The 2021-2022 NBA season has just wrapped up. Without much information on new trades and deals between teams, let’s make some early power rankings.

30. Houston Rockets

With what should be a full rebuild incoming for this team, there hasn’t been much progress in doing so. Even though the Houston Rockets got the number 3 draft pick this year, choosing Jabari Smith will not boost them up in rankings much this season. Especially with such a thin frame, Smith may get bested by some of the bigger power forwards and centers. Houston has made slow and steady progress and hopefully, there is more to come.

29. Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic do not look like they will make any sort of run to even make the play-in tournament this year. With no plans of contention this year, the Magic’s front office have looked to make a good, young team with what they have. The young core of the Magic looks promising for the next couple of years, but not anytime soon.

28. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons just traded away their best piece to the Portland Trail Blazers, Jerami Grant, for a 2025 first-round pick. It was not the greatest deal, but they still got the biggest contract they had off of their hands. Cade Cunningham, who will be a second-year player, will pair up with Jaden Ivey, the 5th pick in the 1st round of the 2022-2023 NBA Draft. This backcourt looks very promising, with both young players having things to improve on. The NBA world will soon see just how good Ivey is, and how he adjusts to the NBA.

27. Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings have been a quiet team these past years. The Kings haven’t been to the playoffs in 16 years. 1st round, 4th pick, Keegan Murray, was the Kings’ draft pick. Murray is a strong forward, but he is not going to be able to lift the Kings to a playoff spot this year, assuming the Kings stay silent this offseason once again.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder

It is painful to have the Thunder down so low with how good their front office has been the past couple of years. Their starting 5 is really good for a rebuilding team. At the start of games, assuming all of the players are healthy, the team will look something like this:

PG: Josh Giddey

SG: Shai Gilgeous Alexander

SF: Luguentz Dort

PF: Aleksej Pokuševski

C: Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren will be the new addition to this lineup. There would be no surprise if this team soars beyond expectations. In a few years, this team will be in a solid playoff position.

25. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers could go much higher than this, but injury-prone Myles Turner and TJ Warren might stop them from going far. When healthy, this team could maybe be a play-in tournament contender, but with all the ups and downs this team has had, a bit more time could help them. Especially since Turner may be in a different jersey next season.

24. New York Knicks

The Knicks haven’t been known to take initiative in the offseason, and it doesn’t look like they are going to be able to pull off anything big this year. With unrestricted free agent, Mitchell Robinson as good as gone, and RJ Barrett not reaching a contract agreement yet, everything is still up in the air for this team. That is the reason they are low on the power rankings.

23. Washington Wizards

The Wizards have been making an effort to keep Bradley Beal happy for years now. It’s Beal’s loyalty that has kept him there, not exactly the moves the Wizards have made. Trading for Porzingis will help fill their lackluster big position. Even with the young core of Avdija, Kuzma, Hachimura, and Kispert, it does not look like it will not be enough to make it to the playoffs this year.

22. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are the dark horse to make a run to and out of the play-in tournament with the strong trio of Devin Vassel, Dejounte Murray, and Keldon Johnson. Add in the best coach in the league and this team is pretty bright. But without any trade rumors related to this team, it would be tough to put them closer to the higher teams on this list.

21. Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets have been a very fun team to watch and could make the playoffs, but what lacks is their ability to defend. Especially in the paint. James Borrego, their ex-head coach, failed to find a way to eliminate that problem. With Steve Clifford coming back to Charlotte, hopefully, the Hornets can find a way to improve on the defensive side of the floor.

20. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are definitely a team to watch this offseason. Their star point guard Collin Sexton is currently a restricted free agent and could end up leaving. Darius Garland looks to stay in Cleveland, as he has shown signs of extreme improvement in his game. Hopefully, the Cavaliers can find a way to make this season work.

19. Atlanta Hawks

Putting the Hawks in front of the Cavs and Hornets could be seen as going out on a limb since John Collins is probably leaving Atlanta. But instead of having Collins, who has expressed he doesn’t really want to stay in Atlanta, the Hawks could get good pieces for him. Assuming they do, the Hawks could be better than they were last year, which is why they are here.

18. Portland Trail Blazers

There are many reasons why someone could put the Blazers as high as number 23 on this list, but there is some hope for this team. With the recent Jerami Grant trade, Lillard and Simons would fit very well with him. Adding another young piece, rookie Shaedon Sharpe from Kentucky, will look to impact the backcourt of this team as much as possible. To help on the defensive side, Josh Hart is coming back to Portland. This team is looking much better than they did last year.

17. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have been average since their championship in 2019. Since the Raptors lost Kawhi Leonard, the team hasn’t been anything special. But that’s been enough to make the playoffs consistently. The Eastern Conference is only getting better, and the Raptors need to be getting better as well if they want to keep their playoff appearance streak alive.

16. New Orleans Pelicans

This team is going to be coming out of the gates very fresh and strong. Brandon Ingram has been looking like a top 20 player in the league, and adding Zion Williamson is nothing but scary hours for the rest of the league. The Pelicans could definitely do something this year, and upset a team or two in the playoffs.

15. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are going to be a must-watch team this offseason. The Lakers are attempting to pursue the Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving, and have 3/1 odds of doing so. If the Lakers find a way to acquire Irving, either Westbrook or Davis would be out of L.A. It is going to be interesting to see what this team does, as there isn’t much of an idea as of what they are going to do this offseason. The Lakers need to obtain more chemistry coming into this season, and a huge trade might not help that.

14. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are a team that has an odd feel to them. Their starting lineup looks stacked, but then they perform slightly above average, if that. The Bulls should be much better than they were the previous year, as they have tons of time to work together on things they weren’t able to perform well on last year. This year, watch out for the Bulls, they could make some serious noise.

13. Utah Jazz

The Jazz have always performed well in the regular season, but when it comes to the playoffs, they always find a way to fall apart. The Chicago Bulls have a huge chance of going farther in the playoffs than the Jazz, but these are power rankings, not playoff predictions. With Gobert consistently popping up in trade talks, the Jazz could very well move up to a higher number if there is a trade.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves have surprisingly improved in the past 3 years. From one of the worst teams in basketball to a playoff threat. Karl Anthony Towns has been the best thing that has happened to the Wolves in a while. Towns has had such an unbelievable impact on this team and could have even more if it wasn’t for Minnesota’s star point guard, D’Angelo Russel. Trading Russel would be risky, but with how many times this man has been in a one-possession game at the end of the 4th quarter, and taken dumb shots was countless this year. Towns should have the ball in his hands at all times at the end of games. And if not, Anthony Edwards could be seen as more reliable than D’Angelo Russel.

11. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets have had so many health problems since forming the big three of Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, and Michael Porter Jr. MPJ has been out for what feels like forever but is looking to make a comeback this season. Murray was out in the most recent postseason, which led to the Nuggets being dominated early on in the playoffs. If Michael Porter Jr. isn’t injured or traded, this team could move closer to the top 5-7 teams in the NBA, but for now, it’s tough to trust them.

10. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers’ duo of Embiid and Harden is one of the, if not the best duo in the NBA, but it’s the supporting cast that leaves them at number 10 on this list. The Sixers sacrificed a lot to acquire this duo, and it looks like it may pay off. The role players and bench players have to step up if the Sixers want a chance for a championship.

9. Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks’ roster is not eye-popping to say the least, but Luka Doncic makes do with what he has. Doncic has shown time and time again just how good of a young leader he is, and how far he can take a team. Most recently, he and the Mavs upset the #1 seed in the entire NBA in the Western Conference semi-finals, that being the Phoenix Suns. When a player can take a team to the Western Conference finals, and have the second-best player on his team as Jalen Brunson, you can tell just how talented he is. All the Mavericks need to do is make a move or two, and their odds of winning it all this year will soar.

8. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are one of the most talented teams in the NBA. All but one player on this team is under 30 years old, and the depth this team has is scary. Led by Ja Morant, this team is looking better and better every year. With Jaren Jackson Jr. finally healthy, and a developed Desmond Bane, this team will be sure to make noise. Now, this offseason, Memphis has the stress of Tyus Jones, and Kyle Anderson, both being veteran free agents. If the Grizzlies can get some value out of this offseason, do not be surprised if they make it to the finals.

7. Phoenix Suns

The Suns had a historic regular season going 64-18, but then when the playoffs hit, the Suns lost in the Semi-Finals to a 4-seed Dallas Mavericks. Chris Paul wasn’t able to score as efficiently as usual, and Deandre Ayton has not been happy with the Suns lately. Ayton has still not come to an agreement with the Suns, and the chances of him staying with Phoenix are 50/50.

6. Miami Heat

The Heat have been led by Jimmy Butler for the past few years. When the Heat reach the playoffs, they look like a completely different team. Jimmy Butler turns into a top 5 player in the league and leads Miami past multiple teams. He has never won them the championship, but he sure has gotten them close. With a move or two before the season starts, head coach Erik Spoelstra and his team could finally win another ring.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have been waiting so long for Kawhi Leonard to return, and he will finally be back this season. Paul George and Leonard will finally be back on the court together, and those two together are the best two-way duo in the league. Adding on a point guard like Reggie Jackson is useful for the lackluster guard positions on this team. The Clippers need to find a reliable Center, and another point guard that could come off the bench or even start. A center like Ayton and a point guard like Collin Sexton or Jalen Brunson would be huge for this team.

4. Milwaukee Bucks

There will be disagreement about the Bucks being behind teams such as the Nets and Celtics, but while Middleton was out during the playoffs, the team showed tons of weaknesses in the wing position. The Bucks will have to make some moves to help out Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton.

3. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets will have all eyes on them this offseason, with rumors about Durant and Irving leaving. Durant is almost guaranteed to stay with Brooklyn, at least for another year, but last year may have been the last time we’ll ever see Kyrie Irving in a Nets jersey. The Los Angeles Lakers are attempting to trade for him, but odds are, Irving stays with Brooklyn for another year. The Nets have built up quite the team, adding Ben Simmons to their roster this year. The Nets look promising, especially with the second best odds to win the title, and if there are little to no changes with this team, the chemistry and skill between the new big 3 could easily take this year’s championship.

2. Boston Celtics

The Celtics learned that they still have many things to improve on after losing to the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the NBA finals. The offensive end was ice-cold throughout the entire series. The turnovers killed them, and the horrendous shooting, even from Jason Tatum, lost them the series. Tatum had terrible shot selection, and the team together couldn’t find a way to break through the Warriors’ defense. This team will be looking for revenge this season and will be fun to watch the tweaks they make on the offensive end.

1. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors will look to repeat after dominating each team in the 2021-2022 playoffs. They have the best odds to win the championship for a reason. This team showed no flaws the past year, and they came from the bottom to the top of the league within two years. The coaching, the playmaking, the offense, the defense, the list goes on and on of the things the Warriors execute better than any team in the league.

This season has a lot in stock for us, and one thing is for sure. Many teams will look very different at the start of next year.