The 2024-25 NBA season begins Oct. 22, so it is time to energy rank all 30 groups.
Are the Celtics contenders to repeat? Are the Lakers worthy of point out amongst title hopefuls? What crew has the perfect beginning lineup?
Right here we go …
(Final 12 months’s regular-season report in parentheses.)
Internal circle of title contenders
There are not any ifs, ands or buts with these six groups, who’re championship-caliber squads.
1. Boston Celtics (64-18): Have a look at among the level differential and roster expertise and you may discover that the 2023-24 Celtics had been eerily paying homage to the 2014-15 Warriors, who completed 67-15, gained the NBA title and ripped off 5 straight Finals appearances.
2. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (57-25): Including stud function gamers Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to a crew that had the league’s third-best offensive score and fourth-best defensive score final season might be a recipe for a title.
3. New York Knicks (50-32): The Knicks ought to have the perfect beginning lineup within the NBA (Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Cities, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby), however they need to keep wholesome.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (56-26): You will get misplaced within the sauce of the franchise turmoil and KAT commerce or you possibly can remind your self they’ve Anthony Edwards and an elite protection. Let’s select the latter.
5. Denver Nuggets (57-25): Their air of invincibility is gone, however they nonetheless have the perfect participant on the planet in Nikola Jokic.
6. Dallas Mavericks (50-32): Luka Doncic’s first foray to the NBA Finals was unsuccessful, but when he is the generational participant all of us suppose he’s, he’ll come again with a vengeance this season.
Outer circle of title contenders
This group of eight has the expertise to persuade themselves that they’re contenders.
7. Phoenix Suns (49-33): This roster has high-end expertise in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, optimum roster building round them and a brand new coach (Mike Budenholzer) who does nothing however win tons of regular-season video games.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (47-35): The entrance workplace did its job this offseason. Now it is time for perpetual excuse-makers Joel Embiid and Paul George to step up.
9. Los Angeles Lakers (47-35): This crew gained 47 video games and the NBA Cup final season with a subpar head coach (Darvin Ham), so if JJ Redick proves to be a difference-making HC, they will outperform expectations.
10. Memphis Grizzlies (27-55): A wholesome lineup of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Sensible, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey goes to compete like hell each sport and stack wins.
11. Orlando Magic (47-35): Elite protection + nice depth + a younger famous person (Paolo Banchero) = a respectable shot at a top-four seed within the Jap Convention.
12. New Orleans Pelicans (49-33): When the Pelicans come to city, opponents aren’t going to have a lot time to scout and alter for his or her distinctive, center-less lineup that includes level Zion Williamson and rangy defenders Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray and Brandon Ingram.
13. Milwaukee Bucks (49-33): Sorry, Giannis, it is not you, it is the previous supporting solid and training workers.
14. Golden State Warriors (46-36): That is purely out of respect for Steph Curry — Golden State will want 70-plus video games from him, good conduct from Draymond Inexperienced and a leap from Jonathan Kuminga to contend this season.
One commerce away … if it is the appropriate commerce
These groups have good rosters and a bevy of tradable property that would vault them up a tier or two in the event that they make the appropriate transfer.
15. Indiana Pacers (47-35): The Pacers will all the time current issues for opponents with their quick tempo and spacing, however they’ve a dozen gamers who want minutes, so a consolidation commerce can be essential.
16. Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34): Like Indiana, Cleveland is ripe for a midseason commerce as a result of its core 4 (Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen) might have hit a tough ceiling as a second-round crew.
17. Houston Rockets (41-41):
Carry on eye on the Rockets — they’re younger and athletic as hell, well-coached and poised to make an enormous splash.
18. Miami Warmth (46-36): Warmth president Pat Riley will quickly be 80 and we’re nearing the final stand of a legendary basketball lifer. Is that this the season he makes his transfer?
Hamster wheel of mediocrity
These groups are in NBA purgatory: not ok to win a playoff collection however too good to tank.
19. Sacramento Kings (46-36): The Kings will compete for a playoff spot as a result of they’ve good regular-season gamers Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, however they’d want a giant leap from De’Aaron Fox or Keegan Murray to leap up a tier.
20. Los Angeles Clippers (51-31): The Thunder personal the rights to L.A.’s 2025 first-round decide, so anticipate HC Ty Lue, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Co. to strive like heck to make the playoffs.
21. Atlanta Hawks (36-46): Trae Younger is trending towards being the best Play-In Event participant in NBA historical past!
22. Chicago Bulls (39-43): Worst-run franchise within the NBA.
On the right track
This quartet of groups all have intriguing younger rosters and are one robust developmental 12 months away from being frisky subsequent season.
23. San Antonio Spurs (22-60): Be prepared for something this season from Wemby — quadruple-doubles, Defensive Participant of the 12 months, an All-NBA look — however a playoff berth nonetheless appears far-fetched.
24. Utah Jazz (31-51): 2024-25 objectives: Develop Keyonte George, commerce Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton for extra property and land a top-five decide for a future star to crew with Lauri Markkanen.
25. Toronto Raptors (25-57): Can Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett or Immanuel Quickley degree up and alter this franchise’s trajectory over the following 5 seasons or will the Raptors want a bit of lottery luck?
26. Charlotte Hornets (21-61): Prepare for a Brandon Miller leap.
Half-mast “Flaggs”
These groups stink, however the 2025 NBA Draft class is loaded with potential franchise gamers (together with Duke’s Cooper Flagg), so there is not any disgrace in tanking this season.
27. Portland Path Blazers (21-61): The Blazers have a weird assemblage of intriguing younger gamers and strong function gamers hindering mentioned younger gamers’ improvement.
28. Detroit Pistons (14-68): Let’s hope that every one of this shedding would not smash Cade Cunningham.
29. Washington Wizards (15-67): Higher to concentrate on Jayden Daniels and the Commanders this season.
30. Brooklyn Nets (14-68): Welcome to “The Cam Thomas Present”!
