22. Chicago Bulls
Despite making a splash at the NBA trade deadline, the Chicago Bulls’ push for the playoffs fell short. This is a team that is supremely talented at the top but needs to add some complementary pieces around Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
This is a core that is just getting started and their best basketball is still very much in front of them. Expect the Bulls to be right back in the fight for the playoffs next season.
21. New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans continue to move in the right direction as a franchise and I’m still not certain we’ve seen the best of a Zion Williamson-Brandon Ingram duo. This team needs to continue to improve heading to the offseason and they will.
Even though the pelicans fell short of making the playoffs this season, I have a feeling that this is a team that is going to make a big jump in the progression from this season to next season.