12. Chicago Bulls (2018-2019 record: 22-60)
The Chicago Bulls currently looking like a team on the rise with young players in Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. Coby White also looks like a promising player coming out of the draft who can help the Bulls possibly become a playoff team within the next couple of years. There’s not much else to say on the Bulls, who are on the verge of becoming a young decent team. They’ll be a challenge to beat this season if everyone stays healthy but are too young and inexperienced to crack a playoff spot.
11. New York Knicks (2018-2019 record: 17-65)
New York Knicks fans probably had the toughest offseason of all. With expectations of acquiring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Zion Williamson… the Knicks did not get one of those names. They did draft R.J. Barrett, who was supposed to be the top prospect before Zion came along. They also signed an underrated player in Julius Randle who can put up big numbers when needed.
Other signings like Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock and Taj Gibson will probably have this team at least smelling a playoff spot. The future is still bright for the Knicks and developing their young core of Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, R.J. Barrett and even Dennis Smith Jr. should be their goal moving forward.
10. Miami Heat (2018-2019 record: 39-43)
The Miami Heat have been mediocre for three seasons now, and it looks like the fourth season is on the way. Jimmy Butler will win the Heat games, but there isn’t enough talent surrounding Butler to ever be a threat in the East.
Butler is also not the healthiest player. In his last six seasons, Butler has only played over 70 games once. With a Jimmy Butler-led team, at the age of 30, with no other stars on his side, it is tough to see the Heat ever making it to the playoff mix. Unless players like Justise Winslow take a big leap forward, I don’t see the Heat making the playoffs when teams like the Hawks and Pistons just have a better team.