NBA power rankings
Clippers may have right stuff for title
30. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
● Key Additions: Terry Rozier, PJ Washington (rookie)
● Key Losses: Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Tony Parker
The Hornets are going to be bad. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. A team that relied on Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb to manufacture the brunt of its offense just lost both, and replaced them with Terry Rozier.
29. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
● Key Additions: Darius Garland (rookie), Kevin Porter Jr. (rookie), Dylan Windler (rookie)
● Key Losses: JR Smith, David Nwaba, Alec Burks, Cameron Payne, Marquese Chriss
The Cavaliers did themselves a favor by drafting well. Garland looks good, and Porter looks like the steal of the draft. Once the season starts to get away from them — and it will — their best bet is to fish for another package of assets in a deal for Kevin Love.
28. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
● Key Additions: Ja Morant (rookie), Brandon Clarke (rookie), Grayson Allen, Josh Jackson, Jae Crowder, Andre Iguodala, De’Anthony Melton
● Key Losses: Mike Conley, Avery Bradley, Chandler Parsons, CJ Miles, Kyle Korver, Jevon Carter
The pairing of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson III will be one to watch for years to come, but it’s not enough — at least not yet — to bring back the Grizzlies’ playoff hopes. By the end of the year, they will have traded or boughtout the veterans who can help contending teams, namely Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder.
27. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
● Key Additions: Rui Hachimura (rookie), Davis Bertans, Mo Wagner, Ish Smith, Isaiah Thomas, CJ Miles
● Key Losses: Trevor Ariza, Bobby Portis, Jabari Parker, Dwight Howard, Tomas Satoransky; (John Wall out for season)
The clock is ticking to put something real around Bradley Beal before it’s too late. With Wall out, the Wizards’ next best player might be rookie Rui Hachimura, or big man Thomas Bryant.
26. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
● Key Additions: Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, Darius Bazley (rookie)
● Key Losses: Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Jerami Grant, Markieff Morris, Alex Abrines,
The last of the Thunder’s Finals trio is out the door. It is attempting to compete now while building a future down the road. The best bet might be to continue siphoning off stars and adding onto its alreadyhistoric treasure trove of draft assets.
25. KNICKS
● Key Additions: RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Marcus Morris, Taj Gibson, Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington
● Key Losses: Noah Vonleh, DeAndre Jordan, Mario Hezonja, Trey Burke, Lance Thomas
The Knicks didn’t get Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant in free agency, but at least they’re building. That’s a start. Julius Randle will have another good season, building on what he did in New Orleans, but the Knicks still have a giant question mark at the point guard slot.
24. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
● Key Additions: Jarrett Culver, Jake Layman, Jordan Bell, Shabazz Napier, Treveon Graham, Naz Reid
● Key Losses: Taj Gibson, Dario Saric, Derrick Rose, Anthony Tolliver
The Wolves are one of the most confusing teams in the NBA. They have Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, yet they needed Jimmy Butler to push them into the playoffs two seasons ago. Butler is now gone, and so is head coach Tom Thibodeau. The West is full of juggernaut teams angling for a championship. Unfortunately, the Wolves aren’t one of them.
23. ATLANTA HAWKS
● Key Additions: Evan Turner, Allen Crabbe, Jabari Parker, De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, Bruno Fernando
● Key Losses: Kent Bazemore, Taurean Prince
Hawks fans may think their team is ready for a playoff appearance, but the reality is they’re not over the hump just yet. They are one of the budding teams out East that will dominate under Trae Young, but the rest of their young talent needs to develop, and they don’t have a true center.
22. CHICAGO BULLS
● Key Additions: Thaddeus Young, Tomas Satoransky, Coby White, Daniel Gafford
● Key Losses: Robin Lopez, Justin Holiday, Cameron Payne
The Bulls are a team expected to take the next step in their NBA life cycle. While competing for a playoff spot might be a stretch, expect this team to be competitive at both ends of the floor.
21. PHOENIX SUNS
● Key Additions: Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric, Frank Kaminsky, Aron Baynes, Cam Johnson, Ty Jerome
● Key Losses: TJ Warren, Josh Jackson, De’Anthony Melton, Richaun Holmes, Troy Daniels
Ricky Rubio will be a godsend for a Suns team that hasn’t had a point guard since Eric Bledsoe didn’t want to be there. Deandre Ayton will take a leap forward, and the Suns will have nine or 10 legitimately playable basketball players. Problem is, there are nine or 10 better Western conference teams.
20. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
● Key Additions: Zion Williamson (rookie), Derrick Favors, Lonzo Ball, JJ Redick, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (rookie), Jaxson Hayes (rookie), Nicolo Melli (rookie)
● Key Losses: Anthony Davis The Pelicans traded Anthony Davis and landed one enormous return of young players and draft assets. Williamson’s health is already a concern with a torn meniscus in the preseason, but the Pelicans’ future is not.
19. ORLANDO MAGIC
● Key Additions: Markelle Fultz (injury return), Al-farouq Aminu
● Key Losses: N/A
The Magic made the playoffs last season and stole a game in the first round against the Toronto Raptors. Markelle Fultz has a whole lot to prove, but if he find his confidence, he makes a solid team better.
18. DETROIT PISTONS
● Key Additions: Derrick Rose, Sekou Doumbouya (rookie), Markieff Morris, Joe Johnson
● Key Losses: N/A Derrick Rose gives the team a different dynamic at point guard, but it won’t be enough to contend with the top of the conference.
17. MIAMI HEAT
● Key Additions: Jimmy Butler, Meyers Leonard, Tyler Herro (rookie), Dion Waiters (injury return)
● Key Losses: Hassan Whiteside, Dwyane Wade
Landing Butler was a coup. While the Heat will miss Josh Richardson, it finally has the star who fits its culture. Not done dealing yet, either. Look for the Heat to be active around the trade deadline.
16. DALLAS MAVERICKS
● Key Additions: Kristaps Porzingis (injury return), Delon Wright, Seth Curry
● Key Losses: N/A Kristaps Porzingis is back, and he looks like an action figure. He and Luka Doncic are going to be one incredible duo, but will it be enough to push the Mavericks into the playoffs? Probably not this season.
15. SACRAMENTO KINGS
● Key Additions: Trevor Ariza, Dewayne Dedmon
● Key Losses: N/A De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley look like stars, but there’s too much firepower for Sacramento to contend this season. Locking up Buddy Hield was smart and gives the Kings a promising backcourt for the next four years.
14. BOSTON CELTICS
● Key Additions: Kemba Walker, Enes Kanter, Romeo Langford (rookie), Grant Williams (rookie), Carsen Edwards (rookie)
● Key Losses: Kyrie Irving, Al
Horford
The Celtics lost Kyrie Irving and replaced him with Kemba Walker. Fair enough. But they also lost Al Horford and replaced him with Enes Kanter. That won’t cut it for a team that had eyes on a championship.
13. NETS
● Key Additions: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant (out for season), DeAndre Jordan, Taurean Prince, Garrett Temple, David Nwaba, Nicolas Claxton (rookie)
● Key Losses: D’Angelo Russell, Allen Crabbe, Ed Davis
The Nets hit the jackpot in free agency, but they got off to a slow preseason start after Irving’s face injury. They’ll get better as the season goes on, but won’t be true championship contenders until Durant returns next year.
12. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
● Key Additions: DeMarre Carroll, Trey Lyles, Dejounte Murray (injury return)
● Key Losses: N/A
It’s tough to count out a Gregg Popovich-coached team, but the Spurs are falling further and further from title contention every season. They should be good enough to make the playoffs, but they’ll be a low seed and a likely firstround exit.
11. TORONTO RAPTORS
● Key Additions: N/A ● Key Losses: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green
The Raptors lost Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green for nothing in free agency, and it was worth it: They did win an NBA championship. The Raptors are still an incredibly wellcoached team and Pascal Siakam is the real deal. They’re caught in-between building a future around Siakam and a competitive present in a twoteam East.
10. INDIANA PACERS
● Key Additions: Malcolm Brogdon, TJ Warren, Jeremy Lamb
● Key Losses: Darren Collison, Wesley Matthews
The Pacers silently had a big free agency, poaching Malcolm Brogdon from Milwaukee and TJ Warren from Phoenix. But until Victor Oladipo returns from his injury, Indy won’t be ready for prime time.
9. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
● Key Additions: D’Angelo Russell, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alec Burks, Marquese Chriss, Omari Spellman
● Key Losses: Kevin Durant,
Andre Iguodala
The Warriors were dethroned by the Raptors and by injury. Then they lost Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala in free agency. There are so many new faces on the Warriors, it’s hard to say how good they’ll be. Stephen Curry is still an MVP candidate, and adding D’Angelo Russell will give them a boost.
8. DENVER NUGGETS
● Key Addition: Jerami Grant, Michael Porter Jr. (injury return)
● Key Losses: Isaiah Thomas Just how good will Michael Porter Jr. be in his first season? The answer to that question will determine Denver’s season. They’ve brought back largely the same team, which was very, very good, but Porter can provide the dynamic wing play they’re missing — if he can stay healthy.
8. UTAH JAZZ
● Key Additions: Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Ed Davis, Emmanuel Mudiay ● Key Losses: Grayson Allen, draft picks
The Utah Jazz was my sleeper pick to make a deep playoff run — but that was before the Clippers and Rockets added three MVP-level stars between them. Still, no team actually wants to play the Jazz.
6. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
● Key Additions: Hassan Whiteside, Kent Bazemore, Mario Hezonja, Anthony Tolliver
● Key Losses: Meyers Leonard, Evan Turner, Jake Layman
You know what you’re getting from Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. But the Trail Blazers now have legitimate two-way depth at the center position and upgraded at wing with Kent Bazemore.
5. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
● Key Additions: Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews, Kyle Korver
● Key Losses: Malcolm Brogdon
Losing Brogdon is tough, but the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo and shooters to space out the floor. In a world where Kawhi Leonard is no longer a Raptor, the Bucks would be poised to head to the NBA Finals. Unless, of course, that world featured a loaded Philadelphia 76ers team.
4. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
● Key Additions: Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee, Avery Bradley
● Key Losses: Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Mo Wagner, draft picks
Can you really bet against LeBron James and Anthony Davis? It’s a tough ask. The Lakers have the best player in the league and an additional MVP-caliber stud.
3. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
● Key Additions: Al Horford, Josh Richardson, Trey Burke
● Key Losses: Jimmy Butler Somehow, some way, the Sixers signed Al Horford. He’s the only player who’s been able to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo AND Joel Embiid, and now he plays alongside one of them. Losing Butler hurts, but Richardson is an extremely good consolation prize. The Sixers are now favorites to make it to the NBA Finals out East so long as Embiid can stay on the court.
2. HOUSTON ROCKETS
● Key Additions: Russell
Westbrook
● Key Losses: Chris Paul,
draft picks
Westbrook is an attack guard, and the Rockets love to space the floor and shoot threes. You don’t have to worry about James Harden getting his. Westbrook has never played with shooters the caliber of which the Rockets have. They’re just as much of a championship favorite out West as anyone else — if they don’t choke it away.
1. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
● Key Additions: Kawhi
Leonard, Paul George
● Key Losses: Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Clippers traded talent and draft assets to pry Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Acquiring George was the necessary move to land Kawhi Leonard in free agency. Checkmate. Clippers win.