The NBA’s Central Division looks like it is going to be run by the 2021 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks for the foreseeable future. The Bucks are built to contend for many years to come, while a majority of the division is in varying points of their rebuilds.
The Chicago Bulls look like the team that will give the Bucks the most trouble next season, as they boast a strong All-Star duo in Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. They will be making a push for the postseason next year with those two in place.
The Indiana Pacers are in the dreaded middle-ground of the NBA. They are not bad enough to land a top-five pick and franchise-altering prospect, but they are not good enough to contend in the Eastern Conference, let alone the NBA. But, they are not far off from being playoff contenders and have some trade chips that could make it happen.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons are both in the earlier stages of rebuilds, but the future is bright in large part because of the 2021 NBA Draft. Detroit won the NBA Draft Lottery and own the first overall pick in the draft. Cade Cunningham is projected to go No. 1 and would give the Pistons a new face of the franchise to build around.
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The Cavaliers landed the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and will be in a great position to bolster their roster. USC center Evan Mobley, Florida State power forward Scotty Barnes and Gonzaga point guard Jalen Suggs could all be in play and would be excellent selections.
Each team could also look to the trade route to bolster their rosters. Here is one ideal trade target for each team in the Central Division.
