8 teams besides the Cavaliers that could actually challenge the Warriors in the future

The Warriors had their way with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals and there wasn’t much anyone could do about it.

The Warriors went 16-1 in the NBA Playoffs, beating a serious Cavaliers team in five games. A Cavaliers team that is so much better than the East, that they went 12-1 before reaching the NBA Finals. But it didn’t matter. The Warriors are in a different world.

Nobody could come close to beating this team this season. Their talent was too overwhelming. Their strategy was too sound. And if they want, it will be that way for a while.

But all good things must come to an end at some point. Though the end is not clearly in sight yet, they will have to line up and actually play more games at some point.

We know the Cavaliers will challenge them again, but who else has the best chance to rise up? Here are the best options.

Why they can: They have one of the best players in the world in Kawhi Leonard, the best coach in Gregg Popovich, and a brilliant system in place that accentuates the strengths of their role players while hiding their weaknesses.

If they can add a player like Chris Paul in free agency, the ceiling would only rise for them. It’d would take some maneuvering to get him, but the Spurs have shown us they’re willing to sacrifice to open up their books in the past.

Why they can’t: Kawhi can only do so much; we saw what happened when he went down in the Western Conference Finals. LaMarcus Aldridge played like a shell of himself this postseason and the rest of the talent on the team was rendered useless.

Even getting a free agent like Paul requires shedding salary, which only makes the supporting cast worse.

Why they can: Boston was already the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and they’re only going to get better. They have space to sign a maximum-contract free agent this offseason, and all signs have pointed to Gordon Hayward as a top target. Plus, they’re likely going to draft Markelle Fultz with the first-overall pick in the draft.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. They have Brooklyn’s pick next year, which should be another top-three selection. And they also have talented prospects lying in wait like Ante Žižić and Guershon Yabusele. There are so many paths they can take here, whether it’s trading their assets or letting their core play out. But there’s really no wrong choices for this team.

Why they can’t: There’s nowhere to hide Isaiah Thomas on defense, which is a big deal. He is their best scorer, but would be a massive liability on the defensive end — if he even stays with the team beyond his 2018 free agency. A rookie like Fultz isn’t going to close the gap against one of the greatest teams of all time in Year 1, and there’s no guarantee another top free agent like Hayward takes their money this summer. Even if they do sign Hayward, he won’t cover for the team’s lack of rim protection and rebounding.

Why they can: OK, just hear me out. I know the Warriors just swept the Jazz on their way to greatness, but the Jazz didn’t have Rudy Gobert at full strength. If they can keep Hayward (a big if), their core remains in tact.

Rodney Hood, Dante Exum, Joe Ingles, and Trey Lyles are only going to get better. They’re all 24 years old or under with the exception of Ingles, who is 29 and a free agent. Adding that core to the game-changing talents of Gobert and Hayward could make the Jazz a force in the West again.

Why they can’t:

If Hayward leaves, none of this matters. Even if he stays, they’ll have trouble against the Warriors. But if he’s gone? They’ve got no shot. It’s really simple: They have to keep Gordon Hayward. They just don’t have the talent to withstand him leaving.

Why they can: Karl-Anthony Towns is a generational talent, Andrew Wiggins isn’t close to sniffing his potential as the next great two-way wing in the league, and they have another lottery pick coming in this upcoming draft. They also have a fair amount of cap room to make a move this upcoming offseason.

Why they can’t: Their roster is still built with players who don’t necessarily fit together in the right ways. They have a bunch of non-shooters that play all at once and would be a really easy cover once the Warriors really dialed in defensively.

Plus, they have Zach LaVine recovering from a torn ACL and only one summer of cap space this offseason.

Why they can: Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Why they can’t: Everyone else. Khris Middleton is a nice player, but Jabari Parker has already torn his ACL twice, and the rest of their roster isn’t anything to write home about. They’re also capped out this summer, so improving that roster will be a tall task under new management.

Why they can: The Wizards had one of the best starting lineups in the league this season, and four of those five players are 27 or younger. John Wall and Bradley Beal showed they’re one of the best backcourts in the league this season. If they can have another good season and improve their bench, that may be enough to persuade another star to come to D.C. Then, they might be on to something.

Why they can’t: Because D.C. sports are cursed.

More seriously, they’re capped out and have to pay Otto Porter max-level money to keep him this offseason. Their core overachieved this season by winning 49 games with a bad bench, but can they make another jump to title contention status?

Why they can: The Heat are a team of low spades that can win you a certain amount of games if played just right. Hassan Whiteside is the highest of all those cards, but has his limits on both ends of the floor.

However, if the Heat can land a marquee free agent, which they have a real chance of doing this offseason, they could be a threat to the Warriors.

Why they can’t: Even if the Heat were to land Hayward or Blake Griffin, they’d still need more talent. Erik Spoelstra worked some real magic this season, but there’s no future star on the roster and they’re out a number of future draft picks due to the Goran Dragic trade in 2015.

Why they can: In the 31 games he played, Joel Embiid was one of the most impactful players in the league. They’re adding Ben Simmons and Dario Saric is probably the Rookie of the Year. Plus, they have their own No. 3 pick this year, along with unprotected Lakers and Kings picks on the way.

Add a marquee free agent down the line, and that’s a heck of a core.

Why they can’t: We have no idea if Embiid can stay healthy. We don’t know what Simmons will be. We have no clue how their talents will mix even if they are healthy. They have a looooong way to go.