NBA 2018-19: Standings, Awards, Playoffs

Western Conference

1. Golden State Warriors

2. Houston Rockets

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

4. Portland Trail Blazers

5. Utah Jazz

6. Denver Nuggets

7. LA Lakers

8. San Antonio Spurs

9. New Orleans Pelicans

10. LA Clippers 

11. Sacramento Kings

12. Minnesota Timberwolves

13. Dallas Mavericks

14. Memphis Grizzlies

15. Phoenix Suns

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics

2. Toronto Raptors

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Milwaukee Bucks

5. Indiana Pacers

6. Detroit Pistons

7. Charlotte Hornets

8. Miami Heat

9. Washington Wizards

10. Brooklyn Nets

11. Orlando Magic

12. Chicago Bulls

          13. Cleveland Cavaliers

14. Atlanta Hawks

15. New York Knicks

Awards

MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Jazz
Rookie of the Year: Trae Young, Hawks
Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams, Clippers 

Most Improved: Julius Randle, Pelicans

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Celtics

Playoffs

East Finals: Celtics defeat Raptors

West Finals: Warriors defeat Rockets

NBA Finals: Warriors defeat Celtics

Clippers are 'Frontrunner' to Sign Kawhi Leonard?

The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly the frontrunner to sign Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard in free agency next summer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Leonard, who was traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Raptors over the summer, is under contract for one year with Toronto, but is expected to opt out of his current deal in July 2019 to enter the free agent market.

The report from Wojnarowski states that Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star guard/forward Jimmy Butler—who also has a player option in 2019 and intends to become a free agent next summer—would like to be traded to the Clippers in order to pair up with Leonard. The Clippers will have enough cap space for two max contracts, which Leonard and Butler will both demand.

Butler wants out of Minnesota, despite the efforts of Timberwolves president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau to convince him to stay with the franchise.

While Butler has made it known he wants to play with Leonard, it’s unclear as to whether Leonard would want to leave Toronto to team up with Butler.

The Raptors remain confident they can convince Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, to stay in Toronto long-term. The Raptors finished in first in the Eastern Conference standings last season. They are one of the favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals, along with the Boston Celtics.

Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants to play for the Clippers in 2019. (Getty Images)

After acquiring Leonard, Raptors president Masai Ujiri explained that he believes the team’s on-court product—coupled with the city’s passionate fans—will induce the former Finals MVP to stay in Toronto.

"I think there’s a lot to sell here," Ujiri said at a press conference in July. "Our team, our culture, our city, our ownership, we have everything here except a championship, in my humble opinion. I don’t think we lack anything in this city. We have great fans, we have a great organization,we have a great following, I think we have a great country. There is something about this place that reaches out to the whole world and we’re proud of that and we’re going to continue to sell that. Hopefully it’s an appeal, not only to him but to more NBA players."

While Ujiri is determined to make Leonard the face of the franchise for years to come, numerous reports have suggested the two-time All-Star is enamored with the city of Los Angeles and only wants to play for either the Clippers or the Lakers. Signing with the Lakers would mean Leonard would have to play second fiddle to LeBron James, who signed with the franchise in July.

Knicks may Hold Porzingis out for Entire Season

The New York Knicks are not taking any chances with their franchise center Kristaps Porzingis. Knicks president Steve Mills says the team is open to sitting Porzingis—who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in February—for the entire 2018-19 season.

"Our goal is to not to do anything that jeopardizes KP’s future as being one of the foundational pieces of this team,” Mills said to The New York Post when asked if it makes sense for the Knicks to hold out Porzingis for the entire year, “He’s back. We’ll have some medical evaluations this week and we’ll start to develop what the right plan is for him to come back. But we’re not going to do anything to jeopardize the future of the franchise. We’re going to stay true to that."

There is no need for the Knicks to rush their lone All-Star back, especially in what will be another rebuilding year. The Knicks would ideally like to showcase Porzingis to the free agent class of 2019—which includes the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler, all of whom have been rumored (for whatever that’s worth nowadays) to be interested in playing for New York—but the big man’s health remains the top priority.

Kristaps Porzingis may miss the entire 2018-19 season/ (Jim McIsaac/Newsday)

Porzingis was an All-Star last season, averaging career-highs in points (22.7) and blocks (2.4) per contest. He also shot a career-best 39.5 percent from three-point territory in 48 games played. He was unable to play in the All-Star Game as he tore his ACL less than two weeks before the NBA’s All-Star weekend took place.

David Fizdale, named the team’s head coach in May, visited Porzingis in Latvia. The two are said to be on good terms as they look to turn around a franchise that has not reached the postseason since 2013. Even if Porzingis can’t contribute this season, he is expected to be the face of the team (even if the Knicks can lure a major free agent in the summer of 2019) for years to come.

Porzingis is eligible for a five-year, $157 million extension if he signs a deal before the start of the upcoming season. However, the Knicks are expected to wait until next summer to re-sign him, which would save the team cap space down the road.

Patriots Sign WR Corey Coleman

The New England Patriots are signing former first-round draft pick Corey Coleman to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Coleman, a slot receiver selected by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 15 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft, has struggled to live up to expectations in the pros.

Injuries plagued his first two seasons in Cleveland, which traded him to the Buffalo Bills during training camp. Despite forking over a 2020 7th-round draft pick to acquire Coleman, the Bills—short on offensive talent—waived him during the team’s roster cutdown.

The Patriots are adding wide receiver Corey Coleman. (David Richard/AP)

In two seasons with the Browns, Coleman totaled 56 receptions for 718 yards and five touchdowns in 19 games played. The 24-year-old hopes to reignite his disappointing career by catching passes from legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

The Patriots are taking a chance on another first-round wide receiver disappointment by signing Coleman. Last year, the Patriots acquired 2015 first-round selection Phillip Dorsett, also a slot receiver, in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Dorsett underwhelmed in two seasons with the Colts and was quiet in his first season with the Patriots in 2017, failing to record a touchdown with just 12 receptions on the year. But Dorsett exploded in Sunday’s victory over the Houston Texans, hauling in seven catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Coleman was scheduled to visit with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, but canceled those plans once the Patriots made him an offer.

With Julian Edelman suspended the first four games of the season, the Patriots played only three receivers on Sunday: Dorsett, Chris Hogan and Cordarrelle Patterson. Coleman has a chance to immediately contribute for New England if he can learn the system.

In addition to Coleman, the Patriots signed 27-year-old wideout Bennie Fowler.

NFL Predictions 2018: AFC North

The Pittsburgh Steelers seek their third straight divisional title in 2018. The Cincinnati Bengals last won the AFC North in 2015, but have yet to win a playoff game since the 1990 season. The Baltimore Ravens have missed the postseason in each of the past three years and have not won the division since 2012—the year they hoisted their second Lombardi Trophy. The Cleveland Browns, winless in 2017, were busy in the offseason and hope to challenge their AFC North foes after a decade of incompetence. A preview of the AFC North is detailed below:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

Le’Veon Bell, unhappy with his current contract, missed all of training camp for the second year in a row. He will eventually return, though, and help the Steelers secure their third consecutive AFC North crown. That said, this might be Bell's final season with the Steelers as the relationship between the two sides has strained significantly due to contract disputes over the past couple seasons.

The 36-year-old Ben Roethlisberger has Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and the elusive Bell at his disposal in what should be one of the league’s most dominant offenses.

his could be the final season the trio of Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown play together. — by AP Photo

2. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)

The Ravens augmented their receiving core in the offseason, signing Michael Crabtree and John Brown in an attempt to rejuvenate Joe Flacco’s slipping career.

The Ravens were strong defensively last year—particularly proficient in forcing turnovers—so the playoffs remain a possibility through the Wild Card, even if the division becomes unattainable.

But reviving Flacco’s quarterback play seems like a long shot, even with a revamped offensive cast. After all, there’s a reason they drafted Lamar Jackson in the first round.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

It’s baffling that Marvin Lewis still coaches the Bengals. News broke last year that he was planning to leave the team at his own will at season’s end, but those plans fell through. Lewis has returned to coach the franchise for the 16th straight season. He has reached the playoffs in seven of his 15 seasons with Cincinnati, but has yet to win a single playoff contest. It begs the seemingly annual question: what will it take for owner Mike Brown to fire Lewis?

For those with a glass-half-full mindset for the Bengals, it was encouraging to see Andy Dalton play so well in the preseason. The veteran QB and A.J. Green must carry the Bengals offense, which could also get a boost from second-year wideout John Ross if he builds off his preseason success.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

The Browns are certainly an entertaining team and proved to be a terrific choice for HBO’s Hard Knocks. Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor could turn around this anemic offense (before Baker Mayfield likely takes over in 2019), which features receivers Jarvis Landry, Josh Gordon, rookie Antonio Calloway and a capable backfield trio of Carlos Hyde, rookie Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson.

But the NFL is a coaching league, and as long as Hue Jackson—owner of a 1-31 record with Cleveland—is making the final calls for the franchise, the playoffs are a pipe dream.

NFL Predictions 2018: AFC East

The New England Patriots enter the season as heavy favorites to reclaim the AFC East, having won the past nine division titles. While the Patriots' run of success is likely to continue, questions remain for the other three teams in the division. Can the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins or Buffalo Bills make noise in 2018? Here is a preview of the AFC East:

1. New England Patriots (12-4)

The Patriots will win their 10th straight division title, as they own the East—at least until Bill Belichick and/or Tom Brady retires.

The Patriots are noticeably thin at wide receiver—especially in the wake of Julian Edelman’s four-game suspension—putting the onus on All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowksi and wideout Chris Hogan to shine in the passing game.

2. New York Jets (8-8)

The Jets have exceeded expectations under Todd Bowles in two of his three seasons as head coach. They won 10 games in 2015 behind then-quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and last season managed to win five games despite some experts predicting them to finish winless.                                                                                 

Outperforming the projections of most in what was a rebuilding year, Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan received contract extensions at the end of last season.

Rookie Sam Darnold has the chance to be a franchise quarterback for New York. The third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft impressed in the preseason and beat out Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater (traded at the end of the preseason to the New Orleans Saints) to claim the starting job.

Sam Darnold could be the face of the Jets franchise for years to come. (Julio Cortez/AP)

The Jets feature a dynamic young secondary spearheaded by the second-year safety duo Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.

The lack of a pass rush is the team's kryptonite and ultimately holds them back from reaching the postseason for the first time since 2010.

3. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

Ryan Tannehill returns for Miami after missing all of last season—and while a return to the playoffs is possible for a club that earned a Wild-Card spot in 2016—the offense may hold them back as they adjust to life without superstar wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

The Dolphins will rely on their deep running back rotation—Kenyan Drake, Frank Gore and Kalen Ballage—to carry the load on offense.

The strength of the Dolphins' lies in their defensive line, headlined by Cameron Wake and new addition Robert Quinn—the former first-round pick who was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason.

4. Buffalo Bills (4-12)

Despite making the playoffs last season, the Bills are quietly in rebuild-mode.

Nathan Peterman begins the year as the starting quarterback, though rookie Josh Allen is expected to eventually take over. No matter who is under center, Buffalo will be woeful on offense after losing three starting linemen from last season (left tackle Cordy Glenn, left guard Richie Incognito and center Eric Wood) on a roster that lacks playmakers outside of LeSean McCoy.