the Bulls now have legit potential at every position, after drafting Wendell Carter Jr and signing Jabari Parker this offseason.
My Answer: I think the Bulls have completed the rare one-year rebuild. All five spots in the starting lineup are players with all-star potential, and even if they don’t all become all-stars, they will have a great lineup for the next five years. They can certainly make the playoffs this year in a bad conference.
The next 6 teams are pretty interesting, and I’ll really be trying to give as much analysis as I can. They are the teams that will be in a strange place, hovering between being bad and making the playoffs. There are some in this category that will outperform their projections from the recent power rankings, just like I think the Bulls will even though they were ranked so low. I’ll catch you guys in the 2nd article in a five part series.
SLAM DUNK3 