7. Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers quietly had a great offseason. Even though they didn’t have any splash acquisitions, the Blazers will still be a factor in the Western Conference next season. Plus, as long as Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are on the roster, the Blazers are always going to be a headache to deal with.
The Blazers added Robert Covington during the offseason and did well by re-signing Carmelo Anthony, who played well for the team last season. Even though the team lost Hassan Whiteside in free agency, the Blazers replaced his depth with Harry Giles.
The Blazers might not have the talent that some of the top contenders in the West may have, but this is a team that can play with anyone in the playoffs if their top two get hot. And that’s not something any high seed wants to see in a playoff series.