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Eastern Conference Power Rankings: Where do the Wizards Land

By Matt Levin

Washington Wizards Bradley Beal (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Washington Wizards Bradley Beal (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JUNE 17: Rapper Drake and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors look on from the team bus during the Toronto Raptors Championship Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 17: Rapper Drake and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors look on from the team bus during the Toronto Raptors Championship Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Playoff Teams but Very Mediocre

8. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are very different team than they were a year ago. In the offseason they lost Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and D’Angelo Russell. However, they replaced them with a big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan. This big three could easily be the best in the league.

Unfortunately for the Nets, KD is out all next year with a torn achilles. The Nets will have to wait until 2020 to see their team compete for a championship.

For next season, they still got Kyrie Irving. However, his supporting cast is nothing special. This team will go as far as Kyrie lets this team goes.

Kyrie struggled to lead a team in Boston. Do not be surprised if you see the Nets fall out of the playoff race next season.

7. Detroit Pistons

Like the Magic, the Detroit Pistons pretty much stood pat in the offseason. The only really acquisitions the Pistons got in the offseason was signing Markieff Morris in free agency and drafting Sekou Doumbouya. However, the Pistons still have their big three of Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson.

This big three will likely be enough talent to get them into the playoffs, but to go beyond the first round of the playoffs seems unlikely. The Pistons seem stuck in mediocrity and just cannot find a way out.

6. Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are back on the rise. While they lost Dwyane Wade and Josh Richardson in the offseason, they signed one of the best players in the league, Jimmy Butler.

Also, Tyler Herro, the Heat’s first round pick, had an incredible summer league, making Heat fans excited to see him play this season. Butler and Herro have a decent supporting cast with Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow, but nothing eye popping.

The Heat would like to acquire another star to play alongside Butler so they can compete with the best teams in the East. However, with little assets to trade away and cap space issues, it seems as thought the Heat will have to settle for a low end playoff team next season.

5. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are the league’s defending NBA champions. However, they were unable to resign their star player, Kawhi Leonard.

The Raptors still have a solid team with Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and Marc Gasol. They will likely be a good regular season and could even compete for home court advantage in the playoffs. However, the loss of Kawhi is just too much to recover from. The Raptors are no longer up their with the top teams in the East.

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