2024-25 NBA Power Rankings: Every Team’s Starting Position + a Wild Preseason Stat

The 2024-25 NBA season is here, and that means it's time to fire up the power rankings again. We now have a full, transaction-packed offseason, the draft, summer league and the preseason to inform our thinking. And that, in combination with the same criteria that guided us throughout last season, gives us a picture of the upcoming campaign. Based on team and individual numbers, recent performance, championship chances (with a little more emphasis placed on this one in this edition) and plenty of subjectivity, here's where the entire league ranks on opening night. 30. Washington Wizards (+100000) 1 of 31 Jordan PooleStephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images After winning just 15 games last season, the Washington Wizards should remain very much in the hunt for the league's worst record and the distinction of being its worst team. There are a few intriguing young players, including a potential three-and-D wing in Bilal Coulibaly and incoming No. 2 overall pick, Alexandre Sarr, but there's little to no star power. Washington doesn't even have to jettison its veterans (like Malcolm Brogdon, Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valančiūnas) to pile up losses and a better shot at the top 2025 pick (though it probably should and will). Even in the weaker conference, the Wizards aren't likely to be favored in many games this season. 29. Portland Trail Blazers (+100000) 2 of 31 Scoot HendersonRocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images In the loaded West, the Portland Trail Blazers probably don't have to do anything to be in the mix for the conference's worst record. That doesn't mean they can't improve their chances at landing the No. 1 pick, though. Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III could be dealt to playoff teams. If Deandre Ayton starts the season strong enough, he may garner some interest, too. If Portland really wants to get serious about a teardown, it might even consider moving Anfernee Simons. But again, the Blazers could probably just stand pat and still lose 55-plus games. There are a lot more growing pains for Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe to work through, and the coaching staff should give them every opportunity to do that, even if it's painful in the short term. 28. Utah Jazz (+100000) 3 of 31 Keyonte George and Cody WilliamsGlenn James/NBAE via Getty Images For each of the two seasons prior to this one, the Utah Jazz waited too long to embrace losing and chasing better lottery odds. That resulted in mid-lottery picks, rather than better shots at stars near the top of the draft. They shouldn't (and maybe even can't) afford to do that this year, with Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey potentially available in 2025. That means players like Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and John Collins should probably be moved earlier in the year than Mike Conley was in 2022-23 and Simone Fontecchio and Kelly Olynyk were in 2023-24. It might also mean extremely conservative (bordering on suspicious) recovery timelines for any injuries that might come up for Lauri Markkanen. And if those measures aren't enough to enter the tank race in earnest, Utah can simply play its young prospects more than it has the last couple of years. The Jazz haven't had a top-five pick since moving Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but they have had multiple picks in each of the past two drafts. It's time to hand out tons of playing time, earned or not, to the likes of Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 27. Detroit Pistons (+100000) 4 of 31 Cade CunninghamThearon W. Henderson/Getty Images The Detroit Pistons brought back Simone Fontecchio and added Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. this offseason. The plan seems pretty clear: Surround Cade Cunningham with a little more shooting and veteran competence. It makes sense, and it'll likely lead to a seven- or eight-win jump, but that won't be enough to pull the Pistons away from the bottom of the East. They went 14-68 last season and will still be handing out plenty of rotation minutes to mostly unproven players like Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. Whether they realize it yet or not, they're in the mix for Flagg in 2025. 26. Brooklyn Nets (+100000) 5 of 31 Ben SimmonsNathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images Reacquiring control of their 2025 first-round pick and sending Mikal Bridges to the Knicks this past summer were pretty clear signs that the Brooklyn Nets are ready to rebuild. But fully embracing that approach may take a few more moves. Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith both have the kind of three-and-D, low-usage games that should be easily portable to other schemes, and they're on reasonable contracts. Contenders might be interested in adding the shooting of Bojan Bogdanović or the slashing of Dennis Schröder, too. That leaves just one, 6'10" playmaking domino in Ben Simmons who has plenty to prove between now and the trade deadline. If he proves healthy and closer to the All-Star version of himself from 2018-19 through 2020-21 (when he averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.7 steals) than the more recent one (6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists, with a 43.1 free-throw percentage over the last two seasons), Brooklyn might be able to turn Simmons into one or two more assets. From there, no matter how many tough jumpers Cam Thomas hits, the Nets will be in the mix for a loss on just about every night they play. 25. Charlotte Hornets (+100000) 6 of 31 LaMelo BallGrant Halverson/Getty Images We finally arrive at a team that may have reasonable hopes for a berth in the play-in tournament. Assuming LaMelo Ball can stay healthy (maybe bold, but still), the Charlotte Hornets have a tailormade (though young) guard-wing-big trio with him, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams. Ball brings playmaking and outside shooting in volume. Miller looks like he could play an awful lot like his idol, Paul George. And Williams (though he's had his own health struggles), has looked solid as both a rim-runner and -protector. If all three show some improvement over recent years and a couple potential role players (like Miles Bridges, Josh Green or Cody Martin) pop, the Hornets could push 40 wins. 24. Chicago Bulls (+100000) 7 of 31 Zach LaVineMelissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Despite losing DeMar DeRozan this offseason, the Chicago Bulls are sort of signaling that they'd like another season competing for a play-in spot Zach LaVine is still on the roster, and it doesn't look like he'll be going anywhere soon. And though his scoring efficiency dropped off a cliff last season, Nikola Vučević is still good for a double-double and close to 20 points on most nights. If those two are healthy and active, the Bulls could at least get to 35-40 wins. And in the East, that's probably good enough for a top-10 finish. A slow start could open the organization's eyes, though. If Chicago begins the campaign with a big losing streak, it might get more serious about moving either or both of the veterans above and handing the reins over to Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. That'd obviously lead to more losses. But at this point, that's probably a good thing. Chicago doesn't really have a surefire future star, and this 2025 draft could give it one. 23. Toronto Raptors (+100000) 8 of 31 Scottie BarnesBrian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images Like Charlotte, at least in theory, the Toronto Raptors have a pretty obvious "big three" in place. They don't really have a traditional big on the same timeline, but Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes still make up an interesting trio that boasts plenty of playmaking and defensive versatility. It'd be nice if there was a little more robust history of good shooting, but there's still some developmental runway left for all three. If they slightly exceed or even match expectations, Toronto could be in the mix for a play-in spot. If someone like Gradey Dick joins them, the Raptors might even be able to escape that mix. 22. Atlanta Hawks (+35000) 9 of 31 Zaccharie RisacherKevin C. Cox/Getty Images The Dejounte Murray era is over for the Atlanta Hawks, and there's reason to believe they can be better without him as early as this season. Over the two years Murray was in town, Atlanta was minus-0.3 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor with Trae Young. The Hawks were plus-2.3 when Young played without Murray. There's potentially some missing context there. Some of the Young minutes may have come against bench-heavy lineups, but the sample is more than twice as big for those non-Murray minutes. A system built around Young's all-world playmaking just makes more sense on paper. Surrounding him with length, switchability and shooting (which Zaccharie Risacher, De'Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson should bring) is pretty obvious, too. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean Atlanta will instantly get back to the playoffs in 2025, but the team is at least logical again. And it's easy to get excited about a future with Young (still just 26 years old), Risacher (19) and Johnson (22). 21. Los Angeles Clippers (+10000) 10 of 31 Derrick Jones Jr., James Harden and Ivica ZubacJuan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images The Los Angeles Clippers might have the widest range of potential outcomes in the league. They have two superstars, and though James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are both past their primes, they're still capable of single-handedly swinging games. Together, and when surrounded by a decent supporting cast that includes versatile forwards like Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum and Terance Mann, they could compete with just about anyone. But the other end of the range is pretty scary. Kawhi is already injured, and it's hard to trust he'll play 65-plus games for a second year in a row (he hasn't done that since 2015-16 and 2016-17). Expecting a 35-year-old Harden to be able to carry a team the way he did during his prime years with the Houston Rockets is borderline absurd. Harden doesn't have the same burst off the dribble as he did back then. And his best weapon in lineups without Kawhi might be Ivica Zubac. In the loaded Western Conference, there's a very real chance LA doesn't even make the play-in. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 20. San Antonio Spurs (+15000) 11 of 31 Victor Wembanyama and Chris PaulPhotos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images Since this may be the last chance to share this number, I have to do it just one more time. Last season, the San Antonio Spurs were minus-6.3 points per 100 possessions. But when Victor Wembanyama shared the floor with Tre Jones (an actual point guard, as opposed to the "Jeremy Sochan is a point guard" experiment) and Devin Vassell (a rotation-level NBA wing), the Spurs were a whopping plus-10.2 points per 100 possessions. And that wasn't on some minuscule sample size. San Antonio played the equivalent of about 17 full games with all three on the floor. Now, with Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes on the roster, it'll be harder for San Antonio's coaching staff to avoid traditional alignments. So, while it might be nice for the Spurs to be bad one more year (just imagine Wembanyama playing with Flagg), they might not be able to chase the top pick in 2024-25. 19. Houston Rockets (+8000) 12 of 31 Reed SheppardMelissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images This is the era of parity in the NBA. From here on out, every team in this slideshow can reasonably believe it'll make the playoffs. That starts with a young Houston Rockets squad that exceeded expectations by going 41-41 last season. Alperen Şengün had a very real All-Star case for much of the early portion of 2023-24 as a playmaking big. Jalen Green looked like a dynamic scorer over the later months of the season. Jabari Smith Jr. has shown potential to be a high-impact, three-and-D forward (who can even play some small-ball 5). Moderate improvement from those three, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore will make it hard to keep the Rockets out of the play-in tournament. If incoming rookie sharpshooter Reed Sheppard is good enough to force his way into the rotation (and maybe even the starting five by January or February), the play-in might start to look like the floor. 18. Miami Heat (+5000) 13 of 31 Bam AdebayoRich Storry/Getty Images The Miami Heat’s ceiling is largely dependent on the availability of Jimmy Butler. There’s plenty of talent beyond him. Bam Adebayo is an All-Star and one of the best defenders in the NBA. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. make up one of the league’s most interesting young wing duos. But a surefire top-six finish and a return to legitimate contention will take the presence of “Playoff Jimmy” for more than just the playoffs. Given his expiring contract and the chance he has to earn one last big deal, it’s reasonable to think he’ll push a little harder in the regular season than he has in the past. 17. New Orleans Pelicans (+5000) 14 of 31 Zion WilliamsonIssac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images If the New Orleans Pelicans have any desire to start games with a traditional-looking lineup, there aren’t many options on the roster for it. They could toss rookie Yves Missi into the fray, but he’s likely far from ready to contribute to a playoff contender. Daniel Theis has significantly more experience, but he’s 6’8” and has spent most of his career as a reserve for a reason. If you’re going to be that small anyway, you might as well embrace the small-ball lineup staring you in the face, start Zion Williamson as the nominal 5 and just try to run opponents out of the gym. Those lineups would struggle to defend, but surrounding Zion with Dejounte Murray’s playmaking and the three-and-D prowess of Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III would make them a nightmare to keep up with on both ends. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 16. Sacramento Kings (+5500) 15 of 31 DeMar DeRozan, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas SabonisEzra Shaw/Getty Images It'll probably take a little time to figure out the division of labor for the new-look Sacramento Kings, who added DeMar DeRozan to the well-established duo of De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Simple lack of familiarity is obviously part of that, but some of the overlapping skills of those three will be a factor, too. DeRozan has done much of the offensive damage throughout his career in the mid-range. Fox's effectiveness has a lot to do with his ability to slash through the paint. And Sabonis does a lot of his playmaking inside the three-point line, too. Things could get crowded. But on sheer talent, the Kings could once again have one of the league's more potent attacks, especially since there are multiple high-volume three-point shooters to flank the star trio. Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk getting up plenty of triples will be crucial. 15. Indiana Pacers (+5000) 16 of 31 Myles Turner and Tyrese HaliburtonPepper Robinson/NBAE via Getty Images The Indiana Pacers' long odds to win it all are a reflection of the way most fans and media have discussed them this offseason. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Yeah, the Eastern Conference Finals run was cool. Sure, Tyrese Haliburton is a star. And it'll be nice to have Pascal Siakam for an entire season. But Indiana benefitted from a lot of opponents' injuries. And in a conference with the Boston Celtics, beefed up New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers and "we're still here" Milwaukee Bucks, it'll be tough for Indiana to make it to the third round again. The Pacers could certainly spin the doubt into some motivation. They wouldn't be the first team to embrace the "nobody believes in us" mentality. And there's certainly a lot of talent here. Myles Turner has become one of the league's more underrated three-and-D bigs. Andrew Nembhard is a solid combo guard who can run the offense when Haliburton is out. Aaron Nesmith is emerging as a dangerous three-and-D wing. But truly proving the doubters wrong will probably take some kind of leap from one of the up-and-comers (like Bennedict Mathurin or Jarace Walker). 14. Golden State Warriors (+4500) 17 of 31 Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry and Draymond GreenEzra Shaw/Getty Images Even after the loss of Klay Thompson, it's not hard to argue that the Golden State Warriors got better this offseason. Aside from the expected, natural development of younger players like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Moses Moody, Golden State added multiple veterans who could've helped just about any contender. Buddy Hield is one of the best high-volume three-point shooters in NBA history (Thompson and Stephen Curry are the only players who match or exceed both of his career marks for three-point percentage and threes per game). Kyle Anderson is a multipositional defender who can run an offense as a 4 or 5. De'Anthony Melton can take on difficult perimeter assignments while also having some combo guard chops of his own. Add all that to the fact that the Warriors were plus-6.1 points per 100 possessions when Curry and Draymond Green played without Klay in 2023-24, and it's pretty easy to imagine a return to the postseason. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 13. Los Angeles Lakers (+4000) 18 of 31 Anthony DavisStacy Revere/Getty Images This might seem a little high for a team that's been in the play-in tournament in each of the last two (and three of the last four) seasons. That's especially true when you remember that the only meaningful additions from this past offseason were non-lottery pick Dalton Knecht and a late second-rounder whose dad is on the team. But the Los Angeles Lakers' coaching change could be a meaningful one, in part because JJ Redick has already publicly committed to a starting five that Darvin Ham took way too long to get to. L.A. was plus-6.6 points per 100 possessions when D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Anthony Davis were all on the floor. And if that first group's supporting cast is a little healthier than it was in 2023-24, the Lakers should be a tough out on most nights. 12. Orlando Magic (+4000) 19 of 31 Franz WagnerLayne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images Paolo Banchero understandably gets most of the love from the media (he was a No. 1 pick whose tough shotmaking is the kind of thing that draws in casual fans), but Franz Wagner was arguably better in 2023-24 (according to catch-all metrics and a blind poll pitting both players' stats against each other). That's not meant to be hot-takey or anything. The point is more that the Orlando Magic have two All-Star-level forwards who are 6'10", can handle the ball for themselves and others and are 23 and under. That duo gives the Magic one of the best young foundations in the league, and they're part of why Orlando is a near-lock to get back to the playoffs. With even minor improvements from those two, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr., the Magic might even finish in the top four and get home-court advantage in the first round. 11. Memphis Grizzlies (+4000) 20 of 31 Zach EdeyDylan Buell/Getty Images It was already pretty easy to buy the Memphis Grizzlies as an obvious bounce-back candidate this season. Just getting Ja Morant back should've put them squarely back in the mix for a playoff spot. During his career, the Grizzlies are plus-7.0 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor with Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. But a return to the postseason feels even more likely after just a few preseason appearances from incoming rookie Zach Edey. The 7'4" big man has scored in double-figures in three straight preseason games, including a 23-point outing against the Indiana Pacers. And while the questions about his defensive mobility probably won't be answered for at least a few more months, it looks like he could be a dangerous finisher inside as early as opening night. If he's already a legitimate, starting-caliber 5, Memphis might even be ranked a little too low right now. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 10. Cleveland Cavaliers (+4000) 21 of 31 Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Tristan ThompsonBen Jackson/MLB Photos via Getty Images After going 48-34, finishing fourth in the East and winning a first-round series, the Cleveland Cavaliers are running it back in 2024-25. They extended Donovan Mitchell, re-signed Isaac Okoro and brought back each of their top 12 players in total minutes from last season. It's certainly a different approach than what most teams have done in recent years. And, given the overlap between Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in the backcourt and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen inside, it may have come as a bit of a surprise to some. But incoming coach Kenny Atkinson is a creative offensive mind who may be able to better stagger those four. There's also value in continuity. It might be hard to group Cleveland with the likes of the Celtics, Knicks, Sixers and Bucks, but at the very least, the Cavs should be competitive every night. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 9. Minnesota Timberwolves (+1000) 22 of 31 Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzoDavid L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images After making their first Western Conference Finals since 2004 with a jumbo roster that seemed tailor-made to at least bother Nikola Jokić, the Minnesota Timberwolves made a bold trade this offseason to turn Karl-Anthony Towns into Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. It could very well be little more than a cost-cutting move. Wanting to get out from under Towns' contract, which is set to pay him $61 million in 2027-28 (when he has a player option), is understandable. But the front office can sell this as something more than that (even if not everyone is buying that). Julius Randle doesn't fit as well as KAT. He'll take ball-handling possessions from Anthony Edwards, and his jump shot could have the floor pretty cramped when Rudy Gobert's on it. But he does make the presumed starting five a bit more nimble and switchable on defense. And he's long been an underrated creator and distributor. Perhaps just as important, Donte DiVincenzo should be a huge boost to a bench that already features Naz Reid. He can back up either Mike Conley or Edwards, takes and makes threes at a high rate and competes on defense. The Timberwolves should still be considered a contender (even if only a fringe one). 8. Milwaukee Bucks (+1400) 23 of 31 Giannis AntetokounmpoStacy Revere/Getty Images On one hand, the masses seemingly cooling on the Milwaukee Bucks is understandable. They've been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in each of the last two years. They went out in the second round the year before. The defensive identity spearheaded by Jrue Holiday left when he did. The coaching situation was a mess last season. And Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are all past their primes. Even if Milwaukee is still good, it's fair to think they may be lagging behind the Knicks, Sixers and (more obviously) Celtics. On the other hand, Giannis Antetokounmpo (one of the 3-5 best players in the world) is still in his prime. And for the last six years, having him on the floor has almost always led to winning minutes. There's still plenty of championship equity here, and adding Gary Trent Jr. and Delon Wright on the cheap should help, too. The Bucks are still on the contenders' tier, even if they're sliding toward the edge of it. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 7. Phoenix Suns (+2000) 24 of 31 Devin BookerChris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images The Phoenix Suns were a bit underwhelming last season, but injuries limited the star-studded trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to just under 1,800 possessions (or around 18 full games). With Beal only appearing in 53 games and the rest of the team struggling to jell after major roster shakeups, going 49-33 may have been a little better result than we remember. Simply getting better health for him (which may be a lot to ask, at this point in his career), should make the Suns better, but they also managed to upgrade some key rotation spots this offseason. After trying sort of a "point guard by committee" approach with Beal and Booker, they now have two of the steadiest 1s in the league in Tyus Jones and Monte Morris. Mason Plumlee is better than last year's backup 5, Drew Eubanks, too. The expectations for this Phoenix squad may have just been a year early. 6. New York Knicks (+750) 25 of 31 Karl-Anthony TownsEvan Bernstein/Getty Images The New York Knicks' front office could've easily justified sitting back and getting ready for the 2024-25 campaign after landing Mikal Bridges from the Nets. They already have an MVP candidate in Jalen Brunson, and surrounding him with three of his Villanova teammates and another gritty defender in OG Anunoby made them a fringe contender. But the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein and an injury to Mitchell Robinson made New York thin up front. So, it moved Julius Randle and one of those Wildcats for one from Kentucky. Now the Knicks have one of the best shooting bigs of all time on one end of their starting five, Brunson on the other and three gritty, switchable wings and forwards in between them. Depth is a real question mark now, but this starting five—with Brunson, Josh Hart, Bridges, Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns—has a chance to be the best in the NBA. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 5. Dallas Mavericks (+1100) 26 of 31 Klay Thompson and Dereck Lively IIAdam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images After a surprise run to the NBA Finals in 2024, the Dallas Mavericks didn't really make any huge changes. Their three most important players for 2024-25—Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II—were all on the roster last season. But they did make changes. And if each of the three incoming wings turns into a marginal upgrade over their predecessor, Dallas should still be in the mix for a championship. Klay Thompson is a bigger and more reliable shooter than Tim Hardaway Jr. Naji Marshall is a stouter defender and more reliable three-point shooter than Derrick Jones Jr. Quentin Grimes is steadier than Josh Green. (Or at least, that's what Dallas is hoping from those three swaps.) But ultimately, of course, the height of the Mavericks' ceiling is entirely dependent on their all-time great playmaker. As long as Luka is healthy, Dallas will have a shot to beat just about anyone in a series. 4. Philadelphia 76ers (+1000) 27 of 31 Joel EmbiidJesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images There's a lot of projection and optimism in this ranking. Joel Embiid could be done playing in back-to-backs for the rest of his career. Paul George is 34 and is already dealing with a knee injury. And the supporting cast for those two and Tyrese Maxey will be learning to play together on the fly. But if (and yes, I know that's a massive if) Embiid, George and Maxey are all healthy for a postseason run, the Sixers can win the championship. Maxey is a budding superstar who can get to the paint against just about anyone and has somehow quietly become one of the league's more reliable high-volume three-point shooters (he's a career 39.6 percent shooter from deep). Embiid is one of the most prolific scorers and foul-drawers in NBA history. And George, with his three-point shooting and multipositional defense, seems like a perfect gap-filler for those two. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 3. Denver Nuggets (+1100) 28 of 31 Aaron Gordon and Nikola JokićBart Young/NBAE via Getty Images Consider this placement of the Denver Nuggets some mild disagreement to the general reaction to the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Yes, the Denver Nuggets lost a starter, but Christian Braun is better suited to defend wings and forwards and is almost a decade younger. More minutes alongside Jokić could make his individual numbers look more like KCP's, too. More importantly, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon are all still there. Russell Westbrook, now that he's adapted to being a reserve, will be an upgrade over Reggie Jackson. And Dario Šarić will almost certainly be an upgrade over not really having a backup 5 at all in 2023-24. 2. Oklahoma City Thunder (+650) 29 of 31 Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderZach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images Yes, the Oklahoma City Thunder will still be among the younger teams in the league. Yes, this core has only won one playoff series together. But FanDuel giving them the shortest title odds in the West makes sense. Youth means inexperience, but it could also mean plenty of development is on the way for Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and maybe even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And after getting the top seed in the conference last year, the Thunder shored up two of their only weaknesses with veterans. Isaiah Hartenstein is one of the NBA's more versatile centers and the kind of rebounder who could completely change OKC's fortunes in that area of the game. And beyond being one of the league's best perimeter defenders, Alex Caruso is a better and more willing three-point shooter than Giddey. The Thunder could push for 60 wins this season. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 1. Boston Celtics (+320) 30 of 31 Derrick White and Jayson TatumBrian Choi/NBAE via Getty Images One of the more obvious picks for the No. 1 spot in years, the Boston Celtics played like a juggernaut all last regular season, went 16-3 in the playoffs, won the Finals and brought back their entire rotation for a title defense. Boston is like a supercharged version of the 2003-04 Pistons; a superteam without a superstar (depending on your definition of that last term). Jayson Tatum may not be a top-five player, but he starts with four other top-50 players. He and Jaylen Brown make up one of the league's more dangerous combinations of defensive forwards. Both score in volume. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are the best defensive backcourt and are steady-handed guards who are willing to defer to the shoot-first forwards. Kristaps Porziņģis is the perfect, rim-protecting, floor-spacing 5 to keep defenses spread out and help the other four attack wider driving lanes. If there's any concern over the Celtics right now, it may be KP missing the first few months of the season recovering from an injury, but this is also one of the deepest rosters in the league. They'll still win the overwhelming majority of their games with a center rotation that includes Al Horford, Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet. Barring something dramatic in the early portion of the season, it's hard to imagine any team but this one being the title favorite for the foreseeable future. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Stat of the Preseason 31 of 31 Domantas Sabonis and Stephen CurryNoah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images The three-point revolution does not appear to be slowing down for the 2024-25 campaign. This preseason, a whopping 44.1 percent of all shots taken by NBA teams were triples. And though that number may come down a bit for the regular season, it still seems like the league may be poised to break the record for three-point-attempt rate again. Right now, the all-time high for a season is 39.9 percent of all shots being threes. That happened in 2021-22. Ten years ago, the mark was 26.8. Two decades back, it was 19.6. It seems like we have to hit a breaking point eventually, but don't expect 2024-25 to be it.