NBA Power Rankings

Off-Season Power Rankings

WEST

1. L.A. LAKERS
Best 7: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, Steve Blake

They're the champs, and they haven't really lost anybody. Blake should see significant time as Fisher's backup.

2. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Best 7: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison, James Harden, Serge Ibaka

When you look at the jump in improvement from 2009 to 2010, you'd have to expect that much more improvement this season, right? Durant's proving to be one of those really special players, one to mention in the same breath as LeBron soon enough.

3. DALLAS MAVERICKS
Best 7: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler, Brendan Haywood, Jason Terry

They also have JJ Barea and Rodrique Beaubois. This is a deep team that could do some damage if Kidd's as effective as he was last year and Mark Cuban doesn't trade a third of the team like he seems to do every mid-season. Cohesion is the key with these guys.

4. UTAH JAZZ
Best 7: Deron Williams, Al Jefferson, Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Millsap, Mehmet Okur, CJ Miles, Raja Bell

They replaced a 6-8 20/10 power forward (Boozer) with a 6-10 20/10 center forward (Jefferson). They drafted Gordon Hayward, who showed in summer league he'll be able to handle the shooting and perimeter passing the Jazz will miss without Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews. And they're bringing back Raja Bell, who won the hearts and minds of 14 other Western fanbases when he clotheslined Kobe in the playoffs a few years back. Now if they can just stay healthy...

5. DENVER NUGGETS
Best 7: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Nene, Kenyon Martin, JR Smith, Ty Lawson, Al Harrington

Al Harrington was a great pick-up for them, especially for a team with injury issues. The most important thing for this team is to have coach George Karl back. The Adrian Dantley experiment proved disastrous.

6. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
Best 7: Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Miller, Greg Oden, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby, Wesley Matthews

They overpaid to bring over Wesley Matthews. Now Rudy Fernandez has to be wondering what his role is. Still, if Greg Oden can stay on the court, the Roy-Aldridge dup can only excel.

7. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Best 7: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, George Hill, Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair, Matt Bonner

Health, health, health. Let me beat the drum. The Richard Jefferson experiment didn't work, and they're definitely not done looking around in the free agent market. In fact, Jefferson might even return to the Spurs at a lower price. I think the championship window has closed on this team, but not the playoffs window.

8. HOUSTON ROCKETS
Best 7: Yao Ming, Kevin Martin, Trevor Ariza, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks, Chase Budinger

It will be good for the NBA if Yao Ming can return as his old self after missing the past year or so. This is a talented group that should be able to make some noise.

9. PHOENIX SUNS
Best 7: Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson, Goran Dragic, Hedo Turkoglu, Josh Childress, Robin Lopez

They've brought in some good players, but they will collectively not make up for the absense of Amare Stoudamire. And I predict this is the year the fountain of youth wears off and Nash loses a step. And Grant Hill.

10. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Best 7: OJ Mayo, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, Marko Jaric, Tony Allen

If they had an All-Star point guard on this squad they'd be much higher, but Conley so far has not proven to be more than serviceable. They threw away a draft pick by trading for Ronnie Brewer and then passing on him to bring in Tony Allen.

11. L.A. CLIPPERS
Best 7: Baron Davis, Blake Griffin, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon, Ryan Gomes, Al-Farouq Aminu, Randy Foye

Great starting five. No bench. A lot is riding on Griffin and Aminu, who have yet to play a minute.

12. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Best 7: Chris Paul, David West, Darren Collison, Emeka Okafor, Peja Stojakovic, Marcus Thornton, James Posey

A talented team that's been in disarray. Would they dare trade CP3?

13. SACRAMENTO KINGS
Best 7: Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Francisco Garcia, Samuel Dalembert, Beno Udrih, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson

I'm trying not to put too many rookies in the best 7 but Cousins has been dominant in summer league. He bodes well for the Kings' future, and they'll be in prime positions for the free agent class of 2011.

14. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Best 7: Stephen Curry, David Lee, Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Dan Gadzuric, Charlie Bell

Curry-Lee-Ellis-Biedrins should be able to do some damage, but Don Nelson's still coaching and that's all they got.

15. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Best 7: Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn, Martell Webster, Michael Beasley, Corey Brewer, Ramon Sessions, Ryan Hollins

This team's a mess.


EAST

1. MIAMI HEAT
Best 7: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Mike Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Halsem

The Big Three are getting decent help. They're instantly the most hated team in the East, and the favorite. It's going to be a special year.

2. ORLANDO MAGIC
Best 7: Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus, JJ Redick, Chris Duhon

I wonder if Fran Vasquez is ever going to join this team. Anyway, if the Heat ever have a chemistry meltdown, these guys are right there. And they will be there for years to come.

3. BOSTON CELTICS
Best 7: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, Jermaine O'Neal

I'd heard Rasheed Wallace was retiring but I don't know if that's official or not. They're keeping the gang together, and while age may have been a factor in the finals, they were only a minute away from winning their second championship in three years. They have high hopes for Avery Bradley too.

4. CHICAGO BULLS
Best 7: Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer

They took the consolation prize of Boozer in the free agent market. I can't help but think they regret giving away Kirk Hinrich now. But hey, they're getting three Jazz players, and those guys know how to get to the playoffs. They still need to fill out their bench.

5. ATLANTA HAWKS
Best 7: Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Mike Bibby, Jamal Crawford, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia

They overpaid to keep Johnson, but after the top-heavy teams, the East is pretty thin. They should be in the mix of it all year.

6. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Best 7: Brandon Jennings, Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd, Corey Maggette, John Salmons, Luc Mbah a Moute, Drew Gooden

This will be an interesting team to watch. I really like the pieces they put together. I wonder if they try trading Redd or just let his salary come off the books next year and go for a big-name free agent.

7. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Best 7: Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, DJ Augustin, Tyrus Thomas, Erick Dampier, Boris Diaw, Matt Carroll

I'm not crazy about their current roster, but Larry Brown is still there as coach and no team below them has made any moves to jump above them. I predict they'll be the 7th seed in the East with a 41-41 record.

8. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Best 7: Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao, Antawn Jamison, Delonte West, Anthony Parker, JJ Hickson, Daniel Gibson

After years of building the roster to compliment LeBron James, he's gone, and now they're stuck with a James-less, Z-less, Shaq-less roster. But I don't see this team rolling over and dying, especially not with Byron Scott as their coach.

9. NEW YORK KNICKS
Best 7: Amare Stoudamire, Anthony Randolph, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Ronny Turiaf, Kelenna Azubuike

Amare and Mike D'Antoni are reunited, and the result will be the Knicks have their best season in years. Just not good enough to make the playoffs, unless they get a good mid-season deal.

10. TORONTO RAPTORS
Best 7: Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, Leandro Barbosa, Marco Bellinelli, Jarrett Jack, Amir Johnson, Demar DeRozan

Another team that'll play with a chip on its shoulder now that they've lost their star player. But Barbosa should fit in nicely, and Ed Davis will get every opportunity to contribute right away.

11. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Best 7: Andre Iguodala, Evan Turner, Elton Brand, Andres Nocioni, Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holiday, Jason Kapono

Evan Turner wasn't great in summer league, but he should pick the NBA game pretty quickly and get this team back on the right path. A lot hinges on his progress and Brand's health. I don't know if Doug Collins still has it in him to be a great coach. I remember his Wizards stint.

12. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Best 7: Gilbert Arenas, John Wall, Al Thornton, Kirk Hinrich, Andray Blatche, Nick Young, JaVale McGee

Arenas, Wall, Hinrich. One heck of a backcourt. But what do they really have for a frontcourt?

13. DETROIT PISTONS
Best 7: Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon, Rodney Stuckey, Austin Daye, Charlie Villenueva, Jason Maxiell

Greg Monroe will be a nice addition to this club, but last year made it look like it's time to blow this thing up and start over. I'm sure they'll entertain plenty of offers for Tayshaun's expiring contract in the midseason.

14. INDIANA PACERS
Best 7: Danny Granger, Brandon Rush, TJ Ford, Jamaal Tinsley, Roy Hibbert, Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy

Seems like this season will just be a formality so they can get all these ex-Warrior contracts off their books next year.

15. NEW JERSEY NETS
Best 7: Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, Travis Outlaw, Josh Boone, Jordan Farmar, Terrence Williams

The worst team in the league last year and their big free agent signings were Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow and Travis Outlaw. And if summer league's any indication, it's going to take Derrick Favors a year or two to develop. I don't really think they'll be the worst in the East but I think the bottom five of six will only be three or four games apart.