The offseason is practically over, and with that, it’s easier to evaluate each team’s future for the upcoming season. Outside of the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving conundrum, almost every Eastern Conference team’s lineup is set for next season. There are teams that have gotten better in this conference, while other teams have lost key players going into next season. These tiers will be based on who’s most likely to win the 2023 NBA championship, rather than who’ll finish higher in the standings. With that being said, here are the Eastern Conference tiers going into next season.
Tier One- The Best of the Best- Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics
The top two teams in the East last year remain the top two teams going into next season. Milwaukee and Boston stand far above the rest, as both are well-oiled machines who can beat anyone on any given night. These two teams battled it out in a grueling seven-game series last postseason, and both are a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.
Each team has a perfect blend of star power, role players, and two-way prowess. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum have each solidified themselves to be two of the top 10 players in basketball, while each has a complimentary co-star in Khris Middleton and Jaylen Brown. Each team has compiled a good group of role players while creating a system in which all players can succeed and impact the game in a variety of ways.
Boston has managed to improve their roster significantly this offseason, despite having one of the deepest rosters in basketball already. The addition of Malcolm Brogdon potentially puts them over the top and makes them preseason title favorites, and Danilo Gallinari can have a resurgence season with a reduced role off the bench. These two additions combined with the already stacked roster at hand make Boston arguably the team to beat once again out of the East.
On the contrary, Milwaukee did not make too many big-name additions this offseason. The biggest free agency pick-up they got was Joe Ingles, who’s coming off an ACL tear. Outside of that, it largely comes down to them just staying healthy, rather than making big additions in the offseason. If they can get healthy and stay healthy at the right time, they’re another clear title favorite for next season.
.