Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Mavs2021]

So, what's the reasoning or explanation why the East teams except for 2 or 3, are perennially behind the West teams?  Is it drafting, trades, free agency or a combination of all?

They are shit at their jobs. I guess when you need to be less good to have a certain amount of success it helps to dwell in mediocrity. I doubt the East wins more than four titles since 1998, if the play-offs were not conference restricted. The Champion Bucks for example would have played the Mavs/Lakers/Blazers as the 7th seed in the 1st round. In the 2nd round they´d have played Phoenix already, who they ended up playing in the NBA finals instead. Next round Sixers/Nets/Nuggets/Clippers bracket.