NBA 2023-24 Power Rankings: What are the favorite teams to win the championship?

Following a flurry of high-profile moves during this offseason, the upcoming campaign is set to be special. Yet, it would be a mistake to think that those who acquired stars will be automatic contenders.

The 2023-24 NBA season: Who’s hot and who’s not

On October 24th, the 2023-24 NBA regular season will begin, and with it, a whole host of stories and subplots that will captivate us right through until May next year. Will the highly favored Denver Nuggets defend their title? Perhaps it will be the Bucks who have jumped ahead of Nikola Jokic and Co. on account of adding former Blazers star point guard, Damian Lillard, in the biggest trade of the offseason. Then there is the team that sits above all others, the defeated side in last season’s NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics, who recently added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to their roster.

If there is one surprise in the following list, it’s the Phoenix Suns. Though they did acquire former MVP and NBA champion, Kevin Durant, his arrival was followed by a number of changes to the roster. From the acquisition of Bradley Beal, to their involvement in the Lillard trade which saw the departure of DeAndre Ayton in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic and a collection of role players. This is all to say that the Suns are now seriously lacking in depth. While they do have a trio of stars around which to operate - Beal, Durant, and Devin Booker - they’re going to have to depend almost entirely on the hope that those three can get it together.

2023-24 NBA Power Rankings: Season Start

1. Boston Celtics

There is no doubt that an already seriously strong team just got stronger with the arrival of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. In those two All-Stars the Celtics have added even greater depth to a team that is undoubtedly a title contender. Expect to see them when the Eastern Conference Finals roll around.

2. Milwaukee Bucks

As the stars of the offseason show, the Milwaukee Bucks and their fans have a lot to be excited about this coming campaign. Having acquired Damian Lillard, they can now look forward to seeing one of the league’s best point guards team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo. To be clear, there is no other team in the league that can boast such a duo. If there is an Achilles it’s got to be the fact that their defense has taken a hit with Jrue Holiday’s departure. That being said, this team is a serious threat.

3. Denver Nuggets

There are plenty of people who think the Nuggets won’t be able to defend their title. Afterall, they didn’t acquire any high-profile players this offseason like the teams mentioned above. In fact, they actually saw the departure of key assets like Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. Yet, there is no way to deny that Nikola Jokic remains the best player in basketball today. Between the Serbian and Jamal Murray, there is no reason to believe this team can’t put down anyone they play. As long as they can stay healthy.

4. Phoenix Suns

Like we said before, the Suns do have a formidable ‘Big Three’, but the reality is they lack depth and perhaps more importantly, size. On the other hand, if Beal, Booker, and Durant can find the right chemistry, this team could be a real problem for all others.

5. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have been pound-for-pound the best team in the NBA over the last few years. Indeed, one could argue that it’s that passage of time that has diminished their level of success. This of course brings us to the team’s acquisition of former Suns star point guard Chris Paul. A curious move on the surface in that both he and and Warriors icon, Steph Curry, are small guards i.e., who takes the bench? Yet, Paul’s addition brings with it a completely different range of offensive possibilities. Could it be they’ve found the missing piece?

6. Los Angeles Lakers

With Austin Reaves having established himself as a fantastic player following a breakout summer with Team USA, the Lakers look to have a whole ton of shot creation at guard. Of course, there’s also Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Regardless of where roster depth is at, this team’s chances hinge on its two stars managing to stay healthy. If they can stay healthy, the Lakers could well be there at the end.

7. Philadelphia 76ers

There is no way to ignore the fiasco that is the James Harden situation in Philly right now. With the former MVP’s situation worsening by the day - he’s now skipping practice - it’s difficult to project where the 76ers will end up. Will Harden finally be traded? Will he stay and play? Without answers to these questions, things remain cloudy. Still, Joel Embiid is a force of nature and we imagine he’s not about to let us forget that.

8. Los Angeles Clippers

Yet another team whose chances will be based almost entirely on health. In Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers have two of the NBA’s best players. Should they manage to stay injury-free, this team is going to ruin the ambitions of many other teams.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers

We already know that the Cavs have got two sensational players in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. What they have lacked, however, is size in the front court. In Evan Mobley who has improved immensely, they may have found just that.

10. Dallas Mavericks

In the little that they played together last season, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but here’s the thing: Doncic is MVP material and Irving is easily one of the most talented players of his generation when he feels like playing. That last part is the problem for the Mavs. Between the Slovenian and the former Nets star, you can’t be sure of what you’re going to get.

11. Memphis Grizzlies

Well, their best player has been suspended for the first 25 games of the season. It goes without saying that Grizzlies are going to struggle without Ja Morant. What may add an additional complication, is how he will integrate when he returns to a team that has added Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose.

12. Sacramento Kings

Though it would be a stretch to say they could win it all, this is a team that pushed Steph Curry and Co. in the first round of the playoffs last year. Having maintained the core of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, this is still a team that we can expect a solid run from.

13. New York Knicks

At this point, one gets the feeling that the Knicks are one star away from being one of the strongest teams in the NBA. Following an impressive run last season that saw them defeat the top-four-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Keep an eye on them.

14. Miami Heat

While it may seem strange to find last year’s finalists outside of the top 5, the reality is that the Miami Heat lost two key players in Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, and failed to land Damian Lillard for whom they waited the entire offseason. Yes, this team is still one of the best out there, but we having not reinforced, we get the feeling this campaign is going to be tough.

15. Minnesota Timberwolves

In Karl Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves have a genuine star, which is crazy because it’s now clear they’ve got another in Anthony Edwards. Following his epic exploits with Team USA this summer, Edwards may well be the team’s new talisman. Whether they win or lose, it’s going to be fun watching them.

16. Indiana Pacers

With the Pacers you get the feeling you’re watching a team that could do real damage to others if a few things fall into place. One of those would be Benn Mathurin. Now in his second season, the 21-year-old has shown he’s one to watch. Should he continue his development he will be a key asset alongside Tyrese Haliburton who is quite frankly one of the best point guards around.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder

Chet Holmgren’s season ended before it really got going due to an unfortunate injury. That being said, we’d be lying if we said we aren’t looking forward to seeing the immensely tall and talented center begin again. Alongside him are a host of very impressive young players including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is without doubt one of the NBA’s best players. Yes, they’re inexperienced but we’re betting on this team to take names this year.

18. New Orleans Pelicans

It’s incredible to think that Zion Williamson is still only 23 years old. It’s also unbelievable to consider how little he has played in the NBA when we think about the immense talent that he has. If the former Duke star can maintain his health, the Pelicans will be an issue for opponents. If he can’t they won’t.

19. Brooklyn Nets

A lot of ‘ifs’ in this one. Firstly, there is Ben Simmons and his health. Then there is whether he can create the right chemistry with Mikal Bridges. Those are already two very big question marks that there is no way of answering at this point. If Simmons can get back to his best and then in turn make it work with Bridges, they’ve got a shot, but again, that’s a big ‘if.’

20. Atlanta Hawks

Things have been looking up lately in Atlanta. Between head coach Quin Snyder’s new offensive structure and the arrival of some decent players such as No. 15 overall pick in this year’s draft, Kobe Bufkin, the Hawks have now got depth as well as talent. This is of course a team that still has work to do but with an All-Star like Trae Young at their core and the aforementioned assets, it won’t be surprising to see them make waves in the East.

21. Utah Jazz

The Jazz are neither bad nor good, meaning this team has weapons such as Lauri Markkanen, who it has to be said has a very bright future after a breakout year last season. On the other hand, the West is absolutely stacked which means Markkanen is going to need help.

22. Chicago Bulls

While it’s true that the Bulls have serious firepower in DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, that’s really all they have. To be fair, fate has dealt a cruel hand in Chicago as we saw with the loss of Lonzo Ball. The No. 2 overall pick in 2017′s NBA Draft will miss the entire 2023-24 season due to complications with his knee injury which means, everything will fall squarely on the aforementioned trio, something we’re not sure they can take.

23. Orlando Magic

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are clearly the protagonists down south and rightly so. Yet, it’s got to be said that this is a team that has an odd look to it. With a roster that is heavily dominated by guards, one has to wonder how that’s going to work going forward.

24. Houston Rockets

The Rockets made some smooth moves in the market this offseason. In the arrivals of Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet they added two experienced players who know how to win. It’s interesting to note that this team opted out of a move for the 76ers’ James Harden, preferring instead to continue building toward a more long-term goal. This campaign could be an interesting litmus test for a talented but young roster.

25. San Antonio Spurs

If it was not clear before, Victor Wembanyama is a prodigy. While the Spurs have work to do in various areas, there is no way to ignore the impact that the young Frenchman has when he’s on the court. Yes, we’ve only seen him in preseason which is to say these are early days, but again, there’s no way to ignore the impact.

26. Toronto Raptors

The problem in the north appears to be in-house. Firstly, there is Pascal Siakam whose future still remains in question. Indeed, it’s a situation that is not helped by the fact that general manager Masai Ujiri recently took a shot at him. Whatever the case, it’s clear they’re some work to be done.

27. Detroit Pistons

It may seem harsh to see the Pistons here given the talent they possess, but like many others on this list, health will be the difference between a successful campaign and a terrible one. Chief among those who are seen as a risk is Cade Cunningham who is regarded as the team’s best player but is yet to play long enough to show it.

28. Charlotte Hornets

What is going on in Charlotte? Miles Bridges has seemingly disregarded the second chance he was given in unbelievable fashion. Kai Jones turned on his own team and was released, and most recently we have rookie and Crimson Tide standout, Brandon Miller, who is now facing a wrongful death lawsuit for his involvement in the fatal shooting of a young mother. There is a lot of talent in this team and that’s before we consider the true star that is LaMelo Ball. It’s just a shame that the culture appears to be awful.

29. Washington Wizards

Between Bilal Coulibaly and the arrival of Jordan Poole, this is a team that looks to be pretty solid. Then, there is Kyle Kuzma, who offers another high-scoring option. Sadly, that’s more or less where the offensive threat ends. To be fair, Washington has only just begun to rebuild which is to say these are early days.

30. Portland Trail Blazers

How does one recover from losing arguably the best player in franchise history? Truthfully, it’s hard to see the Blazers being anything other than the worst team in the league this coming season after trading Damian Lillard. While it’s clear that No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson is going to be a highlight reel to watch, after him there’s only Shaedon Sharpe and the newly arrived Deandre Ayton. There are tough times ahead in Portland.