26. New York Knicks
I’ve been pretty critical of the New York Knicks this offseason and may or may not have compared their front office to a famously convicted fraudster (Also, if there is an internal competition for the most posts with a hyperlink to Billy McFarland, I’m winning by a lot). I would have put them lower than 26 just based on my distrust of their front office, but I think that R.J. Barrett is going to be a really talented offensive player in the league for a decade or more.
That alone bumps them up above the teams below them that don’t have any young players with that kind of upside. Barrett alone won’t turn this around in three seasons though, and big-time free agents have proven over and over again that they don’t want to go to the Knicks.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers
I really like what the Cleveland Cavaliers are building right now. John Beilein is a great coach and should be the perfect fit for a team who’s a top priority should be developing their young talent. Collin Sexton has a chance to be a quality guard, and I loved what they did in the draft. I wouldn’t be surprised if Darius Garland is head and shoulders the best guard in his class a few years from now, and I really like Kevin Porter Jr.’s ability to create space and score the ball if he can get himself figured out.
The Cavs will never be a big-time free agent destination, but if they can develop these young guards and mix in some quality role players, then ranking them 25th might prove to be far too low a few years from now.