30. Washington Wizards
John Wall could miss the entire 2019-20 season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon in February. If he does suit up, the Washington Wizards could use him for a boost after the All-Star break, but that scenario wouldn’t make sense considering he would return to a non-playoff roster.
The Wizards can ride Bradley Beal for the upcoming campaign, but contending teams will certainly call about his availability up until the trade deadline. He’s the shining star on a club headed nowhere in 2019-20.
29. Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets essentially swapped out Kemba Walker for Terry Rozier in the lead guard position—a three-time All-Star for a four-year veteran who’s started 30 games. That’s not ideal, but the front office had to fill the void after the best player on the roster signed elsewhere.
The Hornets didn’t win with Walker, so they should feel comfortable going through a rebuilding period. Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington won’t put butts in seats or win many games, but they’re an intriguing pair at the forward positions.
28. Cleveland Cavaliers
James isn’t walking through the door to save the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the team hopes to see Collin Sexton and Darius Garland form a dynamic duo in the backcourt.
Kevin Love remains on the roster from the winning squads that went to four consecutive NBA Finals, but he’s missed at least 22 contests in each of the last three seasons. Don’t be surprised if the Cavaliers trade him to initiate a rebuild in the frontcourt.