The Best Starting Fives After Free Agency
NBA free agency is essentially over and unless you’re Dennis Schroder, it’s time to start thinking about how teams are going to look in the 2021/22 NBA season. Teams have new players, and some have new coaches, which means new starting fives, a new rotation, and a fresh chance to rank them all. We’ve put our heads together to figure out the best starting fives in the NBA after free agency.
– A collaboration piece with Brandon Rosenthal, James Macey, and Sean Curley –
1
Brooklyn Nets
Head Coach: Steve Nash (2nd 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.
| G | James Harden |
| G | Kyrie Irving+ |
| F | Joe Harris |
| F | Kevin Durant |
| C | Blake Griffin |
| 6th | Bruce Brown, G |
2
LA Lakers
Head Coach: Frank Vogel (3rd 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.
| G | Russell Westbrook * |
| G | Talen Horton-Tucker |
| F | LeBron James+ |
| F | Anthony Davis |
| C | Marc Gasol |
| 6th | Carmelo Anthony, F * |
3
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer (4th season)
2020 record: 46-26
The defending champs bring back all their key pieces to make a run at a repeat.
| G | Jrue Holliday |
| G | Donte DiVincenzo |
| F | Khris Middleton |
| F | Giannis Antetokounmpo+ |
| C | Brook Lopez |
| 6th | Bobby Portis, F |
4
Phoenix Suns
Head Coach: Monty Williams (3rd 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.
| G | Chris Paul+ |
| G | Devin Booker |
| F | Mikal Bridges |
| F | Jae Crowder |
| C | DeAndre Ayton |
| 6th | Cameron Payne |
5
Golden State Warriors
Head Coach: Steve Kerr (7th 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.
| G | Steph Curry+ |
| G | Klay Thompson |
| F | Andrew Wiggins |
| F | Draymond Green |
| C | James Wiseman |
| 6th | Otto Porter Jr, F * |
6
Miami Heat
Head Coach: Eric Spoelstra (12th 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.
| G | Kyle Lowry * |
| G | Duncan Robinson |
| F | Jimmy Butler+ |
| F | PJ Tucker * |
| C | Bam Adebayo |
| 6th | Tyler Herro, G |
7
Utah Jazz
Head Coach: Quin Snyder (3rd 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.
| G | Mike Conley |
| G | Donovan Mitchell |
| F | Bogdan Bogdanovic |
| F | Royce O’Neal |
| C | Rudy Gobert+ |
| 6th | Jordan Clarkson, G |
8
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Doc Rivers (2nd 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?
| G | Ben Simmons |
| G | Seth Curry |
| F | Danny Green |
| F | Tobias Harris |
| C | Joel Embiid+ |
| 6th | Furkan Korkmaz, F |
9
Denver Nuggets
Head Coach: Michael Malone (7th season)
2020 record: 47-25
Denver is bringing everyone back but losing Jamal Murray is tough, even if you have the reigning MVP.
| G | Monte Morris1 |
| G | Will Barton |
| F | Michael Porter Jr. |
| F | Aaron Gordon |
| C | Nikola Jokic+ |
| 6th | Jeff Green, F |
1 Jamal Murray out most of 2021/22 NBA season
10
Dallas Mavericks
Head Coach: Jason Kidd (1st season)
2020 record: 42-30
Luka is a superstar and Dallas brought his gang of shooters back for another run.
| G | Luka Doncic+ |
| G | Tim Hardaway Jr. |
| F | Dorian Finney-Smith |
| F | Kristaps Porzingis |
| C | Dwight Powell |
| 6th | Reggie Bullock, G/F * |
11
Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach: Nate McMillan (2nd season)
2020 record: 42-30
The Hawks are fully healthy and they have a great chance to get right back to the ECF.
| G | Trae Young |
| G | Bogdan Bogdanovic |
| F | Kevin Huerter |
| F | John Collins |
| C | Clint Capela |
| 6th | Lou Williams, G |
12
LA Clippers
Head Coach: Tyronn Lue (3rd season)
2020 record: 42-30
The loss of Kawhi to injury hurts their ceiling but the Clippers are still dangerous as presently constructed.
| G | Reggie Jackson |
| G | Paul George+ |
| F | Nic Batum2 |
| F | Marcus Morris Sr. |
| C | Ivica Zubac |
| 6th | Luke Kennard, F/G |
2 Kawhi Leonard + out most of 2021/22 NBA season
13
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Billy Donovan (2nd 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.
| G | Lonzo Ball* |
| G | Zach Lavine |
| F | Demar Derozan* |
| F | Lauri Markkanen |
| C | Nicola Vucevic |
| 6th | Alex Caruso, G* |
14
Portland Trailblazers
Head Coach: Chauncey Billups (1st 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.
| G | Damian Lillard |
| G | CJ McCollum |
| F | Norman Powell |
| F | Robert Covington |
| C | Jusef Nurkic |
| 6th | Anfernee Simons, G |
15
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Ime Udoka (1st 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.
| G | Marcus Smart |
| G | Josh Richardson * |
| F | Jaylen Brown |
| F | Jayson Tatum |
| C | Robert Williams III |
| 6th | Dennis Schroder, G * |
16
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau (3rd 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’.
| G | Kemba Walker * |
| G | Evan Fournier* |
| F | R.J. Barrett |
| F | Julius Randle+ |
| C | Mitchell Robinson |
| 6th | Derrick Rose, G |
17
Memphis Grizzlies
Head Coach: Taylor Jenkins (3rd 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.
| G | Ja Morant |
| G | Dillon Brooks |
| F | Kyle Anderson |
| F | Jaren Jackson Jr. |
| C | Steven Adams* |
| 6th | Brandon Clarke, F/C |
18
Charlotte Hornets
Head Coach: James Borrego (4th 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.
| G | Lamelo Ball |
| G | Terry Rozier |
| F | Gordon Hayward |
| F | P.J. Washington Jr. |
| C | Mason Plumlee * |
| 6th | Kelly Oubre Jr.* Miles Bridges |
19
Indiana Pacers
Head Coach: Rick Carlisle (1st 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.
| G | Malcolm Brogdan |
| G | Caris LeVert |
| F | T.J. Warren |
| F | Domantis Sabonis |
| C | Myles Turner |
| 6th | T.J. McConnell |
20
Minnesota Timberwolves
Head Coach: Chris Finch (2nd 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.
| G | D’Angelo Russell |
| G | Anthony Edwards |
| F | Josh Okogie |
| F | Jaden McDaniels |
| C | Karl Anthony-Towns |
| 6th | Naz Reid, F/C |
21
Washington Wizards
Head Coach: Wes Unseld Jr. (1st 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.
| G | Spencer Dinwiddie* |
| G | Bradley Beal+ |
| F | Kyle Kuzma* |
| F | Rui Hachimura |
| C | Thomas Bryant |
| 6th | Montrezl Harrell, F/C* |
22
Sacramento Kings
Head Coach: Luke Walton (3rd season)
2020 record: 31-41
The Kings are young and talented but ultimately lack the depth and leadership to make a playoff run.
| G | De’Aaron Fox |
| G | Buddy Hield |
| F | Harrison Barnes |
| F | Marvin Bagley III |
| C | Richaun Holmes |
| 6th | Tyrese Haliburton |
23
New Orleans Pelicans
Head Coach: Willie Green (1st season)
2020 record: 31-41
Year two of the Zion/Ingram pairing will need to be better to prove they can coexist.
| G | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
| G | Devonte’ Graham* |
| F | Brandon Ingram |
| F | Zion Williamson |
| C | Jonas Valanciunas* |
| 6th | Kira Lewis Jr., G |
24
Toronto Raptors
Head Coach: Nick Nurse (4th season)
2020 record: 27-45
The Raps remain dangerous despite this looking like a rebuild year.
| G | Fred VanVleet |
| G | Gary Trent Jr. |
| F | OG Anunoby |
| F | Pascal Siakam |
| C | Khem Birch |
| 6th | Chris Boucher, F/C |
25
San Antonio Spurs
Head Coach: Greg Popovich (23rd 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.
| G | Dejounte Murray |
| G | Derrick White |
| F | Doug McDermott* |
| F | Keldon Johnson |
| C | Jakob Poeltl |
| 6th | Lonnie Walker IV, F |
26
Detroit Pistons
Head Coach: Dwane Casey (4th 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.
| G | Killian Hayes |
| G | Cade CunninghamR |
| F | Saddiq Bey |
| F | Jerami Grant |
| C | Isiah Stewart |
| 6th | Kelly Olynyk, F/C |
27
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Stephen Silas (2nd season)
2020 record: 17-55
Young, hungry, talented but inexperienced.
| G | John Wall |
| G | Kevin Porter Jr. |
| F | Jalen GreenR |
| F | Daniel Theis* |
| C | Christian Wood |
| 6th | Jae’Sean Tate |
28
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Larry Drew (1st season)
2020 record: 22-50
Despite their ranking, Cleveland’s starting five has the potential and talent to prove this panel wrong.
| G | Darius Garland |
| G | Collin Sexton |
| F | Isaac Okoro |
| F | Kevin Love |
| C | Evan MobleyR |
| 6th | Ricky Rubio* |
29
Orlando Magic
Head Coach: Jamahl Mosley (1st season)
2020 record: 21-51
The Magic are entering another rebuilding year but at least Jalen Suggs seems like the real deal.
| G | Cole Anthony3 |
| G | Gary Harris |
| F | Terrence Ross |
| F | Moritz Wagner |
| C | Wendell Carter Jr. |
| 6th | Jalen SuggsR |
3Markelle Fultz out most of 2021/22 NBA season
30
Oklahoma City Thunder
Head Coach: Mark Daigneault (1st season)
2020 record: 22-50
The Thunder are in complete rebuilding mode, and they’ve given SGA (or Poku) the keys to the future.
| G | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| G | Luguentz Dort |
| F | Aleksej Pokusevski |
| F | Darius Bazley |
| C | Isaiah Roby |
| 6th | Derrick Favors, F/C* |
*New to team
+20/21 All-NBA Selection
R Rookie
Thanks for reading!
– A collaboration piece with Brandon Rosenthal, James Macey, and Sean Curley –
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