NBA Pre-season Power Rankings

The NBA season is coming back just two months since the NBA Finals concluded in October. Fans across the world will tune in for the NBA’s top teams to rise in the standings to ultimately crown a champion come season-end.

There have been multiple blockbuster trades and news that has shook up the outlook on this season. Now that the NBA draft is over and most of free agency has been completed, the top NBA teams are begging to stand out. Here are the power rankings for this upcoming NBA season.

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1.) Los Angeles Lakers

The defending NBA champions will have to overcome a historic obstacle along side the Miami Heat as the franchises that will enter the season with the shortest break between seasons in NBA history. The Lakers acquired Dennis Schroder and the roster is beginning to shape up quite nicely, some even considering this roster to be more lethal than the last. The Lakers lost several players including Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, Danny Green, Avery Bradley, and JaVale McGee but will definitely be at the top of the Western Conference come playoff time.

2.) Brooklyn Nets

The duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is an elite offense by themselves, but complimented by young players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris Levert it will allow the floor to open up for scoring more points and taking the load off of the superstars. Kevin Durant did not play any part of the last season after an achilles injury that he suffered in the NBA Finals. Kyrie Irving has had his own share of injuries issues as well, but barring no injuries, this Nets team has a real shot to win the East.

3.) Los Angeles Clippers

Last season was a disaster for the Los Angeles Clippers after a playoff series loss to the Denver Nuggets. After the firing of Doc Rivers, the Clippers will now start fresh with a new system that will hopefully rejuvenate Paul George into his old self. Kawhi Leonard will lead this Clippers team back to playoffs in an attempt to bounce back from last seasons disappointment.

4.) Miami Heat

After an electric NBA Finals showdown, the Miami Heat proved to the NBA that they are amongst the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Miami and center, Bam Adebayo, agreed to a contract extension keeping him with Jimmy Butler and the Heat for the foreseeable future. Miami does not have the best roster on paper, but they have the biggest heart and the most fight, which makes them a top five NBA team today.

5.) Milwaukee Bucks

After an anxious offseason for Bucks fans, reports are beginning to lean towards the idea that Giannis Antetokounmp will remain in Milwaukee. After the acquisition of Jrue Holiday, the Bucks offense becomes more likely to produce more outside of Antetokounmpo.

6.) Denver Nuggets

Denver came up just short in their fight to the NBA Finals after losing to Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. A Western Conference Finals appearance was unexpected after falling down 3- 1 in their previous two series. Jamal Murray has become a top-tier point guard after his playoff performance. Denver is another team with a lot of fight in them which will come handy during a playoff push. The Nuggets have been a consistent team the past couple of seasons and will look to continue that this season by making the playoffs once again.

7.) Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic has risen to the elite status in the NBA. Doncic and the Mavericks did have an early exit in the last years playoffs, but mainly due to a injured roster and Kawhi Leonard’s defense. The MVP-caliber guard will be leading this Dallas team for potentially the next decade, and there’s no reason why they should not be considered a threat in the West.

8.) Boston Celtics

The Celtics are a very talented team and have been the past two seasons. The problem is that they are very young with their veterans being Kemba Walker and Tristan Thompson. Thompson has championship experience, but Walker was never a playoff threat with the Hornets early in his career. If the Celtics manage to make the NBA Finals this season, they will be one of the youngest/inexperienced teams to do so.

9.) Golden State Warriors

Although guard, Klay Thompson, suffered a season-ending injury weeks ago, there’s no reason to count out the Golden State Warriors with Steph Curry returning. The Warriors selected James Wiseman with the third overall pick in the draft, locking down the center position for the present and the future. Kelly Oubre and Andrew Wiggins are also weapons that will surely be utilized in Steve Kerr’s offensively-friendly system.

10.) Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers had one of the NBA’s best off seasons, beginning with the signing of Doc Rivers and the contract dump of Al Horford. The Sixers sent Horford and two draft picks for Danny Green who just won an NBA Championship with the Lakers. Another player from the Lakers to end up with the Sixers is Dwight Howard, who almost ended up back in Los Angeles. Daryl Morey is now the top dog in Philadelphia and is managing to free up cap space and bring talent at the same time. Philadelphia will allow the duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to adjust to this system together this season in hopes of a playoff run.

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11.) Portland Trailblazers

12.) Houston Rockets

13.) Phoenix Suns

14.) Toronto Raptors

15.) Utah Jazz

16.) Atlanta Hawks

17.) Washington Wizards

18.) Memphis Grizzlies

19.) Minnesota Timberwolves

20.) Indians Pacers

21.) New Orleans Pelicans

22.) San Antonio Spurs

23.) Orlando Magic

24.) Charlotte Hornets

25.) Chicago Bulls

26.) Oklahoma City Thunder

27.) Sacramento Kings

28.) New York Knicks

29.) Detroit Pistons

30.) Cleveland Cavaliers