NBA: Ranking the teams in the Central Division for 2017-18

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Now that the Kyrie Irving trade is officially official, we have a better sense of what the Cavaliers will be next season: An Eastern Conference force to be reckoned with.

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James is one of those generational players who can carry just about any team to the playoffs. Add in a very weak conference and he’s all but guaranteed to make the Eastern Conference Finals. But you already knew that.

Despite the loss of Irving, Cleveland still added quite a bit to this roster. Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Derrick Rose are their three big acquisitions. Although they may lack the star-power to hang with the top teams in the West, they still run two-deep at almost every position. This depth will help them navigate the regular season without requiring too much wear and tear on James and Kevin Love.

Isaiah Thomas’ return to the court will also play a huge factor in the seed they earn. If he misses substantial time then it will obviously make things more difficult. However, if he’s able to play from the jump, it will allow him to learn how to jell with his new teammates.

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Cleveland will likely take a step down from last season’s squad. That doesn’t mean they won’t continue their stronghold on the division. As long as James remains in Ohio, the Cavs will prevail as the top team in the Central Division.