The Western Conference is so ridiculously stacked, that honestly every seed besides #1 (which belongs to the Warriors) is debatable. Besides Golden State, no spot is guaranteed and the regular season will be as tough as the playoffs. Here is SneakerReporter.com’s predictions for the 2019 Eastern Conference standings.

1. Golden State Warriors – 65-17

This one’s easy. Golden State will dominate the regular season, even with DeMarcus Cousins missing the first half or so. They’ll dominate the playoffs too, and win another championship. It’s not even worth discussing, because you already know.

2. Houston Rockets – 60-22

Despite losing a few key pieces such as Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, the Rockets will still be good enough to take the 2-seed again. Reigning MVP James Harden and Chris Paul are a great tandem and with big man Clint Capela being their defensive stronghold, Houston is all set. On the contrary, who knows how Melo will do there.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – 54-28

Thunder fans rejoiced when they re-signed Paul George, and for more than one more season. He showed his loyalty, and his eagerness to get to work. He and Westbrook have unfinished business, especially after Andre Roberson went down with a knee injury prior to the playoffs. Steven Adams is a top-5 center, and Oklahoma City’s high level of talent is enough for the #3 seed.

4.Los Angeles Lakers – 53-29

The addition of LeBron James, although completely flipping the Lakers in the right direction, isn’t enough to take over the West. Their other players are still young (but very talented), and their other role players like Lance Stephenson and Javale McGee are solid. They should be able to make a deep playoff run, but they probably won’t be capable of topping the Warriors.

5. Portland Trail Blazers – 50-32

The Trail Blazers have underrated star Damian Lillard, who is capable of carrying a team himself. He’s got C.J. McCollum by his side, and Jusuf Nurkić in the paint. Nurkić is all-around dominant, and just 24. He’s still improving, as their whole roster is. They’ve got a great deal of talent throughout their entire roster, and they can take the 5-seed easily.

6. Utah Jazz – 47-35

Donovan Mitchell is good, but still needs some time before he can help Utah make a deep playoff run. In the regular season he and defensive stud Rudy Gobert can secure a solid playoff seed, and other strong pieces like Joe Ingles should continue to contribute well. Utah will be good for years to come.

7. San Antonio Spurs 46-36

The Spurs were just fine without Kawhi Leonard last year, so with a new face like DeMar DeRozan, they’ll be even better. Gregg Popovich is always capable of bringing a team to the playoffs, and they can still make it despite veteran Manu Ginobili having just announced his retirement. The Spurs have solid young guns as well as a great veteran presence, so they can yield the 7-seed with no issue.

8. Denver Nuggets – 43-39

Denver is in the exact same situation as the Jazz – they will be very good in the coming years. They have Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, and a steal in Michael Porter Jr. He was picked 14th overall, despite being arguably the most talented player in the 2018 NBA Draft. The Nuggets will be able to scrape out a playoff spot, but it’ll be a little while before they’re a serious threat.

And about the bottom 7 teams…

9. New Orleans Pelicans – 42-40

10. Minnesota Timberwolves – 41-41

11. Dallas Mavericks – 35-47

12. Phoenix Suns – 34-48

13. Sacramento Kings – 30-52

14. Memphis Grizzlies – 25-57

15. Los Angeles Clippers – 22-60

The Eastern Conference is up for grabs, now that the Cavaliers have been weakened due to LeBron’s departure to Los Angeles. Next year’s playoffs will be a competitive one, but there are a few teams who stick out more than others. With that being said, here are our predictions for how the regular season will end up.

1. Boston Celtics – 62-20

The Celtics will presumably be healthy for the first time with their whole post-rebuild squad, which includes Kyrie, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford. That is a lot of talent, and if it weren’t for The King they’d have been in the Finals for the past two seasons. Brad Stevens is a brilliant coach, and there’s no doubt they’ll be the 1-seed.

2. Toronto Raptors – 58-24  

Kawhi Leonard on the Raptors means they are even better than before. His addition puts them on the Celtics’ tier, meaning they will make up the top seeds and have the deepest playoff runs. It’s too early to predict how good Toronto will be, but with Leonard, Lowry, and many other impressive pieces it is hard to believe they won’t be.

3. Philadelphia 76ers – 52-30

Philadelphia is still very young, but their raw talent is enough for the 3-seed. Embiid recently said he’s looking to have an MVP-type season, and we’ve got to believe him. He put up 22.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game last year, and at 24 years old he’s just getting better. Reigning Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons will also have a big season, but they’re even deeper than that. Philly has former #1 pick Markelle Fultz, J.J. Redick, Dario Šarić and more.

4. Indiana Pacers – 50-32

After Victor Oladipo’s breakout season, it became apparent to everybody that Indiana was no joke. They took LeBron to Game 7 last year, and made a fantastic pickup in Tyreke Evans for the upcoming season. Myles Turner, Al Jefferson and Thaddeus Young are also important pieces for them, and they should easily be able to secure the #4 seed.

5. Milwaukee Bucks – 48-34

Giannis Antetokounmpo will continue to dominate on both sides of the ball, and honestly he’s the most likely MVP-candidate from the East. The Bucks did lose Jabari Parker, but picked up an important role player in Ersan İlyasova. Milwaukee will be decent, but no better than the 5-seed.

6. Washington Wizards 47-35

John Wall has been on an underachieving team for most of his career, but unfortunately the addition of Dwight Howard doesn’t change that. Despite being a definite first-ballot Hall of Famer, Dwight no longer is an impact player. Wall and Bradley Beal are a filthy duo, but they seem to lack surrounding pieces that could give them any better than the #6 spot.

7. Miami Heat – 42-40

The Heat are the only team on this list without any star players, yet are still capable of making the playoffs. They do have a lot of all-around talent though, which is why they are good. Hassan Whiteside is, despite what people say, can score the ball and be a good defender. Goran Dragić is solid, Tyler Johnson is very talented and Dion Waiters can step up in big moments. Not too bad.

8. Detroit Pistons 41-41

The Stan Van Gundy-less Pistons should be able to secure the final playoff seed, if you factor in their big men. Andre Drummond is an animal in the post, and Blake Griffin’s game is still evolving. That is arguably the best 4-5 duo in the entire league, and the best since Blake was in Los Angeles with DeAndre Jordan (oh, how times change). Stanley Johnson and Reggie Jackson are decent too, and Detroit really won’t be that bad.

And about the bottom 7 teams…

9. Cleveland Cavaliers – 38-44
10. Charlotte Hornets – 37-45
11. Chicago Bulls – 35-47
12. Orlando Magic – 34-48
13. Brooklyn Nets 29-53
14. New York Knicks 25-57
15. Atlanta Hawks – 17-65

This morning, news broke of new NCAA rules involving their amateur athletes, the NBA draft, and the signing of agents. With the new rules, players who enter the draft but go undrafted will be able to return to their respective school, something that wasn’t previously possible.

The other big change coming involves players who are classified as “elite” being able to hire an agent. This includes both high school and college players, which seemingly is leading the way for the return of players being eligible to be drafted out of high school. Prospects can sign with an agent starting July 1st prior to their final year of high school, and college players are able to sign following every season.

Players used to be eligible for the NBA Draft immediately out of high school, but this changed in 2005 when a new rule arose that required athletes to wait one year after graduating in order to be drafted. In recent years though, players like Anfernee Simmons and Thon Maker have been selected as Post-Graduate students, in which they had an extra senior year.

With the new rules announced today, many have began to suspect that Adam Silver will make a change within the next few years to get rid of the all too common one-and-done method that high-profile prospects do by playing a single college season before entering the draft.

The NCAA released that USA Basketball would be the party to determine if a prospect was “elite” or not, but NBA-insider Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that many are unhappy with the announcement as USAB had no prior knowledge of it. An ideal alternative would be where USAB hosts camps where the NCAA itself (or NBA scouts) will classify the participants, which makes way for international prospects such as R.J. Barrett who are unable to play for their teams.

The NBA and its Players’ Association haven’t agreed to the planned rule changes yet, which comes as a shock to many that the NCAA would release them without this step. The league’s spokesman Tim Frank said they “will review the NCAA’s planned reforms and continue to assess, along with our Players’ Association, the potential for any related NBA rules changes”.

With LeBron gone, the Eastern Conference is now wide open. Young teams such as the 76ers and Celtics can thrive and make a run at the Finals. Talent-wise, The King was keeping things relatively equal with the West. Now that he has departed, let’s take a look at the top 10 players in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Greek Freak has broken out over the last two seasons and proved his worth as one of the NBA’s best talents. In terms of physique, he’s probably the most gifted player in the league besides LeBron. Giannis is only 23 years old and is still well away from entering his prime, making his ceiling terrifying. Already the top player in the East, it seems that he will eventually inherit the throne from King James. He can dominate on both sides of the floor in every aspect, and he really only needs to fix one thing – his shooting.

2. Kawhi Leonard 

Whether or not Kawhi lasts long in the Eastern Conference is a whole other conversation, but the two-time Defensive Player of the Year is certainly a superstar. Kawhi has stayed strong defensively over the last few seasons while improving his scoring abilities drastically. He only played 9 games last year, but we’ve seen what he can do. Now in Toronto, it’s too early to tell if he’ll be a one-year rental or a long-term solution.

3. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie is the best true guard in the East, and one of the best in the entire league. He can take games over, lead a team, play on both sides of the ball, and break your ankles. Kyrie can do it all, and he’s just 26 years old. Already a 5-time All-Star and NBA champion, he is looking to take the Celtics to the top in a wide open conference with the help of guys like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

4. Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid might’ve missed his first two NBA seasons and most of his rookie year, but upon playing 63 games last season he’s proved how fantastic he can be. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team last year as a result of his fantastic play, considering he put up 22.9 points and 11 rebounds per game. His game is wholly complete as well. He can dominate in the post, protect the rim and be a defensive anchor, and even shoot from outside.

5. John Wall 

He’s been the leader of the Wizards since he was drafted 1st overall in 2010, and has made every All-Star Game since 2014. Wall has athletic ability and speed comparable to Russell Westbrook, and his ability to command the floor is fantastic as well. He’s a top-5 guard in the league, and with Bradley Beal (whose goes down as my honorable mention on this list) by his side the Wizards are going to look at a deep playoff run.

6. Victor Oladipo

If you read this article a year ago, you would’ve never believed Oladipo owned a spot on this list. His inaugural season in Indiana was fantastic, and for good reason he took home the 2017-2018 Most Improved Player. Averaging 23.1 points and a league-high 2.4 steals per game, Oladipo earned All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team honors as well as his first All-Star bid. His trainer said he’s improved greatly this offseason, so we can only hope that next year the former second overall pick will be able to lead the Pacers past the first round of the playoffs.

7. Ben Simmons

Still just 22 years old, Ben Simmons is already showing everybody how dominant he can be. After averaging nearly triple-double numbers last year, he was named Rookie of the Year and found himself also on the All-Rookie First Team. The 6’10 (who has reportedly grown to almost 7 feet) Australian point guard uses his length to defend, run the floor, and just needs to work on his shooting. He’s set to eventually become the best guard in the conference, and we might just see the 76ers in the Finals soon enough.

8. Kristaps Porzingis

The 7’3 power forward has become terrifying for defenders, as he has created a decent shot from beyond the arc in addition to his post game. Last season Porzingis was named to his first All-Star Game, but unfortunately missed the rest of the season with a left ACL tear. He averaged 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game on 39.5% shooting from three. If he can stay healthy (he’s only 22), Kristaps can end up being one of the most versatile players of all-time.

9. Gordon Hayward

After a tragic, season-ending injury in his Celtics’ debut people thought that the team’s season was over. Boston rallied behind their younger talent and made a near-Finals run, and with Hayward healthy, they might have enough to take down the Warriors. Hayward emerged as an All-Star in 2017, and has proved very dangerous with the ball in his hand. He’s an all-around complete player capable of averaging around 20 points per game.

10. Kemba Walker

Kemba Walker is probably the most underrated player in this list, if you consider how he’s only nominated to two All-Star teams despite averaging 18.9 points per game on his career. He’s never been nominated to an All-NBA team either, despite being Charlotte’s undisputed team leader. Still only 28, he’s entering his prime and still has some more time to improve his game.

Now that LeBron has headed out to Los Angeles, the Eastern Conference has become exponentially weaker. The West is undeniably more stacked than before, but there is still plenty of talent on both sides of the league. With that being said, here’s the top 10 players from the NBA’s Western Conference.

1. LeBron James

This is the only undebatable selection in this article, if we’re being honest. The new Laker and 14-time NBA All-Star has dominated this league for years, and he’s shown no signs of showing down despite being 33 years old. The only thing that’s up for debate with The King is whether or not he is the greatest basketball player of all-time.

2. Kevin Durant

KD, and put aside if you think he’s a snake or traitor, is a two-time champion and Finals Most Valuable Player. He’s arguably the best scorer ever, only potentially lapped by greats such as Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Durant is in the middle of his prime and is molding better than ever with the rest of the Warriors. He will never pass LeBron, but being right behind him isn’t a bad thing.

3. Stephen Curry

Some say all he does is shoot. Well, he is in fact the best shooter to ever touch a basketball. Still, he’s won a pair of MVP trophies and has a few rings on his hand. Steph has handles, can create shots for himself and teammates, is solid defensively, and is still in his prime.

4. Russell Westbrook  

The triple-double machine and most athletic point guard ever is one of the best players in the league, and almost the best at his position. Westbrook has been to 7 All-Star Games at this point and has won MVP, and don’t forget that last year he led the league in assists for the first time in his career. His intensity and hustle are unmatched, and there’s a reason that Michael Jordan has named Russ as the player most similar to his prime self. All in all, him and Stephen are interchangable at the three and four spots.

5. James Harden

Harden won his first Most Valuable Player award last year, and remember that he almost (with the help of Chris Paul) took down the Warriors in 7 games. His offensive game is absurd and unstoppable, but his slack on the defensive side of the ball is the reason he isn’t ranked higher. The Beard is still evolving though, and with both Ariza and Mbah a Moute gone next year (assuming he steps up) he might end up repeating as the recipient of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.

6. Anthony Davis

The Brow is the best big man in the league by far, and is not even in his prime yet. Anthony Davis is only 25 years old, yet averages 23.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his entire career. I’m not sure how much New Orleans is doing to keep him happy, but he better find a way deeper into the postseason if he wants to keep up his reputation.

7. Paul George

PG has re-signed with the Thunder and shown that he wants to be a part of the franchise for years to come. He looks to be a key factor in an Oklahoma City championship run considering he molds so well with Westbrook, and the 5-time All-Star forward is steadily improving every season. George can shoot the 3, defend the ball extremely well, and step up in big situations.

8. Damian Lillard

Now 28 years old, Dame is still very underrated. He led Portland to a 3-seed last season, which ended poorly upon being swept by the Pelicans. Regardless, he’s only been to a trio of All-Star Games, despite being viewed as a top-5 MVP candidate by many. The tandem Lillard has formed with McCollum is so valuable to the franchise as they look to move forward with other young pieces like Jusuf Nurkić.

9. DeMarcus Cousins

Despite not being the quickest or most athletic big man in the NBA, DeMarcus Cousins is almost certainly the most dominant. His strength is unmatched, and the new member of the Golden State Warriors will look to reel in his first ring next year. Cousins will miss a portion of the season still recovering from his achilles, but we can be confident he’s working hard to ensure he returns to his past trends of destroying defenders.

10. Jimmy Butler

Butler was shipped to the Timberwolves just a year ago, which has looked like a failed operation as of recently. He was unhappy with the nonchalant attitudes of some of their younger guys, which is a sign of how serious the 4-time All-Star is about winning a championship. Butler is a defensive anchor with strong offensive skills and is capable of leading a team, and at 28 years old he still has time to figure out where exactly he should be playing.

LeBron James has opened up his long-awaited I Promise School in Akron, Ohio. The native superstar described the opening as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, accomplishments in his life.

The school year at the I Promise School will be longer than a normal one while dialing in on kids who might have fallen behind their peers academically. There are available services for students who are enduring stress from home financial issues as well as separate programs to keep themselves occupied and out of trouble.

There is also job placement assistance for the families of I Promise School students and a food bank to aid parents. Every student will also receive a bicycle, as LeBron credits using his childhood bike as a means of keeping himself safe.

In its inaugural year, the I Promise School will teach roughly 240 third and fourth-graders. By the year 2022, up to 1,000 students in grades 1-8 will be in attendance. The multi-million dollar facilities are top-notch, with excellent resources and 35 community partners.

The entrance to the school features over 100 pairs of game-worn shoes from the Akron native, and there are several magnificent murals throughout its halls that preach the same message of hard work, respect and dedication.

James called it a “bittersweet moment”, considering next year he is moving out to Los Angeles to become a member of the Lakers. On the contrary the 33-year old, 4-time NBA Most Valuable Player will never forget his roots as he wants “every kid to be inspired”.