NBA Hope Index: How far is each team from a ring heading into 2017-18?

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 02: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers high fives C.J. McCollum and Evan Turner #1 after scoring against the Phoenix Suns during overtime of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 2, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 118-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

18. Portland Trail Blazers

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY SportsArguably the toughest team to rank on this list.

As an eighth seed slated to have a $137 million payroll next year and no foreseeable hope of contending, they could easily be in the bottom five.

But then Jusef Nurkic would be upset. And you don’t want to get the Bosnian Bear angry.

While he hasn’t been the most reliable talent, Nurkic’s arrival unlocked the type of team that the Trail Blazers were supposed to be all year long. Other than Evan Turner, all of their players are movable, and as the Nurkic trade showed, Neil Olshey is still as good as they come. They’re not that far away from being really good.

With Terry Stotts running the show, fans should be excited for this year. They also should be prepared for the team to top out at 50 or so wins and a hard fought second round exit at best. The roster isn’t a contender yet, but it feels like there is a trade to made somewhere down the line.

Path to Glory: Figure out how to get something out of Evan Turner, and then package him with some of the young bigs to acquire a small forward that actually fits with the roster. Hope Nurkic develops into a borderline All Star, and pray that Lillard and McCollum spend seven games in heat check mode when they face the Warriors one of the next few years.

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