#15 Chicago Bulls – Last Season’s Record: 31-41
Key Offseason Additions: F DeMar DeRozan, G Lonzo Ball, G Alex Caruso, C Tony Bradley, F Derrick Jones Jr., C Marko Simonović, G Ayo Dosunmu
Key Offseason Departures: F Lauri Markkanen, G Tomáš Satoranský, G/F Garrett Temple, F Thaddeus Young, F/C Daniel Theis
We mentioned some of the “biggest losers” of the offseason earlier, but one of the “biggest winners” was the Chicago Bulls, who ended up with additions of DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and others. The Bulls are not done yet either, as they still have some open roster spots even after sending Markkanen via sign-and-trade to Cleveland.
Now, with an All-Star trio of Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan, as well as a supporting cast of Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Partick Williams and Coby White, the Chicago Bulls have spring-boarded themselves into real title contention in the Eastern Conference.
It is not crazy to think that this team could wind up hosting a first-round playoff series during the 2021-22 season, but it is more likely that they will end up being the 5-seed or 6-seed in the East. Defensively, this team is still weak and will likely be exposed, but offensively, they have a lot of talent to work with, which is why they are a contending team.
What they do in terms of adding more talent with their final few roster spots will be interesting for sure and could definitely help move them up even further on this list. Overall though, the 2021-22 season could be the best season the Chicago Bulls have had since going 50-32 during the 2014-15 season, a year in which they made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
#14 Indiana Pacers – Last Season’s Record: 34-38
Key Offseason Additions: G T.J. McConnell, G Chris Duarte, F/C Isaiah Jackson, F Torrey Craig
Key Offseason Departures: F Doug McDermott, G Aaron Holiday
They may not be listed as additions, but you might as well add T.J. Warren, Caris LeVert and Myles Turner to the list of additions for the Indiana Pacers since they have had time to rest and get healthy once again ahead of the 2021-22 season. After having foot surgery midseason last year, Warren is aiming for a return to action for Opening Night, but his status is still yet to be determined.
When you look at this Pacers team on paper, it is hard to see how they finished just 34-38 last year, but injuries have plagued their chances of being special. If they can remain healthy, there is no reason why the Pacers cannot be a real threat in the Eastern Conference, especially since they have a starting lineup of Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, T.J. Warren, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.
That is a very strong starting rotation and Indiana brought back Rick Carlisle to be their new head coach in the offseason after spending the last 13 seasons in Dallas with the Mavericks. Carlisle coached the Indiana Pacers from 2003-2007 before becoming the Mavericks’ head coach.
With a head coach that is devoted to winning, a starting unit that can contend with any team in the league when healthy and a handful of solid secondary contributors in T.J. McConnell, Justin Holiday, Torrey Craig, Chris Duarte and others, the Pacers could very well be the “Comeback Team of the Year” during the 2021-22 season.
#13 Atlanta Hawks – Last Season’s Record: 41-31
Key Offseason Additions: F John Collins, G Delon Wright, G Lou Williams, F Jalen Johnson
Key Offseason Departures: G/F Tony Snell
Trae Young emerged as one of the league’s youngest stars last season and he and the Hawks surprised everybody by making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, taking down the 1-seeded Philadelphia 76ers on the way there. Originally predicted to be a borderline playoff team, the Hawks proved that they are way ahead of schedule and an actual threat in the Eastern Conference.
Making it as deep as they did in the postseason was definitely not a fluke and Atlanta is going to prove this during the 2021-22 season. They may not be a “superteam” and have multiple All-Stars, but the Atlanta Hawks may very well be the deepest team in the league.
The Hawks have at least two guys at every single position that can play meaningful minutes and last year, they had 9 players finish the regular season averaging 10.0+ PPG for them. With pretty much everybody returning for the 2021-22 season, as well as adding Delon Wright and rookie Jalen Johnson, Atlanta has a chance to be even better than they were during the 2020-21 season.
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Staying healthy will be the main factor for the Hawks, as they are already going to be without a key contributor in their frontcourt. Second-year center Onyeka Okongwu will miss the start of the 2021-22 season after having surgery in the offseason for a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He is expected to be back at some point in early 2022.
As long as Trae Young and John Collins are on this team though, the Hawks are only going to get better, which is why they could once again be primed to make a deep playoff push. With an average age of about 26.2 years-old, the Atlanta Hawks have a perfect blend of young talents and experienced talents, making them a real force in the Eastern Conference.
#12 Boston Celtics – Last Season’s Record: 36-36
Key Offseason Additions: F Al Horford, G Dennis Schröder, G/F Josh Richardson, C Enes Kanter
Key Offseason Departures: G Kemba Walker, F/C Tristan Thompson, G/F Evan Fournier
The Boston Celtics have made the playoffs every single season since the start of the 2014-15 season, including making three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, they have been unable to break through and finally make it back to the NBA Finals to contend for a title.
Last year was a lost cause for the Celtics, losing 4-1 in the first-round of the playoffs to the Brooklyn Nets, but they have a chance to actually get back to contending for a title during the 2021-22 season. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have grown into being one of the best young duos in the league and with Marcus Smart by their side, they have a really strong two-way lineup.
Losing Kemba Walker may hurt the Celtics slightly on the offensive-end of the floor, but Al Horford, Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson and Enes Kanter are all solid, experienced additions for this team. Not having depth has been the “Achilles heel” of the Boston Celtics over the years and they ranked 28th in the league last season in bench scoring.
They will definitely be a deeper team during the 2021-22 season than they were last season and have more guys they can turn to for offensive production, which should be a key for them to take pressure off of Brown and Tatum to do everything. It is also worth noting though that Tacko Fall is no longer with the Celtics, unless they sign him to another two-way deal, which is a big loss to the entire fanbase. Who knows how they will be able to replicate his production and more importantly, the energy his presence brings to their fans.
#11 New York Knicks – Last Season’s Record: 41-31
Key Offseason Additions: G Kemba Walker, G Derrick Rose, G/F Evan Fournier, F Alec Burks, G Quentin Grimes, G Miles McBride
Key Offseason Departures: F Reggie Bullock, G Elfrid Payton, G Frank Ntilikina
NEW YORK BASKETBALL! Knicks fans have suffered a lot this past decade, but finally, they have something to be happy and cheerful about.
Leon Rose and Scott Perry have done a fantastic job of building this Knicks roster and last year, all their hard work finally paid off. The Knicks finished 41-31, their best record since the 2012-13 season and they made the playoffs for the first-time since that same season.
While they did lose in the first-round of Trae Young and the Hawks, the 2020-21 season was a big success for the New York Knicks. They finally have an identity with Julius Randle as their leader and they went out and spent their cap space on key contributors to help them on the offensive-end of the court since they finished 26th in the league in scoring last year.
Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier will give the Knicks a much-needed boost on the offensive-end of the floor, but once again, defense will be the “name of the game” for Tom Thibodeau’s squad. The Knicks ranked 3rd in Defensive Rating last year and they will once again prove to be one of the better defensive teams in the league during the 2021-22 season.
