Yahoo Sports NBA Power Rankings: The preseason edition
Usually, we have a clear picture of the landscape of the league after the first few weeks of the offseason, but it took longer this year because of the pending Damian Lillard trade request. Now that he’s been moved and the dust has mostly settled for the rest of the league, the HoopsHype staff ranked each team and made a consensus power ranking.
Here are the results from the vote with teams in order from best to worst.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are viewed as the favorites heading into the season after their dominant 16-4 outing in last year’s playoffs. There are more questions about their depth after losing a starter-level player in Bruce Brown and a veteran role player in Jeff Green. In response to those losses and the challenges they’ll have under the new CBA with adding role players, they’ve gone all in on drafting and developing such players in-house. They’ll have all season to figure out who their sixth and seventh guys are for their playoff rotation, but their championship nucleus is there as long as Nikola Jokic and the rest of the Nuggets starters are healthy.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are once again considered a favorite in the Eastern Conference and will remain so with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continuing to blossom. They made significant changes to their roster by parting ways with Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and Grant Williams and bringing in Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. On the surface, it appears that the Celtics gave up their overwhelming depth, which has contributed toward their success these past two seasons, in exchange for a higher ceiling. Perhaps these moves which strengthen their best five-man group will make the difference between a deep playoff run and winning a championship.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks may not be considered the consensus favorite but they’re certainly the most exciting and anticipated watch in the minds of basketball fans. A quick exit from last season’s playoffs put pressure on the front office to make changes as the free agency of Giannis Antetokounmpo gets closer. As disappointing as that outing was, it may be for the best as it prompted a coaching change and the eventual acquisition of Damian Lillard. The skillsets of Antetokounmpo and Lillard complement each other so well that they have the potential to be the league’s top duo. They still have enough depth to have a strong regular season and high-end talent to sustain a deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Lakers
Sentiments in Lakerland are high right now after they pulled off one of the most surprising in-season turnarounds and playoff runs in relation to their seeding. Their lack of continuity in recent seasons plagued them, but they emphasized it this offseason by retaining seven players from last year’s roster. Their title chances still rely on the health and performances of Anthony Davis and LeBron James, so they’ll still need to manage their load to ensure they’re ready for the playoffs. They should have enough depth to survive extended stretches without their stars and remain in the playoff mix.
Golden State Warriors
In retrospect, last year’s Warriors team felt like it was doomed from the start when the Draymond Green-Jordan Poole incident happened. That along with the lack of development from their recent first-round picks may have taken a toll on last season’s Warriors. Despite all that, they still won a playoff series led by a superstar performance by Stephen Curry, who still doesn’t appear to have declined in any aspect of his game. Klay Thompson should improve upon last season’s struggles as well as Andrew Wiggins who unfortunately missed a ton of time. Now they are entering the season with a fresh mindset and a revamped lineup featuring Chris Paul. How (or if) he ultimately factors into closing groups remains to be seen, but at least the Warriors will always have strong point guard play at all times.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are set to have one of the most lethal offenses in the league with their new Big 3. They’re undoubtedly a championship contender, but like when Kevin Durant was with the Brooklyn Nets, their success hinges on their availability. Losing just one of these players for an extended period of time creates a ton of downside for the team. They have a ton of players on minimum salaries they’re taking fliers on and they’ll need a handful of them to be consistent contributors. There are definitely some questions about the strength of their defense, but when fully healthy, it may not matter if their offense hits as expected.
Philadelphia 76ers
The gap between the Celtics and Bucks and the rest of the league must feel deflating for the Sixers. Despite that, there is still plenty of confidence that they should stick out as the top team from the rest of the bunch. There are still questions on what the roster will ultimately look like with James Harden’s status with the team unknown. It’s possible his absence isn’t felt if Tyrese Maxey is able to make a significant leap to an All-Star level with the added usage he’s expected to take. There is a scenario where they’re able to flip the assets they get from Harden for an impactful starter who can help them close the gap with the top East contenders.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies will have some challenges this season with Ja Morant suspended for 25 games and Brandon Clarke out with an Achilles injury. They made a drastic change to their backcourt by going from Tyus Jones to Marcus Smart, a move that could raise their playoff ceiling but hurt their regular season seeding. They also chose not to bring back Dillon Brooks and haven’t replaced him, meaning they’ll be depending on their crop of young wings to fill the void. Despite all these changes, there is still a firm belief that they’re squarely in the playoff mix.
Los Angeles Clippers
Availability remains the biggest enemy for this Los Angeles Clippers core that was projected to be a contender last season. Now they’re viewed on the periphery of the West’s upper echelon with health and age concerns. The team as currently constructed could struggle to remain in the playoff mix if Kawhi Leonard and Paul George continue to miss significant time. Their need for a stabilizing force in the backcourt like James Harden should help them stay afloat in the regular season. If they can get to the playoffs in one piece, a healthy Leonard and George could lead them to a deep playoff run.
Miami Heat
On paper, the Miami Heat roster looks uninspiring. They couldn’t land one of their trade targets and their biggest additions include minimum signings Josh Richardson and Thomas Bryant, and first-round pick Jaime Jaquez. The losses of Max Strus and Gabe Vincent feel bad, but there’s a good chance that they’ll eventually develop another group of undrafted players we’re unaware of right now. If last year’s Finals run taught us anything it’s to not sleep on this team. As long as they have Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Erik Spoelstra, they can make the rest work.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the trendier picks for the team ready to make the biggest leap. They won 40 games last year without Chet Holmgren and now he is healthy and ready to make a big impact on both ends of the floor. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played like an MVP candidate and Jalen Williams looks like he could be their second All-Star. They have a versatile head coach in Mark Daignault who specializes in putting out the right combination of players depending on the situation. Expectations may be a bit high for them given their youth and lack of shooting, but they should at the very least be in the play-in mix.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off the honeymoon of their first successful season in the post-LeBron James era. As great as that year was, they now have to navigate improving upon it toward becoming a serious title contender. They have the high-end talent to become one behind Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, the latter of whose development will be a major driver of the Cavaliers’ overall trajectory. If they have another uncompetitive first-round exit this season, they may have to consider altering their untraditional two small guards and two centers pairing in their best five-man group.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are in a great spot. For the first time in decades, they have stability across the roster and at the point guard position. The addition of Jalen Brunson has made them a strong regular season team and a frisky playoff opponent. They are deep in every position with a cohesive group of players that all play hard physically on both ends of the court. They might not have the high-end talent to be a title contender just yet, but they’re close to acquiring the next available All-Star. They have enough draft picks and young talent to put together a strong enough package for one.
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings just enjoyed their first great season in nearly two decades. They have one of the wider range of outcomes ahead of this season with many feeling they should only improve in the standings. On the other side, there are those who feel that they are due for some regression, especially on the injury side of things considering they were one of the healthiest teams last year. A slide in the standings wouldn’t necessarily mean that they declined, but perhaps it’s more a sign that an ultra-competitive West got even stronger.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have this season to see if their core works. The Rudy Gobert acquisition has been panned to infinity and he was not quite himself last season. He should have a bounce-back season with the potential to lead a top-tier defense along with Jaden McDaniels. There’s upside for them to have one of the league’s best net ratings and coast to a top regular season record with Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns leading the offense. If they underachieve again, they’ll probably need to make significant changes to their frontcourt.
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks have a ton of pressure on them ahead of this season to get back in the playoffs. Despite their moves this summer, the Mavericks still project to be at the bottom of the play-in range like last year. After Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the rest of the roster is uninspiring, especially on the defensive end. They are relying on too many young players who may not be ready for the role required from them, and they have limited assets to bring in significant upgrades to the roster. They have a lot at stake for their long-term outlook, particularly the future of Doncic.
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans proved that they could be a really good team after the strong start they got off to last year. So far, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are healthy, which is usually rare for both to happen at the same time. As long as those two are available, the Pelicans have the high-end talent to place above the play-in. But until that happens, the general expectation is more injuries, which will make them fight for a play-in spot.
Atlanta Hawks
As of now, the expectation for the Atlanta Hawks is another stagnating season where they place in the play-in Tournament again. However, there is a tremendous amount of upside for this team now with a full season ahead under head coach Quin Snyder. They have their point guard and center situation set but he will need to figure out the best combination of wing-sized players to put out. Trae Young is due for a bounce-back season closer to that of his All-NBA year in 2021-22. There is a scenario where they finish with a top-tier offense and league-average defense, putting them well above the play-in.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are in a good place after trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving for a haul of talented wings and a surplus of first-round picks. Unfortunately, it doesn’t exactly translate to a recipe for success this season. Despite the optimism in the shifting of eras after last year’s trade deadline, the team plummeted in the rest of the regular season. They have a ton of talented versatile defenders that could lead to a top-tier defense, but not enough playmaking to create a great offense. This could be a transition year for them as they figure out what they have and potentially look to consolidate players and picks for the next available All-Star.
Indiana Pacers
Could the Indiana Pacers be on the verge of a breakout? The team historically doesn’t stay in the lottery for long and their offseason moves suggest that they’re ready to compete this year. The additions of Bruce Brown and Opi Toppin rounded out a frontcourt that lacked size and defensive versatility. Tyrese Haliburton is already one of the league’s best passers and playmakers and now has more weapons around him to lead a potentially elite offense. They still have a lot of development to accomplish with their recent draft picks, but they are in a position to at least get into the play-in tournament.
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz overachieved in the first half of last season thanks to the brilliant coaching of Will Hardy. They also had a good amount of talented role players that they traded, including veteran point guard Mike Conley. As much talent remains on the roster, it’s unrealistic to expect similar results as last season. Their lack of a lead playmaking point guard and a motivation to play and develop their surplus of young players could be a recipe for bottoming out.
Chicago Bulls
This season could be a make-or-break year for the Chicago Bulls. They were probably expecting to be firmly in the playoff mix when they put this group together, but have mostly struggled since the second half of the 2021-22 season. The lack of upside on the roster may stagnate them, which could give a chance to other younger teams in the East to pass them. If they fail to reach expectations again, they may have to seriously consider making big changes to the roster and overall direction of the team.
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic made one of the biggest leaps last year by winning 12 more games than the one before. A step toward the play-in tournament would probably require a top-tier defense and some luck from the three-point line. They’ll need to balance playing their best guards while also giving enough minutes to develop first-round picks Anthony Black and Jett Howard. It may be too much to expect another significant step from Pablo Banchero and Franz Wagner so soon, but it may be needed to break above a competitive crop of teams in the East’s play-in mix.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are bound to win more than the 22 games they won last year after an aggressive free agency. Their floor has been raised considerably just by virtue of going from Kevin Porter Jr. at point guard to an All-Star in Fred VanVleet. Their defense has the potential to be league average with him and All-Defense forward Dillon Brooks, as well as defensive-minded coach Ime Udoka. Although unlikely, they have the upside to finish above the play-in tournament, but that would require significant leaps from young players like Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. They also have the assets and expiring salaries to further improve the roster at the deadline, potentially for a defensive-minded center.
Toronto Raptors
A rough season could be in store for the Toronto Raptors. They could be looking at a bottom-tier offense now with one of the league’s weakest point guard rotations after losing Fred VanVleet. They still have a lot of talented frontcourt players but it won’t matter if they can’t get anything going in the halfcourt. They’re in a strange position where a bad season could result in a fire sale, but it’s complicated by the fact that they owe a Top 6 protected pick this year to the Spurs. It would probably take a miserable start to the season where they’re at the bottom of the standings for them to sensibly bottom out.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio are expected to be in the lottery again this season but their playoff drought may not last much longer. It’s just the preseason, but the early returns on Victor Wembanyama look great and he’s looking like he will provide an impact early on in his career. The Spurs have already drafted and developed well in other positions and are making long-term commitments elsewhere on the roster. They may already be at the top of the League Pass rankings after seeing all the top posts in the NBA subreddit being flooded with Wemby highlights after each game.
Detroit Pistons
The time is now for the Detroit Pistons to make a significant leap after four years in a row at the bottom of the standings. There is a good amount of individual talent on the roster and there certainly is a scenario where the pieces fit and start playing like a cohesive group. The Pistons hired Monty Williams and made him the highest-paid coach in the league to accomplish this and he has a history of raising the floor of lottery teams. The biggest factor in all of Detroit’s outlook is Cade Cunningham and this season may reveal what his trajectory could look like.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have been in the lottery for two years in a row but now they can fully embrace their rebuild after trading Damian Lillard. They do have a good amount of veterans to overachieve and steal several games early in the season, particularly with their defensive talent and strong rebounding potential. They are still expected to have one of the worst records in the Western Conference, especially if Scoot Henderson isn’t ready to be thrust into a role that would likely have the ball in his hands a ton. Also, the Blazers are still expected to be active on the trade market which will further stunt the strength of their roster this season.
Charlotte Hornets
If everything breaks right for the Hornets, there’s a plausible outcome where they are in the play-in tournament like they were in 2021 and 2022. That would largely depend on LaMelo Ball staying healthy and making another leap, as well as Brandon Miller already making an impact. However, things are already off to a rocky start after they recently waived Kai Jones, and Miles Bridges’ status in question again. Factor in the potential lame-duck status for key members of the organization and it’s possible the 2023-24 season is simply a transitionary period for the Hornets.
Washington Wizards
It was a long time coming, but the Washington Wizards finally hit the much-needed reset button on the roster. The departures of Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis are just the start of what’s expected to be a full-scale rebuild for the organization. They still have enough offensive talent behind Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, and Tyus Jones to outscore opponents enough to steal a couple of games early in the season. However, we can expect the front office to move some of their most impactful veterans as we get closer to the trade deadline. Even if there is enough cohesion to overachieve, the motivation to bottom out and increase their lottery odds could overcome that.
