Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 5 teams that this season will make or break

By John Buhler

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks backcourt during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 11, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks backcourt during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 11, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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HONG KONG, HONG KONG – SEPTEMBER 05: Lebron James appears at the Rise Academy Challenge on September 5, 2017 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
HONG KONG, HONG KONG – SEPTEMBER 05: Lebron James appears at the Rise Academy Challenge on September 5, 2017 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers

East, Central

Yeah, you figured that the Cleveland Cavaliers would make this group of five. No team in the NBA faces more uncertainty than the Cavaliers do heading into 2017-18. Not only did the Cavaliers trade disgruntled point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics, but the major piece they got back may not play half the season. Apparently, Isaiah Thomas’ hip injury was an awful one. No wonder the Celtics lost to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s not just the Kyrie trade, but the Cavaliers cannot help themselves. They 100 percent revealed their true nature as one of the most dysfunctional organizations in all of professional sports. Owner Dan Gilbert was not on board with giving general manager David Griffin an extension. Instead, the Cavaliers promoted from within to see what Koby Altman can do. They did interview Chauncey Billups this summer as well.

The organizational chaos may be too much for the best player in the league in LeBron James to play for his hometown team beyond this season. He gave Northeast Ohio its first professional championship in over 50 years in 2016. James has already paid it forward with the Cavaliers franchise.

Some feel that he is almost certainly going to play for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018-19. James is not catching Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time. We he can do is be the first star player to win an NBA Championship with three different organizations. Winning a title with the Miami Heat, the Cavaliers and presumably the Lakers would only elevate his impressive NBA legacy.

The Cavaliers’ margin for error this season is about zero. They didn’t do enough in the offseason to keep pace with the juggernaut Golden State Warriors, quite the opposite in fact. Anything less than a fourth straight Eastern Conference Championships would be a huge cause for concern with this team. Sadly, it is a very real possibly, as Boston might now be better than them.