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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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 26: Fred Hoiberg Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the third quarter of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 26, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

23. Chicago Bulls

They’re going to be so, SO bad this year that it’s impossible to put them any lower without knowing for sure that lottery reform will pass.

That’s how these rankings work. When you’re the odds-on favorite to lose the most games in the league and have a guaranteed top-four pick in a five-player draft, things could be worse. When you add in the fact that Chicago sits just below the top tier of free agent destinations and that the team has a clean cap moving forward, it’s easy to see a scenario ripe for a quick turnaround.

But then you consider the people running the show. They traded a Peter Luger porterhouse for a plate of half-eaten pork chops from the Golden Corral in the Jimmy Butler deal. They’ve given away real assets to get continually worse at point guard. Whatever young talent they have left excites no one.

If lottery reform does pass, they drop a handful of spots in these rankings. If it stays as is, even GarPax might not be able to screw up the good fortune they have coming their way.

Path to Glory: Suck, get the first pick in the draft, strike a bargain with a post-injury, shaky looking Zach LaVine, suck again (but with LaVine averaging 25 a night), get another high pick, and then round out the roster with one of the big 2019 free agents.

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