For the West:
- OKC
- T-wolves
- Nuggets (I initially have Denver 4th since they took a huge hit losing KCP and the realisation that they are a 2nd round team with a horrible bench. Daron Holmes going down is also a factor. But seeing they’re getting both Saric and Westbrook, I think thats solid enough back up for them to sneak back into Top 3)
- Kings
- Mavs (not a reg seasn team. Luka’s 82 game conditioning is atrocious and they rely on 35 year olds like Klay and Kyrie)
- Grizzlies (Ja return is spooky, but their rustiness after 1 year out would show)
- Pels (DeJounte, they just need a C)
- Spurs (Victor now has CP3 and H Barnes instead of Tre Jones and Keldon John, he’s about to show another level of impact)
- PHX
- Clippers
- Lakers
- Rockets
- GS
- Jazz
- Blazers
For the East:
- Celtics
- NY (if they kept Hartenstein, I’d have them above the Celtics. This is a superteam, people just arent used to rating the Knicks)
- Sixers (added PG and a few other pieces to a dominant Embiid)
- Bucks (Beasley left and Lillard is gonna keep falling off)
- Cavs
- Magic (KCP is a nice get)
- Hornets (people gonna hate on this pick, but they are injured all year with Clifford as coach. They made 2 play-ins prior. LaMelo, Miller, Grant, Miles, Mark with Charles Lee are ready)
- Heat (Jimmy is a lazy as s in the reg seasn)
- Pacers (the new Trae Young Hawks - last playoffs is gonna prove to be a fluke as they struggle bck in play-ins)
- Bulls (Lonzo is bck. And I actually think Lavine is gonna play better without needing to share isos with DeMar)
- Hawks (low key a semi rebuild. Starting frontcourt are Risacher, Jalen John and Okongwu)
- Pistons (added some nice pieces - Tobias, Beasley, Hardaway, Reed, Holland, Fontecchio and have a coach who actually wants to coach. This team is gonna be mad different)
- Raptors
- DC (another team that added some underrated pieces - Valanciunas, Sarr, Brogdon, Bey)
- Nets
Lakers 11th seed is harsh