The dust has settled on a hectic free agency period and rosters are beginning to shape up for the 2019-20 season.
Each day this week, we've been taking a look at a different division and ranking the teams based on where we believe they'll finish at the end of the season.
Did your favourite team improve or take a step back this offseason? Did they change up their roster for the better, miss in the draft and free agency or just run things back with a similar team from the previous season?
DIVISION RANKINGS: Northwest | Southwest | Atlantic | Pacific
Today, it's time to focus on the Central Division.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
2018-19 record: 19-63, 5th in the division
Projected 2019-20 record: 23-59
The Cavaliers were tied for the second-worst record in the NBA last season, which was expected after LeBron James left to play for the Los Angeles Lakers.
All-Star forward Kevin Love missed the majority of the season and the supporting cast of the Cavaliers couldn't hold things down until he returned. In the second half of the year, rookie point guard Collin Sexton started to turn things on, showing he could live up to the potential of a top-10 pick. It was an encouraging development from what otherwise was a disappointing season for the team.
Picking who they felt was the best player available, the Cavaliers selected another scoring guard in Darius Garland with the No. 5 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. It could take a while for the two young guards to get a feel for how to play alongside each other, but it could be an electric backcourt once they do get things figured out.
It's been heavily rumoured that the Cavs may find a trade suitor for Love, as the team is in the midst of rebuilding. With young pieces like Sexton, Garland, Cedi Osman and 2019 draft picks Kevin Porter Jr. and Dylan Windler, it only makes sense to plan for the long-term as opposed to trying to make something out of nothing in the short-term.
The Cavs will likely struggle this season, but the trio of Sexton, Garland and – at least for the time-being – Kevin Love should be fun to watch.
4. Chicago Bulls
2018-19 record: 22-60, 4th in the division
Projected 2019-20 record: 33-49
The Bulls only won 22 games last season but be on the lookout for them as a surprise team this season.
No, a record of 33-49 would not get them in the playoffs, but this team has the potential to surpass that projection if they can put it together.
Zach LaVine was a scoring machine last season, Lauri Markkanen continues to look like a big man with one of the brightest futures in the NBA and Otto Porter Jr. proved to be a solid addition when the Bulls traded for him last season.
Centre Wendell Carter Jr. looked to be a solid asset, especially on the defensive end, but a thumb injury sidelined him for the majority of his rookie campaign. With him returning to the aforementioned core, the Bulls' young roster is shaping up fairly well.
Chicago went and added quality veterans like Tomas Satoransky – who will likely serve as the starting point guard while mentoring 2019 first-round pick Coby White – and Thaddeus Young, who is a jack of all trades on both ends of the floor.
If White can break out his rookie season and players like last year's first-round pick Chandler Huchison take a step forward, the Bulls could be a young team that gives even the best teams in the NBA a tough time night-in and night-out.
3. Detroit Pistons
2018-19 record: 41-41, 3rd in the division
Projected 2019-20 record: 40-42
The Pistons returned to the playoffs in 2019 but couldn't end their 10-year drought of failing to advance past the first round.
All-Star forward Blake Griffin had a career-year, carrying the Pistons as far as he physically could – to the point where he was practically playing on one leg as they were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs.
There weren't any major roster changes for Detroit this offseason, as they're running things back with a similar team.
They did sign a scoring threat off the bench in Derrick Rose, who enjoyed his best season since leaving the Bulls back in 2016. Rose should add a much-needed scoring punch to lighten Griffin's workload, as it clearly caught up to him by the end of the season.
Andre Drummond still holds down the paint with Reggie Jackson running point. 3-point shooter Luke Kennard will likely see an increased role this upcoming season and the signing of Markieff Morris should give the Pistons some desperately needed wing depth.
Their 2019 first-round pick Sekou Doumbouya sat out Summer League, so we still don't know what to expect from him, but the 18-year-old prospect is considered to have some of the highest upside in his class.
There shouldn't be much of change in record for the Pistons this upcoming season and they'll still likely be fighting for a bottom playoff spot in the East.
2. Indiana Pacers
2018-19 record: 48-34, 2nd in the division
Projected 2019-20 record: 50-32
The Pacers were able to stay afloat and finish strong despite losing their star guard Victor Oladipo to a ruptured quad just past the midway point of the season.
One of the main reasons the team was able to keep going was a scoring outburst from forward Bojan Bogdanovic, who left Indiana for the Utah Jazz this offseason. No sweat, Pacers fans – Indiana did a fantastic job of filling that role to make sure this team can take another step forward in 2020.
They traded for scoring forward TJ Warren on draft night, then signed Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb to add even more scoring.
Indy will be without Oladipo for the start of the season – some reports state that the All-Star could return as soon as December, but Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard is in "no rush" to force him back on the court.
How did the Pacers respond? Adding even more guard depth by signing Justin Holiday, brother and now-teammate of the Pacers' Aaron Holiday, assuring the team will have plenty of options until their star returns.
They still have their defensive frontcourt duo in Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis, so the Pacers should have no trouble remaining one of the top defensive teams in the league.
Once Oladipo returns, this is one of the more intriguing teams in the East – no one would want to face off against the Pacers at full strength in the postseason.
1. Milwaukee Bucks
2018-19 record: 60-22, 1st in the division
Projected 2019-20 record: 60-22
The Bucks were the best team in the NBA all regular season long in 2018-19. They were the only team to reach the 60 win mark and were rolling through the playoffs with ease before dropping four straight games to the eventual champions.
Milwaukee did see some roster turnover this offseason, but this team remains poised to win around 60 games again next season in pursuit of a trip to the NBA Finals.
They lost their combo guard and floor general in Malcolm Brogdon to an in-division rival and saw veteran forward Nikola Mirotic leave for a deal with Barcelona in the EuroLeague.
But they did re-sign All-Star shooting guard Khris Middleton to a max contract, brought back centre Brook Lopez, who's coming off of a career-year, and re-signed back-up point guard George Hill, who had a solid showing in the playoffs.
They filled the roles they needed by signing veteran two-way shooting guard Wesley Matthews, veteran rim protector Robin Lopez and most recently, veteran sharpshooter Kyle Korver.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off of his first MVP season where he dominated the league and still has areas of his game that can improve – that's a scary thought.
This roster should have no trouble clicking and it should be fully expected that they run the East — and maybe even the entire NBA — again next regular season.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.
