NBA Preview: Given the intense draft class ahead, the biggest losers could also end up being the biggest winners

The bad NBA teams know what to expect.

Even the mediocre know what June 2025 will bring.

And the queue has already started to form.

First, there's Cooper Flagg. A 6-9 forward who will spend his defining season at Duke before making a huge impact on the organization that signs him.

Right behind Flagg is an ace in the draft class, like 6-9 wing ace Bailey.

These two are the headliners of a deep and talented lottery draft – a lottery where tickets are already being sold.

The Nets, Wizards, Hornets, Raptors and Trail Blazers have no desire to win this season. They're just obviously the ones more interested in playing Capture the Flagg. The Jazz, Pistons and even the Clippers (following the Kawhi Leonard injury news) are all suspects in the tanking game.

If Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas actually understands his job and his staff, he better be ready to jump in at the deep end.

This NBA season is not about the haves and the have-nots. It's about the haves and the would-be haves, so it's about having the highest possible draft pick.

The chances are not good. The bottom three teams each have a 14% chance of reaching first place, the fourth worst team has a 12.5% ​​chance and the fifth bottom team has a 10.5% chance. But Flagg is worth it.

However, there is a little more at stake for Karnisovas and the Bulls. If they don't finish in the bottom 10 of the lottery, the protected draft pick in the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade will go to the Spurs.

Then there's the nightmare scenario that should make the entire NBA a little uneasy. As it stands now, the Thunder, still reaping the benefits of the 2019 Paul George transfer, have control of the Clippers' first-round pick.

If Flagg joins the Thunder, it could create a dynasty that would control the league for the next decade.

While most NBA preseason previews focus on the league's elite and projected championship-caliber teams, this season is about to be different. Being bad could end up being good.

PREDICTIVE ORDER OF NBA BOTTOM LINE

5. Utah Jazz

4. Charlotte Hornets

3. Portland Trail Blazers

2. Washington Wizards

1. Brooklyn Nets

Predicted order of Eastern Conference standings

1. Boston Celtics

2. New York Knicks

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Milwaukee Bucks

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

6. Orlando magic

7. Miami Heat

8. Indiana Pacers

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Knicks over Celtics in six

ALL-EASTER CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

G – Jalen Brunson, Knicks

G – Donovan Mitchell, Cavs

F – Jayson Tatum, Celtics

F – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

C – Joel Embiid, Sixers

ALL-EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

G – Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers

G – Tyrese Maxey, Sixers

F – Paul George, Sixers

F – Jaylen Brown, Celtics

C – Bam Adebayo, Heat

HONORS OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Evan Mobley, Cavs

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Matas Buzelis, BULLS

COACH OF THE YEAR
Tom Thibodeau, Knicks

Coach in the hot seat
Doc Rivers, Bucks

Most underrated player
Miles McBride, Knicks

Most overrated player
Karl Anthony Towns, Knicks

GREAT TRADE CANDIDATE
Zach LaVine, BULLS

Predicted order of Western Conference standings

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Dallas Mavericks

3. Denver Nuggets

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

4. Phoenix Suns

5. Memphis Grizzlies

6. Sacramento Kings

7. New Orleans Pelicans

8. Los Angeles Lakers

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Thunder over the Mavericks in five minutes

NBA FINAL

Knicks over Thunder in seven

ALL-WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

G – Luka Doncic, Mavericks

G – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder

Q – LeBron James, Lakers

F – Anthony Davis, Lakers

C – Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

ALL-WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

G – Yes Morant, Grizzlies

G – Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves

F – Zion Williamson, Pelicans

F – Kevin Durant, Suns

C – Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

WESTERN CONFERENCE HONORS

MVP
Luka Doncic, Mavericks

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Zach Edey, Grizzlies

COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Finch, Timberwolves

Coach in the hot seat
JJ Redick, Lakers

Most underrated player
Jaden McDaniels, Timberwolves

Most overrated player
Bradley Beal, Suns

GREAT TRADE CANDIDATE
Brandon Ingram, Pelicans