4) New Orleans Pelicans
Projected Starters: Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Derrick Favors
Projected High Minute Bench Players: Josh Hart, J.J. Redick, impressive rookies
New Orleans’s haul for Anthony Davis was extraordinary when the trade finally happened, and the Paul George heist shouldn’t detract from this. Josh Hart was a solid role player for the Lakers, and by should continue to develop on a team with good locker room leaders.
Nickiel Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes impressive in summer league, though that is not a sure-fire guarantee of NBA success. The team that was 24th in bench rating last year should be top 10 for the foreseeable future.
3) Brooklyn Nets
Projected Starters: Kyrie Irving, Joe Harris, Caris LeVert, Rodions Kurucs or Taurean Prince, Jarrett Allen
Projected High Minute Bench Players: Spencer Dinwiddie, Garrett Temple, Rodions Kurucs or Taurean Prince, De’Andre Jordan
Even without Kevin Durant, the Brooklyn Nets have crazy depth, as they did last year when they finished 8th in bench net rating. The disturbing allegations against Kurucs make it possible he isn’t on the roster come opening night, but even if that happens, this team fields multiple other impact players on the wing.
Dinwiddie was a legitimate 6th Man of the Year candidate last year, and, at 26 years old, still has room to grow. De’Andre Jordan, for all the criticism he received in Dallas, is still a good backup big, there is still hope that 2018 first-round draft pick Dzanan Musa, can be a rotation player and the team traded a crustacean scrub for a prince.