NBA Power Rankings: Are the Celtics better post NBA Draft?
Which teams are best-positioned for success in the wake of the 2020 NBA Draft? Here's how every club stacks up with free agency looming on the horizon.
2019-20 record: 19-46
The Cavs should have traded Kevin Love a long time ago, but perhaps GM Koby Altman can salvage a decent return for the 32-year-old forward. While Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro eventually could form a strong nucleus, Cleveland is bound for another top-5 pick.
2019-20 record: 20-46
New GM Troy Weaver would do well to acquire as many assets as he can for the aging Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose. The light at the end of the tunnel is still far off in Detroit, although Saddiq Bey seems like a good fit there.
2019-20 record: 23-42
The Hornets have a few nice role players but still haven't filled Kemba Walker's "go-to All-Star" void. Don't expect that to change over the next few weeks. LaMelo Ball moves the needle a bit, but tank mode continues in Charlotte.
2019-20 record: 21-45
It's that time of year where hope springs eternal for Knicks fans. Is this the year they finally land a big star and become a playoff contender? Don't bank on it. New GM Leon Rose has a low bar to clear, though, and perhaps he'll make some improvement to this awful roster.
2019-20 record: 22-43
Fred Hoiberg and Jim Boylen both failed to make headway with the Bulls' talented but inconsistent young core of Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. You're up next, Billy Donovan.
2019-20 record: 19-45
The offense will be exciting, as No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards joins the dynamic pick-and-roll combo of D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. The bad news? This team plays no defense and has had just one winning season in the last 15 years. That's soon to be 16.
2019-20 record: 25-47
The Wizards' continued refusal to trade Bradley Beal means he and John Wall will finally play together. Unfortunately, Wall's albatross contract prevents Washington from surrounding the duo with any real talent.
2019-20 record: 44-28
General manager Sam Presti seems hell-bent on acquiring every future pick in every NBA Draft. More moves could be coming soon, too, as Steven Adams seems like prime trade bait.
2019-20 record: 31-41
The Kings have a new GM in Monte McNair and some upside with De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and potential draft steal Tyrese Haliburton. But we still don't trust Sacramento to be a good basketball team -- as evidenced by whatever just happened with Bogdan Bogdanovic.
2019-20 record: 32-39
DeMar DeRozan picking up his player option suggests the Spurs aren't going full tank mode yet. This roster isn't good, but Gregg Popovich will find a way to keep San Antonio out of the NBA basement.
2019-20 record: 33-40
Will the Magic ever not be in NBA purgatory? They have quality trade chips in Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic but most likely will just run it back with the same core and finish as the No. 8 seed.
2019-20 record: 20-47
Don't sleep on the Hawks, folks. Clint Capela was nice offseason pickup for a club well-stocked with young talent (led by Trae Young, of course). Atlanta reportedly is sniffing around on the trade market and could be battling for a playoff spot if it adds the right pieces.
2019-20 record: 34-39
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. should make the Grizzlies fun to watch this season, but the West is simply too good for them to be anything other than a fringe playoff contender.
2019-20 record: 30-42
Stan Van Gundy is an interesting hire for a young team that will lean heavily on Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball with Jrue Holiday off to Milwaukee. If all goes well, the Pelicans could be a sleeper in the West.
2019-20 record: 45-28
We still don't know what this team will look like on Dec. 22, as Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner reportedly have both requested trades. Kevin Pritchard will need to make a major splash if the Pacers want any chance of competing in a loaded East.
2019-20 record: 44-28
What a mess. Head coach Mike D'Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey are out, James Harden wants to play in Brooklyn and Russell Westbrook likely doesn't want to lead a solo act in Houston. Consider the title window closed.
2019-20 record: 34-39
Here come the Suns! Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton may have some growing pains with the Point God Chris Paul, but this team was gaining momentum last season, and Paul's presence should help shape Phoenix into a legitimate playoff team.
2019-20 record: 35-30
Robert Covington is a much-needed addition to a squad that didn't play a lick of defense last season. If the Blazers figure it out on that end of the floor, they could make some headway in a top-heavy conference.
2019-20 record: 44-58
The Jazz again project to be a solid playoff contender that Donovan Mitchell may carry to a first-round win. A trip past the second round seems unlikely, though. Might we suggest a Rudy Gobert trade to shake things up?
2019-20 record: 43-30
Daryl Morey isn't wasting any time, bringing much-needed perimeter shooting to Philly in Danny Green and Seth Curry. But new head coach Doc Rivers still needs another legitimate playmaker alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid (that Tobias Harris contract looks worse by the day) to get over the playoff hump.
2019-20 record: 43-32
If Kristaps Porzingis can stay on the floor for more than 60 games, the Mavericks could be a serious contender in the West. Even without him, Luka Doncic is good enough to carry this team to a No. 4 or 5 seed.
2019-20 record: 53-19
Lots of folks wrote the Raptors off last season after they lost Kawhi Leonard. Will they be worse on paper if Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol all depart in free agency? Probably. Will they somehow finish as a top-four seed in the East? Probably.
2019-20 record: 15-50
If it's indeed serious, Klay Thompson's injury is an absolute killer for a Warriors team that was expected to vault back into contention this season. They still should be a playoff team, but their future just got a lot murkier.
2019-20 record: 46-27
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are one of the NBA's most talented (and most entertaining) duos. The Nuggets could use more rebounding help -- especially if Paul Millsap leaves in free agency -- but they can easily be a top-3 seed in the West.
2019-20 record: 48-24
The future has looked bright in Boston for several years, but another trip to the East Finals won't placate Celtics fans. Danny Ainge needs to add an impact player via trade or free agency to help Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown lead the C's back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.
2019-20 record: 44-29
The Heat were built perfectly for the Orlando bubble. Can they recapture that magic under more "normal" circumstances? If Tyler Herro continues to improve, Miami will be a very tough playoff out. But another NBA Finals run seems unlikely.
2019-20 record: 35-37
Meet the NBA's biggest wild card. If James Harden gets his wish and teams up with a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, this team could compete for a championship. That or this dangerous chemistry experiment implodes in Steve Nash's face and one of the "Big Three" gets traded by February. Flip a coin.
2019-20 record: 49-23
Tyronn Lue inherits a team in flux, as Paul George's future remains unclear and Montrezl Harrell and Marcus Morris both could depart in free agency. But if George runs it back with Kawhi Leonard for one more season, the Clippers should be back near the top of the Western Conference, especially if they're able to attract a notable talent in free agency.
2019-20 record: 56-17
Expect the Bucks to cruise to the East's No. 1 seed after adding Jrue Holiday to an already loaded roster. But if they flame out in the postseason with this group? Don't expect Giannis Antetokounmpo to hang around much longer.
2019-20 record: 52-19
Dennis Schroder is an upgrade over a 34-year-old Rajon Rondo and should give the Lakers more consistent backcourt production. As long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy, the road to the 2021 NBA championship still runs through Los Angeles.
