NBA Central Division Preview: Title Hopes Finally Return To Cleveland

As the 2014-15 NBA season approaches, NESN.com will be taking a preseason look at each of the league’s six divisions. Just two divisions remain, and  we’re coming at you first with the new land of LeBron: the Central.

Teams are listed in predicted order of finish (last year’s result in parentheses).

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (third)

Key additions: SF LeBron James (free agent), PF Kevin Love (trade), SF Shawn Marion (free agent), SF James Jones (free agent), SF Mike Miller (free agent), C Brendan Haywood (trade)

Key departures: C Tyler Zeller, SF Luol Deng, PF Spencer Hawes

The Cavaliers are not a shoo-in for an NBA title just because they added James and Love. As you remember, the Miami Big Three came up short in its first season before winning it all in its second. Anything short of an NBA Finals berth would be a massive disappointment for Cleveland, though, as the Cavs have far and away the most talented roster in the Eastern Conference. How will new head coach  David Blatt manage this star-studded roster in his first year behind an NBA bench? We’ll have to wait and see.

2. Chicago Bulls (second)

Key additions: PF Pau Gasol (free agent), SF Doug McDermott (draft), Nikola Mirotic (free agent), PG Aaron Brooks (free agent)

Key departures: PF Carlos Boozer, PG D.J. Augustin

The Bulls will be the Cavs’ No. 1 competition in the East if — say it with me now — Derrick Rose can remain healthy. On top of Rose, who spent most of the last two seasons sidelined, Chicago has a plethora of offensive and defensive weapons, especially after adding Gasol, McDermott and Mirotic in the offseason. If Gasol plays to his potential, he and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah could be a beastly combination down low.

3. Detroit Pistons (fourth)

Key additions: PG D.J. Augustin (free agent), SF Caron Butler (free agent), PG Spencer Dinwiddie (draft), SG Jodie Meeks (free agent)

Key departures: PG Rodney Stuckey, PG Chauncey Billups

Detroit could surprise some people this season. The Pistons return six of their top seven scorers from 2013-14 and bring in a new coach in Stan Van Gundy that has a proven track record of NBA success. Coaching hasn’t exactly been a strength for Detroit of late: The Pistons have employed five bench bosses over the last six seasons, reaching the playoffs just once over that span. Van Gundy could be the guy to turn things around, though, as his numerous offseason additions make Detroit a dark horse postseason pick.

4. Indiana Pacers (first)

Key additions: PG Rodney Stuckey (free agent), SF Chris Copeland (free agent)

Key departures: SG Lance Stephenson, SF Evan Turner

After earning the conference’s top seed last season, Indiana is a team on the downslide. The losses of Stephenson (in free agency) and All-Star Paul George (to a broken leg suffered in a Team USA scrimmage) mean the Pacers will begin the season without their leaders in points, assists, rebounds and steals from a year ago. That could cripple the Indiana’s playoff hopes, especially if Roy Hibbert continues the uninspired play that was his hallmark last spring.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (fifth)

Key additions: SF Jabari Parker (draft), PG Jerryd Bayless (free agent), SG Jared Dudley (trade), PG Kendall Marshall (waivers)

Key departures: SF Jeff Adrien, SF Caron Butler

The Bucks have a top-flight prospect in Wiggins — who, by all accounts, actually wants to be in Milwaukee — and an exciting young player in guard Giannis Antetokounmpo who should make great strides in his second NBA season. They won’t sniff the playoffs this season, but the framework is in place for success down the road.

Previously: Northwest Division | Pacific Division | Southwest Division | Southeast Division

Up next: Atlantic Division on Friday, Oct. 10

Photo via Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports Images