2023-24 NBA Power Rankings: Evaluating all 30 teams as the NBA trade deadline closes in
NBA power rankings: 5 worst NBA teams right now
30. Detroit Pistons (Previously: 30)
After a bottom-of-the-standings showing in 2022-2023, things have not changed much for the Detroit Pistons in the new season, even with new head coach Monty Williams. After winning two of their first three, the team went into a massive tailspin as they lost 28 straight and tied the record for consecutive losses. And it’s why they are without a doubt the worst team in the league and our current NBA power rankings.
Even with Bojan Bogdanovic back from his injury, the results have not changed for the team. Chances are they look to add assets and move some of their expendable veterans as we get closer to the NBA trade deadline.
29. Washington Wizards (Previously: 29)
The Washington Wizards should have been better with the talent they had last season, but alas, they missed the playoffs once again in 2022-2023. The reimagined front office hoped head coach Wes Unseld Jr. could do more with an adjusted roster led by Jordan Poole, Tyus Jones, and returning star Kyle Kuzma. So far, the results have been disastrous.
If not for the Pistons, the Wizards would have the worst record in the league as this young roster that seemed to have promise hasn’t delivered at all. Unseld Jr. seems to be a dead coach walking and there are now rumblings the organization could consider moving top star Kyle Kuzma before the trade deadline.
28. San Antonio Spurs (Previously: 28)
The San Antonio Spurs hoped to bounce back from another losing season after drafting once-in-a-generation super prospect Victor Wembanyama. The French phenom is the most hyped young player since Lebron James and his development will be one of the biggest stories to watch in 2023-24.
While the young star is playing well and leads the team in multiple categories, he is not getting a lot of help. They have one of the three worst records in the league this season which makes the organization’s decision not to surround him with some veterans look like a massive summer blunder. There have been rumblings about adding a proven veteran at the deadline and boy do they need it.
Related: Victor Wembanyama could become one of NBA’s best ever; his skills are only one of the reasons why
27. Charlotte Hornets (Previously: 27)
Last season was an unexpected disaster for the Charlotte Hornets. After showing so much promise two seasons ago, they took major steps back in 2022-2023. LaMelo Ball regressed a bit and not having Miles Bridges on the roster — due to off-the-court issues — became a far bigger problem than many expected. That is why the hope was they could turn it around this season. However, they have gotten even worse.
Ball and Gordon Hayward’s health continues to be an issue, and Bridges has not had the impact he had two years ago. If they aren’t sellers at the trade deadline it would be stunning.
26. Portland Trail Blazers (Previously: 26)
After months of rumors and speculation, the inevitable finally happened and Damian Lillard’s legendary run with the Portland Trail Blazers came to an end in the fall of 2023. This will be their first season without the star guard in over a decade. The hope was that the roster’s young and fresh faces could make a difference, but Portland is heading to another lottery pick in June.
Their poor play has continued in January and over the first half of the month, they have only scored wins over the Nets.
Top 25 NBA teams right now
25. Memphis Grizzlies (Previously: 21)
The Memphis Grizzles were always going to be behind the eight-ball when Ja Morant was suspended for the first 25 games of the season and starting center Steven Adams went down with a season-ending injury. Despite the best efforts of Desmond Bane, the team dug a big hole for itself to start the season.
When Morant finally returned from his suspension, the team unsurprisingly caught fire and seemed headed to being a top-six team in the West. However, a season-ending shoulder injury to Morant dashed all those hopes and the Grizz are likely on their way to being a lottery team in June.
24. Toronto Raptors (Previously: 25)
Despite another offseason of rumors and rumblings that they could make some major moves, the Toronto Raptors — for the most part — stood pat with the same roster they have had the last couple of seasons. Well, this season the long-expected breakdown has begun. Fred VanVleet left in free agency and the organization finally traded OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam during the season.
In return for their two blockbuster trades, the team has landed a horde of draft assets and a nice young piece in RJ Barrett. The rest of this season will be about developing young star Scottie Barnes and planning for potential moves in the summer.
23. Brooklyn Nets (Previously: 19)
The Brooklyn Nets did not add a star in the summer, but at least this season should be devoid of drama and volatility for the first time in a long time. It will also bring far lower expectations, and it will be interesting to see what Jacque Vaughn can do in his first full year with Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson.
Despite the hype on Johnson, it’s Cam Thomas who has become a new star for the team. Unfortunately, Thomas and Bridges haven’t been enough to make them an over .500 team and they are slipping out of playoff contention in 2023-24.
22. Atlanta Hawks (Previously: 24)
Outside of finally trading John Collins, the Atlanta Hawks roster from last season remains intact in the new year. After a full training camp under head coach Quinn Snyder, it wouldn’t have been shocking if the Hawks made a turnaround in 2023-24 and were able to become a playoff-caliber squad again. So far, however, that isn’t looking likely.
As they close in on the NBA trade deadline they are outside the playoff picture and seem headed to shipping out players like Dejounte Murray and Clint Capela before the trade deadline. Through all the losing one thing has become clear, the organization still sees Trae Young as their top star and will continue to try and build around the talented scorer.
21. Chicago Bulls (Previously: 23)
The Chicago Bulls likely have another difficult season ahead in 2023-2024. Lonzo Ball was expected to miss the entire year and the team was unable to replace him with a similar impact talent at point guard this summer. Furthermore, lingering issues with unhappy star Zach LaVine have been another key element in a down season so far for the squad this season.
However, there is hope for them to avoid a sell-off at the NBA trade deadline with reports that Ball has fixed the issues in his knee and will begin running this month. If they can stay in the playoff hunt, which they have done thus far, it isn’t impossible that Ball could be a huge addition that helps them avoid competing in a play-in game this spring.
20. Golden State Warriors (Previously: 20)
The Golden State Warriors will be fascinating to watch all season as their “Big Three” look to prove they’ve still got it a year after failing to defend their most recent NBA championship. However, as the season plays out, it seems like Draymond Green is doing all he can to make things implode from within, plus Klay Thompson is in a serious battle with father time.
As they close in on the trade deadline the new front office could make several major trades as they try to remodel their disappointing roster mid-season.
19. Houston Rockets (Previously: 16)
After another ugly showing last season, the Houston Rockets front office is hoping that big-money free agents Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, as well as bringing in head Ime Udoka can finally bring the franchise back to relevance. So far so good as they are among the teams in the playoff chase heading into the second half of the season.
The Rockets have shown some nice development signs under Udoka. The biggest change with the former Celtics coach is the fact that 2021 first-round pick Alperen Sengun has gone from an afterthought to the team’s best player. However, the lack of development from other young players has meant Sengun has gotten little help this season.
18. Los Angeles Lakers (Previously: 18)
The Los Angeles Lakers did not go star hunting in the offseason because it didn’t seem like they needed to. The roster was able to get to the West Finals last season and their young players are primed for further growth in the new year. Just like the last two campaigns, their success will again hang on the health of Anthony Davis and Lebron James as the NBA icon is another year closer to 40.
However, while both have stayed relatively healthy this season, the Lakers have struggled nonetheless. The role players that made such a major impact last season have not been quite as influential so far this year. The big question is if the front office now looks to swing the big deal they avoided in the summer.
17. Utah Jazz (Previously: 22)
The Utah Jazz were one of the best stories in the NBA power rankings for much of last season. Heading into the season they were expected to be one of the worst teams in the league, but first-year head coach Will Hardy led a competitive team and developed Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler into budding stars in the league.
Following a sluggish start to the season, the Jazz have caught fire in January and have scored wins over the Bucks, Nuggets, and 76ers. The decision to move John Collins to center has proven to be a massive difference maker as they have three different players averaging 20 points per game through the first half of the month.
16. Orlando Magic (Previously: 11)
The Orlando Magic were a pleasant surprise last season. While they did not finish with a positive record, Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero was impressive for much of the season and helped to make the Magic far more competitive than they should have been against the elites of the NBA. Much of last year’s team is back and will get a bench boost from top pick Anthony Black in 2023-24.
Entering the new year, the Magic were shockingly one of the best teams in the East. However, a recent injury to Franz Wagner has been a major setback and they have quickly fallen out of their lofty spot in the standings in recent weeks.
15. Phoenix Suns (Previously: 17)
New head coach Frank Vogel has a very tall task in front of him as he tries to somehow create a working situation with three superstar scorers — Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Booker and Durant were dominant at times last season, but Beal is a wild card that could make things chaotic if he could actually stay on the floor.
With Beal back on the court, the team is showing the promise of their big three with all of them averaging 20 points or more in January. There are still questions about their depth and defense, but they are still good enough to be a headache for their opponents each night.
14. Sacramento Kings (Previously: 9)
The Sacramento Kings were the biggest surprise in the NBA last season. They had one of the best offenses in the league and De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis turned into a dynamic duo for the team. Although they didn’t make any major changes in the summer, they are a year older, better, and will be expected to make far more noise in the West.
Midway through January the Kings have hit some bumps in the road during a recent slump. While youngster Keegan Murray continues to develop into a third star for the team, they aren’t playing like the powerhouse club NBA fans saw all of last season.
13. Indiana Pacers (Previously: 14)
The Indiana Pacers had very mixed results last season. Early on they seemed headed to a return to the postseason, then injuries and poor play short-circuited all the impressive momentum they created. Much of last year’s team returned with another year of experience and chemistry. Plus, they drafted big man Jarace Walker and added uber-athletic forward Obi Toppin.
While they have been a legit top-six team for much of the year, the organization saw a unique opportunity to improve their chances when they made a blockbuster trade for Pascal Siakam. Integrating him into their system will be a major story for the rest of the season.
12. Dallas Mavericks (Previously: 12)
There will be a lot of pressure on the Dallas Mavericks after a horrid showing at the end of last season. They had a whole training camp and preseason to find chemistry between superstars Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the rest of the team. Furthermore, another losing season could lead Doncic to push the trade request button.
Early on in the season, they showed their potential and Doncic was playing like an MVP candidate. However, he has been at his best with Irving in the lineup and the oft-injured guard has played in just 26 games this season. As talented as this group is, they seemed destined to underachieve.
11. New Orleans Pelicans (Previously: 13)
The New Orleans Pelicans were one of the five best units in the West with Zion Williamson. When he went down with another long-term injury, the team was a group fighting for a playoff spot. Can Williamson stay healthy, and can they again be a powerhouse in the West if he does?
In the new season, they have returned to being an offensive force in the West when Williamson has been available. Unfortunately, their defense has struggled at times. Nevertheless, when they had big games in the NBA In-Season Tournament, they delivered impressive performances and are in striking distance of a top-three spot in the West.
Top 10 NBA teams in 2023-24 season
10. Miami Heat (Previously: 8)
The expectation and hope all summer was that the Miami Heat would add the superstar they needed in Damian Lillard. Unfortunately, the team they ousted in the postseason — the Milwaukee Bucks — swooped in and landed the seven-time All-Star. They also lost Max Strus and Gabe Vincent in NBA free agency. However, as always they have continued to chug along as top six squad in the East this season.
Tyler Herro has grown to become the third star they didn’t know they had and he is leading the team in scoring as he’s put himself in contention for an All-Star spot. If he didn’t miss most of November, the Heat very well could be a top-three team in the East right now.
Related: NBA trade tracker 2023-2024
9. Cleveland Cavaliers (Previously: 15)
The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the best teams in the East last season. Superstar guard Donovan Mitchell fit right in with the rest of the team and they also had one of the better defenses in the NBA. However, being good isn’t the goal this season, it will be about finding out if they can be a Finals contender.
Despite dealing with major injuries to Darius Garland and Evan Mobley recently the Cavs have stayed in the thick of the playoff race and have gotten hot lately. Their impressive play of late will quiet the rumblings that Mitchell could be on the trade block before Feb. 8.
8. New York Knicks (Previously: 10)
Jalen Brunson proved he is one of the league’s newest superstars and that the New York Knicks are a more dangerous team because of his talents last season. While they didn’t make any major moves in the summer, they retained all the key players from last year’s roster and have remained a highly competitive team in the East.
However, they have the potential to make a major jump in the second half of the season after pulling off a blockbuster trade for Raptors 3-and-D stud OG Anunoby. If he is as good a fit as he has shown to be thus far, New York could be a handful in the second half, especially if they get center Mitchell Robinson back.
7. Los Angeles Clippers (Previously: 6)
For the first time in a while, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard began the season relatively healthy and have surprisingly stayed that way. The big issue will always be how long does that last. Nevertheless, even passed their primes, if they are healthy the Los Angeles Clippers will be a playoff-caliber team easily, especially with unhappy star James Harden now on the roster too.
While it took some time to blend Harden into the system, they have played very well over the last month and are in position to make some serious noise in the playoffs this spring — if they can stay healthy.
6. Denver Nuggets (Previously: 7)
The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title by taking out the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. Superstar Nikola Jokic showed that he is much more than a regular-season monster as he dominated in the playoffs. However, what was key was the continued rise of Jamal Murray into a legitimate star and the rest of the roster showing they were a championship group as well.
Denver has dealt with injuries, including to Murray, and it has pushed them down the Western Conference standings a tad. Nevertheless, when healthy they remain a title contender and stalwart at the top of the West.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (Previously: 5)
The Philadelphia 76ers finally pulled the trigger and jettisoned unhappy future Hall-of-Famer James Harden out of town. While they didn’t get a star in return, the move gave them solid depth and opened up a lot of opportunities for a major trade sooner rather than later.
The squad led by reigning league MVP Joel Embiid and new head coach Nick Nurse has been very impressive this season. And the best part of it is that Tyrese Maxey has played at a superstar level in filling the void left by Harden. They have one of the best offenses in the league and a rock-solid defense to back it up.
4. Milwaukee Bucks (Previously: 2)
After a shocking first-round elimination from the 2023 NBA playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks made some major changes. They switched head coaches and made the biggest trade of the offseason when they acquired superstar guard Damian Lillard. The combo of Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo should be dynamite once they figure out their chemistry.
After some early bumps in the road over the first couple of weeks, the Lillard and Antetokounmpo combo has been the dynamic duo that many expected. With 2024 here, they are in the race for a top spot in the East and are built to be a favorite to reach the Finals this year.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (Previously: 4)
After a breakout performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have become one of the fastest-rising teams in the NBA. Now, with Chet Holmgren back after missing last season, and 2023 first-round pick Cason Wallace, the Thunder are a dark horse to finish their campaign as a top-three squad in the West this season.
To start the new year the Thunder have been on fire and are showing how serious of a team they are by scoring victories over many of the best teams in the NBA, including the Celtics, Nuggets, and Timberwolves in recent weeks.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (Previously: 3)
1. Boston Celtics (Previously: 1)
The Boston Celtics were one of the top teams in our NBA power rankings throughout last season. They should stay there for much of the new year after adding Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to an already strong roster led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
As the Cs enter the new year, it is just like the last year. They are one of the very best teams in the East, have a strong offensive unit, and are backed by a top-three defense. It is a winning combo that makes them a favorite to reach the finals, again.
Which team is best in NBA?
Heading into the new season, the Denver Nuggets will be seen as many as the best NBA team right now. Almost all of the roster from their championship team will be back this season. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics are the other powerhouses in their conferences so far this season.
Which NBA team has the brightest future?
Considering how good they were last year, there are many around the league who believe the Sacramento Kings have the brightest future in the NBA. Stars Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox are not even in their prime and they were still one of the best teams in the league in 2022-2023.
Another squad many see a huge upside in is the San Antonio Spurs due to the addition of super-prospect Victor Wembanyama. The French phenom is the most hyped youngster since Lebron James and is quickly showing his immense potential in his rookie season.
Who is the greatest team in NBA history?
Picking the greatest NBA team of all time is very subjective. However, if there were two popular options, it would be the Michael Jordan-led Bulls team from 1995-96 that won 73.
Another top choice would be the Warriors squad from 2015-16 which also won 73 games.
Who will be the best NBA players in 2025?
As the sport transitions away from aging legends like Lebron James and Kevin Durant, there is a new generation of superstars right around the corner. That is why the best NBA players in 2025 will likely be Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Devin Booker, Jalen Brunson, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama.
Who has the best longevity in NBA?
While Vince Carter and Udonis Haslem were some of the longest-tenured players in league history, when it comes to competing at a high level no player in NBA history has had better longevity than Lakers star Lebron James.
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