Boston is clearly the biggest winner this season as the Celtics have become one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and will likely have the number one overall pick in June.
General manager Danny Ainge is finally getting the talent he wants to get this franchise back into a championship caliber squad. With the addition of Josh Jackson from Kansas and one more big name free agent over the summer, Boston could be the team to beat in the east in 2018.
The Los Angeles Lakers starter the 2016-17 season with promise, but the youngsters have struggled since Christmas and this team is once again on the verge of having the worst record in the league, but there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon and if they can land Lonzo Ball from UCLA and finally get a star free agent to play in Southern California, the purple and gold could finally become a playoff contender.
While this years group of players lacks a premier big man, plenty of talent is available, especially for those franchises willing to show some patience.
Gonzaga’s center Zach Collins has skyrocketed up the player rankings in the last two months and at 7′-0″ and a big frame, a team like Portland or Dallas could get the help they need in the paint. Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen is also in the mix for the top ranked big man in this years draft class and both of these youngsters will get plenty of attention between now and when they hear their names called this summer.
This years crop of youngsters is deep at the point and could go down as one of the best back court drafts in the last twenty years and for those NBA teams looking for a new floor leader, the chance is now to get the player they desire and with some luck, the player that will lead an organization to a championship in the next decade.
