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Ranking NBA teams by tiers for 2018-19 season

By Gerald Bourguet

Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images /
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The Improved-But-Not-Improved-Enoughs

Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets

There’s excitement surrounding the Orlando Magic for the first time in a while, but Mohamed Bamba might not be ready to be a difference-maker in year one, and that frontcourt logjam with Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon offers no easy solutions. Also, if your best player is Aaron Gordon, you’re probably going to struggle.

The Chicago Bulls will be getting a healthy Zach LaVine, adding Wendell Carter Jr. to the equation and give Jabari Parker a whirl, but the defense is going to be really bad and Lauri Markkanen is out to start the year. That’ll be enough to keep Da Bulls well away from the playoff picture.

There’s a lot riding on the upcoming season for D’Angelo Russell, especially with the Brooklyn Nets being capable of freeing up two max cap slots next summer. If he can’t have the breakout season everyone’s been waiting on, the Nets are really just relying on Jarrett Jack, Caris LeVert and the return from a likely Spencer Dinwiddie trade to take the next step forward.