Lets Talk Basketball

[Moon-Man]

OffSeason Power Rankings:



1. Los Angeles Fakers (50-32)

KEY ADDS: Karl Malone, Gary Payton
The Kobe Bryant situation and overall team chemistry will be question marks for this imposing collection of talent, but on paper, this team is in a class of its own.

2. San Antonio Spurs (60-22)

KEY ADDS: Robert Horry, Ron Mercer, Rasho Nesterovic, Hedo Turkoglu
The champs have strengthened their core and were able to replace the retiring David Robinson with Nesterovic, but they didn't land any of the big-name free agents they'd hoped for.

3. Sacramento Kings (59-23)

KEY ADDS: Brad Miller
The Kings had been quiet in the belief that last season's squad could contend, but they couldn't pass up the chance to upgrade their front line, acquiring Miller for Scot Pollard.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves (51-31)

KEY ADDS: Sam Cassell, Michael Olowokandi, Latrell Sprewell
The Wolves have surrounded Kevin Garnett with new talent this summer, and as with the Lakers, it will be interesting to see how this team blends, and how it performs in the postseason.

5. Dallas Mavericks (60-22)

KEY ADDS: Josh Howard
The Mavs' only offseason addition thus far, first-round draft pick Howard, has been a pleasant surprise in summer leagues and could bolster the conference finalists up front.

6. New Jersey Nets (49-33)

KEY ADDS: Alonzo Mourning
More important than their acquisition of Mourning was the Nets' re-signing of Jason Kidd, ensuring that the two-time NBA Finals team will be together again for the coming season.

7. Detroit Pistons (50-32)

KEY ADDS: Larry Brown, Darko Milicic
They won 50 games, made the conference finals, fired their coach and landed the No. 2 draft pick all in one year. Not the likeliest of scenarios, but the Pistons are shaping up to contend once again.

8. Philadelphia 76ers (48-34)

KEY ADDS: Marc Jackson, Glenn Robinson
Robinson is an upgrade over Keith Van Horn and Jackson could be a solid inside player in the East, but the Sixers need to re-sign Derrick Coleman to maintain their frontcourt depth.

9. Portland Trail Blazers (50-32)

KEY ADDS: None
The Blazers have lost Scottie Pippen, their primary leader, and Antonio Daniels via free agency, but they're hoping for addition by subtraction as youngsters like Zach Randolph step up.

10. Indiana Pacers (48-34)

KEY ADDS: Scot Pollard
Indiana met its most urgent goal this summer in re-signing Jermaine O'Neal, but with the loss of Brad Miller, it will be time for Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender to make bigger contributions.

11. Orlando Magic (42-40)

KEY ADDS: Keith Bogans, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue
The Magic got help where they needed it; with Howard joining Drew Gooden up front, the team will be above average in the paint, complementing the all-around skills of Tracy McGrady.

12. New Orleans Hornets (47-35)

KEY ADDS: None
Streaky and injury-plagued in 2002-03, the Hornets re-signed P.J. Brown, but didn't renew the contract of popular coach Paul Silas. How New Orleans responds under Tim Floyd will be key.

13. Phoenix Suns (44-38)

KEY ADDS: None
With talented trio Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire entering their second season together, Phoenix is poised to finish better than No. 8 in the West in 2003-04.

14. Houston Rockets (43-39)

KEY ADDS: Jeff Van Gundy
If new head coach Van Gundy can convince Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley to involve Yao Ming more in the Rocket offense, Houston will make the leap from underachiever to playoff team.

15. Washington Wizards (37-45)

KEY ADDS: Gilbert Arenas, Eddie Jordan
The Wiz scored a coup when they snagged Arenas, and Jordan is a perfect fit as head coach. With MJ retired, Jerry Stackhouse becomes the leader on a team loaded with young talent.

16. Boston Celtics (44-38)

KEY ADDS: Marcus Banks, Kendrick Perkins
Rookies Banks and Perkins, acquired from Memphis on draft day, have played well this summer, but the Celtics will still only go as far as Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker can carry them.

17. Seattle Super Sonics (40-42)

KEY ADDS: Nick Collison, Antonio Daniels, Luke Ridnour
Seattle played well following the acquisition of Ray Allen last season, and the team got some frontcourt help in drafting Collison, but Rashard Lewis will need to play like an All-Star.

18. Golden State Warriors (38-44)

KEY ADDS: Speedy Claxton, Mickael Pietrus
The loss of Arenas hurts Golden State, but Mike Dunleavy and Jiri Welsch appear ready to make big contributions this year even as Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy continue to improve.

19. Utah Jazz (47-35)

KEY ADDS: None
With the Jazz rebuilding for the first time in nearly 20 years, Matt Harpring and Andrei Kirilenko head a core of youngsters whom Jerry Sloan will look to mold into a .500 team.

20. Milwaukee Bucks (42-40)

KEY ADDS: T.J. Ford, Joe Smith
Utterly unrecognizable compared to a year ago, the Bucks completed their dismantling this summer, trading Sam Cassell and Ervin Johnson and firing George Karl.

21. New York Knicks (37-45)

KEY ADDS: Mike Sweetney, Keith Van Horn
Van Horn replaces fan-favorite Sprewell, but the larger question for the Knicks surrounds Antonio McDyess. If the former All-Star plays this season, they could be a playoff team in the East.

22. Chicago Bulls (30-52)

KEY ADDS: Kirk Hinrich, Scottie Pippen
Pippen joins Jalen Rose to provide leadership, and with the way Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler played at the end of '02-03, this team stands to make big improvements.

23. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-65)

KEY ADDS: LeBron James, Paul Silas
It's not the talent of James and the coaching of Silas alone -- it's the team's new attitude. Most of the projected starters played in summer leagues just to get a head start on life with LeBron.

24. Memphis Grizzlies (28-54)

KEY ADDS: Troy Bell
Hubie Brown had the Grizz playing well before a 4-13 slide to close the season, but this year will again be dedicated to gaining experience and developing team chemistry.

25. Los Angeles Clippers (27-55)

KEY ADDS: Mike Dunleavy, Chris Kaman
The Clips have a new coach in Dunleavy, they've already locked up free agent Elton Brand and are looking to hang on to Corey Maggette as well. Stability this season? It's possible.

26. Toronto Raptors (24-58)

KEY ADDS: Chris Bosh, Jerome Moiso, Kevin O'Neill
Outside of Vince Carter, who missed 39 games, the Raptors struggled for offense last year. Now they have a first-time head coach in O'Neill and a new rotation that will need time to jell.

27. Atlanta Hawks (35-47)

KEY ADDS: None
The Hawks have a coach entering his first full season and have lost one of their best players, Glenn Robinson, in a trade for the retiring Terrell Brandon. Could be a long year.

28. Miami Heat (25-57)

KEY ADDS: Dwyane Wade
They still have vets Eddie Jones and Brian Grant, but largely young and undersized, the Heat are building for the future around young stars Caron Butler and Wade.

29. Denver Nuggets (17-67)

KEY ADDS: Carmelo Anthony
The Nuggets tied for a league-low 17 wins last year, then lost their top player, Juwan Howard, to free agency. They have plenty of promising young talent, but Denver is still a couple years away.

Source: NBA.com
http://www.nba.com/features/rank_030724.html