9. Milwaukee Bucks
There are around two dozen guys in the league at any given time that are capable of putting up an All-NBA type season. Of that group, maybe seven or eight have what it takes to win an MVP if everything breaks right. There are only three or four who possess the ability and demeanor to become the best player in the sport.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ceiling is higher than that. “He can play and guard any position” isn’t a buzzy line with him; it’s fact. Last year, he redefined what a modern wing can do in the right system, and he is 22 years old. The Bucks know what they have, and their plan to surround the Freak with as many multidimensional, switchy athletes as possible has yielded above average results thus far.
If Jabari can come back – again – from a devastating knee injury and their other young pieces continue to develop, there’s no reason why the Bucks can’t take up the mantle left by the Cavs if and when LeBron James departs for glitzier pastures.
The biggest problem they face is front office uncertainty brought on by an apparent lack of decision-making continuity within the ownership group. If they can just figure out how to get out of their own way and not sign any more disastrous contracts (John Henson and Matthew Dellavedova will be making almost $20 million combined in 2019/20), they have as good a shot as anyone at Eastern supremacy starting next year. From there, anything can happen.
Path to Glory: Try to work out a discounted extension with Jabari Parker, flip Greg Monroe and future unprotected picks for a real asset in February, and hope that Thon Maker makes good on the salivating potential he showed last season.