It was just a few months ago the Golden State Warriors were parading down the streets of Oakland in celebration of an NBA Championship. Basketball is back and just in case you missed it we will review some of the offseason highlights before we get to our rankings.
Teams spent the offseason pointing to the injuries of teams the Warriors faced in the playoffs to explain why Golden State won the championship. DeAndre Jordan told the world he was headed to Dallas then some of the Clippers locked him in a room. He stopped answering his phone and re-signed with the Clippers. The Spurs were the big winners of free agency as they signed big man LaMarcus Aldridge. Finally, Billy Donovan decided to leave the Florida Gators and is now the coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
All this brings us to the current season and our preseason rankings. We have listed the teams as we would rank them now, but each team has a prediction blurb where we explain how we project that particular team to do this season. We will be releasing regular power rankings throughout the season. Take a look and let us know what we got right or wrong. Here is the season preview edition of our NBA power rankings: (Getty)
No. 30 Philadelphia 76ers
Last Season: 18-64
Analysis: The 76ers seem to be committed to rebuilding with no clear timetable of competing. The addition of Jahlil Okafor will help the Sixers immediately, but still do not have enough pieces to compete. A frontcourt combination of Nerlens Noel and Okafor could be lethal. The question is how long it will take.
Prediction: 20-25 wins (Getty)
No. 29 New York Knicks
Last Season: 17-65
Analysis: It cannot get any worse for the Knicks than last season. That said, it is hard to imagine it getting much better this season. It still remains to be seen whether the experiment of Phil Jackson in the front office will work. So far, Jackson has been unable to draw marquee free agents.
Prediction: 25 wins (Getty)
No. 28 Brooklyn Nets
Last Season: 38-44
Analysis: It is hard to get a feel for what the Nets strategy is. In past years, they overpaid for the biggest names they could find in either trades or free agency. This is a rebuilding team whether or not they admit they are rebuilding. There needs to be a clear vision for what kind of team Brooklyn wants to build. Until then, it is going to be painful for Nets fans.
Prediction: 25-30 wins (Getty)
No. 27 Detroit Pistons
Last Season: 32-50
Analysis: The Pistons have one of the best coaches in the league in Stan Van Gundy. The challenge for Van Gundy is the team he took over had a lot less talent than what he was given in Orlando. Detroit gave point guard Reggie Jackson a massive contract over the offseason. It remains to be seen whether this was a good move. Overall, it is going to take some time in Detroit for Van Gundy to work his magic.
Prediction: 25-30 wins (Getty)
No. 26 Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Season: 16-66
Analysis: The question for Minnesota is not if but when. The Timberwolves are going to be a force in this league but it remains to be seen how long it will take them to get there. Andrew Wiggins showed flashes of what he is capable of and the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns gives Minnesota their big man of the future. This is a team everyone will love to watch on League Pass.
Prediction: 25-30 wins (Getty)
No. 25 Boston Celtics
Last Season: 40-42 (Swept 4-0 by the Cavaliers in the first round)
Analysis: What the Celtics did last season down the stretch was impressive. It is difficult to do exercises like this that primarily look at what teams look like on paper and give a favorable grade to Boston. Talent wise, the Celtics do not look impressive but that has not stopped them before. The Celtics could continue to surprise people, but it is doubtful there is a playoff run in their future this season.
Prediction: 30 wins (Getty)
No. 24 Orlando Magic
Last Season: 25-57
Analysis: Every year around this time we read about how young and talented the Magic are. At some point that talent has to begin producing. It is altogether possible Orlando was one of the most poorly coached teams in the league last season and the addition of Scott Skiles should lead to immediate results. The question is whether Skiles can do enough to make this a playoff team.
Prediction: 35 wins (Getty)
No. 23 Portland Trail Blazers
Last Season: 51-31 (Lost 4-1 to Grizzlies in the first round)
Analysis: The Blazers will likely take a step back with the loss of LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. Damian Lillard will help Portland remain competitive but they will need to add more pieces to be able to get back into the playoffs.
Prediction: 30-35 wins (Getty)
No. 22 Denver Nuggets
Last Season: 30-52
Analysis: The addition of rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay will help the Nuggets right away. Mudiay played professionally last season in China and will not be intimidated by playing against NBA players. Record wise, the Nuggets may not see much of an improvement and must continue to add pieces like Mudiay to improve.
Prediction: 30 wins (Getty)
No. 21 Indiana Pacers
Last Season: 38-44
Analysis: It will be interesting to see how long the Pacers will continue the experiment of having Paul George play power forward. The Pacers signed guards Monta Ellis and Rodney Stuckey which are good players in their own right. The question is how this team all fits together.
Prediction: 35 wins (Getty)
No. 20 Sacramento Kings
Last Season: 29-43
Analysis: The Kings had an interesting offseason with the signings of Rajon Rondo and Marco Belinelli. Rookie Willie Cauley-Stein combined with DeMarcus Cousins could eventually become one of the better frontcourts in the league. The Kings will be better than people think and find themselves towards the end of the rankings by virtue of playing in the Western Conference.
Prediction: 35 wins (Getty)
No. 19 Phoenix Suns
Last Season: 39-43
Analysis: The Suns struck out on signing LaMarcus Aldridge but did sign veteran big man Tyson Chandler. The Suns will be a fun team to watch but seem a long shot to make the playoffs. Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe provide an entertaining duo in the backcourt.
Prediction: 35 wins (Getty)
No. 18 Charlotte Hornets
Last Season: 33-49
Analysis: The Hornets had a sneaky good offseason. They made a great deal with the Portland Trail Blazers to acquire Nicolas Batum. They also signed Jeremy Lin to a meager deal. The injury to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was a major blow, but the Hornets still have the talent to make the playoffs.
Prediction: No. 8 East seed and lose in the first round(Getty)
No. 17 Los Angeles Lakers
Last Season: 21-61
Analysis: Is it possible for the Los Angeles Lakers to be underrated? It seems like a foreign concept but heading into the 2016 people are overlooking Los Angeles. The Lakers drafted the most NBA ready player in D'Angelo Russell and get last year's draft pick Julius Randle back after missing all of last season with a broken leg. Russell and Randle are two of the best prospects to come out of the draft the last two years and will instantly provide a great duo. The question looming over the franchise is the state of Kobe Bryant. If Bryant can stay healthy, the Lakers will challenge for a playoff spot. Without Bryant, the Lakers are still capable of greatly increasing their win total.
Prediction: 35-40 wins (Getty)
No. 16 Dallas Mavericks
Last Season: 50-32 (Lost to Rockets 4-1 in the first round)
Analysis: The Mavericks had a difficult offseason. DeAndre Jordan backed out of a deal to sign with Dallas as a free agent. They also lost Monta Ellis in free agency. The signing of Wes Matthews was a nice signing, but the Mavs are in danger of missing the playoffs this season.
Prediction: No. 8 seed in the West and lose in the first round(Getty)
No. 15 Utah Jazz
Last Season: 38-44
Analysis: The Jazz quietly have built a talented young core of players. Trey Burke and Alec Burks provide a solid front court with big man Rudy Gobert blocking anything that remotely comes his way. While the Jazz received bad news with the loss of Dante Exum for the season, there is enough talent on the roster to challenge for a playoff spot this season.
Prediction: No. 7 West seed and lose in the first round (Getty)
No. 14 Miami Heat
Last Season: 37-45
Analysis: The Heat looked much more impressive in the second half of the season after the acquisition of Goran Dragic. Miami is trending upward with a healthy Chris Bosh returning along with the drafting of Duke swingman Justise Winslow. A trio of Winslow, Wade and Dragic will be fun to watch. A big key to the Heat's success is the number of games Wade will be able to play this season.
Prediction: No. 6 East seed and lose in the first round (Getty)
No. 13 Atlanta Hawks
Last Season: 60-22 (Lost 4-0 to Cavaliers in Eastern Conference Finals)
Analysis: The Hawks had an amazing run last season and it will be difficult to duplicate it this year. The loss of DeMarre Carroll along with no big additions through free agency will lead to a slight step back for Atlanta. They will still have a shot at challenging for one of the top four seeds in the East.
Prediction: No. 7 East seed and lose in the first round (Getty)
No. 12 Milwaukee Bucks
Last Season: 41-41 (Lost 4-2 to Chicago in first round)
Analysis: The Bucks are definitely on the list of teams you want to watch on League Pass each night. The Bucks have one of the most athletic and longest lineups in the league. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to wow people with his athletic ability. The addition of Greg Monroe was one of the best NBA signings this offseason. Milwaukee will also benefit from getting Jabari Parker back who missed much of his rookie season with an injury. The sky is the limit for this young Milwaukee team coached by Jason Kidd.
Prediction: No. 5 East seed and lose in the second round (Getty)
No. 11 Toronto Raptors
Last Season: 49-33 (Swept in the first round by the Wizards)
Analysis: The Raptors added DeMarre Carroll over the offseason to add a boost to their starting lineup. Carroll was an integral member of the Hawks amazing run last season. He averaged 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in the 2015 season. The Raptors will continue to be a top tier team in the Eastern Conference.
Prediction: No. 4 East seed and lose in the first round of the playoffs (Getty)
No. 10 Washington Wizards
Last Season: 46-36 (Lost 4-2 in the second round to the Hawks)
Analysis: The Wizards bring their core group of players back for another season. John Wall and Bradley Beal offer one of the best backcourts in the NBA. Marcin Gortat provides help down low on both offense and defense. How good can the Wizards be? They are unlikely to challenge for the East, but the amount of parity in the conference could allow for the Wizards to go farther than they are projected.
Prediction: No. 3 East seed and lose in the second round of the playoffs (Getty)
No. 9 Houston Rockets
Last Season: 56-26 (Lost 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals to the Warriors)
Analysis: The Rockets did much better than they were projected last season by making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. In the East, the Rockets are a two seed but they are in a loaded Western Conference. Dwight Howard, both his play and health, continue to be the ex-factor for the Rockets.
Prediction: No. 6 West seed and lose in the first round of playoffs (Getty)
No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Season: 45-27
Analysis: The Thunder have dealt with a string of injuries to their star players. The injuries have played a role in holding the Thunder back in recent seasons, but a coaching change was needed. Scott Brooks could not do enough to get a talented team over the hump. Billy Donnovan brings a fresh voice and hopefully can offer Oklahoma City some better strategic ways to utilize their talented roster. The Thunder need a healthy Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to make a deep playoff run.
Prediction: No. 3 West seed and lose in the second round of playoffs (Getty)
No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans
Last Season: 45-37 (Swept 4-0 in first round by the Warriors)
Analysis: The Pelicans made a huge stride last season by making the playoffs. Anthony Davis and the Pelicans continue to get better and better. Davis is the best big man in the league and a top-three player overall. If a team like the Grizzlies or Clippers take a step back in the West, expect the Pelicans to take advantage of it.
Prediction: No. 5 West seed and lose in the first round of playoffs (Getty)
No. 6 Chicago Bulls
Last Season: 50-32 (Lost 4-2 to the Cavs in second round)
Analysis: The Bulls are a good team without Derek Rose, but they are a great team when Rose is operating at full strength. Chicago enters another season with concern over Rose's health. However, the Bulls will take advantage of playing in a weaker Eastern Conference. Expect to see another Bulls and Cavs playoff series to decide the East.
Prediction: No. 2 East seed and lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers (Getty)
No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies
Last Season: 55-27 (Lost in the second round to the Golden State Warriors)
Analysis: The most important thing the Grizzlies did over the offseason is re-sign center Marc Gasol. Memphis continues to keep their core group of players together and have a legit center in a league where so many teams are playing small ball. This gives the Grizzlies an advantage on a nightly basis. Memphis is poised for another deep playoff run.
Prediction: No. 4 West seed and lose in the second round of the playoffs (Getty)
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers
Last Season: 56-26 (Lost 4-3 in second round to the Houston Rockets)
Analysis: Whatever the Clippers did to get DeAndre Jordan to change his mind, it worked. Jordan ended up re-signing with the Clippers despite verbally committing to the Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers are a talented team that have a chance to challenge for the West. It is difficult to find what distinguishes the Clippers from the elite teams in the conference. Ultimately, they seem a notch below the Spurs and Warriors but are still a very good team.
Prediction: No. 6 West seed and lose in the first round of the playoffs (Getty)
No. 3 San Antonio Spurs
Last Season: 55-27 (Lost 4-3 in first round to the Los Angeles Clippers)
Analysis: The Spurs won the NBA offseason with the signing of LaMarcus Aldridge. It was a rare move for an organization that rarely pursues big name free agents. The Spurs also signed veteran big man David West. Look for San Antonio to make a run deep in the playoffs this season as the Tim Duncan and Aldridge duo proves to be lethal.
Prediction: No. 2 West seed and lose to the Cleveland Cavs in NBA Finals (Getty)
No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Season: 53-29 (Lost 4-2 to Warriors in Finals)
Analysis: The Cavs did well last season despite putting almost an entirely new team together and sustaining key injuries down the stretch. Assuming Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving remain healthy, the Cavs may be the team everyone is chasing this season. This could finally be the season Cleveland gets a championship.
Prediction: No. 1 East seed and defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals (Getty)
No. 1 Golden State Warriors
Last Season: 67-15 (NBA Champions)
Analysis: Opposing teams spent the offseason critiquing the Warriors championship last season. It seems unwise to give the defending champions motivation entering a new season. The Warriors bring their entire core of players back and their shooting will continue to cause nightmares for their opponents. The one thing to continue monitoring is the health of Head Coach Steve Kerr who will miss some time recovering from back surgery.
Prediction: No. 1 West seed and lose to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals (Getty)
NBA Power Rankings: Season Preview & Predictions