2018-19 NBA Power Rankings: Are the Raptors a surefire top 5 team?

Eric Smith and Michael Grange report from Vancouver where the Toronto Raptors are transitioning on offence and defence under new head coach Nick Nurse.

It’s becoming a yearly practice in the NBA, but another summer full of major moves has come and gone.

LeBron James is in the West, Kawhi Leonard is in the East, DeMarcus Cousins is a Warrior, and DeMar DeRozan is a Spur. The league will certainly feel different this year — one of the most anticipated in recent memory — even if the NBA’s alpha team remains the same.

So as teams wrap up their training camps and pre-season is set to begin this weekend, here’s a look at our first power rankings of the 2018-19 season.

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1. Golden State Warriors
Kevin Durant won’t say whether he intends to stick around the Bay Area beyond this season, but no matter, his return to the Warriors is just one of the many reasons why they will hold the top spot — and stay there for the foreseeable future. The NBA’s best core — Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — were further bolstered by the addition of Cousins, whose Achilles injury will likely keep him sidelined until at least the new year but makes the Dubs far more scary than ever come playoff time.

2017-18 record: 58-24

2. Boston Celtics

Their best five-man lineup is the best in the East — Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford — and their rising stars should take another step forward after helping carry the team through to the East Finals last season. This is a deep, tough, well-coached team that seems poised to embark on a dominant run in the conference.

2017-18 record: 55-27

3. Houston Rockets

Sure, the Rockets lost Trevor Ariza, a key glue guy, defender, and three-point shooter, but early reports are that his replacement, James Ennis, is about to make a name for himself this season in the same role. The Rockets were able to bring Clint Capela back into the fold, and return the potent backcourt of James Harden and Chris Paul to a team that took the Warriors to seven games in the West Finals last spring.

2017-18 record: 65-17

4. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors boast arguably the top player in the conference in Kawhi Leonard, and surround him with a deep roster with the potential to overwhelm opponents on defence and really push the pace offensively in rookie head coach Nick Nurse’s three-point heavy system. The team goes 11-deep with reliable contributors and the additions of championship-tested players like Leonard and Danny Green should help the Raps exorcize their playoff demons. Expectations have never been higher in Toronto, and for legitimate reasons.

2017-18 record: 59-23

5. Utah Jazz

With their core intact from last season, a healthy Jazz team built around breakout guard Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert — arguably the NBA’s premier rim protector — Ricky Rubio and others, the Jazz should continue to build toward becoming a bona fide contender in the West. When healthy their elite defence and matchup possibilities could make them the biggest on-court threat to Golden State.

2017-18 record: 48-34

6. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers had an opportunity to add another star-type player to their roster this summer but failed to make any significant additions. Even still, another year of development for Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric & Co. should keep Philly in contention for a top spot in the East. The wild card here is 2017 first-overall pick Markelle Fultz, who showed flashes of his abilities at the end of last season and could be the East’s ultimate X-factor.

2017-18 record: 52-30

7. Oklahoma City Thunder

OKC’s biggest off-season move was re-signing Paul George, which will help keep them in contention in the West. But the reason for optimism lies in under-the-radar acquisitions like Nerlens Noel and Dennis Schroder, who will help bolster what was an underwhelming second unit last season.

2017-18 record: 48-34

8. San Antonio Spurs

Leonard only played nine games last season and the Spurs still managed to make the playoffs off strong performances from a group of role players and an emergent LaMarcus Aldridge, who made his sixth all-star team. Throw in DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl — two players poised to benefit from playing under Greg Popovich — and what should be a breakout campaign from point guard Dejounte Murray and the “new look” Spurs will keep their winning ways going.

2017-18 record: 47-35

9. Los Angeles Lakers

Expectations are measured in Los Angeles, but LeBron James is getting an improved supporting cast whose only real downside is their relative inexperience. Veterans like James and Rajon Rondo will help usher the development of players like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and Kyle Kuzma, and don’t be at all surprised if the Lakers outplay their position on these rankings.

2017-18 record: 35-47

10. New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis and the Pelicans put the NBA on notice down the stretch last season and should continue to build on that in 2018-19. Rondo, now a Laker, was a key piece for them down the stretch but the addition of big man Julius Randle should give the team a boost. They are still looking for a reliable scorer on the wing.

2017-18 record: 48-34

11. Milwaukee Bucks

With Giannis Antetokounmpo at the forefront the Bucks will be a threat. But aside from swingman Khris Middleton there are still plenty of question marks on the roster that could keep Milwaukee from reaching its full potential this season.

2017-18 record: 44-38

12. Indiana Pacers

Tyreke Evans is a nice addition to a Pacers team built around newfound star guard Victor Oladipo. The key to their success may lie in 22 year-old centre Myles Turner, who has the chance to establish himself as one of the East’s top big men, along with third-year forward Domantas Sabonis, both potent sidekicks to Oladipo.

2017-18 record: 48-34

13. Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap and Will Barton form a talented starting five that should see the Nuggets break through to the playoffs this season. Performances from Isaiah Thomas, Trey Lyles, and rookie Michael Porter Jr. — who may not even hit the floor — could dictate Denver’s ceiling.

2017-18 record: 46-36

14. Miami Heat

A team with no standout star but plenty of good players on the roster should continue to standout in the East, but if the team is able to land Jimmy Butler — they’ve been reported as his preferred destination and have been pushing a deal with Minnesota — then they’ll skyrocket up these rankings.

2017-18 record: 44-38

15. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers lost DeAndre Jordan and are invested in rookie Canadian point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That isn’t a win-now formula, but there is enough talent on the roster (Lou Williams, Tobias Harris, Danilo Gallinari) to keep the Clips in playoff contention.

2017-18 record: 42-40

16. Washington Wizards

After repeated disappointments throughout the John Wall era it’s hard to get too excited about the Wizards these days. Still, there’s enough talent there in Wall, Brad Beal, Otto Porter & Co. to win games in the regular season, and the additions of Austin Rivers and Dwight Howard make the team better.

2017-18 record: 43-39

17. Memphis Grizzlies

With Mike Conley and Marc Gasol healthy, rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. set to make noise from Day 1, and a supporting cast featuring Kyle Anderson, Dillon Brooks and Garrett Temple this team could surprise teams in the West and compete for a playoff spot.

2017-18 record: 22-60

18. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers enter this season with the NBA’s youngest roster and a backcourt in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum that may have reached its ceiling together. Lillard is a darkhorse MVP-type player, but there isn’t enough top-end talent on this team to repeat their success last season and the team lost key role players like Ed Davis to free agency with no real replacement. Don’t be surprised if they fall out of the playoffs after finishing with the third-seed last year.

2017-18 record: 49-33

19. Detroit Pistons

Dwane Casey embarks on his newest chapter with a team built for a previous era of NBA ball featuring a roster built around its bigs, Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin. The Pistons will have an advantage in the paint on most nights, but it’s what contributions they get from their backcourt that will dictate whether or not they can fight for a playoff spot.

2017-18 record: 39-43

20. Cleveland Cavaliers

Despite what Tristan Thompson thinks, the Cavaliers will take a major step back this season but will be more competitive than you think. Kevin Love is an all-star, Larry Nance Jr. should be able to take advantage of a larger role, and rookie point guard Collin Sexton will be in the running for Rookie of the Year.

2017-18 record: 50-32

21. Dallas Mavericks

Rookie Luka Doncic is a game-changing talent and if head coach Rick Carlisle finds a way to keep the ball in his hands and utilize him effectively alongside Dennis Smith Jr. then Dallas will, at the very least, be a ton of fun to watch. DeAndre Jordan joins the Mavericks, which could keep them out of contention for another top draft pick and in no-man’s land during what could be Dirk Nowitzki’s final season.

2017-18 record: 24-58

22. Charlotte Hornets

Kemba Walker is a fine player, and rookie Miles Bridges could be decent this season, but otherwise there’s not a ton to be excited about in Charlotte after another quiet off-season. There’s enough talent to fight for a playoff spot, but the Hornets seem to be trending in the wrong direction.

2017-18 record: 36-46

23. Minnesota Timberwolves

Butler is good as gone, and the circumstances of his trade demand will leave the Timberwolves with an unimpressive haul in return, and place the responsibility back on Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins to lead Minnesota back to the playoffs. Don’t bet on it.

2017-18 record: 47-35

24. Chicago Bulls

Zach LaVine is being paid like a go-to star player, even if he hasn’t quite shown that potential yet. He’s one of many intriguing players on the Bulls roster, including newly signed Jabari Parker and rookie big man Wendel Carter Jr., but Chicago’s rebuild is still in its early stages, with forward Lauri Markkanen as the centrepiece.

2017-18 record: 27-55

25. Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn plays a fun style but on a roster compiled of glorified role players and young players yet to reach their potential, it’s hard to expect much from the Nets this season. They finally own the rights to their first-overall pick now, which is nice.

2017-18 record: 28-54

26. New York Knicks
If Kristaps Porzingis can return to the court anytime soon the Knicks could turn some heads, but there’s a chance he’ll still miss significant time as he recovers from a serious ACL injury. Until he’s back, the Knicks are a young team with promising talent like Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina, but aren’t yet ready to compete.

2017-18 record: 29-53

27. Orlando Magic

Somehow the Magic still don’t have a serviceable starting point guard. It’ll limit them next season, but fans will still have plenty to be excited about given their ultra-long and athletic front court of Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and rookie centre Mo Bamba.

2017-18 record: 25-57

28. Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker is out with a hand injury that seems fairly serious, which makes this season another opportunity to gain experience for a young core that includes Josh Jackson, rookie Mikal Bridges, and 2018 first-overall pick DeAndre Ayton.

2017-18 record: 21-61

29. Sacramento Kings

Marvin Bagley III, the second-overall pick in the draft, struggled mightily at Summer League and the team struck out on adding a scorer in the backcourt. It’ll be another long season in Sacramento as the team continues to find out who is worth keeping as it searches for an identity and potential future stars. The worst part? They don’t own the rights to their first-round pick.

2017-18 record: 27-55

30. Atlanta Hawks

A familiar spot for the East’s worst team last season, the Hawks should be contenders for a top draft pick once again. This year they drafted Luka Doncic third overall and traded him for fifth pick Trae Young. Young will have full control of the steering wheel in Atlanta, and will hit plenty of speed bumps along the way.

2017-18 record: 24-58

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