Power ranking the NBA | 30–26
The 2017 summer league ended recently, and it seems like the perfect time to start our very own way-too-early power rankings. Stay tuned for the rest of our rankings as this basketball-less summer continues.
30. Brooklyn Nets
2016–17 Record: 20–62
Key Additions: D’Angelo Russell, DeMarre Carroll, Timofey Mozgov, Archie Goodwin, Jarrett Allen, K.J. McDaniels
Key Losses: Brook Lopez, Chris McCollugh, Justin Hamilton
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: D’Angelo Russell
SG: Jeremy Lin
SF: Demarre Carroll
PF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
C: Timofey Mozgov
Analysis: The biggest decision facing coach Kenny Atkinson is who to use as the primary ball handler. Lin and Russell both have experience playing off the ball, so it’s possible that they are able to coexist. But the Nets made an investment in Russell this off-season, and it would be a shame to see them stunt his development by not giving him the minutes he needs to develop. If they do give him the keys, he could put up some impressive stats.
The Nets still lack the talent to be competitive this year. Look for them bottom out in hopes of a high lottery pick next… oh, wait.
Our 2017–18 Prediction: 19–63
29. Atlanta Hawks
2016–17 Record: 43–39
Key Additions: Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli, Dewayne Dedmon
Key Losses: Dwight Howard, Paul Millsap, Tim Hardaway Jr.
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Dennis Schroeder
SG: Kent Bazemore
SF: Taurean Prince
PF: Ersan Ilyasova
C: Dewayne Dedmon
Analysis: The Hawks have had an eventful offseason and have pivoted into a full-on rebuild. They dealt Howard, let Millsap and Hardaway walk in free agency, and essentially replaced them with Plumlee, Dedmon, and Belinelli. Dealing Howard was a move in the right direction, and chosing not to resign Millsap or Hardaway is something Hawks fans will have to live with as they’re sold on a larger, long-term plan. Wise moves by rookie General Manager Travis Schlenk.
Our 2017–18 Prediction: 26–56
28. Sacramento Kings
2016–17 Record: 32–50
Key Additions: George Hill, Bogdan Bogdanivic, Vince Carter, De’Aaron Fox, Harry Giles, Zach Randolph, Justin Jackson
Key Losses: Rudy Gay, Darren Collison, Tyreke Evans
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: George Hill
SG: Buddy Hield
SF: Malachi Richardson
PF: Skal Labissiere
C: Kosta Koufos
Analysis: The Kings finally strayed from their reputation as a poor drafting team and got three promising young players in Fox, Giles, and Jackson. These three guys should excite fans and play meaningful minutes right away. When you pair the trio with their existing young core of Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Skal Labissiere, you’re left with a group that could be the foundation of a powerhouse down the line. Sacramento banking on veteran additions Hill, Randolph, and Carter to mentor their young players. Hill brings a consistent presence for Fox to learn from, while Randolph and Carter reunite with their former Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger for the west coast remix of Memphis grit-and-grind. The rest of the roster is comprised of role players signed to short-term deals, which will leave cap space for the team when they are ready to contend in the years to come. For this Kings team, the present and past may be gloomy, but the future is shaping up to look very bright.
Our 2017–18 Prediction: 29–53
27. Orlando Magic
2016–17 Record: 29–53
Key Additions: Jonathan Isaac, Jonathan Simmons
Key Losses: Jeff Green
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Elfrid Payton
SG: Evan Fournier
SF: Terrence Ross
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Vucevic
Analysis: Orlando hit the reset button on the front office by firing GM Rob Hennigan after the team failed to improve its win total for the first time in four years, extending their playoff drought to a franchise-long five seasons. The Magic are one of those teams that are just “there”: they aren’t a good team, but they were good enough to trick themselves into thinking they didn’t need to rebuild.
The Magic should be in the top half of the league this year in defensive efficiency with the improvements their players should make with another year of experience. This will be another rebuilding year for the Magic as they try to get the franchise back to contention. It’s hard to believe that this franchise was in the finals less than a decade ago.
Our 2017–18 Prediction: 30–52
26. Chicago Bulls
2016–17 Record: 41–41
Key Additions: Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen, Antonio Blakeney
Key Losses: Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Kris Dunn
SG: Dwayne Wade
SF: Zach LaVine
PF: Bobby Portis
C: Robin Lopez
Analysis: Well, the Bulls finally decided to pull the trigger on a rebuild. This team is going to be bad, but they are putting themselves in position to have a solid roster with an abundance of cap room down the line.
The Bulls won’t necessarily have a solid bench, but they do have a youthful one — look for Markkanen, Denzel Valentine, and Cameron Payne to take major steps forward in their development. While some fans were disappointed with the Jimmy Butler trade, it was the right move. They now have a clear direction and a solid young core instead of setting themselves up for first round playoff exits year after year.
Our 2017–18 Prediction: 32–50
