NBA Power Rankings: Warriors take the No. 1 spot in quest to repeat
The 2022-23 season unofficially tips off Monday for the majority of NBA teams with players set to meet with the media ahead of the start of training camp on Tuesday.
The offseason possessed plenty of player changes across the league that figure to create several storylines entering the season. Even recently, some trades, injury news and the situation with Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka have sparked plenty of conversation.
On the court, however, the Golden State Warriors enter the season as one of the favorites to repeat as champions after a stellar 2021-22 campaign. They figure to have plenty of competition with challengers emerging from each conference after a flurry of moves and trades.
To make further sense of it all, Rookie Wire took a look at the NBA and ranked each team from worst to first. We will come back at the start of the regular season and provide our latest assessment on the best teams and those that are rising.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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The Thunder were dealt a tremendous blow when No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren suffered a season-ending foot injury in a pro-am game over the summer. They will also be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after the team announced he will miss at least two weeks with a Grade 2 left ACL sprain. It will still be worth watching how Josh Giddey progresses this season, along with their other incoming rookies, Ousmane Dieng, Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams, but some of the excitement of the season has been lost following the injuries to Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander.
For more coverage on the Thunder, visit Thunder Wire
San Antonio Spurs
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The Spurs traded Dejounte Murray over the summer and effectively have gone all-in on rebuilding. They added three first-round picks: Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley; and some veterans. But, a team playing for Gregg Popovich tends to exceed expectations so the Spurs could once again find themselves firmly in the play-in group this year.
Houston Rockets
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The Rockets had another great draft night this year, adding Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and TyTy Washington Jr. The consensus seems to be low on Smith at the moment, but the former Auburn standout projects to have the opportunity to produce this season and could emerge as one of the top rookies. We also can’t wait to see how Jalen Green comes back after a tremendous conclusion to his rookie year.
For more coverage on the Rockets, visit Rockets Wire
Indiana Pacers
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The Pacers‘ rebuild added Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, Kendall Brown and Aaron Nesmith after trading Malcolm Brogdon. Adding them to a core that features Myles Turner, Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson, the future appears to be bright in Indy.
Orlando Magic
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The Magic stood pat over the summer and brought back nearly the same roster. Of course, they add Paolo Banchero to their core, and the No. 1 pick is the current favorite to win Rookie of the Year. Elsewhere, Markelle Fultz will miss time to start the season with a broken toe. Franz Wagner looks to build upon a tremendous rookie year while Jalen Suggs should show why he was a top-five pick if he can stay healthy.
The big question will be what becomes of Jonathan Isaac. He has suffered numerous setbacks from a knee injury originally sustained in the bubble, and his status is still unclear to begin the season. Can the group take the next step this season under second-year head coach Jamahl Mosley? Their over/under win total for the season is around 26.5 by most sportsbooks. We might lean toward the over.
Sacramento Kings
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By all accounts, the Kings added a franchise cornerstone by drafting Keegan Murray. He looks poised for a tremendous first season and is among the favorites for Rookie of the Year. The Kings also acquired Kevin Huerter from the Hawks, which could be a sneaky addition. With Mike Brown on the sideline, the Kings look to compete for a playoff spot and snap their 16-season drought. They could be a team to watch in the play-in race.
Charlotte Hornets
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The Hornets welcome Steve Clifford back as head coach as the organization looks to take the next step in its development. Teams under Clifford often perform well in the early going, especially on defense, which is an area of concern for the group and that could bode well this season. The team drafted Mark Williams and Bryce McGowens but otherwise mostly remains the same. Of course, the big question entering the season is the status of Miles Bridges, who is a restricted free agent facing three felony domestic violence charges. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges and is due back in court this week.
Utah Jazz
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Perhaps no team was more active over the offseason than the Jazz. Will Hardy takes over for Quin Snyder as head coach and Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O’Neale — among others — are gone.
The Jazz now have a core featuring Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Talen Horton-Tucker and Jared Butler. We are not sure if they are going to take a nosedive to the bottom of the standings like most believe but it is clear this is a team in a transition.
Detroit Pistons
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The Pistons added a pair of promising rookies, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, while bringing in Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel during the offseason. They also made a splash by recently acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic for Kelly Olynyk, a move that should help their shooting.
With the young core expected to continue its development, it seems like the Pistons can advance out of the cellar of the Eastern Conference and take the next step in their development. Competing for a play-in spot feels like a realistic goal entering the season after going 23-59 last year.
New York Knicks
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The Knicks threw a lot of money at Jalen Brunson in free agency and re-signed R.J. Barrett to a four-year contract. However, Knicks fans likely most remember missing out on Donovan Mitchell, a New York native who thought he’d return home this season. Instead, the Knicks will run it back with Brunson in the mix as the team hopes to improve upon its 37-45 record.
Washington Wizards
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There is plenty to be excited about with the Wizards this season. Bradley Beal signed a five-year extension and the team added Will Barton, Taj Gibson, Monte Morris and Delon Wright into the mix. The front office loves those additions and believes they will be difference makers this season on and off of the court. The team will be embarking on a trip to play the Warriors for two preseason games in Japan, which will be a homecoming for Rui Hachimura. Morale is certainly high in D.C. and we’ll see just how long it can last.
Los Angeles Lakers
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LeBron James enters season No. 20 with plenty of question marks surrounding his team. The front office added several players, including Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker IV and Juan Toscano-Anderson among others. But, the pressing question will be how Russell Westbrook is integrated into the mix.
They struggled last year under Frank Vogel to find the right role for him so it will be worth monitoring how new head coach Darvin Ham brings it all together. In any case, the Lakers will certainly be an interesting team to watch. They could be among the best in the conference, or the worst, and still be must-watch TV all season long.
For more coverage on LeBron James and the Lakers, visit LeBron Wire
Portland Trail Blazers
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Damian Lillard is healthy again and the Trail Blazers added Jerami Grant and Gary Payton II over the offseason. Grant and Payton should see large roles with the team while mainstays Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic will also play a key role in how successful Portland can be this season. The organization essentially opted against a full-on rebuild so we’ll see if that was the right decision this year.
Atlanta Hawks
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The Hawks acquired Dejounte Murray and will be hoping that move can help solidify their backcourt with Trae Young. Elsewhere, the Hawks added Maurice Harkless, Aaron Holiday and Frank Kaminsky, along with two rookies in AJ Griffin and Tyrese Martin. There is quite a bit of change coming into this season but as long as Young and Murray can jell together, that will go a long way in the Hawks making a deep run.
New Orleans Pelicans
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Zion Williamson is back, and the Pelicans will be looking to improve on their playoff performance last year. The group had an incredible second half of the season to claim a playoff berth and push the top-seeded Phoenix Suns to six games. Most believe that adding Williamson to that group will enable them to make a leap and compete for homecourt advantage in the Western Conference. Of course, that will be dependent on how healthy Williamson can be but if he can return to form, the sky is the limit for the Pelicans under head coach Willie Green.
Chicago Bulls
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Chicago enters the season looking to improve upon its first-round playoff exit last year. Unfortunately, the team will be without Lonzo Ball for 4-6 weeks after the sixth-year guard undergoes knee surgery on Wednesday. He has played a key role for the team on both sides of the ball and was greatly missed last year. It will also be curious to see how Patrick Williams bounces back after logging just 17 appearances in the regular season last year due to a wrist injury. With DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic leading the way, the Bulls will need the likes of Williams and others to step up on the court.
For more coverage on the Bulls, visit Bulls Wire
Toronto Raptors
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The collective basketball world is eager to see how Scottie Barnes follows up his Rookie of the Year campaign last season. He played a crucial role with the Raptors and helped them to the first round of the playoffs. The team will hope it can be healthier this year and if it can do that, the Raptors have the chance to compete for homecourt advantage in the playoffs.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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The Cavaliers won the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes and enter the season having greatly improved their title odds. They improved from plus-10,000 to plus-3,000 immediately following the trade and are now among the favorites in the Eastern Conference. They may have a few growing pains in the early going with Mitchell adjusting to a new team but the Cavaliers will eventually figure things out. We should know a lot more about the Cavaliers around the quarter-mark of the season.
Dallas Mavericks
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Only time will tell how impactful the loss of Jalen Brunson will be, but the Mavericks managed to add two great frontcourt pieces in Christian Wood and JaVale McGee. The team will also be hopeful Spencer Dinwiddie can pick up where he left off after arriving in Dallas at the trade deadline. Then you have Luka Doncic. He looks to be even better after a great run in EuroBasket 2022 and will be looking to help the Mavs reach the next level.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Timberwolves made a ton of moves over the offseason and should firmly be in the playoff race, as a result. Many are curious to see how it all comes together with Rudy Gobert now in the picture, but the team seemingly got better and has arguably its best roster in quite some time.
Miami Heat
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The top team in the Eastern Conference last year lost Markieff Morris and P.J. Tucker over the offseason and will be essentially running it back this year. The Heat did add rookie Nikola Jovic, but it remains to be seen how much he’ll play. However, the expectation is Victor Oladipo will be able to return to form this year after missing most of last season due to injury. They have the seventh-best odds of winning the title this season as their Big 3 of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry will look to make another deep playoff run.
Denver Nuggets
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The Nuggets return to the court a completely different team than the last time they played. Of course, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are expected to be healthy and ready to go for the first time in over a year. The team will certainly ease them back into action but they both will be looking to get back to their pre-injury form.
What is also working in their favor is the supporting cast around them got better. They brought in Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and DeAndre Jordan, while also drafting Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. Plus, Aaron Gordon and Bones Hyland are also key pieces that have improved. The Nuggets have the potential to be a scary team.
Boston Celtics
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The Celtics were seemingly having a great offseason until last week. Of course, the news surfaced that head coach Ime Udoka was involved in a consensual and intimate relationship with a female team staffer, which was in violation of team policy. He will be suspended for the entire season as the team now looks ahead to the start of training camp.
Boston acquired Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers over the summer and signed Danilo Gallinari in free agency. While they’ll be without Gallinari for a significant amount of time, they were expected to be perhaps the favorite once again in the conference. However, they figure to now have a tough path following the suspension of Udoka.
For more coverage on the Celtics, visit Celtics Wire
Philadelphia 76ers
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The Sixers added several players that all figure to be high-level contributors this season, including P.J. Tucker, De’Anthony Melton, Montrezl Harrell and Danuel House Jr. The front office recognized that its second unit was a weakness at times last season and did a lot to address it. With Joel Embiid and James Harden at the head of the snake, the Sixers could be in a position to make a deep run, something that has eluded them.
For more coverage on the 76ers, visit Sixers Wire
Brooklyn Nets
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The band is back together, despite Kevin Durant’s best effort to find a new team. Fully assembled and healthy, the Nets have the opportunity to be a clear-cut title favorite. However, it isn’t necessarily that easy with this team. Managing the personalities has proven to be easier said than done and the team hasn’t performed to expectations. All indications are that the Big 3 will be good to go, at least for now. Given their potential, we have the Nets ranked maybe a little bit higher than most so it will be worth monitoring how the group can start the season.
For more coverage on the Nets, visit Nets Wire
Phoenix Suns
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How will the Suns bounce back this season from an embarrassing playoff exit last year? The team re-signed Deandre Ayton, but it wasn’t without some drama regarding his offer sheet. The front office brought in a few new players that figure to fill out the rotation but it is mostly the same team as last year.
The situation involving team governor Robert Sarver appears to be heading toward a resolution, which could help prevent a cloud from hanging over the team all season long. However, there are seemingly a lot of questions for the Suns to answer this year — on the court and off of it — and it will be worth monitoring how they respond.
Memphis Grizzlies
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Ja Morant was averaging a staggering 27.1 points per game in the playoffs before suffering a knee injury that cost him the rest of the Grizzlies‘ run. Certainly, his health will be crucial to how successful they can be this season but the team is looking to improve upon its best season since 2013. They added four rookies through the draft so it will be interesting to see how impactful they can be, if at all. In any case, Memphis should once again be positioned near the top of the standings in the Western Conference this season.
Los Angeles Clippers
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The Clippers enter the season with tremendous expectations after returning a healthy roster. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the rest of the group are expected to be among the contenders this year after a down 2021-22 campaign. They also added John Wall into the mix, and he looks to be as healthy as he has been in years.
The group will be worth watching to see if they can live up to the hype because they have largely underperformed with Leonard and George, although injuries are to blame in part. Zach Lowe recently said the 2022-23 season is the biggest in franchise history and we tend to agree with him.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Had Khris Middleton not missed essentially the entire playoffs last season, the Bucks likely would have made the NBA Finals for the second straight year. Without him, they still managed to push the Celtics to seven games in the semifinals. The team certainly feels that way after mostly standing pat over the offseason, only adding Joe Ingles and rookie MarJon Beauchamp. With Giannis Antetokounmpo entering camp in midseason form after a great run with Greece in EuroBasket 2022, the Bucks have to feel good about their chances this year.
Golden State Warriors
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The Warriors enter the 2022-23 season as one of the heavy favorites to repeat as NBA champions. The roster remains mostly the same but the organization did lose Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. They replaced them with Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green and added a couple of rookies in Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins. The key this season will likely be how the younger players can develop. If Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody can take the next step, and James Wiseman can stay healthy and produce, the Warriors figure to have a great chance to make another deep run.
For more coverage on the Warriors, visit Warriors Wire
