2. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics made a splash in the offseason by adding former Buck Jrue Holiday to their roster. This move was in response to the Milwaukee Bucks’ aggressive offseason moves. Alongside their established stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have built a formidable lineup.
The addition of Kristaps Porzingis brings a high-volume 3-point threat to the frontcourt, compensating for the departure of Rob Williams. If the Celtics can stay healthy and continue to develop their young talents, they should be a top contender on both ends of the court.
1. Denver Nuggets
The defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, enter the season as the team to beat. Led by the dynamic duo of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets maintained their championship roster while making a few tweaks around the edges.
With Jokić coming off an exceptional playoff run and Murray fully healthy, Denver is expected to continue their winning ways. The loss of Bruce Brown will hurt, but the Nuggets have high hopes for offseason acquisition Justin Holiday and their young players Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Hunter Tyson, and Julian Strawther.