NBA Power Rankings: Standings on first day of regular season
The 2020-21 NBA regular season somehow starts tonight. A perfect opportunity to take the temperature of the league’s hierarchy.
’Tis the season for rebuilding in Oklahoma City, and the teardown is in full effect. Without the burden of expectation, there should be plenty of opportunity for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Darius Bazley, Aleksej Pokuševski and Theo Maleon to stretch their wings. But in a crowded West, not much should be expected in the win-loss department. If the Thunder finish the 2020-21 campaign near this standing, a top pick in a loaded draft awaits. So do 16 other first-rounders down the line.
New general manager Troy Weaver spent his first offseason wheeling and dealing, and the Pistons tip the year with a bit of a mismatched depth chart. Killian Hayes’ development, a potential Blake Griffin bounceback and the signing of Jerami Grant also make them a bit intriguing, to be sure. But unless a subtle master plan is in its infancy, they figure to factor firmly into the Knicks-Cavaliers tier of Eastern Conference bottom feeders for 2020-21.
Isaac Okoro, the Cavaliers’ fifth overall pick, looked every bit the part of a top draft pick this preseason, and like the perfect, defensive-minded wing complement to Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. Kevin Love and Andre Drummond are still around. But the Cavaliers appear again poised for a high lottery pick next season.
The Knicks’ 2020 draft was polarizing, but both of their first-round snags -- Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley -- showed promising early returns in the preseason. In the team’s first campaign under Tom Thibodeau they’ll certainly try to compete. But a young, uneven roster has much to prove before vaulting out of this throng.
The Timberwolves are ready to compete, as evidenced by the last season’s trade for D’Angelo Russell, drafting of Anthony Edwards -- a better positional fit for their nucleus than LaMelo Ball or James Wiseman -- and re-signing of Malik Beasley. Can they defend? Probably not. Could they score their way to play-in contention anyway? Maybe! Karl-Anthony Towns was playing exceptional ball before injuries struck last season. But entering the year, them finishing 14th in the West feels just as likely.
Here comes the first of a few unintelligible clumps: The group fighting for an Eastern Conference play-in berth.
The Hornets did a lot to shake up their roster this offseason, drafting LaMelo Ball and signing Gordon Hayward to a lucrative $120 million deal. Add that to their established nucleus of Devonte’ Graham, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington and something fun could be brewing in Charlotte. Let’s see how the pieces fit.
The Bulls will be relying heavily on player development and internal improvement under Billy Donovan and a new front office regime. That’ll need to be seen to be believed, but there’s enough talent -- Zach LaVine, Coby White, Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. are all poised for jumps with proper coaching -- on the roster to grant them a spot in the low-end play-in gaggle to start the year. If their season ended drastically north or south of here, it would come as no surprise and, either way, would be illuminating.
With Jonathan Isaac already ruled out for the season, the Magic begin play at a disadvantage. They’ll need leaps from Markelle Fultz or Aaron Gordon -- or a first-year breakout from Cole Anthony -- to separate from the East’s play-in pack. But Steve Clifford-coached teams are always competent and competitive, and the proven presences of Nikola Vučević, Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross remain.
The loss of Bogdan Bogdanović stings, but new general manager Monte McNair may have found the steal of the draft in Tyrese Haliburton to step into his shoes. Fresh off a max extension, De’Aaron Fox could be poised for a leap. If Marvin Bagley III stays healthy, this team can make ripples, but figure to be on the outside looking in of play-in contention in the West.
The Spurs find themselves in a similar predicament. An intriguing stable of young guards led by Derrick White, recent wing draftee Devin Vassell (who looked great in the preseason), and DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge will surely keep them competitive. Because of their middling status, their activity on the trade market will be interesting to monitor.
The acquisition of Russell Westbrook is looking better by the day. So is the draft selection of Deni Avdija. The defensive end remains a sore spot for the Wiz, but their assortment of floor-spacers -- Dāvis Bertāns, Thomas Bryant -- and star power -- Westbrook and Bradley Beal -- make them more than viable for a run at the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed.
The Hawks transformed themselves into a high-octane group this offseason with the acquisitions of Bogdanović and Danilo Gallinari. Kris Dunn (when returned) is a hellacious defender. Rajon Rondo marks veteran presence behind Trae Young. And that’s without mentioning the potential that could come with full seasons from John Collins and Clint Capela. With another step forward from Young, they’re poised to break into the playoff mix.
While it appeared for a moment the Victor Oladipo situation could turn sour this offseason, the Pacers are set to run back what was a really good team last year. As with any team mired in the middle of its conference, a quick rebuild pivot always looms as possibility. But with all the pieces intact, the Pacers are a quality playoff group.
Clump number two! And it’s much more fun than the first. The Grizzlies will be relying on internal improvement to hang in a contentious Western Conference play-in race, but with a burgeoning superstar in Ja Morant, a bright, up-and-coming head coach in Taylor Jenkins and a highly promising complement of young players -- Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane, run down the line -- they can’t be counted out.
Their ultimate placement in the NBA’s hierarchy depends on the conclusion of the ever-evolving James Harden saga. If he remains in Houston, the Rockets are a safe bet to be in the thick of things in the middle of the West, with a seemingly rejuvenated John Wall and Christian Wood now in tow. If not… Who’s to say.
Parting with Jrue Holiday stings, but swallowable considering the draft capital returned. Ultimately, a step forward depends on a healthy season of Zion Williamson and continued growth from Brandon Ingram. They’ve got steady role players around those two, a promising rookie in Kira Lewis Jr. and a solid coach in Stan Van Gundy.
Losing Klay Thompson likely dropped the Dubs from true contender status. But there are worse gameplans than surrounding Steph Curry with two uber-athletic wings (Kelly Oubre Jr., Andrew Wiggins), a high-potential rookie center (James Wiseman) and a former Defensive Player of the Year (Draymond Green) and letting him cook. The Warriors won’t be the all-around sharp-shooting squad of year’s past, but they remain formidable.
Chris Paul is in the building. Devin Booker is ready to make a leap. And all the pieces around those two fit snugly. What else do the Suns need to snap their decade-long playoff drought?
Watch out for the Trail Blazers, who, after finishing last year strong, added stout wing defense in the form of Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr., and hope to get full, healthy seasons from Jusuf Nurkić, Zach Collins and Rodney Hood. Damian Lillard’s reputation precedes him -- he’s coming off one of the most prolific scoring seasons in recent memory.
After a productive offseason, the 76ers appear to have finally built a roster tailored to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid’s strengths. In turn, this could be the season they realize some of the lost potential of years past and break into the top tier of the East.
Here’s a team Philadelphia will be looking to supplant. But, even losing Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, the Raptors are no pushovers. Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and O.G. Anunoby are only improving, Kyle Lowry is still playing at an All-Star level. And they did well to shore up the big rotation after the aforementioned departures. Toronto could take a marginal step back this season, but a Nick Nurse-coached team can’t fall too far.
Luka Dončić is ready to jump into perennial MVP contention, and the Mavericks front office intentionally brought in players through the draft (Josh Green, Tyler Bey), free agency (Wesley Iwundu) and trade market (Josh Richardson) to add defense and athleticism to the wing. Kristaps Porzingis’ health is the only thing separating this team from the league’s upper echelon. A generational superstar will do that.
The Jazz return largely the same roster that came within a last-second, Game 7, rimmed-out 3 of knocking the Nuggets out of last year’s first round. Oh, and they get back Bojan Bogdanović -- a legitimate 20 point per game scorer -- who missed the bubble due to a wrist injury. With Donovan Mithcell on the rise and Rudy Gobert locked in long term, there’s no reason they shouldn’t finish a top four or five seed in the West. They’re the type to scrap for playoff position.
The depth chart reads a bit shallow for the Celtics after losing Gordon Hayward in free agency. But their top-end talent can hang with most, and Jayson Tatum is poised for a jump into the NBA’s true elite. Kemba Walker’s nagging knee ailment has a good chance to be the question mark that defines their season. But the lucrative trade exception generated in the Hayward sign-and-trade could offer an avenue for significant in-season improvements as well.
There aren’t many young duos more enviable than Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Health provided, Michael Porter Jr. makes for a tantalizing trio. Losing Jerami Grant stings, to be sure (though JaMychal Green could prove a worthy replacement). But entering the season, they’re the best non-Los Angeles bet to make noise in the West.
The reigning Eastern Conference champions can’t fall lower than this. Jimmy Butler proved the perfect steward for Miami in the bubble, and there’s no reason to believe their excellence shouldn’t translate to another adverse NBA season. The loss of Jae Crowder should be offset by improvements for their young guns -- Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, specifically. Erik Spoelstra has an argument for best coach in the association.
Even without a trade for James Harden, the Nets have the perfect blend of youthful talent, veteran presence and star power. Kevin Durant’s preseason returns were promising, offering optimism he could return at close to full form. Kyrie Irving is back. That alone makes them a threat to the Bucks (coming up soon), and comes without mentioning the team’s deep, quality rotation. Seriously, go look at the Nets’ roster. This is a team built to play next-man-up ball when necessary in a condensed preseason and shorten eight trustable guys in a playoff series.
There’s no getting around it: Last postseason was an embarrassment. The Clippers now hope, with Ty Lue as head coach, and Luke Kennard and Serge Ibaka in tow, their fortunes are fated flip. This roster, which performed at an elite level when intact last regular season, remains as stacked as any in the league. If the matchup comes to fruition this year, they’re one of few teams that can give the Lakers trouble.
Bogdanović debacle -- which has now cost them a second round pick -- aside, this was a dream offseason for Milwaukee. Why? Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a supermax extension, preemptively lifting what could have been an omnipresent dark cloud over this Bucks’ season. The rotation is thin, but the Jrue Holiday addition means they’re in better shape come playoff time than last year. Will it make a difference? It’s hard to believe it before seeing it. But they enter the year Eastern Conference favorites in the eyes of most, with the Nets and Heat snapping at their heels.
All things considered, they rollicked their way to a title last year, and only got better in the offseason with the additions of Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schröder. They’re the best team in the NBA, with the league’s best superstar duo, and it’s not particularly close. Everyone else, for now, is playing for second.
