1)Boston Celtics – (1 East) NBA Champs
Adding Jrue Holiday from Portland after the Dame trade was huge. Effectively upgrading the often injured Brogdon and moving off Robert Williams. Horford will be leaned on more heavily once the playoffs come around and Like Kornet should get more run. Porzingis heath is obviously huge, Derek White will get a bigger role, Payton Pritchard should get more time too. This could be the most well-rounded team in the league behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown with scoring, defense, size, depth, and speed. I think only the Nuggets, Lakers, and Warriors at their ceiling can match the Celtics this season.
2)Denver Nuggets – (1 West)
Bruce Brown is gone and that’s meaningful. He was one of the seven guys that mattered during the playoff run. Christian Braun is expected to step up and become more than a body. Really, Michael Porter become a more consistent scorer in the playoffs would be a huge bonus. Otherwise, two years of Jamal Murry missing the post season finally broke and resulted in a 16-4 post-season record. That could happen again going into year 4 of peak Jokic but only his 2nd with his partner healthy.
3)LA Lakers – (2 West)
Lakers shuffled the deck around Lebron and Anthony Davis. Austin Reeves should had more of the offense as the #3. D-Lo is back despite trade rumors. Jarred Vanderbilt was played off the floor during the playoffs but is a good defender. Rui Hachimura is back to contribute and Max Christie is rumored to get a real role in his 2nd season. New to the fold are Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, and a handful of rookies including Jalen Hood-Schifino from Indiana that could contribute. Size and defense and size on the wing was clearly the focus. The depth of real players is fantastic, but only the top 7 really matter in the playoffs and the Lakers will spend the season figuring that part out. Health of the top two stars is still the most important bullet point. Enjoy 38-year old Lebron in one of his final seasons and turning 31-years old AD because he won’t be playing many more seasons either with his constant injury issues, on a great Lakers team.
4)Milwaukee Bucks – (2 East)
Holiday out and Dame in. A rookie head coach is pretty neutral according to recent NBA history. Can Middleton stay healthy? He’ll be needed. Malik Beasley is the only other impactful move and he’ll add scoring but not defense. The Bucks will be hard to defend and fun to watch, but Lillard grading out as one of the worst defensive guards in the league is impossible to ignore. I don’t know how this team actually wins a championship.
5)Phoenix Suns – (3 West)
Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and perhaps the new official superstar of the NBA, Devin Booker. Book has probably overtaken Durant as the best player on the team. He only played 53 games last season. Durant was hurt. Beal obviously was here. The roster around them has been rebuilt due to the trades. Jusuf Nurkic will start at the thin center position but he’s been horrid recently. I’m not sure who rounds out the starting five and Booker will probably play point without a “true” PG. Frank Vogel will figure it out, but all three stars miss time and I’m not sure the rest of the roster equals a championship.
6)Golden State Warriors – (4 West)
The big three are back baby. It would be nice if Klay performed better than last season. Wiggins and Looney are locked in to the experienced starting 5. Kuminga had flashes but Kerr seemed to give up on him at times. Poole is gone for better or worse. The punch carried weight throughout the season last year and although Green carried no responsibility for the incident publicly, the team has noted chemistry is stronger this season hinting at Pool’s absence. Chris Paul will either be an asset or he won’t. I don’t think Kerr will hesitate to shift him to a bench role despite Paul’s thoughts if he isn’t productive. This isn’t the court of public opinion or a Chris Paul redemption tour, it’s the 5-time Champion GSWarriors. However, there is no reason to think he can’t be a meaningful contributor and juggle time when any combination of vets misses games. This team can win another ring. Klay can perform a touch better on both ends, Kuminga can get more engaged, Payton is still an important piece, Paul could be huge, and health, as always, is very important. The ceiling is high.
7)Philly 76ers – (3 East)
Nick Nurse is one of the few plus coaches in the league and should add an adult in the room. A good coach and a top player in Embiid will put you at the top of the league with a competent roster. Maxey is continuing to elevate play, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Pat Bev, and Melton are all fine. Who knows what happens with Harden. I think he’ll be traded so this ranking will be a moot point soon, but I’m not sure they’re getting a real star back in return. Joel disappeared in the finals last season and maybe Nurse can change that. With no other impactful moves from last year I’m not sure this team will have realistic Finals hopes.
8)Cleveland Cavaliers – (4 East)
Donovan Mitchell might be out after this year. Possibly to the Knicks? With not real losses and the additions of Max Strus, Georges Niang, and rookie Emoni Bates, this team should have more shooting off the bench. They were crush by the Knicks in the playoffs last year. A little strange for one of the top defensive teams behind Evan Mobley and Jarret Allen with scorers like Mitchell, who had a 71 point game, Darius Garland, and Caris Levert. I think this can be a fun team but they need consistency.
9)Miami Heat – (5 East)
The roster was shredded in free agency with Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and Victor Oladipo leaving. No big moves were made. Jaime Jaquez Jr was the only draft pick and he seems to fit the Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin type they already have. Again, good coach, two star vets in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo will pull the roster into the playoffs.
10)Memphis Grizzlies – (5 West)
Look, Ja missing 25 games, Steven Adams out for the season, Dillion Brooks leaving in FA, all have to count for something. Brandon Clarke is coming back from a torn Achilles, trusty Tyus Jones is gone, and JJJ hasn’t exactly solved his fouling issues. Even rookie GG Jackson is far from a sure thing. Marcus Smart is a great addition and Derrick Rose will be a meaningful backup until Ja is back. This team has performed with players missed before, but they’re a candidate to take a tumble.
11)Oklahoma City Thunder – (6 West)
I trust this team will be awesome. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is awesome shooting 51-34-90 and an all-around contributor. Perhaps a top-15 player in the league. Josh Giddey is an all-around contributor. Chet Holmgren might be a top-50 player walking into the league. Both Jalen/Jaylin Williams were great contributors in their first years. Dort is still contributing on defense. The depth is questionable with only two players having more experience than Shai entering his six year and a roster full of trial youth. I still think this team can scrap towards the top of the crazy competitive West and boy would that be fun.
12)Sacramento Kings – (7 West) Play-in Winner
What an awesome team last season. In a dicey trade that move Haliburton and netted Domantas Sabonis it seemed like a win. De’aaron Fox was shining at 25ppg. Malik Monk had a career year off the bench, rookie Keegan Murray continued to improve and shot 41% from 3, Davion Mitchell was a great defensive guard, Huerter shot 40% from 3, and Sabonis was great at 61% FG and 37% from 3. The Warriors loss in the first round wasn’t shocking but disappointing. No big roster moves were made and there are some questions. Fox and Mitchell shooting 32% from 3 which is below average, Sabonis is a poor interior defender, can Monk and Murry continue with excellent scoring production?
13)New York Knicks – (6 East)
O boy, o boy. Jalen Brunson has turned into something special the past two seasons. Julius Randle needs to continue to buy-in because he shows little effort when he doesn’t. RJ Barrett certainly isn’t a star. He’s just a really good player at this point. Immanuel Quickley and Josh Hart are the juice this team needs. Sometimes you’d rather have some of the best guys in than some of the starters because of effort and consistency. Free agent Donte DiVincenzo should add to the bench juice but not much had changed from last season to raise the ceiling for this team.
14)Minnesota Timberwolves – (8 West) Play-in Winner
Anthony Edwards exploded during the FIBA World Cup at looks to build on his success this season. He’s the star for this team that has KAT putting up empty numbers, a declining Mike Conley and four bigs as its top contributors in KAT, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid. There is still talent here but the functionality is still questionable.
15)Atlanta Hawks – (7 East) Play-in Winner
An under-the-radar youth movement took place as six vets were let go in the offseason. The only notable was John Collins finally moved after two years on the trade block. Quin Snyder in his first full season as coach will pilot a team with 5 players with more than 5 years’ experience after adding Wes Matthews in free agency. Kobe Bufkin highlights the rookies. Collins doesn’t have a direct replacement on the roster but time will open up for Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, and AJ Griffin. Trae and Dejounte made it work last season at the two leading scores by a wide margin. Perhaps a plus in the coaching column will raise the ceiling.
16)Orlando Magic – (8 East) Play-in Winner
This squad will be ranked too low until they finally pop. Vet Joe Ingles and two exciting rookies in Anthony Black and Jett Howard are added to a roster that saw growth across the board last season. Paolo was a monster as a rookie averaging 20 points and respectable stats across the board. His shooting was poor and an increase anywhere-FG, 3point, FT- will push him to all-star status in his 2nd season. Franz Wager can show him the way at 48-36-84 in a whopping 80 games played. Markell Fultz has been and Jonathan Isaac will be productive after injuries derailed their respective careers. There are plenty more guys with potential; Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Caleb Houstan. This team will continue to rise.
17)Dallas Mavericks – (9 West) Play-in Loser
Kyrie Irving is back to hopefully take the offensive load off Luka. There is speculation that he could be a better defender if he didn’t have to exert all his energy into scoring. That didn’t exactly pan out last season. This roster has embarrassing never come together around Luka to contend for a chip, not even close, horrible look for Mark Cuban one of the most outspoken owners in sports. Rookie Dereck Lively might be starting at center. Tim Hardaway and vet additions Grant Williams and Seth Curry are going to be key pieces, but to what I’m not sure.
18)LA Clippers – (10 West) Play-in Loser
Here were are again. Not much new. Is this a top-10 team if Paul George and Kawhi are playing? Westbrook has been productive as a Clipper. This is a group of aging role guys without them and it’s not like PG or the Klaw are getting any younger.
19)New Orleans Pelicans – (11 West)
Zion Williamson playing ball again is one of the underreported headlines going into the seasons. Perhaps it should be, health of stars is getting old and a guy that was hyped as a generation talent (overused by the way) missing more games than he’s played so far is nothing to get excited about. Let’s not forget how awesome he can be an offense thought averaging 26ppg when he was on the court. The defense still needs work and might never appear but you can’t throw the possibility for development away yet. Brandon Ingram is shooting 48-39-88 and putting up almost 25ppg. CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas are solid scoring contributors. Jose Alvardo and Herb Jones help defensively. Larry Nance has been a reliable scorer and rebounder. This squad has depth and players but putting a well-round and healthy group of 5 on the floor at the same time has been a struggle at times. Ceiling is high.
20)Indiana – (9 East) Play-in Loser
Haliburton might be the best “great player/bad team” guy in the league. Pacers gave Miles Turner a new contract after trying to trade him for an extended period. He’s productive. Bruce Brown was added as a big free agency signing and Obi Toppin is might provide something. Jarace Walker out of Houston was the #8 pick, Oscar Tshiebew was undrafted but two-time POTY at Kentucky. This team will be full of young guys.
21)Charlotte – (10 East) Play-in Loser
Brandon Miller and Nick Smith Jr add two interesting prospects. LaMello Ball might play some defense this season. They did the right thing by cutting Kai Jones and his bullshit but allowing Miles Bridges back on can’t be reflected on kindly. I have a conflict between time allowed for safe personal rehabilitation and what comforts allow a person a pathway to redemption. But this is an entertainment product at the end of the day and his off-court actions don’t warrant him returning to the team where fans cheer for his success bouncing a rubber ball right now. I like Mark Williams. The big center spent some time in the G-league and finished the last two weeks averaging double his season averages in points & rebounds.
22)Chicago – (11 East)
Everyone is back from a non-playoff team. The End. Oh, except poor Lonzo Ball who was a big time defensive contributor before his injury and is out indefinitely. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine are headliners and Ayo Dosunmu improvement, a few rookies and former G-league MVP Carlik Jones will hopefully move the ceiling.
23)Nets – (12 East)
A number of pieces shifted in and out during the offseason and obviously almost the entire roster turned over since last offseason. A Ben Simmons revitalization and Mikal Bridges development will be the main player stories. Plenty of guys can contribute; Claxton, Dinwiddie, Cam Johnson, Finney-Smith, Lonnie Walker but this team isn’t going anywhere with a roster of role players.
24)Toronto – (13 East)
How did this team fall so far last season? Nick Nurse is out for Darko Rajakovic a first timer in the NBA. Fred VanVleet is out and Dennis Schroder is in at point after a great summer FIBA Tournament. Jalen McDaniels is in as well and rookie Grady Dick. Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Scott Barnes are the center pieces for what figures to be a defensive orientated team. Hopefully this squad looks like they want to be together this season.
25)Portland Trailblazers – (12 West)
This team won’t be awful after the post-trade pieces they bring in. Scoot Henderson, Malcom Brogdon, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe, Matisse Thybulle, DeAndre Ayton, Robert Williams, sounds like a solid eight right? Billups will literally be building on the fly as half of those guys are just landing in Portland but this is a real team.
26)San Antonio Spurs – (13 West)
Wemby landed with Coach Pop. Poetic and dangerous. This kid can single-handily change how teams play on both ends of the floor while he’s out there. Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and to my surprise Jeremy Sochan have turned into a great core. The rest of the roster has turned into a hodge-podge, but Pop will have a fun, feisty group.
27)Utah Jazz – (14 West)
Former Bull Lauri Markkanen exploded last season for 25ppg at 50-39-87 averages. Former Cav Collin Sexton is here for year 2 rebuilding his career. John Collins was traded over from Atlanta. Jordan Clarkson is still chilling and averaged over 20ppg last season. Don’t forget this team was #1 in the West for a while and finished 37-45. Danny Ainge is at the helm and doesn’t like to puts around so this isn’t a full tank job.
28)Detroit – (14 East)
Ivey looked good last season. Jalen Duren was a steal trade and looks awesome. Cade will be back after missing most of last season. Isaiah Stewart was considered important enough to re-sign. He can hit 3’s now. New rookies Marcus Sasser and Ausar Thompson should look like promising prospects. Former top-5 picks Marvin Bagley and James Wiseman and the Pistons own lotto pick Killian Hayes are all rehabilitation projects at this point.
29)Houston Rockers – (15 West)
Rockets are moving up but adding leadership in VanVleet and defense in Dillon Brooks and shifting some other peripheral pieces in and out. Kevin Porter is gone thankfully. Jalen Green is still the focus on offense. Several rookies will audition for the roster. Ime Idoka was brought in after his Celtics indiscresions….so I hesitate to say there is a good leader at the helm but he seems to be a good coach.
30)Washington – (15 East)
Nine players are gone. Tyus Jones or, I suppose, Jordon Pool might be the most impactful import. Kyle Kuzma might average 25ppg after 21 last season.
