Ranking NBA teams by tiers for the 2017-18 season

The Next-Level Challengers: Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder

In a normal season, these teams might be considered dark horse contenders. But in this reality where titans like the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs roam the earth, they could very easily be sent home in the second round.

The Washington Wizards may not have upgraded their bench, but they retained their core, extended John Wall and will be counting on internal development to get to their first conference finals with this group. Following the Kyrie Irving trade, can they supplant the Boston Celtics at the No. 2 team in the East?

On a similar note, the Toronto Raptors were unable to address their biggest areas of need this summer, and will be hoping Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan can continue to avoid regression. But with the Wizards and Bucks being on the rise, there’s a good chance this team has already reached its ceiling.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have the most potential to leap into the next tier, since the additions of Paul George, Amir Johnson and Raymond Felton will only make a 47-win team even better. A dynamic duo of reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and PG-13 could bump OKC into the top-four out West.

Unfortunately, as much as these teams would stand a puncher’s chance in years past, they’re really just going to serve as a testament to how unbelievably good the true contenders are.