NBA Preseason Power Rankings

What. Happened. It’s like an earthquake hit the NBA this past summer because a whole lot of teams got shaken up. We have never seen so many elite players get moved and traded before, completely shifting the power balance in the league. The dynasty of the Golden State Warriors ended when Kevin Durant moved to Brooklyn. The Toronto Raptors lost their best player, MVP Kawhi Leonard, to the LA Clippers in Finals. The level of parity in the league has never been higher, which only makes the game even more exciting for fans to watch.

With all the dust settled and the season set to start on October 22, let's take a look at how the season is shaping up with the preseason power rankings.

1. Los Angeles Clippers

2018-19 Record: 48-34
Key Additions: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Maurice Harkless
Key Losses: Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Clippers swiftly signing Kawhi Leonard and trading for Paul George in one night was the power move of the off-season. They were already a promising team in the West and now have Leonard, who has proven himself to be one of the top three players in the league by winning his second championship last season, and George, who finished third in the MVP voting last year. Both of these superstars are unselfish and arguably, the best two-way players in the league. The Clippers now have All-Stars at their core, and along with their depth in Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley, and Lou Williams, are the team to beat.

2. Milwaukee Bucks

2018-19 Record: 60-22
Key Additions: Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews
Key Losses: Malcolm Brogdon, Nikola Mirotic

Though the Bucks lost a great young player in Malcolm Brogdon, the Milwaukee Bucks have one thing that every other team doesn’t: the reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is a freak of nature, and the fact that he doesn't really have a jump shot yet and is still improving should terrify opponents. They were successful in keeping Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, giving Antetokounpo a talented supporting cast of shooters and role players to try and win the east.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

2018-19 Record: 51-31
Key Additions: Al Horford, Josh Richardson
Key Losses: Jimmy Butler, J.J Reddick

The 76ers may have lost a star in Jimmy Butler, but most likely got better this off-season. They added a solid veteran in Al Horford and an underrated Josh Richardson to their depth. They have one of the best lineups defensively in the league and of course, have a beast in Joel Embiid. Last season, the Sixers were +7.5 points per 100 possessions when Embiid was on the floor, but were -2.5 points when he was off. However, their success largely will depend on Ben Simmons’s ability to run the offense efficiently, and his ability to shoot (or lack thereof) can either rocket them to the top or cause them to fall to the middle of the east.

4. Los Angeles Lakers

2018-19 Record: 37-45
Key Additions: Anthony Davis, Danny Green, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley
Key Losses: Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Tyson Chandler

LeBron James and Anthony Davis may be the best duo in the league, but the Lakers lost many key players in the process. In the trade for Davis, they signed away Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, two of their best young ball-handlers from last year. They were stuck, waiting for Kawhi Leonard to make his decision, and eventually had to re-sign many of the flawed players they had last year, including Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Lakers had also signed Demarcus Cousins, but he will unfortunately be out for the rest of the year following an Achilles injury. In his absence, the Lakers signed Dwight Howard, who though is not the All-NBA Defensive and First Team he used to be, can provide quality minutes rebounding and guarding the rim both starting and off the bench. LeBron’s teammates showed they didn’t have the best chemistry last season, but Davis is the best teammate James has ever had. Will that be enough to carry them to the top of the stacked west?

5. Houston Rockets

2018-19 Record: 53-29
Key Additions: Russell Westbrook, Tyson Chandler
Key Losses: Chris Paul

There is no doubt about it: the Rockets got much better this year. Though Russell Westbrook is not as good as Chris Paul when it comes to shooting, he is four years younger and has a better contract. While the on-court chemistry between James Harden, a top-two scorer, and his old teammate, Westbrook, is still a question mark, he is a talent upgrade over Paul. Paul didn’t have a great relationship with Harden and is more prone to injury, while Mr. Triple Double is sure to wear his passions and heart on his sleeve day in and day out. With the two former MVPs paired with sidekicks like Eric Gordon stretching the floor and Clint Capela controlling the interior, the Rockets are in great shape to make some waves this season.

6. Denver Nuggets

2018-19 Record: 54-28
Key Additions: Jerami Grant
Key Losses: Trey Lyles

The Denver Nuggets didn’t make any major changes this season, which is a good thing. They were the second team in the west last year and have a 24-year-old named Nikola Jokic, who had the best plus/minus in the playoffs, averaging 25.1 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 8.4 assists. They also have budding stars in Jamal Murray and Gary Harris, along with a solid coach, Mike Malone. The Nuggets are a strong team with an MVP candidate in Jokic, who can help them be one of the best in the west this season.

7. Utah Jazz

2018-19 Record: 50-32
Key Additions: Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jeff Green, Ed Davis
Key Losses: Jae Crowder, Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, Kyle Korver

Though the Jazz didn’t pick up any superstars, they had as good of an off-season as anyone. Rubio and his lackluster shooting have been replaced by a veteran in Mike Conley from the Memphis Grizzlies. The addition of Bogdanovic and Green will open up space for their star Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell had defenses all over him during his first two years in the league, but the young star will have more room to work with this season, as he won’t be the only shooter on the court. And having Rudy Gobert, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, only adds to the versatility of this scrappy squad.

8. Golden State Warriors

2018-19 Record: 57-25
Key Additions: D'Angelo Russell, Willie Cauley-Stein
Key Losses: Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, DeMarcus Cousins, Shaun Livingston

It’s over; the dynasty of the Warriors is over. They lost key players this year in Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala. The Warriors could have been much higher on this list, as they still have Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, but Thompson will be out for much of this season, suffering from a torn ACL. D’Angelo Russell proved to be a great player on the Nets last year, but his role on the team is still uncertain. However, Curry could revert to his 2016 form, when he had the greatest individual offensive performance in NBA history. That could make the Warriors a sleeping giant until the playoffs come, by when Thompson is expected to be back.

There have been plenty of memorable NBA off-seasons, but this one has been one of the craziest of all time. With so many players being moved, it will take time for some teams to find their stride, so these rankings will inevitably fluctuate over the course of the season. Though it is still uncertain which is the best duo, and whether some underdogs can take the league by surprise, there is no doubt that this will be a season to remember.