The NBA season is almost here, and the anticipation is growing. In this second edition of bold predictions for the league, we are looking at the Central division. Will Milwaukee return to glory, will Indiana’s lightning in a bottle be permanent, will Cleveland break through the glass, will Detroit regain any dignity after a horrid season, and will Chicago finally choose a path forward? What does the NBA have in store this year?
Bold Predictions For Every NBA Team: Central Division
Milwaukee Bucks: The Deer Stumble Into the Deadline, Damian Lillard Gets Traded
Everyone assumes that a full offseason will solve all of the Bucks’ problems. Some have them ranked as a top-five team going into next season. I guess the offseason fixed Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s relentless injury concerns, Damian Lillard’s defensive impotence, and Doc Rivers’ game plans.
The Bucks still have a lot of question marks with no clear answers. Yes, Gary Trent and Delon Wright were good value signings, but they are just stopgaps to fix the leaking ship that the Bucks currently are. They went 18-20 with Doc last season. They had the 18th-best offense and the 15th-best defense. Simply put, the Rivers-led Bucks were not a good team. And compared to the other premier teams in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks didn’t do enough this offseason. Antetokounmpo’s greatness will keep this team winning games next season, but it won’t be easy. The trade deadline will come, and the Bucks will have to assess their roster to truly judge if they are good enough to win a championship. If not, a retooling is necessary. They should send Lillard to the Miami Heat for draft capital and younger players. They should also trade Middleton and Brook Lopez for more complimentary pieces around Antetokounmpo. This core may have won a championship in the past, but change is needed in the present.
Indiana Pacers: Offense Takes a Step Back, Conference Finalists Finish .500
The Pacers made an incredible run to the Conference Finals last year, yet one has to wonder if that success is sustainable. In the playoffs, it took them six games to beat an Antetokounmpo-less Bucks, seven to beat a New York Knicks team that was seemingly down to five healthy players, and then they got swept by the Boston Celtics. The Pacers are not a championship contender next season and are likely not even a top-six team in the East. Their success last year was based upon having the second-best offense rating in the NBA, but that will be incredibly hard to repeat. They seem to be following the Sacramento Kings’ blueprint, who had the best offense in the NBA in 2023 and then the 13th best last year. This regression to the mean is expected; Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam would need All-NBA-type seasons for the Pacers to remain an elite offensive team.
And without a top offense, the Pacers’ defense is not good enough to win games. They had the 24th-best defense last year, and they added no real help on that end of the floor. A middling offense plus a below-average defense equals a team around .500 fighting to make the play-in. The Pacers will have a Conference Finals hangover next season and disappoint many.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley Blossoms Under Kenny Atkinson, Averages 20 Points and 10 Rebounds
Kenny Atkinson has a history of developing young players. Most recently, it was with the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga credited Atkinson with having a large role in developing and expanding his game. With the Brooklyn Nets, it was D’Angelo Russell and Jarrett Allen. He helped grow them into future stars who are now contributors on playoff teams.
Atkinson is a development guru, and his next project is Evan Mobley.
At times, Mobley is the best player on the court for the Cavaliers. He has shown immense potential throughout his career and could grow into a Bam Adebayo-like player. He is long, crafty, and an elite defender with good switchability; he just needs to work on his offensive game. The first evolution for Mobley should be the free throw line-extended jump shot. He shot 30% in this area of the court last season, while someone like Adebayo shot 47% on a much higher volume. If Mobley can master this shot and show he is more than just a finisher around the rim, 20 points per game will be easy. Combine this offensive improvement with a more aggressive mentality when rebounding, and Mobley will be the newest 20-10 guy in the league.
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham All-Star Season Leads Motor City to 35 Wins
The Pistons should be a much-improved team under new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson showed promising flashes towards the end of last season. Recent signee Tobias Harris is a proven scorer and threat from all levels of the court. Jalen Duren is a steady center with defensive capabilities, and of course, they have a star in Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham took a huge leap last season, averaging almost 23 points on 45 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from three. If he can continue to improve his efficiency and average around 25 points, Cunningham will be a good fit for the All-Star Game. He is a 6’6 point guard with elite passing instincts and the ability to put the ball in the hoop; an all-star game is inevitable. If a historically bad Pistons team didn’t weigh him down, Cunningham would have had a chance to be an all-star last season.
An energized Cunningham, surrounded by a replenished Pistons roster and led by a competent new coach, will result in many more wins than last year. Their win total is set at 28.5, but Cunningham will have them pushing for 35.
Chicago Bulls: Josh Giddey Finds His Home, Finishes Top-Three in Triple Doubles
In Josh Giddey’s sophomore year in the league, he averaged almost 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. He was a starting guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder and showed signs that he could become a perfect pairing with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt. However, a slow start to the 2024 season, combined with the emergence of Thunder role-players like Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe, left Giddey as the odd man out in Oklahoma City. The Thunder were ready to move on this offseason, and the Bulls jumped at the chance to acquire such a talented young guard.
In Chicago, Giddey will once again be asked to be a leader of his team and will serve as the primary distributor next to scorers like Coby White and Zach LaVine. Giddey will have the ball in his hands a lot more and should see an increase in shot attempts in the absence of Gilgeous-Alexander. Furthermore, standing at 6’8, Giddey’s rebounding has always been a strength, and he should average upwards of nine boards a game this year. The triple-doubles will be a common occurrence for the new Chicago Bull, and finishing with double digits would not be surprising. Although it might not translate to many wins, Giddey and this younger version of the Bulls should at least be fun to watch.
The NBA is so great because of the constant chaos that ensues every season – this year will be no different. Tip-off is almost here, so grab your snacks, turn on the TV, and buckle up for some basketball.
Main Image: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
