The entire landscape of the NBA changed when the injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson put the Golden State Warriors dynasty on hold. Brooklyn Nets forward Jared Dudley is already getting excited about next season. He also believes that the 2019-20 season is going to be the most wide open since Michael Jordan’s first retirement in 1993.

Thompson’s devastating torn ACL, which he suffered in Game 6 of the recently concluded NBA Finals, has certainly made Golden State’s 2019-20 season outlook much bleaker. He is looking at a 10 to 12 month time on the sidelines. Durant, on the other hand, is slated to miss the entirety of next season, so that takes out one possible contender, depending on where he ultimately signs this July.

The first chip has already fallen with the Los Angeles Lakers finally landing superstar forward Anthony Davis. The pairing of AD and LeBron has penciled them in as strong contenders.

There are also plenty of anticipated moving pieces in the summer with the likes of Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and Kemba Walker as the top names in NBA free agency. Teams like the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers have opened up significant cap space in the hopes of landing two big-name free agents.

Likewise, teams that came close such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets are looking to take the next step.

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And we haven’t even talked about the defending champion Toronto Raptors yet. Their next season outlook hinges entirely on two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard’s decision on whether he stays or not. If he stays, the Raptors should open as immediate title favorites.

Exciting times are ahead in the Association.