NBA Power Rankings and Preview 2024-2025 Season
Welcome to the 2024-2025 NBA Season, the Boston Celtics are your defending NBA Champions, Klay Thompson is no longer in Golden State, Lebron James has been in the league so long his son is on his team.
1 - Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics ran through the league last year to have the best record and an NBA championship. They are still the favorites in the East, but their payroll keeps getting larger, do they have a championship hangover?
2 -Oklahoma City Thunder
Last year OKC was the youngest team ever to secure the 1 seed, how do the new pieces of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein fit with the current roster?
3 - New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are all in, the only problem is the team above them in the standing and north of them Geographically. KAT and Mikal Bridges make this team dangerous, can they put it all together?
4 - Dallas Mavericks
Dallas made a surprising run to the NBA Finals last year and still added during the offseason with 4x NBA Champion in Klay Thompson. This team will score in bunches, but can they defend enough?
5 - Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid says he will probably never play in another back to back, Paul George has already hyperextended his knee. If they stay healthy and that is a big IF, the Sixers can contend for an NBA Title.
6 - Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets lost a game 7 at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves, then they lost KCP to free agency and DaRon Holmes to injury. The starting 5 is still elite and when you have the Joker you can win any given night, but is the depth enough to compete in a deep west?
7 - Minnesota Timberwolves
Oh Minnesota, you have the most successful season in the last 2 decades and then you trade one of your franchise cornerstones in KAT. The team officially belongs to Anthony Edwards and you know he wants to be the face of the NBA.
8 - Milwaukee Bucks
At minimum there are three Eastern Conference teams ahead of the Bucks in the power rankings, and two right behind them. Are the Bucks a true contender in the East, or are they closer to a pretender?
9 - Indiana Pacers
Similar to the Mavericks, the Pacers made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals, they're-signed Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin and similar to the Mavericks they will score a lot, but can they defend?
10 - Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers did not do a ton in the off season, but they did bring back Isaac Okoro to finish up their starting five. With a new head coach and new ideas, can the Cavaliers contend with the big dogs in the East?
11 - Orlando Magic
I love when teams surprise us and then continue to add to their roster. The Magic added KCP, who is a fantastic role player with 2 rings to his name. Orlando has a ton of room for upside with a young roster and now with more three point shooting.
12 - Phoenix Suns
Just as the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west (I am sure no one has ever said this before) the Suns did not address their lack of depth. KD, DBook and Beal are still there, but how much can we rely on the bookend of that top three to remain healthy?
13 - Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are easily the most confusing team to predict going into the offseason. They were ravaged by injuries and suspensions, can Ja Morant go back to being the superstar that he was before?
14 - New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have been one of the most frustrating teams over the last handful of years. When they are playing their best, they can compete as a top 4 team, but too often they get hit with injuries or inefficiency. Zion it is time to step up.
15 - Sacramento Kings
DeMar DeRozan is a Sacramento King, he is one of if not the biggest free agent signings in Kings history. He should fit well alongside Sabonis, Fox and Monk. They will score, can they defend? That is starting to feel like a trend.
16 - Los Angeles Lakers
Is there any team in the league that needs to be healthy more than the Lakers? Jared Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent should be healthy and sharp shooter Dalton Knecht joins this team looking to bounce back after a first round exit. Oh yeah Lebron and Bronny James.
17 -Golden State Warriors
This will be the first year without Klay Thompson, in a really long time. Don’t worry Warrior fans Steph Curry is not going anywhere. I am not convinced the Warriors can compete for a championship but they should win enough.
18 - Miami Heat
The Heat seem like they are just running it back and it might not be the worst idea ever, they were hurt a lot of the season last year. We have seen this team go on runs, can they do it again?
19 - Houston Rockets
The Rockets were a fringe postseason team last year, but ended the season 41-41 with a .500 record for the first time in a handful of seasons. This season is all about seeing them take that next step and figuring out which of their young players are extension worthy.
20 - Los Angeles Clippers
Paul George is gone, Russell Westrbook is gone. James Harden and Kawahi Leonard are still here, they also have a new logo and a new arena. Does this team have enough to compete? Leonard had to skip the Olympics and is already looking like he will miss the start of the season.
21 - San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are coming off one of the worst seasons in their recent history, but they added veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes. With the 2nd year of Wemby, the Spurs look to take a leap forward, they still feel a year or two away.
22 - Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are in a transition phase, the Dejounte Murray experiment didn’t really work, is Trae Young going to stick around? The Hawks are looking for young talent to take a step forward, if they don’t their first round pick next year goes to San Antonio.
23 - Utah Jazz
The Jazz made a commitment to Lauri Markkanen, which is nice for Utah fans to have someone to root for over the next 5 years. They are rebuilding and this year should be about who they want to surround Markkanen with.
24 - Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are in the early stages of their rebuild after trading away Siakam at last year's deadline. They have Scottie Barnes as their superstar for the foreseeable future, but they are not close to contention.
25 - Chicago Bulls
The storyline in Chicago will be who is still going to be on this team when the season is over. Demar Derozan and Alex Caruso are gone, is Lavine next? Welcome back Lonzo Ball, hopefully the injury bug is past him and he can make an impact again.
26 - Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte is looking to build up their roster to start competing in the East. LaMelo Ball only played 21 games last year, and having him healthy with Brandon Miller taking a step forward in year 2 and Miles Bridges back in the fold should at least make this team fun to watch.
27 - Portland Trail Blazers
We are now into year 2 of the post Dame Trailblazers and it still looks like we are years away from a competitive team in Portland. They had a quiet offseason and are just looking for their young players to develop, no trailblazing for these blazers, just a slow slog through the Oregon Wilderness.
28 - Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are not going to make the playoffs, I am telling you right now. But, their roster does look a lot better than it did last year where they only won 14 games. Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardway Jr, Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley is not a bad start to a roster.
29 - Washington Wizards
The Wizards are bad, there is nothing to be said about it. Kyle Kuzma gained some interest in the trade market, but no big bites yet. Washington should see if Kuzma starts the season strong if they could trade him for young assets and draft picks.
30 - Brooklyn Nets
This is the year that Ben Simmons figures it out again right? The Nets made the smart decision to trade Mikal Bridges and start over, now who else gets sent out of Brooklyn? Remember when this team featured Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, man that feels like a long time ago.