7. Boston Celtics
After getting off to a slow start to the offseason, the Boston Celtics actually came out as an improved team. During the offseason, Boston managed to extend Jayson Tatum to a long-term deal, trading Gordon Hayward to the Charlotte Hornets for a huge trade exception, and signed Tristan Thompson in free agency.
Boston has now a starting center that will be effective on both ends of the floor and one that can match up with Bam Adebayo, who wreaked havoc on the Celtics during the Eastern Conference Finals.
The loss of Hayward will certainly help, but this team did improve with the addition of Thompson. The Celtics will be one of the favorites to come out of the East. I’m not sure if they make it back to the conference finals, but Boston is building a potential powerhouse.