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It’s been one month since the Boston Celtics overcame the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. Time has quickly passed since then and we’re now in the middle of July, meaning there are only about three months until the 2024-25 NBA season begins.
Even though there’s a bunch of time to kill until the action kicks off, it isn’t too early to start thinking about the upcoming campaign. Free agency and the NBA Draft — along with a few trades — have already reshaped the league, making it interesting to see how the teams will stack against each other come October.
Having said that, let’s take a glimpse at next season as we dive into our initial 2024 NBA power rankings and early Finals prediction.
1. Boston Celtics — It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone to see the Celtics at the top of this list. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday have helped solidify Boston as the No. 1 team in the NBA and there’s a good chance they maintain that status if they don’t suffer from a championship hangover.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder — The Thunder were the No. 1 team out West last season and are now even better with the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. If the rest of the returning players keep up their progress, the Thunder will make some noise.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves — The Timberwolves failed to advance past the Western Conference Finals, but that experience should make them better. Time will tell if Anthony Edwards takes the next step to becoming a household name.
4. New York Knicks — The Knicks didn’t mess around this offseason, opting to bring in Mikal Bridges while re-signing OG Anunoby. If the roster stays healthy, New York might have what it takes to give Boston a run for its money.
5. Dallas Mavericks — The Mavericks’ failed trip to the NBA Finals should motivate them to come back stronger than never next season. With Klay Thompson joining Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Dallas may have finally found its missing ingredient.
6. Philadelphia 76ers — There won’t be any excuses for the Sixers next season now that Paul George is joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. If the current roster isn’t good enough for a deep playoff run, they likely won’t ever win in the Embiid era.
7. Denver Nuggets — As long as Nikola Jokic is still playing at an MVP level, the Nuggets will remain in the NBA Championship mix. Having said that, the depth did take a major hit with the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this summer, leaving time to reveal who fills his void.
8. Milwaukee Bucks — The Bucks could’ve gone deeper in the playoffs had Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo not been dealing with injuries. We’ll see if they can be healthy enough to turn Milwaukee into a powerhouse again.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers — After signing his massive extension, it’s time for Donovan Mitchell to prove that he’s worth every penny by helping the Cavaliers be taken seriously. Cleveland has one of the best defenses in the NBA and will need it to stay that way to make some postseason noise.
10. Memphis Grizzlies — The Grizzlies only won 27 games last season, but that had a lot to do with Ja Morant being suspended for 25 games. Considering how they went 6-3 SU in the nine games he played, I expect bigger things from Memphis if the 24-year-old All-Star stays out of trouble.
11. Phoenix Suns — Did the Suns fail to meet expectations last season? Yes, but let’s not forget that this is still a team that boasts Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. If the trio stays healthy and on the same page, Phoenix could end up surprising quite a few people.
12. Indiana Pacers — The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals this spring, shocking a lot of their doubters in the process. Tyrese Haliburton & Co. can hang with the best of them and could come back even better with their newfound experience.
13. New Orleans Pelicans — Dejounte Murray’s presence could be exactly what the Pelicans need to take things to the next level. There’s potential here for New Orleans to be one of the league’s defensive powerhouses next season.
14. Sacramento Kings — After missing the NBA playoffs for the 17th time in 18 seasons, the Kings acquired DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade this summer. He joins a hungry group that already boasts the likes of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray who are ready to take the next step.
15. Orlando Magic — The Magic were already one of the best defensive teams last season and now they’ll be even better with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the mix. If all goes to plan, Orlando could find itself in the top 10 soon.
16. Golden State Warriors — Even though the Warriors lost Klay Thompson, they have the trio of Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, and Buddy Hield to replace him. Besides, Stephen Curry is still at the top of his game and can turn any Golden State roster into a championship challenger on his own.
17. Los Angeles Lakers — Even though the Lakers didn’t make any major offseason splashes, this is still a team that rosters LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It’s best not to underestimate them until they’re officially out of playoff contention.
18. LA Clippers — With Paul George gone, does Kawhi Leonard have what it takes to win with James Harden and Russell Westbrook? If the two-time NBA Finals MVP runs into health issues this season could be a trainwreck.
19. Miami Heat — The Heat are essentially running things back without Caleb Martin. Considering how they lost to the Celtics in five games in Round 1, I’m unsure if the Heat will be anything more than a bubble team in 2024-25.
20. Houston Rockets — The Rockets are a young and hungry team that’ll most likely challenge for a Play-In Tournament spot. Without a clear-cut superstar leading the charge, I don’t see their ceiling being much higher than that for now.
21. San Antonio Spurs — The Spurs showed promise last season and could be even better if 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama continues to blossom into a superstar.
22. Atlanta Hawks — The Hawks have an exciting young core, especially with the addition of No. 1 overall selection Zaccharie Risacher. They’ll be a fun team to watch, however, they likely won’t be anything more than a Play-In squad for the time being.
23. Toronto Raptors — The Raptors collapsed during the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, making it interesting to see if they pick up from where they left off. The group of Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley has potential but it won’t mean much if Toronto struggles to gel as a team.
24. Utah Jazz — The Jazz could find themselves further down the list if the rumors are true and they eventually move Lauri Markkanen.
25. Charlotte Hornets — Will the Hornets ever return to the playoffs? They’ve missed eight consecutive postseasons and have averaged just 31 wins per season since Lamelo Ball joined the franchise.
26. Washington Wizards — How much of a difference will the additions of Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon make? Maybe not a big one at this stage of their respective careers, however, the Wizards should challenge for a Play-In spot.
27. Detroit Pistons — If head coach J.B. Bickerstaff can help this young group realize its potential, the Pistons might finally exit the dark ages. Unfortunately, the franchise’s recent history indicates that Bickerstaff has quite an uphill battle to climb.
28. Chicago Bulls — What do you call a team that just lost DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Andre Drummond in one offseason? Destined for the bottom of the league.
29. Portland Trail Blazers — The Trail Blazers didn’t make many improvements after last year’s 21-win performance, so expect to see them back in the draft lottery next year.
30. Brooklyn Nets — The Nets made it clear they were tanking as soon as they traded Mikal Bridges. It’d be shocking if they aren’t at the bottom of the NBA standings once the dust settles.
NBA Finals 2025 odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of 12:09 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 16.
After how dominant they were last season, I like the idea of the Celtics winning it all again in 2025. They were the best team wire-to-tire in 2023-24 and could replicate that success given the embarrassment of riches they boast. They’re elite on both sides of the ball, too, and have enough All-Star-caliber depth to frustrate even the best of teams.
If you’re looking for a bit more value than +300 odds, the Knicks are an attractive option at +850. It remains to be seen how the offseason changes will impact the lineup, however, it’s hard not to like them even more with Mikal Bridges in the mix.
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