It’s September, and the NBA season doesn’t begin for over a month. With that being said, free agency has come to a halt, at least for the biggest names. Trades can still happen, and there’s probably a strong chance one does, such as trades surrounding Ben Simmons, but for now, rosters are mostly set. Take a look at the way too early top 10 NBA power rankings.
NBA Power Rankings: Way Too Early Top 10
10. Denver Nuggets
Coming in at 10 are the Denver Nuggets. They’ll be without Jamal Murray to begin the season, which affects their placement. With that being said, Denver is still home to reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. He’s one of the league’s elite players, and his ability to do anything and everything will have Denver winning. The surrounding cast remains great with the likes of Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter, Jeff Green, Monte Morris, and more.
9. Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic. That’s pretty much all that has to be said. The Slovenian sensation is a spectacular player and an MVP favorite. Besides Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis is regaining health. Tim Hardaway Jr, Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Maxi Kleber return. Additions like Reggie Bullock and Moses Brown also boost the defense. Expect the Mavericks to have one of the best offenses once again.
8. Atlanta Hawks
Give a young superstar a strong supporting cast and you’ll have a great playoff run. That’s what the Atlanta Hawks just did with Trae Young. He’s going to be among the league’s best scorers again, and the Hawks have done a terrific job of giving him help. This includes Clint Capela, John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, and so much more. The Hawks have fantastic depth.
7. Miami Heat
Fresh off a disappointing playoff outing, the Miami Heat made it their mission to improve this offseason. They did just that. The team will still be led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Much of the supporting cast returns such as Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro. Their additions stand out as impressive. Kyle Lowry completes a “big three” while PJ Tucker brings even more toughness and defense. Miami still has a wildcard in Victor Oladipo.
6. Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are known to succeed in the regular season and run out of gas in the playoffs. With that being said, it’s difficult to overlook their talent. Donovan Mitchell is an elite scorer whereas Rudy Gobert is an elite defender. The majority of the strong supporting cast in Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles, and of course Mike Conley all returned. More than that, they’ve added intriguing pieces in Rudy Gay, Eric Paschall, and Hassan Whiteside.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
There’s a high probability that the 76ers roster will look very different soon due to the Simmons rumors. Philadelphia, however, will command a strong return for the All-Star caliber player. Outside of Simmons, the 76ers remained stack. Joel Embiid is clearly one of the toughest and best players in the league. Tobias Harris was excellent last season, while Seth Curry and Danny Green shot the lights out. Matisse Thybulle and Tyrese Maxey will only get better. The Andre Drummond pick-up is one to watch.
4. Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook. The Los Angeles Lakers’ “big three” is going to be extremely exciting and they’ll be in the mix for the championship all season long. It doesn’t stop there as the Lakers are also loaded with veterans. This includes Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, Marc Gasol, Trevor Ariza, and more. Lastly, they’ll have an injection of youth here and there with Malik Monk, Kris Dunn, and Talen Horton-Tucker. These players know how to win and the Lakers will be tough to stop.
3. Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns didn’t make any major roster moves because they didn’t have to. Chris Paul is back as the leader of the team, while Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges will only get better.
Phoenix made some wise depth decisions – adding Landry Shamet, JaVale McGee, and Elfrid Payton.
All in all, virtually the same team will be back. Disappointed off a Finals loss, expect the Suns to be hungrier than ever before.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
The reigning champions check-in at two. The Milwaukee Bucks looked excellent in last year’s Finals and anything short of a repeat is a disappointment. The star trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday remains amongst the top of the league. Bobby Portis also re-signed, which was major for this team.
Donte DiVincenzo returns from injury, a player the Bucks sorely missed even though they still won the championship. Adding Grayson Allen and George Hill for backcourt depth was wise as well. Losing Tucker hurts, as he’s a leader and defensive menace, but the Bucks will be just as good or better.
1. Brooklyn Nets
It’s difficult to deny the Brooklyn Nets the top spot in the NBA power rankings. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden playing together just carries too much tantalizing potential. Last season gave the league a sneak peak, although injuries were constant and derailed all championship hopes. If injuries are maintained, the Nets stand above the pack as the most talented team.
Joe Harris will continue to shoot the lights out, while Nicolas Claxton is primed for a break-out. Lastly, signing a veteran like Patty Mills was an outstanding move.
Main Image: Embed from Getty Images
