This is my first foray into a comprehensive NBA Power Rankings of the 2023-24 season. I had previously ranked every team individually. Here is a look at each team’s offseason grades and injuries.
2023-24 NBA Power Rankings Training Camp Edition With Offseason Grades
1. Phoenix Suns (0-0)
Phoenix made the biggest splashes this off-season, trading for Bradley Beal and sending out Deandre Ayton. The Suns have 11 newcomers, with Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, and Eric Gordon among the most important. So, the Suns maintained a quality team by adding several veterans while ridding themselves of Ayton’s max deal. The Suns are primed for a title run.
The Suns will be without reserve guard Damion Lee for a while. Lee suffered a meniscus injury while training this past week and will be out for an unknown amount of time.
Grade A+
2. Boston Celtics (0-0)
Following the Jrue Holiday trade, Boston becomes my favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. The Celtics also have moved up one spot in the power rankings. The Celtics, of course, added Kristaps Porzingis earlier in the summer and extended Jaylen Brown. There is concern about the Celtics’ lack of depth at center.
Grade B+
5. Denver Nuggets (0-0)
6. Sacramento Kings (0-0)
Sacramento re-signed Harrison Barnes and Trey Lyles and extended Domantas Sabonis. The Kings also traded for Chris Duarte, brought in draft and stash prospect Sasha Vezenkov, and dumped Richaun Holmes‘ salary in a trade.
Grade B
7. Philadelphia 76ers (0-0)
8 Memphis Grizzlies (0-0)
9. New York Knicks (0-0)
New York had big dreams of pairing Jalen Brunson with another star. But that didn’t occur.
Still, the Knicks did bring in Donte DiVincenzo, who they slightly overpaid for, and extended Josh Hart after he opted into his 2023-24 contract.
However, I am not sure about the Obi Toppin trade. Plus, Evan Fournier is still on the roster.
Grade: B-.
11. Los Angeles Clippers (0-0)
The biggest additions of the offseason for the Clippers have nothing to do with the moves they made. Instead, it is that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are now healthy. They get good marks for bringing back Mason Plumlee and Russell Westbrook on cheap deals. I do like the trade for KJ Martin, but he is, at best, an end-of-the-second-unit player for the Clippers at this point.
Grade: C
12. Golden State Warriors (0-0)
14. Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0)
Oklahoma City really didn’t have to do much this offseason despite making several transactions. Still, the Thunder move up one spot in the power rankings as Miami drops.
Cason Wallace and Vasilije Micic are probably the only newcomers likely to make an impact. Micic, one of the best ballers in Europe over the last few years, should be among the first couple of players off the bench for the Thunder. Davis Bertans also has a chance to contribute as he is an above-average 3-point shooter.
The Big news, of course, is Chet Holmgren will make his NBA debut. Holmgren was injured during last year’s summer league and had to sit out the entire season.
Grade B
15. Dallas Mavericks (0-0)
15. Miami Heat (0-0)
Miami slips two places from their No. 13 offseason ranking. The Heat missed out on its big offseason target in Lillard. The Heat also won’t have two important guards in Gabe Vincent and Strus this year. First-round draft pick Jaime Jaquez Jr. fits well with the Heat, and Josh Richardson can put up points in bunches. Thomas Bryant is a solid backup for Bam Adebayo. Tyler Herro will be ready to go after breaking his hand during the Heat’s first-round upset of the Bucks.
Grade: D-
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0)
17. Atlanta Hawks (0-0)
18. New Orleans Pelicans (0-0)
New Orleans also didn’t do much this offseason and likely won’t have a starter and their backup point guard at the beginning of the season due to injuries. Trey Murphy (knee) and Jose Alvarado (ankle) are expected to miss some time at the start of the season.
On the plus side, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson are expected to be healthy. The Pelicans did retain Naji Marshall and extended Herbert Jones. However, they probably overpaid for Jones. With Murphy out for the first month, first-round selection Jordan Hawkins becomes more important.
Grade: C
19. Brooklyn Nets (0-0)
Despite not having a superstar for the first time in several seasons, the Nets have done a pretty good job rebuilding their roster. The Nets retained their top free agent by re-signing Cameron Johnson to a $108 million contract. They also traded away two older players who likely wouldn’t make an impact this year while adding a backup point guard, Dennis Smith Jr. and a good scorer in Lonnie Walker IV. Ben Simmons is expected to be ready to go.
However, I don’t know how much their first-round picks will contribute this year. Dariq Whitehead has a better chance to see the floor than Noah Clowney.
Grade B-
20. Chicago Bulls (0-0)
Chicago didn’t have much cap space. But the Bulls kept their own free agents, except for Beverley and Derrick Jones Jr. Their two additions of Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig are at least those two equals and probably slightly better than the players they lost.
Grade: B
21. Indiana Pacers (0-0)
22. Orlando Magic (0-0)
23. Portland Trail Blazers (0-0)
24. Utah Jazz (0-0)
The Jazz dropped one spot from its previous ranking.
Utah picked up Collins on a salary dump by Atlanta. The Jazz also hit the draft jackpot with Taylor Hendricks and Keyonte George. I’m lukewarm on Brice Sensabaugh, who has a history of injuries. The Jazz also extended Jordan Clarkson for three years. Additionally, Utah maintained its financial flexibility.
Grade B+
25. Houston Rockets (0-0)
Houston has turned the corner in its rebuild. The Rockers picked up two key veteran free agents, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. The Rockets also improved their center depth by adding Jock Landale and Jeff Green. They also picked up two talented rookies, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. Plus, Ime Udoka replaced Stephen Silas in the first seat.
However, Kevin Porter Jr.’s domestic violence incident looms. The Rockets recently signed Reggie Bullock after San Antonio bought him out.
Grade: A
26. Toronto Raptors (0-0)
27. Detroit Pistons (0-0)
Detroit didn’t do anything great this offseason, but the Pistons got better. Their best move was hiring Monty Williams to replace Duane Casey, who resigned. The Pistons also potentially hit a home run with Ausar Thompson, as he looked fantastic on both ends during summer league action. Additionally, they acquired two quality veterans — Joe Harris and Monte Morris — to bolster their bench.
Reserve forward Isaiah Livers could miss the season’s first month with a Grade 3 ankle sprain.
Grade B+
28. Washington Wizards (0-0)
Washington is now in full rebuild mode after trading their two stars. I do like the haul the Wizards got in terms of players and draft assets. The Wiz also acquired a couple of valuable trade exceptions. Perhaps more importantly, the Wizards cut a lot of salary.
Jordan Poole is the key to whether Washington won or lost the Paul trade. Tyus Jones is also a solid acquisition. Meanwhile, we must wait to see if Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Bilal Coulibaly develop into quality rotational players.
Landry Shamet suffered a broken toe during a workout and will be out for a few weeks and could miss some regular season games.
Washington Wizards guard Landry Shamet broke a big toe is expected to be sidelined two-to-four weeks, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 1, 2023
Grade B+
29 San Antonio Spurs (0-0)
30. Charlotte Hornets (0-0)
I like the Brandon Miller selection over Scoot Henderson better than most. I also really like that the Hornets finally decided to re-sign restricted free agent P.J. Washington. It also made sense, in terms of basketball, to retain restricted free agent Miles Bridges. They also made the logical decision to extend LaMelo Ball. But the Hornets had a lot of money to spend, and their biggest signing was Frank Ntilikina.
Grade C