NBA Power Rankings Preseason Edition: Lakers moves lead the way

vaccine conversations</a>, we are all ready to have basketball back this week.</p> <p>The preseason kicks off Tuesday, and with it our first looks at a number of teams. How will they look after something resembling a normal offseason, which teams did not get last year? More so than individual performances, we will be watching to see whether a team is executing its overall team goals: contending, rebuilding, consolidating, and so on.</p> <h2>Preseason basketball is this week! Let’s break out the first NBA Power Rankings for the 2021-22 season and examine a key offseason move for each team.</h2> <p>To look at that in the big picture, we’ll kick off the 2021-22 season with our first edition of our NBA Power Rankings. I will be taking over for the irreplaceable Corey Rausch, and pumping out these Power Rankings every Sunday from now through the entire season.</p> <p>In our first edition, we want to connect the threads from the offseason to the season to come. What was <em>the</em> key offseason move for every team, positive or negative? And how did the team’s offseason moves connect with the overall team goals? Did rebuilding teams clog up their cap sheet? Did contenders cheap out and not retain a key free agent?</p> <p>We’ll start at the bottom rung, the team most boldly driving a tank this season, the Orlando Magic. From there we will ascend until we reach the top rung, analyzing how the title contenders at the top of the league reloaded to make a run at a championship. Here we go!</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 30 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434455" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434455" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1168,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1333304688.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1168" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1333304688.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1333304688-768x561.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="30" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Orlando Magic" data-team-id="38" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">30 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Orlando Magic </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmagic.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 21-51, 14th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The Orlando Magic fought a complete rebuild for years after the departure of Dwight Howard, but they have finally embraced it and torn down most of the team’s veterans. Terrence Ross and Robin Lopez will likely be the two exceptions to a rotation built on youth and upside.</p> <p>The Magic will be gunning for the worst record in the league and consequently the best lottery odds. This offseason they did sign Lopez to a modest one-year, $5 million contract, likely employing him as a veteran mentor to Mo Bamba, Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter Jr. He probably signed with the team to live close to the Happiest Place on Earth, Walt Disney World.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move:</strong> Drafting Jalen Suggs. When the Magic landed at fifth in the 2021 NBA Draft, a draft with four elite prospects, it looked as if they would yet again be left in the cold. Instead the Toronto Raptors surprisingly took Scottie Barnes at No. 4 and let Suggs fall to the Magic at No. 5.</p> <p>He was dynamic in Summer League and will step in as a starter from day one. He has a very good shot at becoming the offensive centerpiece this core so desperately needs. In an otherwise quiet offseason, adding Suggs could be the cornerstone on which the Magic’s future is built.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 29 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_427865" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-427865" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1313675355.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313675355.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313675355-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="29" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Houston Rockets" data-team-id="169" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">29 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Houston Rockets </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Frockets.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 17-55, 15th in Western Conference</p> <p>One year ago the Houston Rockets had a perennial MVP candidate; then he demanded a trade, pouted his way through training camp and the preseason, and loafed around on the court to start the season. The Rockets freed themselves from that nightmare by finding a trade partner in Brooklyn, and they are now building a new team in the aftermath of the James Harden era.</p> <p>They are doing that two ways. The first is pursuing undervalued young talent, and the second is loading up on draft picks. Players such as Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr. and Jae’Sean Tate all look like valuable rotation pieces, if not starters. The team then took four players in the first-round of the 2021 NBA Draft, making Houston both very young and likely very bad this season, with an eye on a quick ascent in the years to come.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move:</strong> Drafting Jalen Green with the No. 2 pick. To build a winning team you need a centerpiece star, and in Year One of their rebuild the Houston Rockets may have already found him. Green has the athleticism and shot creation of a young star, a guard who can score but also grow into helping set up teammates as well. He’s more Tracy McGrady than James Harden in the annals of Houston stars, but he’s a great replacement to jumpstart the rebuild.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 28 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_435330" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-435330" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2203,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1334079604.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2203" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1334079604.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1334079604-768x529.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="28" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Detroit Pistons" data-team-id="64" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">28 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Detroit Pistons </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpistons.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 20-52, 15th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The Detroit Pistons have fought tooth-and-nail to avoid a true rebuild, bringing in players such as Tobias Harris, Blake Griffin and Jerami Grant to keep the team afloat while it fought for the bottom of the playoff bracket. Last offseason they tried to walk a middle road, flipping a few veterans for draft picks while also adding some veteran talent to stay competitive. Instead, the wheels came off and Detroit fell all the way to last place, and they were rewarded with the first overall pick.</p> <p>This offseason was about consolidating the youth movement, flipping Mason Plumlee on to bring in a stretch-5 in Kelly Olynyk, providing the perfect spacing center to open up the court for young perimeter players learning the NBA. This season will be about the growth of their young core, players such as Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey, and of course Cade Cunningham.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move:</strong> Drafting Cade Cunningham with the first pick. There were plenty of other options that swirled around the Pistons leading into draft night, from taking Jalen Green or Evan Mobley first overall, to trading down and getting a blue chip asset in addition to a top player. In the end the team drafted the consensus overall player in Cade Cunningham.</p> <p>Cunningham was made for the modern NBA, with a strong outside shot, excellent passing ability and the size and willingness to mix it up on the defensive end. If the Pistons can get a co-star, either through development or the draft, this team could contend in the Eastern Conference in a handful of years. Cunningham should be that good.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 27 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_435395" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-435395" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1334324020.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1334324020.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1334324020-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="27" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Cleveland Cavaliers" data-team-id="156" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">27 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Cleveland Cavaliers </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fcavaliers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season</strong>: 22-50, 13th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The Cleveland Cavaliers have dabbled in a rebuild since LeBron James left, making three selections in the Top 10 across the last three drafts. The problem is that they never cleared their books, re-signing their players to hefty deals to continue playing out the string of mediocrity.</p> <p>This offseason they continued that trend. They added a fourth top prospect through the draft, but they also signed a pair of big men to a combined $167 million and traded for a veteran point guard making $17.8 million. The Cavs want their cake and to eat it to, and they might end up with the worst of both worlds.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Drafting Evan Mobley at No. 3. Mobley is an exciting draft prospect, a 7-footer with perimeter ball skills and hefty defensive chops. He elevated a mediocre USC team in college into the Elite Eight, and on a Cavs team devoid of defensive difference makers much of the last three seasons, Mobley looks like a great piece to build around.</p> <p>The problem is that the Cavs gave $100 million to a center to block Mobley from his most valuable long-term position, and then sending their best defensive player in Larry Nance Jr. out for the right to sign Markkanen for $67 million. That might not matter in the long run, but in the short-term it’s crowded and expensive in the frontcourt. We haven’t even mentioned Kevin Love and his $31.3 million yet!</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 26 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_422459" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-422459" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1298709730.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1298709730.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1298709730-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="26" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Oklahoma City Thunder" data-team-id="149" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">26 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Oklahoma City Thunder </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fthunder.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 22-50, 14th in Western Conference</p> <p>The Oklahoma City Thunder have a bit of a problem on their hands. Their goal as a team is fairly blatant: use veterans and cap space to gain draft assets to give them as many bites at the apple as possible. This is a team in all-out rebuild mode, and not team win is a positive. Why, then, do they rank higher than the previous four teams?</p> <p>The answer is one Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a rising star and a player who single-handedly raises a team’s floor. This club wants to tank, but they will need to figure out what to do about a player who will sabotage their intent to lose. This offseason they took on more bad money for new contracts and don’t look poised to start winning anytime soon.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Drafting Josh Giddey. This was a quiet offseason in terms of adding talent for the Thunder, whose draft hauls come in cycles. The prime addition is therefore the addition of Josh Giddey, a playmaking wing out of Australia. He looks like a great fit between SGA and last year’s pick, Aleksej Pokusevski. He and the other youngsters should get a lot of run this year.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 25 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436149" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436149" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1314835140.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1065" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314835140.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314835140-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="25" data-rank-type="team" data-name="San Antonio Spurs" data-team-id="29" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">25 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>San Antonio Spurs </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fspurs.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season</strong>: 33-39, 10th in Western Conference</p> <p>For years the San Antonio Spurs have been the bastion of consistency, making the playoffs for two straight decades. Now they have missed the playoffs for two straight years and there is not clear answer about the goal of this team. Are they rebuilding? Are they maximizing wins in case this is Gregg Popovich’ last season? No one knows.</p> <p>This offseason was about letting the veterans go, with Patty Mills, Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan all suiting up for other teams this season. That opens up playing time for the young generation of players on this team. Do they grow into something good? Possibly. Do they fall apart and get the first high draft pick for the Spurs’ organization since Tim Duncan?</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>DeMar DeRozan trade. The San Antonio Spurs likely were not going to bring back DeMar DeRozan, electing instead to allocate those touches to younger players. Even so the Chicago Bulls ended up paying through the nose to add DeRozan via a sign-and-trade, sending back a first-round pick, two second-round picks, Al-Farouq Aminu and Thaddeus Young.</p> <p>This was an incredible piece of business for the organization, gaining a legitimate pile of somethings for nearly nothing. Young might be a better player than DeRozan next season, and even if he isn’t the entire package was a windfall for the Spurs.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 24 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436150" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436150" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1331401422.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1331401422.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1331401422-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="24" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Sacramento Kings" data-team-id="84" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">24 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Sacramento Kings </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fkings.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 31-41, T-11th in Western Conference</p> <p>Someone needs to let the poor Sacramento Kings into the postseason. They can’t seem to find the winning combination of players, coach and general manager, so they of course went out this summer and….largely kept all of those things the same. They swapped out Delon Wright and Hassan Whiteside for Tristan Thompson and Davion Mitchell.</p> <p>The Kings have talent, and De’Aaron Fox continues to improve every season. Harrison Barnes is a solid veteran at the forward spots, and Richaun Holmes was a legitimately good center last year. Unfortunately, the head coach, injuries or just the normal bad luck of the Kings will likely descend at some point and destroy the fans’ optimism.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Drafting Davion Mitchell. Last season’s Kings were ranked 30th in the league in defense, and the team decided to do that in a curious way, drafting a tenacious defensive guard in Davion Mitchell. He should step in immediately and have an impact picking up the opponents’ most dynamic backcourt player.</p> <p>What’s curious is that the Kings’ two best long-term players are likely Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, two point guards. Can this team survive playing three point guards in one lineup, as their Pacific Division brethren the Phoenix Suns tried a few seasons ago? He’s a great player, but the fit seems tricky.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 23 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_429592" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-429592" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1064,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1232940977.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1064" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1232940977.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1232940977-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="23" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Minnesota Timberwolves" data-team-id="86" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">23 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Minnesota Timberwolves </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Ftimberwolves.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 23-49, 13th in Western Conference</p> <p>A half-decade ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves had one of the most exciting young cores in the league. Karl-Anthony Towns was breaking the barrier of what a center could do on offense, Andrew Wiggins was dropping 20 points like it was nothing, and Zach LaVine was a dunk contest champion and absolutely throwing it down in-game and out.</p> <p>Then everything fell apart, from the hiring of Tom Thibodeau to both Jimmy Butler trades. Now, however, something is coming together in the land of 10,000 lakes. Towns might be fully healthy, in body and spirit, for the first time in years. Wiggins and LaVine are gone, and in their place are De’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards, both fascinating in comparison to their previous counterparts. Jaden McDaniels and Malik Beasley are both starters around the star core.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Trading for Patrick Beverley. The three “stars” on this team are all poor defenders, which makes it important to get other excellent defenders to fit around them. McDaniels fits that role, but so does the newly-acquired Patrick Beverley. He’s not a star nor possibly even a starter at this point, but he will play hard and help set a tone for the team defensively.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 22 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436151" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436151" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1343306228.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1343306228.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1343306228-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="22" data-rank-type="team" data-name="New Orleans Pelicans" data-team-id="69" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">22 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>New Orleans Pelicans </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpelicans.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 31-41, T-11th in Western Conference</p> <p>When it was announced that Zion Williamson was going to miss the preseason due to secret offseason foot surgery, it sent the NBA world into a tailspin. A league with Zion Williamson hardly feels like a league worth watching. Thankfully he is expected back by the start of the season, so everyone can rest easy.</p> <p>The Pelicans and their future now revolve around Wlliamson, just like they did years ago with Anthony Davis. Once again, as they did with Davis, they are seeking to push the chips in wherever possible to put a winning team around Williamson. They failed in that with Davis; they hope to reverse their fate with Zion.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Sign-and-trade for Devonte’ Graham. Much of what the Pelicans did this offseason was getting off salary so that they could partially rebuild the rotation around Williamson. They let Lonzo Ball go and traded Eric Bledsoe, trusting their backcourt to incumbent youngsters and the newly acquired Devonte’ Graham.</p> <p>Graham avoids the rim and loves to bomb 3-pointers, and he should add a real offensive spark to the rotation. Defensively, though, he just exacerbates issues this team already had. That doesn’t mean this won’t be a great pairing, but the Pels have to get creative now building a high-level defense around those two.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 21 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436152" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436152" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1343353554.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1343353554.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1343353554-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="21" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Washington Wizards" data-team-id="142" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">21 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Washington Wizards </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fwizards.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 34-38, 8th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The Washington Wizards have a fairly simple and easy-to-understand mantra: win as much as possible every year to ensure that Bradley Beal stays with the team. Everything they do is to that end. It just so happens that the Los Angeles Lakers bit on the false lure of trading Russell Westbrook for value. They sent over to the Wizards three solid rotation players, and a few assets also brought in Spencer Dinwiddie to run the show at point guard.</p> <p>The Wizards are firmly in the play-in mix, but the question is if they can realistically be better than that. Even with players such as Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope now aboard, the East is going to be packed with quality teams and wins will not be given out.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Adding Spencer Dinwidde. It was surprising how little interest Dinwiddie got on the open market, instead signing for a modest amount on a long contract. By adding him the Wizards get their replacement for Westbrook and make a bet on Dinwiddie’s upside. The former Brooklyn Nets point guard had extended run without Kyrie Irving two seasons ago and took off, giving hope that he will be a plus starter for them.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 20 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436154" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436154" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1343606664.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1343606664.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1343606664-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="20" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Charlotte Hornets" data-team-id="170" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">20 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Charlotte Hornets </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fhornets.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 33-39, 10th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>Last offseason the Charlotte Hornets decided not to spend any more time at the bottom of the standings. Armed with the No. 3 overall pick, which they used on Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball, the team also signed Gordon Hayward to a sizable contract and set out to compete this year.</p> <p>That’s exactly what they accomplished, climbing up to 10th. If Hayward and Ball had stayed moderately healthy they might have been a full-on postseason team. They now have expressed their confidence in Ball by letting Malik Monk and Devonte’ Graham go. This team has the makings of something really exciting, which at the least would be fun to watch.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Signing Kelly Oubre Jr. The Golden State Warriors have a specific offensive system and it was not a good fit for Kelly Oubre last season. That sent him into this offseason with a poor prior, and his prospects to make something more than the midlevel exception looked slim. Then the Hornet swept in and added Oubre for $26 million over two seasons.</p> <p>Oubre is long and relentless, and he can help to harry opposing ball-handlers and trigger live-ball turnovers that are perfect for this fast-paced team. His shot will need to come around for him to earn consistent minutes, but he fills a role from the jump.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 19 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_433580" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-433580" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1331397379.jpeg" alt="NBA Draft" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1331397379.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1331397379-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="19" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Toronto Raptors" data-team-id="81" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">19 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Toronto Raptors </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fraptors.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 27-45, 12th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>Two seasons ago the Toronto Raptors were NBA champions. The following year, despite losing Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, they pushed the Boston Celtics to a Game 7 in the NBA Bubble. Last season, with more veteran defections and a lack of a home arena, the Raptors tumbled to a poor record and a high draft pick.</p> <p>The Raptors are in a weird spot, where they have a lot of really good players but lack the star to carry them into the postseason. Kyle Lowry is gone, and in his place are an oft-injured veteran in Goran Dragic and a project big in Precious Achiuwa. The core of Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby is a really good two-way core. Will the Raptors use it to compete for a playoff berth, manage it to get another lottery pick, or even pivot and start trading players left and right?</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Drafting Scottie Barnes at No. 4. For better or for worse, the Raptors’ key move of the offseason was when they surprised everyone by taking Barnes with the fourth pick. First, Jalen Suggs was viewed as a perfect fit for their roster, filling the need at point guard. Second, Suggs was part of a four-player top tier among draft prospects, and instead the Raptors passed on him for Barnes.</p> <p>Scottie Barnes has plenty of potential, but as a shooting-challenged big combo forward he overlaps a lot with Anunoby and especially Siakam. How do the Raptors develop Barnes? And how do the Raptors fill the need in the backcourt without Suggs in Toronto?</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 18 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436157" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436157" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1314912686.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314912686.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314912686-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Image</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="18" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Chicago Bulls" data-team-id="24" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">18 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Chicago Bulls </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fbulls.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 31-41, 11th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>Last year at the trade deadline the Chicago Bulls decided to go for it, trading multiple present and future assets for Nikola Vucevic. He is such a unique offensive center that he bends a defense by spacing out, with the shooting and the passing to punish whatever scheme they throw at him. Yet the Bulls fell short of even the play-in tournament.</p> <p>Determined not to suffer the same fate this year, the Bulls continued their complete makeover. They performed a sign-and-trade for Lonzo Ball, another for DeMar DeRozan, signed Alex Caruso and allowed Lauri Markkanen to go to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This new-look roster looks heavy on ball-handling and light on defense. Can it make noise in the Eastern Conference, or will it be relegated to the play-in?</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Adding Lonzo Ball. With recent Top-10 pick Coby White still on the roster, the Bulls made the decision to invest heavily in their backcourt alongside Zach LaVine. Ball was signed to a four-year, $85 million deal to start for Chicago.</p> <p>There are some things that Ball does remarkably well, like throw passes in transition, shoot off-the-catch and cause turnovers. He doesn’t do a lot of the traditional “guard who makes $21 per season” things, like creating a shot for himself or averaging 20 points per game. The Bulls hope he’s the perfect fit alongside a player in LaVine who can do those things.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 17 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_429553" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-429553" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1312658060.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312658060.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312658060-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="17" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Indiana Pacers" data-team-id="100" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">17 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Indiana Pacers </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpacers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 34-38, 9th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The Indiana Pacers have the same modus operandi every single season. While this team would love to win a title, they simply want to be in the playoffs and competitive year after year. Last year was unique in that they just missed out on the playoffs, a product of simply being riddled with injuries.</p> <p>Their offseason was about consolidating their place and setting out on the same path of “competitive” once again. Doug McDermott left in free agency but they replaced him with Torrey Craig and drafted Chris Duarte. They also re-signed fan favorite TJ McConnel. This team just wants to make the playoffs, and they probably will.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Drafting Chris Duarte. The Pacers didn’t want to wait around for a prospect to develop, so instead they went for the most NBA-ready player in the draft in Oregon’s Chris Duarte. He has the complete NBA package, from shooting to playmaking to defense. The problem is that he is 24 years old already before playing a single NBA minute, and players drafted at that age rarely pan out.</p> <p>The Pacers really need Duarte to not only be something, but to be that right away. TJ Warren is going to miss the start of the season recovering from injury, and Caris LeVert might as well. Add int he loss of McDermott and the Pacers will be very shallow on the wing. They will need Duarte to step in and potentially start from the very beginning.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 16 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436158" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436158" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1319732136.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1319732136.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1319732136-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="16" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Memphis Grizzlies" data-team-id="211" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">16 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Memphis Grizzlies </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fgrizzlies.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 38-34, 8th in Western Conference</p> <p>Most young teams with a dynamic star react the same way to a leap, changing quickly from “rebuilding” to “competing” and molding their roster and applying their assets accordingly. Not so with the Memphis Grizzlies, who built this team with a longview in mind and are applying that same patience to their current roster.</p> <p>They executed multiple trades this offseason that weren’t “win-now” moves but rather saw the Grizzlies getting an asset to facilitate. That’s the kind of thing a rebuilding team does. Instead, Memphis sees itself as a playoff team right now. The trick is that they want to stay that way, and they’re seeking a long road of contention by building a sustainable asset base.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Swapping starting centers. Jonas Valanciunas was a prolific starter for the Grizzlies the last two seasons, and Memphis somewhat easily swapped him out for Steven Adams (for draft capital), who has been a much less effective player in recent years. The Grizzlies evidently believe that they can replace the scoring of Valanciunas elsewhere in the rotation, and that his offensive rebounding and interior touch didn’t outweigh his defensive limitations.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 15 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_430064" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-430064" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1321611241.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1321611241.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1321611241-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="15" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Portland Trail Blazers" data-team-id="34" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">15 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Portland Trail Blazers </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Ftrailblazers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 42-30, 6th in Western Conference</p> <p>The Portland Trail Blazers seemed to be at a crossroads of sorts this offseason, navigated it clumsily, but perhaps made it out of there alive? Another disappointing season finish, a six-game loss to the short-handed Denver Nuggets, led to the firing of head coach Terry Stotts. When the team hired Chauncey Billups to replace him, a maelstrom of outrage and opinions over Billups’ past seemed to push superstar guard Damian Lillard to the brink of demanding out.</p> <p>As the season is about to begin, however, Lillard again seems ready to go to battle with the Trail Blazers. That means another year of Portland trying its best to be a player in a Western Conference where contenders are better built for success, not trying to survive with two small guards, no matter how dynamic they are. To their credit, the Blazers did rebuild their bench with solid contributors like Cody Zeller, Ben McLemore and Tony Snell.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Trading for Larry Nance Jr. The final bench piece that Portland added was versatile forward Larry Nance Jr., formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nance is athletic and incredibly smart defensively, and he has grown from a below average player on both ends to a reasonable shooter and an exceptional defender. He can play alongside Robert Covington as two absolute wreckers defensively, or at the 4 replacing Ro-Co and giving the Blazers a very different look than they got last season with Carmelo Anthony as the bench 4.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 14 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_428338" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-428338" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1316174992-1.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1065" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1316174992-1.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1316174992-1-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="14" data-rank-type="team" data-name="New York Knicks" data-team-id="27" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">14 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>New York Knicks </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fknicks.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 41-31, 4th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The New York Knicks were expected to finish at the bottom of the standings last season, but instead everything came together (breakout seasons, health, poor opponent shooting, vintage Tom Thibodeau coaching) for not only a winning season but home-court advantage in the playoffs. While they did lose in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks found confidence in their step forward.</p> <p>They sought to take the next step this offseason, re-signing many of those key contributors to reasonable deals and adding Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to completely revamp the starting backcourt. Sprinkle in improvement from their young players such as RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin, and it’s reasonable for the Knicks to think they can balance out the coming regression and stick around the same level for next season.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Signing Kemba Walker. The Knicks lacked a dynamic on-ball player who could create shots for himself and others. They could have tried to get by, as they did last year, with a committee approach. Adding Walker gives the Knicks a player who can run the offense and allow the team to scheme up opportunities for Julius Randle off-ball; it should also allow Randle to reach the end of games with more wind.</p> <p>The downside for signing Walker is that he truly is a player with little less, that his knee injuries are too debilitating. Those odds seem genuinely low, however, and it’s just as likely, if not more so, that he can start the season fully healthy for the first time in a couple of years and play like he did just two seasons ago, when teams were sending doubles his way. In that case, the bargain deal the Knicks signed him to will look even better.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 13 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_402325" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-402325" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1147638104.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1147638104.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1147638104-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="13" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Boston Celtics" data-team-id="18" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">13 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Boston Celtics </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fceltics.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 36-36, 7th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The Boston Celtics went through some organizational upheaval this offseason, with former head coach Brad Stevens replacing Danny Ainge as President of Basketball Operations, and former San Antonio Spurs coach Ime Udoku replaced Stevens as head coach.</p> <p>The roster saw turnovers as well, with Kemba Walker being traded for Al Horford, for the return of Enes Kanter, for Juancho Hernangomez and Josh Richardson and Dennis Schroder. The Celtics have kept their powder reasonably dry and hope that the bold changes they made are enough to pry them out of last season’s malaise.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Trading for Al Horford. The Celtics managed to kill two birds with one stone, getting off of the salary for Kemba Walker while bringing back an old friend at center. If Walker regains his form completely that could look like a bad deal, but the Celtics needed a different look and couldn’t keep counting on an injured Walker to carry them through.</p> <p>Horford will space the court on offense and seek to eliminate offenses on the other end. He’s not as mobile as he used to be but he’s still very effective on switches. The Celtics also hope he can teach some tricks of the trade to Robert Williams to groom him to be the full-time starter once Horford is done.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 12 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434519" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434519" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1317876604.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1317876604.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1317876604-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="12" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Los Angeles Clippers" data-team-id="77" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">12 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Los Angeles Clippers </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fclippers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 47-25, 4th in Western Conference</p> <p>With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on board, the LA Clippers have been in title contention the last two seasons. This year, the ACL injury to Kawhi Leonard means he will miss most or (almost certainly) all of this upcoming season. That drops the Clippers from contending for a title to contending for the playoffs.</p> <p>There is a very reasonable argument to be made that the Clippers make the NBA Finals if Kawhi Leonard doesn’t get hurt in the playoffs, and the Clippers likely believe that argument as they largely doubled down on the roster they had. The primary change was moving on from Patrick Beverley and Rajon Rondo to bring in Eric Bledsoe, a player originally drafted by the Clippers.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Bringing back Reggie Jackson and Nic Batum. The Clippers scored big on a pair of minimum signings who became crucial rotation pieces by the end of the season. CBA rules prevented them from simply signing them to market-value deals, yet the Clippers managed to get both to return anyway.</p> <p>The biggest surprise is Nic Batum, who could only sign for $3.2 million using non-Bird rights. He would have earned significantly more than that elsewhere, but he chose the environment in LA that helped him resurrect his career.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 11 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_429810" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-429810" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1215,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1298666012.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1215" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1298666012.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1298666012-768x583.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="11" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Dallas Mavericks" data-team-id="79" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">11 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Dallas Mavericks </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmavericks.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 42-30, 5th in Western Conference</p> <p>The Dallas Mavericks have a superstar in Luka Doncic who is ready now to compete in the Western Conference. With significant cap space this summer, likely for the last time as Doncic’ maximum contract kicks in next summer, the team was unable to lure any big fish to co-star with Doncic and instead largely stood pat, swapping out Josh Richardson to sign Reggie Bullock, re-signing Tim Hardaway Jr. and adding Sterling Brown in free agency.</p> <p>Dallas instead is banking on having a season not wrecked by a COVID-19 outbreak, and that Kristaps Porzingis will be fully mobile over a year removed from knee surgery and able to regain his defensive impact. Bullock fits in perfectly around Doncic, and the Mavericks now have a variety of wing options to mix and match between Doncic and Porzingis.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Hiring Jason Kidd as head coach. This move is key, but it will likely end up as what holds them back from taking the next step rather than propelling them to it. Jason Kidd was a bad coach in both Brooklyn and Milwaukee, with an initial surge followed by a descent into madness. Kidd coaches by bullying, his idea of “challenging” and “pushing” players to be their best. He latches onto ideas and rides them to the ground, even if it’s clear he needs to find another idea.</p> <p>Rick Carlisle’s voice had grown stale in the locker room, but the Mavericks could have hired nearly anyone but Kidd and thought to reasonably get a fresh perspective. Instead, they hired the worst kind of re-tread, one who absolutely failed in previous stops, handed incredibly talented teams that he unwittingly worked to undermine. The Mavericks might see a boost to their record and attribute it to Kidd, but in the end, it is very, very likely they will end up firing him in the near future.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 10 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436159" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436159" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1343639987.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1343639987.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1343639987-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="10" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Denver Nuggets" data-team-id="73" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">10 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Denver Nuggets </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fnuggets.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 47-25, 3rd in Western Conference</p> <p>Last season the Denver Nuggets were riding high. They traded for Aaron Gordon and found him a perfect fit in their starting lineup, and Nikola Jokic was in the midst of an MVP campaign. Whispers of Denver’s first NBA Finals were getting louder. And then Jamal Murray went down with a torn ACL and those hopes were dashed.</p> <p>Rather than run from the financial cost of maintaining a contender, ownership showed its commitment to pay it by signing Michael Porter Jr. and Gordon to lucrative contract extensions. This group is aiming to be ready for when Murray returns, which could be by the end of the season if all goes well. For now, they are holding down the fort in his absence, a good team but not a truly dangerous one.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Signing Jeff Green. The Nuggets largely kept things the same this offseason, but the one move they did make was letting Paul Millsap walk (to Brooklyn) and signing Jeff Green to replace him (from Brooklyn). The idea is that Green can play small-ball 5 but also has enough of an outside shot to play the 4 alongside Nikola Jokic.</p> <p>Millsap is a tough defender and good rebounder but he hurt the team’s spacing even as he worked to improve his shot, and the minutes where Jokic is off the court are crucial for the Nuggets to at least survive, and thus allow Jokic to manage his minutes during the regular season.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 9 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431076" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-431076" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1154,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1324294166.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1154" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324294166.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324294166-768x554.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="9" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Philadelphia 76ers" data-team-id="93" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">9 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Philadelphia 76ers </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2F76ers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 49-23, 1st in Eastern Conference</p> <p>In a sense, we may as well leave this slide blank until we know what happens with Ben Simmons. The standoff between the organization and their star player shows no signs of letting up, with each side continuing to dig in further with public shade and withheld money.</p> <p>If Simmons sits out but the 76ers don’t get a trade package in return, it’s very difficult to see Philly competing in the Eastern Conference. In fact, they likely wouldn’t even secure home-court advantage as the conference improves around them. Joel Embiid is still a monster inside, and they have some good role players around him, but they need Simmons or his equivalent to think of themselves as anything but a first-round exit.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Adding Andre Drummond on a minimum contract. The Sixers did make a couple of moves on their bench this offseason, adding Georges Niang and signing center Andre Drummond to a minimum contract to back up Joel Embiid. Drummond is overqualified for that role, but he will get to start a number of games in Embiid’s absence to boost his playing time. As long as the 76ers don’t try to play both Drummond and Embiid together things should be fine.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 8 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436160" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436160" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1331482070.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1331482070.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1331482070-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="8" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Atlanta Hawks" data-team-id="125" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">8 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Atlanta Hawks </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fhawks.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 41-31, 5th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The Atlanta Hawks made “the leap” last season, not only in terms of regular season record but also winning their way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Trae Young might still cause significant defensive questions but his offense, leadership and swagger are all superstar-worthy. This guy is the real deal, and the Hawks are right to build around him.</p> <p>The tricky part about maximizing the offseason was that they already had a deep, young, versatile team built around him, with plenty of options on the wing. They re-signed John Collins, inked Young to a max extension and drafted Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper in the NBA Draft, both of whom look to be excellent values where they were selected.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Trading for Delon Wright. The Hawks’ only true weakness on their roster was at backup point guard. Last offseason the team signed Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn to fill that role, but Rondo was a disaster and Dunn was injured nearly the entire year. This summer the Hawks decided to attack that weakness and turn it into a strength.</p> <p>Lou Williams was brought back after he was a trade deadline addition, but he is a very specific type of player for specific situations. They drafted Sharife Cooper, an elite-passing guard who needs to develop as a scorer and shooter. Finally, they traded for Delon Wright, a 6’5″ point guard with stout defensive skills but more offense than Dunn brought. Wright now headlines a deep bench backcourt, that also likely includes Kevin Huerter at the 2.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 7 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436161" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436161" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1331400492.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1331400492.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1331400492-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="7" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Golden State Warriors" data-team-id="41" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">7 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Golden State Warriors </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fwarriors.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 39-33, 9th in Western Conference</p> <p>After a complete disaster of a year in 2019-20, last year was about a return to normalcy even as the team competed without Klay Thompson for the second year in a row. This summer the team could have pushed in its chips to try and acquire a star, those chips including two lottery picks and last year’s No. 2 overall pick in James Wiseman.</p> <p>Instead, the Warriors are trying to build for the present and the future, a nice-sounding idea that wobbles when pressed too hard. They did sign veterans like Andre Iguodala (welcome back!), Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica, but they also drafted both of those lottery picks and are trusting Jordan Poole as both Thompson’s replacement in the starting lineup and Stephen Curry’s backup at point guard. If their embrace of young players as part of the plan doesn’t help them win now, it will be a tough pill for veteran stars like Curry and Draymond Green to swallow.</p> <p>The Warriors’ goal is to be firmly in the playoff field when Thompson comes back, whether that is December or January, to ease him in and have this rotation sharp come the postseason. Fully healthy, even with multiple youngsters on board, this is a team that could legitimately win another title if every came together.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Adding two lottery picks. Jonathan Kuminga is raw but extremely talented, and hasn’t yet turned 19 (he does this week). He could be the team’s long-term answer at power forward if he puts everything together. Moses Moody went at No. 14 and he is a quintessential 3-and-D role player, and could work his way into the rotation mix sooner rather than later.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 6 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436162" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436162" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1314804605.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314804605.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314804605-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="6" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Miami Heat" data-team-id="110" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">6 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Miami Heat </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fheat.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 40-32, 6th in Eastern Conference</p> <p>Miami is never content to sit and wait for things to happen; they go out and make it happen, working the cap sheet and league rules to maximize their opportunity to win every season. They made another all-in move this summer, performing a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry.</p> <p>Lowry looks like a perfect fit, an excellent shooter and tough defender with championship experience; he is exactly what they needed in Miami. The problem is that bringing in Lowry plants them under the hard cap, and so re-signing Duncan Robinson and adding PJ Tucker meant very little money for the bench. The Heat’s rotation will include multiple players who went undrafted and worked their way up from the G League.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry. This was the mega-move of the offseason leaguewide, and yet again it was the Miami Heat pulling it off. For a team with two non-shooters as its stars in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, having a knockdown shooter who isn’t played off the court defensively is so important for this team. Defensively they should be absolutely nasty with Lowry at the point of attack.</p> <p>It’s a little concerning guaranteeing $90 million to a 35-year-old small point guard, but Lowry is a special player and helps the Heat right now, which is the time period they always care about.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 5 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_422478" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-422478" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1185,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1299857822.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1185" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1299857822.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1299857822-768x569.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="5" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Utah Jazz" data-team-id="118" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">5 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Utah Jazz </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fjazz.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 52-20, 1st in Western Conference</p> <p>The Utah Jazz were the best team in the regular season last year, with an elite point differential and a top-5 unit on both ends of the court. Then they lost in the second round to an LA Clippers team playing without Kawhi Leonard, with Rudy Gobert iconically racing to the rim to deny penetration and then sprinting back to the 3-point arc, a step too slow to stop Terance Mann from raining down 3-pointers.</p> <p>Rather than tear things down or make a significant shake-up, the Jazz decided to keep the core of what they had. Mike Conley was re-signed, Joe Ingles wasn’t traded and the team should again be at the top of the standings. Have they improved as a postseason team? It’s hard to know in the small-sample setting of the postseason whether a team is hopeless structurally or simply lost once or twice.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Signing Rudy Gay. The Jazz are typically a very fiscally conservative team, but this offseason they proved they’re willing to pay up for a contender. They signed Rudy Gay to join the team as a veteran forward who can even play small-ball center in certain lineups. That versatility allows the Jazz to have a different look when Gobert is not on the court. Quin Snyder needs as many options as possible to deploy in the postseason, and a small-ball center is now one of them.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 4 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_433620" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-433620" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1157,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F07%2F1328249073.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1157" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/07/1328249073.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/07/1328249073-768x555.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="4" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Phoenix Suns" data-team-id="66" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">4 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Phoenix Suns </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fsuns.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season</strong>: 51-21, 2nd in Western Conference</p> <p>No one expected the Phoenix Suns in the preseason to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals, yet here we are. One of the league’s healthiest teams in the league rode that health, development from young stars and boost from one of the greatest point guards of all time to secure the second overall record in the Western Conference and three playoff-series wins.</p> <p>Paul is back, as is backup point guard Cameron Payne. DeAndre Ayton and Mikal Bridges are running out of time to sign contract extensions, so one or both could end up a restricted free agent next summer. They swapped out Jevon Carter for the more offensively-minded Landry Shamet, and signed JaVale McGee as another look at backup center. There is no reason this team can’t be in the same tier as last season given all that they accomplished.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Signing Chris Paul to a team-friendly contract. After the year Chris Paul had last season, they were going to have to pay him just about anything he wanted to keep that going. Paul didn’t force anything, instead allowing the two sides to work out a contract with $120 million as the potential salary, but only $75 million is guaranteed. It’s a team-friendly construction that still pays Paul a significant sum of money and doesn’t hamstring Phoenix down the line.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436302" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436302" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1333465976.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1333465976.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1333465976-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="3" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Los Angeles Lakers" data-team-id="20" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">3 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Los Angeles Lakers </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Flakers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 42-30, 7th in Western Conference</p> <p>The 2020 NBA Champions did a terrible job of defending their title, adding low-ceiling players such as Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell to their roster last offseason. That unsurprisingly didn’t go well, especially when LeBron James and Anthony Davis both missed time during the season and (for Davis) in the postseason. Neither could step up when needed.</p> <p>The <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://lakeshowlife.com/">Lakers are of course pushing for the title all-out for every season LeBron James is there because that’s what you do when you have LeBron. They pulled off a massive trade to bring Russell Westbrook in as the third “star” and then mined the bargain free agent market. The roster they have assembled is actually quite intriguing, but many of its pieces are also old, former stars with a questionable amount remaining in the tank. This team has LeBron, so it’s always a threat to win it all, but their spot as the top-ranked Western Conference team is tenuous at best.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Russell Westbrook trade. This wasn’t just the key offseason move for the Lakers, it was probably the one single move of the offseason that most effects the title race, with a nod of course to the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade. Westbrook has been to a variety of different stops over the past few seasons, playing alongside a variety of co-stars. We have learned that he will play hard, shoot as many times as he likes, and absolutely not add value off-ball.</p> <p>That means for the new Lakers roster to work, Westbrook has to have the ball in his hands, and therefore LeBron James does not. Any roster built to take the ball out of LeBron’s hands is a roster poorly built, and the fit of Westbrook, LeBron and Davis looks to make it harder, not easier, for LeBron to add another title to his collection.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436113" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436113" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2451,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1329807758.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2451" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1329807758.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1329807758-768x588.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="2" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Milwaukee Bucks" data-team-id="89" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">2 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Milwaukee Bucks </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fbucks.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 46-26, 3rd in Eastern Conference</p> <p>The Milwaukee Bucks won the title last season behind a truly transcendent NBA Finals from Giannis Antetokounmpo. He had some excellent co-stars in Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, and players such as Brook Lopez, PJ Tucker, Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis around them. What’s not as obvious is that the Bucks basically had no one behind those seven they could trust in the NBA Finals.</p> <p>The Bucks set out to fix that problem as it aims to win back-to-back this year. Tucker did leave, but the Bucks replaced him with George Hill, Semi Ojeleye, Rodney Hood and by trading for Grayson Allen. Add in the return of Donte DiVincenzo and there is a solid chance their playoff rotation can go a little deeper than seven and sustain another run to the NBA Finals.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Trading for Grayson Allen. The Milwaukee Bucks have a player in Giannis Antetokounmpo who has the size and skillset to slide to the 5, but they can never seem to amass enough wings to make it viable. By trading for Grayson Allen the Bucks added a player with a smooth outside stroke who could step in and be a wing option in a variety of lineups.</p> <p>Allen hasn’t had the fastest rise since entering the league, but he has improved every season and will be a restricted free agent this offseason. If Donte DiVincenzo or Pat Connaughton move on next summer he can be a long-term replacement. This season he steps in as a bench shooter who deserves minutes, helping to ease the burden on the stars. It was a low-cost, smart move for a front office that is trying to balance cost with contention.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436166" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-436166" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1322445298.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1322445298.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1322445298-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA power rankings, Lakers Photo by Steven Ryan /Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="1" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Brooklyn Nets" data-team-id="147" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">1 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Brooklyn Nets </h3> <h4> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fnets.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>Last Season:</strong> 48-24, 2nd in Eastern Conference</p> <p>Everyone is ready to crown the Brooklyn Nets as this season’s champions. It seems bizarre for a team that lost in the second round last year to be the dominant favorites, but the reality that they went to overtime in Game 7 with the eventual champions with 1.5 of their three stars is compelling.</p> <p>The Nets took their place as title favorite serious this offseason, adding Paul Millsap, Patty Mills, James Johnson and Jevon Carter, all players with a specialization that can be deployed at the right time. Obviously, a major question mark is whether Kyrie Irving will be available to play home games due to vaccine mandates. Assuming he is, the Nets are built with shooting, versatility and a top-tier superstar. That’s the recipe for championship success.</p> <p><strong>Key Offseason Move: </strong>Signing Patty Mills. With Joe Harris’s accuracy leaving him in the playoffs last season, the Nets didn’t have another proven shooter to bring in to spell him. Now they do in Mills, a champion with the Spurs who has excelled in FIBA play with Australia. The Nets can put him on the court anytime Harris is off, or even pair the two around James Harden on potent bench units.</p> <p>Another benefit of signing Mills is that he did not sign with another title contender. In fact, the Nets seemed to be the location de jour for ring-chasing veterans, from last year’s additions in Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge to the aforementioned group of players this year.</p> <p>Is there a reason not to pick the Nets this season? Giannis, LeBron and the rest of the league have plenty to say on the matter. For now, they look like the team to beat, but the path to get there will be a fun one. The offseason was exciting and meaningful, but now those moves will be put to the test.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Predicting the starting lineup for every team in the league" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/30/nba-predicting-every-starting-lineup/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/04/nba-power-rankings-preseason-lakers/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/30/nba-predicting-every-starting-lineup/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Predicting the starting lineup for every team in the league </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">