Crazy predictions for upcoming season

 I do have some crazy predictions but I’ll save it 2 months from now.

 Lakers will win 50 Games!! 

 All summer I’ve seen Boston potential trade speculation & almost always the 2019 Kings pick is involved

I don’t remember the exact details of that Boston / Phila trade but I thought Phila kept the 2019 Kings pick if it lands #1

W/ the Kings ranked as the 2nd worst team in the NBA (projection Vegas/ ESPN etc) & the Lottery odds smoothed for the bottom 4 teams this year u gotta figure there is at least a decent chance that 2019 Kings pick lands #1 & goes to Phila & then Boston would get Phila’s pick somewhere between 25 – 30 (based on Vegas win total projections)

I realize that is a nightmare scenario for Boston but it def could happen so my question is how could Boston trade that pick B4 the 2019 Draft Lottery if there’s a chance Phila keeps it???

 I’ll predict that Portland misses the playoffs this year. While they finished third in the West last season, there wasn’t much separation between them and the nuggets (who missed the playoffs entirely). Their first round matchup with the pelicans exposed a lot of the weaknesses and imbalance in their roster, and outside of a major leap from someone like Zach collins it’s very hard to see them improving much with pretty much the same roster. While I think they still win between 40-45 games, I don’t see that being enough in a very deep western conference.

The Boston trade idea is interesting but given the depth they have at 2 and 3. I don’t see them personally going after Jimmy Butler. Maybe a top PF or even a C and move Al Horford to PF.

 I have the Lakers 2nd overall in my latest internal power poll.  I have the Grizzlies 11th (yep, I am a homer).

That would translate into the Lakers being a 2 seed in the West behind the Warriors and the Grizz being a 7th seed.  

I think that would be a super-interesting first round matchup.  A fun clash of styles.

I forgot about the Wizards, but I am not a huge fan of them… other than that, I have the Knicks at 7th in the East.  I think the law firm of Mitchell Robinson and Knox surprises a lot of people.

MVP award: let’s go with LeBron James.  With AD, Giannis, Harden, Russellmania, Durant, and Steph also receiving major consideration.

Warriors beat the Raptors for the title.

 I think the Grizzles blow the team up and rebuild…Not competitng with that team and need to trade those vets while they still have value. 

 I live in Atlanta…I think the Hawks attendence will be Soooo bad this year (last in 17-18),  that rumors swirl about them consider moving to Seattle in the next couple years. 

Portland finally caves and makes Dame or CJ available around the trade deadline.

Thibs gets fired. Minnesota misses the playoffs

 Blockbuster trade: I could see Phoenix cashing in some of its young talent for 1 of 3 players:

Anyone bar Ayton and Booker is available: I could see Booker giving thumbs up for 1 of 4 players for them to go after: D’angelo Russell,KAT or Damian Lillard .

Russell as he could maybe be had for a cheap price,They are friends(this may make up for the Ulis move) and is on the Same timeline as Booker.

KAT-The T-wolves may move him for a big package if he becomes to much of a diva and they have Butlers word he will Re-up…This is the only move that may also get Ayton back if they had to.

Dame:I could see Trailblazers hitting reset at the deadline if they really had to due to next section(underperforming). What for though is up for debate as he could be had for either a high price or reasonable depending on if the suns took a bad deal with it….

I could see Boston moving Kyrie before the deadline if they believe he isn’t staying for some young assets and maybe a reasonable talent… As they may prefer to build around Hayward,Brown,Taytum and Horford with Rozier + Smart moving up in the team ladder.While gaining either young assets + picks

T-wolves move 1 maybe 2 of there 3 core players: Wiggins,Towns or Butler for as much as possible…

I could see Wiggins being moved first,followed by which 1 of the 2 has said I want out of Butler or Towns. What for though is the hard one as I could see the Lakers,Suns,76ers,Celtics,Denver and Trailblazers all being in the covenversation for some of their talent..

Underachieving:

West 

Trailblazers: They did nothing except bring back same team and other teams got better leaving them as the team that will probably go from 3rd seed to any where from 5-10 spot..

East:

Orlando: They have some nice pieces but yet again will probably not put it together…

Overacheiving:

East:

 New York: With Lebron leaving the east I could see Fizzdale doing something with this team which is still very much a work in progress..I see 5-9 spot for this team

West:

Dallas or Clippers : I could see them out performing their ranking due to reasonable coaches that tend to elevate their rosters. I see Dallas being more likely to do something of the two but I have a weir feeling the Clippers roster could surprise people this season(especially with their rookies)…