An insane NBA off-season headlined by crazy contracts, big-market teams striking out, and LaMarcus Aldridge spurning Portland is sure to set up an exciting 2015-16 season. Here are the biggest storylines fans cannot wait to see unfold.

Can anyone take Cleveland down in the East?

Cleveland jogged through the Eastern Conference playoff bracket last season. They swept number one seed Atlanta in the Eastern Conference Finals without star power forward Kevin Love before ultimately falling to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Championship. They only lost two games in the first two rounds combined. 

Arguably Cleveland's biggest threat last season, the Atlanta Hawks lost starting small forward DeMarre Carroll for nothing in free agency. They also lost stretch big Pero Antic. The Chicago Bulls, the one team who gave the Cavs a run for their money in the playoffs last season, fired head coach Tom Thibodeau. More importantly, however, they retained Jimmy Butler in free agency. But there is one other team. 

The biggest threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers this upcoming season will be the Miami Heat. Depending on how Chris Bosh comes back from his injury, this Heat team will be scary. They possess what could be the scariest starting five in the entire league. Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Bosh, Hassan Whiteside. They also bolstered their bench by adding Gerald Green, Amar'e Stoudemire, and drafting Justise Winslow. Not sure any team could knock off a healthy Cavs squad, but if there is one team to look out for, it's the Miami Heat. 

Who in the world will come out of the West?

San Antonio kept every single one of their core players this off-season, while also adding superstar power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, and former All-Star David West. Easily favorites, right? Wrong. The Western Conference is stacked, and while the Spurs could easily win the West, there are no guarantees. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder are back. A healthy Kevin Durant, a much-improved Russell Westbrook, and an offensive center they have not yet had before in Enes Kanter, the Thunder is back. As long as they stay healthy, this team is a top-four lock out West and can easily finish first. They are a team who will compete for a championship this upcoming season. 

The Los Angeles Clippers, in case you hadn't already heard, retained DeAndre Jordan. They bring back their own big three, while adding Lance Stephenson and Paul Pierce. This is arguably the most talented roster in Los Angeles Clippers history and it is time they make a real run. 

Nobody thought the NBA champion Warriors were going to be left out, correct? They are right up here with the rest of these teams, and did not lose a beat this off-season. Stephen Curry will be out to prove last season's run was not a fluke. 

The Houston Rockets traded for point guard Ty Lawson, and when we say traded, we mean they stole talented guard Ty Lawson from Denver. Although he is a head case, he puts Houston up with those teams. 

The Western Conference side of the playoffs will be crazy next season. An absolute hell-hole. World War III if you may. 

Did the Lakers make a mistake passing on Jahlil Okafor?

Two rookies will be eyed much more heavily than the rest of the 2015 NBA rookie class, those two being D'Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor. In one of the bigger surprises of the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected combo guard out of Ohio State University D'Angelo Russell over extremely talented center out of Duke Jahlil Okafor. 

In NBA Summer League, Jahlil Okafor outplayed D'Angelo Russell big time. Of course, Summer League play has to be taken with a grain of salt, but nonetheless, it still means something. 

Perhaps the Lakers thought they could attract star free-agent bigs such as Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, or DeAndre Jordan? Who knows? Los Angeles' worst nightmare would be Jahlil Okafor shining over D'angelo Russell night in and night out. 

Super teams usually take time to gel

Just because the Spurs are a first-class organization does not mean they did not build a super team this off-season. That is exactly what they did. Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan starting with David West, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, and Boris Diaw coming off the bench. That is an extermely deep and talented lineup. 

They can easily be labeled as title favorites, but wait one second. 

2012 Los Angeles Lakers. Keep Pau Gasol, Add Dwight Howard, Add Steve Nash. Easy championship right? Wrong. They struggled to make the playoffs and were swept in round one by the number two seed Spurs. 

2011 Miami Heat. LeBron James and Chris Bosh join Dwyane Wade and were supposed to challenge the Chicago Bulls 72-win season. Well, that did not happen. They failed to win 60 games, and although they made it to the finals, they lost to a far less talented Dallas Mavericks team. 

2015 Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron is coming home. He joins Kyrie Irving and also brings along Kevin Love. In a weak Eastern Conference and a beaten down Western Conference, Cavs win a championship, right? Nope. Although they had a successful season, it did not result in a title.

People are quick to make San Antonio title favorites, but everybody must remember the super teams of recent memory. 

Kobe Bryant. 

This is rumored to be Kobe Bryant's final season in the league. Personally, this writer won't believe it until he actually sees it. But if this is perhaps Kobe's final season, which Kobe will we see?

The past two seasons, Bryant has been absolutely decimated by injuries. From Achilles, to shoulder, to knee, Kobe has had a hard time staying on the court, which could ultimately play a part in his decision after this season. 

Will we see a 50-point game, coupled with some 40-point games, and Kobe leading a depleted Lakers team to a good 40-45 wins? Or have we really seen the last of legend Kobe Bean Bryant? 

Whether or not Kobe returns to his superstar self, one thing is for sure, ALL EYES will be on Kobe throughout the entire season. 

Western Conference playoff spot for rent

For the first time in years, a playoff spot, or two, seem to finally have opened up out West. The Portland Trail Blazers lost Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Robin Lopez, Steve Blake, and Arron Afflalo. The Dallas Mavericks lost Rajon Rondo, Monta Ellis, and Tyson Chandler. Both teams participated in the postseason last year. 

Oklahoma City is expected to take over one of those spots, and rightfully so. But for the first time in what seems like forever, a playoff spot in the Western Conference is actually up for grabs. 

The Phoenix Suns automatically come to mind. After barely missing out on the playoffs the last two seasons, Phoenix sees an opportunity. After striking out on LaMarcus Aldridge, they did not falter. They signed former NBA champion and defensive player of the year Tyson Chandler. They drafted sharpshooter Devin Booker, and rounded out their bench with stretch four Mirza Teletovic. They also retained Brandon Knight. They seem to be the favorites to take over the final playoff spot in the West. 

Utah can also make that jump. After being one of the best teams in the league post-All-Star break last season, the Jazz may be ready. They are still extremely young, but a core of Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, and Derrick Favors has their fans hoping for a playoff appearance. 

Sacramento is not blind. They have not made the playoffs in what seems like six decades, and there is no way they will let this opportunity pass. They added Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli, Caron Butler, Kosta Koufos and drafted Willie Caulie-Stein. One of these three teams will wrap up that final playoff spot out West. 

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