With the preseason coming to a close, we’re just days away from the official start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season. That means it’s time to look at how every team stacks up, which newcomers will have the biggest impact on their new team, and which FanDuel bets you should place.
30. Washington Wizards
No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr should excite Wizards fans, but a season of point guard Jordan Poole and one full of Kyle Kuzma airballs won’t. The tank is on for Cooper Flagg.
29. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets signed veterans like Bojan Bogdanovic, but he’ll likely be moved at the trade deadline amid a lost season. At least Nets fans can look forward to a healthy Ben Simmons and 30 shots a game for Cam Thomas.
28. Detroit Pistons
Tobias Harris is now Detroit’s second-best player behind star Cade Cunningham, which isn’t great. Still, as long as the Pistons don’t lose 28 straight games, the team is improved from last season.
27. Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers added UConn big man Donovan Clingan in the draft, giving the team a serious logjam at center. With Shaedon Sharpe injured, there isn’t much to be excited about in Rip City this year.
26. Charlotte Hornets
Drafting raw prospect Tidjane Salaün with the sixth overall pick shows this team is okay with tanking this season. Charlotte won’t be a playoff team, but if LaMelo Ball‘s new ankle braces hold up, it’ll be fun to watch.
25. Utah Jazz
Utah added Cody Williams, one of the draft’s most athletic players, to an already promising young core. The Jazz are years from contending, but it could push for a play-in spot behind All-Star Lauri Markkanen.
24. Toronto Raptors
19th overall pick Ja’Kobe Walter was Toronto’s top addition, adding more depth, which it already has plenty of. Record-wise, the Raptors will be bad this year, but there’s plenty of young talent to build around.
23. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls picked up Chicago-born talent Matas Buzelis, who should be an instant fan favorite. Losing DeMar DeRozan does hurt, but Coby White has the talent to be an All-Star on a sub .500 team.
22. Atlanta Hawks
Zaccharie Risacher, the top pick in this year’s draft, should immediately contribute to a Hawks team drowning in mediocrity. Atlanta is one of the league’s most interesting teams, even if it’s a play-in team.
21. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers let Paul George walk in free agency, signing wing Derrick Jones Jr. to replace him. It’s a major downgrade on offense, and with Kawhi Leonard injured again, L.A. will take a major step back with James Harden running the show.
20. Houston Rockets
The Rockets finished 41-41 last season, but sharpshooter Reed Sheppard should help the team’s spacing problems. Houston could sneak into the playoffs if center Alperen Sengun has a strong season.
19. San Antonio Spurs
Veteran Chris Paul gives San Antonio a new true point guard. With Paul feeding rising star Victor Wembanyama alley-oops, the Spurs could be a dark horse other teams don’t want to face in the playoffs.
18. Golden State Warriors
Buddy Hield has replaced longtime Warrior Klay Thompson as Golden State’s top shooting guard. The team should light it up from three, but this roster isn’t enough to contend behind Stephen Curry.
17. Sacramento Kings
The Kings undoubtedly added more talent in veteran DeMar DeRozan. Sacramento should be a playoff team this year, but the defense could be an issue-forward Keegan Murray can’t guard everybody.
16. New Orleans Pelicans
Adding Dejounte Murray was a great pickup for the package New Orleans gave up, but there are some major problems besides Zion Williamson‘s health. If 6-foot-7 Herb Jones starting at center sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is.
15. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are one of the hardest teams to predict this season. Stealing Dalton Knecht in the draft helped flush out L.A.’s bench, but the team’s success relies on Bronny how healthy it will be.
14. Miami Heat
The Heat added big man Kel’el Ware in the draft, who should contribute immediately. Bam Adebayo‘s newfound three-point shooting should improve Miami’s offense, which hurt them last season.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland locked up Donovan Mitchell to a long-term extension and drafted prospect Jaylon Tyson. The Cavaliers have a talented roster but slipped this offseason compared to a suddenly stacked Eastern Conference.
12. Orlando Magic
Like Miami, Orlando’s offense isn’t its strong suit, but adding three-point marksman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helps. The defense is legit, and Paolo Banchero‘s development could push this team toward the top of the East.
11. Memphis Grizzlies
On paper, the Grizzlies are one of the more talented teams in the league when healthy, and adding 7-foot-4 Zach Edey as a lob threat for Ja Morant feels unfair. Memphis is a sleeper for a deep playoff run this year.
10. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is still all-in behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, and players like first-rounder Ryan Dunn will be key to the team’s success when its top stars are out. Will it be enough to make some noise in the playoffs?
9. Indiana Pacers
Taking a gamble on low-cost, high-reward players like James Wiseman represents Indiana’s desire for continuity this season. Fresh off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, the Pacers must prove it wasn’t a fluke.
8. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers excited fans by signing marquee free agent Paul George, but his recent knee hyperextension will require him to miss time. Considering Joel Embiid‘s injury history, Philly fans hope its depth is enough to overcome it in the playoffs.
7. Milwaukee Bucks
Signing shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. for the minimum might be one of the steals of the offseason. Assuming Khris Middleton returns with functioning ankles, the Bucks are title contenders again.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Dealing away Karl-Anthony Towns stings. Still, it allowed Minnesota to extend fan-favorite Naz Reid and bring in All-Star Julius Randle. If Randle rediscovers his top form, the Timberwolves could build on last year’s playoff success.
5. New York Knicks
The Knicks shook things up this offseason, bringing Karl-Anthony Towns in to address the team’s center problems. With one of the better starting lineups in basketball, New York is ready to push for a title.
4. Dallas Mavericks
After finishing three wins short of an NBA title, Dallas added Klay Thompson and Quentin Grimes to help the team’s shooting. If Thompson can rediscover his stroke, Luka Doncic will have his team back in the Western Conference Finals.
3. Denver Nuggets
What will newcomer Russell Westbrook‘s role look like? Denver will always be title contenders as long as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are around, but the team’s bench will determine whether they can win it all again.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
One of the best young rosters in the league added one of the league’s best defenders, Alex Caruso. The Thunder will put teams in a defensive torture chamber this season and behind star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is rightfully one of the favorites to win a championship.
1. Boston Celtics
The league’s defending champions retained its top seven players from its championship-winning squad, almost unheard of in the NBA. When Kristaps Porzingis returns, good luck to the rest of the league.
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