NBA Power Rankings: Reality begins to set in for LA Lakers, Brooklyn Nets

18. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls so far this season have essentially been what many expected them to be. They are a good team but don’t have much hope of playing on the level of other contenders in the Eastern Conference.

And that’s not a bad thing. It is a problem for the front office, however. If they’re average at the NBA Trade Deadline, what will this team elect to do down the stretch?

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

Heading into this season, the expectations were high for the Minnesota Timberwolves. After all, this was a team that went all-in during the offseason with their acquisition of Rudy Gobert. So far this season, the Wolves haven’t lived up to their billing.

They could turn it all around and eventually be that dark horse contender in the Western Conference but I honestly don’t have much confidence that they will.