1
Brooklyn Nets

Head Coach: Steve Nash (2^nd season)
2020 record: 48-24

An overwhelming consensus from our panel as the sheer talent of this Nets roster puts them in the top spot.

2
LA Lakers

Head Coach: Frank Vogel (3^rd season)
2020 record: 42-30

Westbrook now joins LBJ and AD in La-La-Land for a new big 3, but this groups success all depends on health.

3
Milwaukee Bucks

Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer (4^th season)
2020 record: 46-26

The defending champs bring back all their key pieces to make a run at a repeat.

4
Phoenix Suns

Head Coach: Monty Williams (3^rd season)
2020 record: 51-21

Chris Paul is back, Booker and Ayton are a year older, and the young Suns seem poised to contend again.

5
Golden State Warriors

Head Coach: Steve Kerr (7^th season)
2020 record: 39-33

The Dubs Trio is finally back together again and this panel is very excited to see Klay Thompson play basketball again.

6
Miami Heat

Head Coach: Eric Spoelstra (12^th season)
2020 record: 40-32

Miami got a little older and a little better in hopes that they can recreate the magic that brought them to the 2020 NBA Finals.

7
Utah Jazz

Head Coach: Quin Snyder (3^rd season)
2020 record: 52-20

The Jazz finished with the best record in the NBA last season, and they’ll return all five of their starters to run it back.

8
Philadelphia 76ers

Head Coach: Doc Rivers (2^nd season)
2020 record: 49-23

Philly’s starters had the best +/- of any team in 2020, but the real question is will Simmons be on the roster?

9
Denver Nuggets

Head Coach: Michael Malone (7^th season)
2020 record: 47-25

Denver is bringing everyone back but losing Jamal Murray is tough, even if you have the reigning MVP.

¹ Jamal Murray out most of 2021/22 NBA season

10
Dallas Mavericks

Head Coach: Jason Kidd (1^st season)
2020 record: 42-30

Luka is a superstar and Dallas brought his gang of shooters back for another run.

11
Atlanta Hawks

Head Coach: Nate McMillan (2^nd season)
2020 record: 42-30

The Hawks are fully healthy and they have a great chance to get right back to the ECF.

12
LA Clippers

Head Coach: Tyronn Lue (3^rd season)
2020 record: 42-30

The loss of Kawhi to injury hurts their ceiling but the Clippers are still dangerous as presently constructed.

² Kawhi Leonard ⁺ out most of 2021/22 NBA season

13
Chicago Bulls

Head Coach: Billy Donovan (2^nd season)
2020 record: 31-41

The Bulls retooled their roster and brought in Lonzo and Derozan to play along LaVine and Vooch. Not too sure of the fit but this unit is a nice 2K starting 5.

14
Portland Trailblazers

Head Coach: Chauncey Billups (1^st season)
2020 record: 42-30

Dame said it best — this team can’t get it done as currently constructed, but they’ll be fun to watch.

15
Boston Celtics

Head Coach: Ime Udoka (1^st season)
2020 record: 42-30

The Celtics didn’t add a difference maker, but they still have two all-stars entering the prime of their careers.

16
New York Knicks

Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau (3^rd season)
2020 record: 41-31

Kemba and Fournier are great additions to take the load off Randle — this team should be fun to watch and MSG will be rockin’.

17
Memphis Grizzlies

Head Coach: Taylor Jenkins (3^rd season)
2020 record: 38-34

The Grizz are young and hungry but they’ve got to supply Ja with some support in order to take the next step.

18
Charlotte Hornets

Head Coach: James Borrego (4^th season)
2020 record: 33-39

The Hornets will need Lamelo and Hayward to be healthy to compete, and the addition of Oubre Jr. only adds to this team’s League Pass value.

19
Indiana Pacers

Head Coach: Rick Carlisle (1^st season)
2020 record: 34-38

The Pacers have a very solid young core that competes, but someone will need to step up to help Sabonis.

20
Minnesota Timberwolves

Head Coach: Chris Finch (2^nd season)
2020 record: 34-38

The Wolves are in a better spot this year, but it remains to be seen if the D-Lo/Edwards/KAT triptych is good enough to make any noise.

21
Washington Wizards

Head Coach: Wes Unseld Jr. (1^st season)
2020 record: 34-38

The new-look Wizards should be interesting to watch, as they have some talent — the spotlight is solely on Bradley Beal now.

22
Sacramento Kings

Head Coach: Luke Walton (3^rd season)
2020 record: 31-41

The Kings are young and talented but ultimately lack the depth and leadership to make a playoff run.

23
New Orleans Pelicans

Head Coach: Willie Green (1^st season)
2020 record: 31-41

Year two of the Zion/Ingram pairing will need to be better to prove they can coexist.

24
Toronto Raptors

Head Coach: Nick Nurse (4^th season)
2020 record: 27-45

The Raps remain dangerous despite this looking like a rebuild year.

25
San Antonio Spurs

Head Coach: Greg Popovich (23^rd season)
2020 record: 33-39

The Spurs are now in rebuilding mode, but they still have Pop. This panel still can’t rank other teams above the Spurs due to Popovich.

26
Detroit Pistons

Head Coach: Dwane Casey (4^th season)
2020 record: 20-52

Cade Cunningham will be the main draw but the Pistons have sneakily assembled a nice collection of young players the last few years.

27
Houston Rockets

Head Coach: Stephen Silas (2^nd season)
2020 record: 17-55

Young, hungry, talented but inexperienced.

28
Cleveland Cavaliers

Head Coach: Larry Drew (1^st season)
2020 record: 22-50

Despite their ranking, Cleveland’s starting five has the potential and talent to prove this panel wrong.

29
Orlando Magic

Head Coach: Jamahl Mosley (1^st season)
2020 record: 21-51

The Magic are entering another rebuilding year but at least Jalen Suggs seems like the real deal.

³Markelle Fultz out most of 2021/22 NBA season

30
Oklahoma City Thunder

Head Coach: Mark Daigneault (1^st season)
2020 record: 22-50

The Thunder are in complete rebuilding mode, and they’ve given SGA (or Poku) the keys to the future.