NBA Power Rankings: Every Team Ranked Before Free Agency

Image via Complex Original

Yes, we have the Lakers at No. 1 in our rankings. No, you can't change our mind. The Lakers have LeBron James and Anthony Davis. That's the best duo in the NBA right now. It's a star league, and with the Warriors hobbled next season, things are setting up for a huge campagin from LeBron and company. 

When you have the reigning MVP on your roster you’re automatically one of the better teams in the NBA. While the Bucks have a lot to figure out in free agency—Malcolm Brogdan might be too pricey to retain, who knows what happens to Brook Lopez, but Khris Middleton easily could re-up—as long as they have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe that's good enough to be the best team in the Eastern Conference with Kawhi Leonard's destination TBD.

The Jazz at No. 3 may seem high, but guys, they're adding Mike Conley to a core of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. That's a damn good team that will be a legit contender this year. 

James Harden, Chris Paul, and Clint Capela is a flawed core, but it still a hell of a lot better than most. Plus PJ Tucker and Eric Gordon are still members of the organization—for now. This team might not work in the postseason, but it works pretty damn well in the regular season.

This one is simple: with Kawhi Leonard's status up in the air, the Raptors fall to No. 5. They're still a great team and obviously defending champions, but until Kawhi re-signs, we just can't put them higher. And if he leaves, well, Toronto might fall quite a bit. 

If you didn’t buy stock in the Nuggets last season you better start scooping it up with Jamal Murray (22) and Nikola Jokic (24) only getting nastier.

The Warriors are beaten up, but they're still the Warriors. While Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant could both still sign back with the team, they would miss a ton of games next season, regardless. The Warriors still have Steph, Dray, and Iggy and that should be enough to keep them afloat. 

Joel Embiid is the best center in the NBA when he’s healthy and if Ben Simmons actually returns for his third season with some semblance of a jump shot then Philly’s going to be just fine no matter who comes or goes in free agency.

The Blazers are a team that are one move away from being a legit title contender. The league is wide open right now, and Dame & CJ are one of the best duos in the NBA. Things are looking pretty great in Portland. 

Love or hate him, Russell Westbrook is still an elite—albeit possibly deteriorating—score-first point guard who has learned to co-exist relatively well with Paul George, himself an MVP finalist this past season. The rest of the supporting cast will probably look different when the regular season rolls around, but two All-NBA caliber players anchor this squad. Don’t complicate things.

The Clippers are one of the most interesting teams in free agency, but even as is, their roster is promising. Shai is a future star. Harrell and Lou Will are the bench duo in the NBA. Things are looking up in Clipperland, even if they don't land Kawhi. 

The core of LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan, and Dejounte Murray—coming back from a knee injury—is still better than most. You going to shade Gregg Popovich and the rest of the Spurs, perennially one of the NBA’s best home teams, by dropping them any lower?

A lot is up in the air for the Nets this summer, which is why they're in the middle of the pack in these set of rankings. If they indeed have the summer that everyone expects and add Kyrie Irving plus another max player, then the Nets will surely rise in the next rankings. 

Victor Oladipo will be back—but not for a few months—and Domantas Sabonis deserves way more respect than he gets. The Pacers are one really good free agent away from being a problem. Looking at you, Ricky Rubio. 

Spoiler Alert: I love this Pelicans team. They got a legit haul back for Anthony Davis with the additions of Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Brandon Ingram. Oh yeah, they also have Zion Williamson. And Jrue Holiday. Why can't the Pelicans make the playoffs next year? 

Luka Doncic is the future of the league and an incredibly attractive building block for other free agents meaning the run of futility in Dallas—they’ve missed the playoffs for the past three seasons—should come to an end real quick.

The Celtics will likely look a lot different next season with the likely departures of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford. They still have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but the time is now for both to take the next steps in their careers. Woj is calling Boston the favorites to sign Kemba Walker this summer, which would surely bump them up in the next version of these rankings. 

Low-key Atlanta has an impressive, albeit very young, roster that’s going to be a pain in the ass to play, especially at home when squads will be gassed for games after spending the previous night enjoying ATL’s notorious nightlife.

Detroit should continue to be a fringe playoff team in the East, but they need to add more talent around Blake Griffin, ASAP. 

A surprise playoff team that could be back in the mix with the return of its center, Nikola Vucevic…or back in the lottery if he bolts.

I really, really want the Kings to make the playoffs next year. They have a fun young team behind De'Aaron Fox and a fanbase that is desperate for a winner. Bring the playoffs back to Sacramento. 

When you have Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins as your core, you really should be higher than this. While Towns could elevate his game further, we’re forever waiting on Wiggins to fulfill the promise of being worthy of the No. 1 pick. And because we’re forever waiting on Wiggins to put it together consistently that’s why we have Minnesota so low.

Is Michael Jordan really not about to pay Kemba Walker? This Hornets roster might be the worst in the league if Kemba actually walks. 

When the best comp for your draft pick is Scott Storch—hat tip Bomani Jones—you know it’s going to be a long season on South Beach.

The Bulls have been wildly mediocre for a few years now, but maybe the addition of Coby White can spark this young team. 

When you still don’t have a general manager and free agency is about to hit this is where you deserve to reside.

The Grizzlies core of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. is a great starting point for Memphis, but this team is going to be bad next season. Fun, but bad. 

The Knicks are going to bad. Really bad. Maybe forever.

Will the Suns ever be good again? We might need to start a #FreeDevinBooker campaign in 2020. 

Worst team in the league and it ain’t even close.