The Bucks will enter next season as the defending champions. They’ll be a heavy favorite to at least top the Central Division again and enter the Eastern Conference playoffs as one of the top seeds.
Every team in the division has made significant moves this offseason with the hope of eventually getting to the Bucks’ level.
The Bulls made the splashiest acquisitions, bringing in Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso to fortify a core group headed by Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine.
The Pistons hit the lottery and now have a potential franchise player in Cade Cunningham. Their biggest free agent signing was big man Kelly Olynyk, who will help Detroit space the floor. Jerami Grant blossomed in an expanded role and they also possess a strong young core with Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey and Killian Hayes.
The Pacers brought back Rick Carlisle to coach a team that was hit hard by injuries last season. They added guard Chris Duarte as a late lottery selection and signed defensive specialist Torrey Craig. They have a solid starting five in Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and T.J. Warren.
The Cavaliers drafted the top big man prospect, Evan Mobley, acquired Ricky Rubio and engineered a sign-and-trade for Lauri Markkanen. They also locked up center Jarrett Allen to a long-term deal. Rubio will help out the young guard duo Collin Sexton and Darius Garland.
On paper, all those teams have improved.
That leads us to our question of the day: Which Central Division team will emerge as the biggest threat to the Bucks?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
There’s a lot to like on paper in Indy Imo, but it just never really “showed out” last year
May be likened to the odd year, may be a sign they just don’t fit as a unit on a whole…this year will be telling….*Im done projecting a Myles trade….this month at least ;(
I’m interested in the Bulls, i’ll be tuning the dial towards their direction more early this year, but haven’t bought a ticket on the train yet
Mil breezes to the Div title …again
None of the above.
I am a fan of Mobley and wished he took a showcase and talks with the Rockets. I also like what Cavs added as well. Between Cavs and Pistons, they will be a team to watch this year. Neither will take on the Bucks quite yet, but will press the East for playoff contention. It will be a nice watch this year when it comes to Mobley and Cade match ups. Probably the biggest hype of the season to see which Rookie will be the best and RoY honors. Granted they play different positions, but top of the draft for both of them, will be interesting follow all season. Many will be watching that match up because Mobley could’ve gone number 1 in the draft as well. So, I am intrigued by the central with Pistons and Cavs. Pacers aren’t too far off from Pistons or Cavs either. Bucks will hold the central again this year, but next season we will see Pistons and Cavs playing just as good or better than the Bucks.
Bulls are the only other playoff team in the division and detroit improved their long term future the most, cavs have a weird assortment of a million big men and 3 point guards and pacers are goin to be third in between the bulls and cavs…if you think otherwise your wrong, simple as that
Bucks will be back on top. Bulls will be no higher than 4th seed in the east. Pistons and Cavs will be hanging on the 8th seed. Pistons may have the pieces to be higher than 8th in all honesty. But I believe Pistons are one big man away from being top 3 in the league
If Bulls end up 4th seed in the east, I and many others will be amazed. Bucks will have a short tenure as NBA champs, but perhaps a long tenure owning their division. However, 2nd in Central probably means a playoff team, as Nets/Philly/Boston/Hawks will probably be better than the Bulls for now. There are 2 other slots up for grabs, and the Knicks could over perform with Thibs at the helm, and crack that top 5. I’m not convinced that the Heat and Celtics rosters will play as well on the court as they seem on paper. Wiz, Hornets, Raptors all have serious flaws and Pacers are scrappers but with Sabonis and Turner on the same team they seem to have redundancies and not enough firepower from the outside, although overall a good defensive team.
I do think that the Bulls have a short window to compete as constructed, and they will need to win the luck of the draw on injuries.
The East overall is a lot more interesting than it was, but there is only one team that can truly disappoint and that is the Nets.
There is no way the Pistons compete just yet, but in 1 to 2 years they could be formidable. They will need to gel a bit but the roster is solid. There will be a big shift 2 years from now as some of these teams age. Hawks and Pistons have the best young talent.
Does this trade package meet the 76ers asking price for Ben Simmons?
Cade Cunningham
Saddiq Bey
Killian Hayes
2022 First
2024 First
salary matching
76ers could ask for more, right?
Why would Pistons give up Cade to begin with? Override the trade in NBA2k22 or something. Piston should and would hang up once Cade would be mentioned.
I am boring today.
I was trying to figure out what it should be fair trade value for Simmons by comparing to Warriors package (Wiseman, Kuminga, Moody and 2 Firsts)
Warriors did not hang up the phone. They hang up Morey.
Hang him up!
Of course the Sixers could ask for more, but they still won’t get it.
It’s totally absurd to even consider they will get anything close to that for Ben Simmons, they’re not even asking for that much now. The only way they will get a true quality player from anyone will be if they are the ones adding multiple first round picks to the deal, not the other team.
Cavs look like a sleeper and the Bulls just don’t like a real threat.
Cavs, no. Bulls, possibly disappointing.
Bucks will take a breath and Pacers will slip past them. Pistons improve too. Cavs have the rookie to integrate.
Pacers do not have a meshed team to compete. Redundant roster which will rely on defense to win as they do not have players who can take over the game (unlike Bucks).
Pacers will be long and multi-winged. Deep. Carlisle is an improvement.
Bucks will have laurels to rest on, and Lopez may not be able to keep up regardless.
Bulls are hard to figure. Pat Williams may struggle at the 4. They should get rolling eventually after sorting out.
MIL will win the division easily.
The only other team with a sure playoff spot (barring injuries) is IND.
CHI might just squeeze into the playoff or more likely will be a play in team.
CLE & DET are just playing for fun this year, they won’t be trying to win many games, so they can’t be counted for nothing but a good enjoyable & fun watch!
It’s hard to see any of these teams coming close to the Bucks this year, but maybe, if you blur your eyes and squint, Chicago? If the new cast really clicks and one or two of the young guys pop off?
Indy drafted Duarte. And TJ is healthy back from injury. Don’t get why Turner is always in trade rumors. I think he and Sabonis. Are one of best big combos in NBA. Pacers are a playoff team. And could fight for a fourth seed. Bulls get it together they are in playoffs. Cavs have to build their core. Settle on the players around Mobley. Moving Sexton and Allen will bring back good talent. To me Love still has value. He can help Mobley and Markkanen grow. Mobley, Markkanen, Garland, Okoro should be the main guys to move forward with.
Bucks are best team in NBA. Nets are doing all they can to load up for them.