- Six NBA teams have legitimate chances to make the NBA Finals
- Franchises no longer want to settle for being middle of the pack, choosing to rebuild or contend
- There is only one championship favorite heading into next season
Each season, 30 teams battle it out on the hardwood, vying for supremacy and the coveted NBA championship. With the 2023-24 season approaching, it is time to categorize all NBA teams into six distinct tiers based on their performance, potential, and overall outlook. We’ll consider a myriad of factors, including recent records, player acquisitions, coaching changes, and the development of young talent.
This tiered ranking system provides a comprehensive snapshot of where each team stands in the highly competitive NBA landscape, helping fans and enthusiasts gain a deeper understanding of the league’s dynamics. From perennial championship contenders to teams in the midst of a rebuilding phase, this article delves into the intricacies of the NBA, highlighting the diverse range of talent and strategies that make it one of the most exciting sports leagues in the world.
Without further ado, here is the ranking of all NBA teams into six different tiers: Lottery Teams, Play-In Competitors, First-Round Exits, Contenders, NBA Finals Threats, and the only Championship Favorite.
Lottery Teams
Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs
The first tier in the NBA ranking system is the “Lottery Teams.” These are the franchises that have found themselves at the bottom of the standings in recent seasons, often struggling to secure playoff spots, and will instead focus on building for the future during the 2023-24 season.
The Detroit Pistons have been in a rebuilding phase, aiming to develop their young talent and accumulate assets for the future in recent seasons by drafting core players such as Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. They are hoping to build a competitive team in the coming years, but they are currently a lottery-bound squad with a goal of achieving at least 30 wins.
Like the Pistons, the Magic have been in a rebuilding mode, frequently parting ways with established players to invest in their youth. The trades that moved Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier during the 2020-21 season proved that tanking was the way to go. They have a promising core of young players including Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero and are looking to develop them into a competitive team.
The Wizards have been on the cusp of playoff contention with Bradley Beal on the team, but that era is over. Trading Kristaps Porzingis was a good sign because they are trying to win in the future with a 24-year-old Jordan Poole and 28-year-old Kyle Kuzma as the leaders of the team.
Although the Portland Trail Blazers have had some success in recent years, the Damian Lillard era is over following the superstar’s trade to Milwaukee. Instead of being at a crossroads with Lillard on the squad, Portland has finally committed to rebuilding around No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, center Deandre Ayton, and budding guard Anfernee Simons.
After experiencing a period of dominance with multiple playoff appearances, the Rockets have faced significant challenges, including the departure of key players James Harden and Russell Westbrook in 2021. They have been in the process of rebuilding and are lottery-bound, tanking trying to find young talent. With Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. as the future and veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks coming in, Houston won’t be as bad as last year.
The Spurs, known for their consistency and championships in the past, are currently in a transitional phase and did not seem to have a direction until superstar Frenchman Victor Wembanyama fell into their lap in the 2023 Draft. The goal for the Spurs is to try to sneak into the postseason but more so, develop Wembanyama and show him the ropes to superstardom.
Play-In Competitors
Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans
In the NBA hierarchy, the “Play-In Competitors” tier represents teams that are on the fringe of playoff contention. These squads are in the mix for postseason action but are not guaranteed a spot and will often have to compete in the play-in tournament for the opportunity to secure a playoff berth.
The Hornets have been gradually improving and have a young, exciting core of players headlined by All-Star LaMelo Ball, No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller, and possibly the bounce-back season from Miles Bridges. They are often on the cusp of the playoffs and are striving to make a postseason appearance after suffering through a disappointing campaign last year (27-55).
The Raptors, recent NBA champions in 2019, have experienced some changes in their roster and coaching staff since Kawhi Leonard was on the team. They are competitive but face tough competition in the Eastern Conference which means a core of Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes won’t be enough. Losing Fred VanVleet hurts and not acquiring Damian Lillard means the team might be trying to settle for a play-in tournament.
The Indiana Pacers have been a consistent team over the past few seasons but have struggled to make the postseason. They are in the mix for playoff contention and are looking to make strides in the competitive Eastern Conference with Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, and Bennedict Mathurin leading the charge although they might not get there yet.
The Bulls should be working on rebuilding their team despite the fact that they have made significant moves to improve their roster. They are aiming to return to playoff contention after missing out last season as DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are on the roster. If by the trade deadline, the Bulls do not hold a winning record, expect two more blockbuster deals to happen as DeRozan and LaVine head elsewhere.
Despite having a budding All-Star Mikal Bridges, the Nets find themselves in the play-in tier due to various factors, including tough competition in the Eastern Conference and a roster filled with decent but unspectacular talent. They are still a formidable team but must secure their playoff spot through the play-in tournament.
The Utah Jazz have been a solid regular-season team in recent years but have faced challenges in the playoffs. They are often in contention for the postseason but need to maintain consistency to secure their spot with stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert no longer on the team and the reigns handed over to All-Star Lauri Markkanen.
The Thunder have been in a rebuilding phase for years since trading Russell Westbrook and Paul George, accumulating draft assets and young talent. Finally, they are ready to start winning games and pushing legitimately for the playoffs although they are not considered strong playoff contenders at this time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a superstar, Josh Giddey is getting better, and Chet Holmgren will have a much-anticipated rookie campaign.
Led by young phenom Zion Williamson and All-Star Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans have potential but are still developing. They are looking to compete for a playoff spot in a competitive Western Conference although they will need Zion healthy. If the big man was certain to play at least 65 games, the Pelicans would be a playoff team without a doubt.
First-Round Exits
Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers
The “First-Round Exits” tier consists of teams that, while making it to the playoffs, are often seen as unlikely to progress deep into the postseason. These teams typically face an uphill battle against stronger opponents and may exit the playoffs in the early rounds.
The Atlanta Hawks made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2020-21 season, showcasing their potential. However, they still have work to do to establish themselves as perennial contenders and may face first-round exits against tough competition with only Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, and Clint Capela looking like above-average talents. Young is only 25 years old so perhaps the Hawks can make a move to improve the roster going forward.
The Timberwolves have struggled in recent years but have a promising young core, including Karl-Anthony Towns and more importantly, Anthony Edwards. While they have playoff aspirations, they are considered underdogs in the Western Conference because while they made the playoffs last year, they were bounced in the first round. Expect the same in 2024.
The Sacramento Kings have been in a playoff drought for an extended period until De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis led them to the playoffs and forced a Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors. While the Kings have shown flashes of potential, they face stiff competition in the Western Conference and are not quite ready to make it further.
The only reason the Memphis Grizzlies are not contenders is that Ja Morant is missing 25 games through suspension and is facing immaturity issues. Dillon Brooks is gone and that will lessen the unwanted attention, but the team needs to focus on trying to push their level to become better. However, they are still building their playoff experience around Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. and may exit in the early round against a more seasoned opponent.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a roster good enough to contend but last season was a warning that massive improvements are needed from their core players. Donovan Mitchell had a career year by averaging 28.3 points per game, but he was not able to make it out of the first round against the New York Knicks. Unless Evan Mobley arrives as an All-Star, the Cavaliers are not ready to contend yet.
Playoff Contenders
Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers
The “Contenders” tier is reserved for teams that have established themselves as serious playoff contenders with the potential to make deep postseason runs. These teams are considered strong competitors and have the talent, depth, and experience to challenge for an NBA championship.
The Philadelphia 76ers, led by 2023 MVP and two-time scoring champion Joel Embiid and a strong supporting cast, have consistently been among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Even if they do eventually trade James Harden, they have championship aspirations and are known for their defensive prowess and star power. It is expected that the team will be able to replace Harden and a trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris still looks strong even if they won’t win the championship.
The New York Knicks have made a resurgence in recent years, led by a tenacious defense and a passionate fan base at Madison Square Garden. While they may not be the favorites, they have the potential to make deep playoff runs under the right circumstances because the addition of Jalen Brunson has been a blessing. Expect Brunson to make the All-Star Team and the Knicks to progress past the first round again.
There is a ton riding on the Dallas Mavericks this season. Luka Doncic and the Mavericks have quickly risen to prominence in the Western Conference but struggled last year missing the play-in tournament with Kyrie Irving coming on board. Assuming Irving returns to an All-Star level and starts leading the team to wins, the Mavericks have a formidable team with aspirations of contending for a championship.
Miami missed out on Damian Lillard, make no mistake about that. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are clearly good enough to make the NBA Finals together but actually winning it is an entirely different story. However, the Heat will be worse than last year considering they lost two starters Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, and have not yet replaced them. If the Heat can acquire another All-Star, they will be back in the mix but will be forgotten otherwise.
The Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, are perennial contenders in the Western Conference. They have the star power and depth to challenge any team in the league and aim to secure their first NBA championship. However, injuries have been thwarting the team’s chances and it would be unfair to ignore them in the 2023-24 campaign.
NBA Finals Threats
Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors
The “NBA Finals Threats” tier represents teams that are not only strong contenders but are also viewed as legitimate threats to reach the NBA Finals and potentially win the championship. These teams have the star power, depth, and overall quality to compete at the highest level of the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics are not fearing any team and they felt confident making the trade that shipped out former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis. The trio of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis looks difficult to contend with and if the Malcolm Brogdon trade rumors are true, Boston is not done yet and could only improve. Expect the Celtics to make the Eastern Conference Finals with a chance to make the Finals for the first time since 2021-22.
Led by the dynamic Nikola Jokic and the playoff star Jamal Murray, the Denver Nuggets have emerged as a Western Conference powerhouse and finally broke through to win the NBA championship in 2023. They must be respected as title contenders next season because the core is back with only Bruce Brown gone. If Jokic is motivated and not completely hungover from his summer in Serbia, the Nuggets will be a massive problem in 2024.
The Phoenix Suns made a remarkable run to the NBA Finals in the 2020-2021 season, showcasing their potential with a core featuring Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton. Now, imagine a core of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal with new pieces Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, and Eric Gordon acting as role players. There is no doubt Phoenix has the talent to win it all, the only questions are, can they maintain chemistry, remain healthy, and get support from their role players? Time will tell.
The Lakers, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, are perennial championship contenders once again. It does not matter how old LeBron James is, he has the intangibles to make the difference for the Lakers as long as he is healthy. Davis holds the cards because he must play at least 60 games for chemistry’s sake, and if the duo is healthy, the rest of the roster looks stacked with Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and Christian Wood.
Golden State, once dominant with multiple championships, is back in the mix with the return of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green from injuries. They have a winning culture and the ability to make deep playoff runs, especially with Jordan Poole gone and future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul coming to town. The keys for Golden State will be for the core to stay healthy, Andrew Wiggins to play like an All-Star again, and hopefully have the size to handle the contenders with only Kevon Looney acting as the established paint protector.
Championship Favorite
Milwaukee Bucks
Following the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade, the Milwaukee Bucks are the absolute favorites to win the NBA championship. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a dominant force in the league thanks to his size, basketball IQ, and two-way play, but he has a chance to form one of the best duos ever with Lillard beside him. There might not be a better duo in terms of fit in the NBA right now, and the presence of Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis only makes the Bucks look scarier.
Their starting lineup looks absolutely stacked, and they might not be even done making moves yet. As long as the core stays healthy, it is hard to imagine any team in the league battling with the Bucks when it comes to their star power, defense, size, and offensive ability. Anything can happen and that is why other teams will be trying to improve their rosters, but as things stand, the Bucks have the best chance to win it all in 2024.
