The Cavaliers have lost nine in a row and Kevin Love‘s return date was recently pushed back. Collin Sexton continues to show promise, but he’s not good yet. It will be a long season for Cleveland.
The Knicks are looking to land Zion Williamson next to Kristaps Porzingis, working around Enes Kanter‘s volatile role and giving ample minutes to young guns like Kevin Knox. New York will tank this season and look to regroup over the summer, presumably with a healthy Porzingis.
The Bulls have firepower in Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen, but it hasn’t translated to wins yet. Jim Boylen continues to make baffling decisions as the head coach, implementing old-school policies despite a young, rebuilding core.
The Suns have ample talent in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton alone, but the rest of the roster is a work in progress. Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren and Mikal Bridges have all found ways to contribute, but it’s clear Phoenix is a year or two away from making serious noise in the West.
The Hawks have been surprisingly competent since John Collins‘ return, with the big man putting up stellar numbers and gradually developing chemistry with Trae Young. The latter has also improved, boosting his efficiency in recent weeks and continuing his brilliance as a passer.