We’re at midseason in the 2019-20 NBA season, and although we’re still coming off an incredibly good NBA All-Star weekend, it’s time to start focusing on the league in the second half of the year.
We’ve already given you a summary of each team at the break using one GIF for each franchise, so this is more of a ranking list of who’s a contender and who’s already starting their work on who they could take in the 2020 NBA draft, plus every team in between. Although it seems like there are a lot more contenders than we’re used to, this is a good way to separate the great from the just okay.
Away we go:
Tier 1: Let’s get that ring
1. Los Angeles Lakers (1st in the West)
LeBron James is doing miraculous stuff while leading the league in assists per game, The Brow is The Brow, and the supporting cast is getting sorted out. Even though they didn’t make a move at the trade deadline, they could find some help from the buyout scrap heap. They’re entering the second half as the team to beat.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (1st in the East)
The reigning MVP — Giannis Antetokounmpo — might have gotten BETTER, Khris Middleton is a great second option, they’ve got depth at every position … what more could you want out of a contender?
3. Los Angeles Clippers (3rd in the West)
How can I put a team that isn’t even contending for the top seed in its conference up here? Easy. We haven’t seen what a fully healthy Clips team can do. This squad is built to hit another gear in the playoffs.
Tier 2: We can be this year’s Raptors!
4. Toronto Raptors (2nd in the East)
Don’t sleep on the Raps AGAIN. They lost Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green and here they are. They’re just a tier down because I’m not sure they can get through the Bucks … but doubting them is a bad idea.
5. Denver Nuggets (2nd in the West)
They’re four games out of the top spot out West … but are they for real? The depth is there and then some, but maybe they should have traded some of that for a big name. Whatever, that’s in the past. Time to focus on avoiding last year’s playoff result.
6. Miami Heat (4th in the East)
I keep calling them The Team No One Wants to Face and I stand by that.
7. Boston Celtics (3rd in the East)
Wait, maybe THIS is the Team No One Wants to Face? Jayson Tatum has clearly taken a huge step forward, Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown are both above 20 ppg, Gordon Hayward figured out his role, Marcus Smart is his usual self … the only concern is depth in the middle.
8. Utah Jazz (4th in the West)
I almost put them in the next tier, but that’s insulting to the team that figured it all out after a disastrous start, followed it up with a five-game losing streak and entered the break having won four straight against tough opponents. Underrated.
Tier 3: Good job! Good effort!
9. Houston Rockets (5th in the West)
I just can’t shake it — the small ball experiment will ultimately crash and burn sometime in the playoffs, whether it’s against Anthony Davis or Rudy Gobert.
10. Dallas Mavericks (7th in the West)
Man, I want them to be higher. But you know what? Luka Doncic hasn’t reached his full potential yet. He’ll be in the Finals sooner rather than later as long as the roster continues to be built the right away around him and Kristaps Porzingis.
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (6th in the West)
Sorry, Chris Paul. Not this year. Again.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (5th in the East)
Ugh. A team that hoped to be a tier up or maybe more is a mess. Here’s hoping the lineup changes Brett Brown made before the break continue to work.
13. Indiana Pacers (6th in the East)
They’re going to make the playoffs. They might make a splash here and there with Victor Oladipo rounding into shape. But this squad has a chance to move up a tier next year. Speaking of next year …
Tier 4: We’re on to next year (and the years after that)
14. Memphis Grizzlies (8th in the West)
The future is SO bright. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks and Brandon Clarke form a beautiful core for years to come. Making the playoffs this year as the No. 8 seed would be a bonus.
15. New Orleans Pelicans (11th in the West)
ZION!!! ZIONZIONZIONZIONZIONZIONZION. Also, Lonzo Ball has taken a good step forward and Brandon Ingram has broken through.
16. Portland Trail Blazers (9th in the West)
The Blazers will go into next season with Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, a healthy Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins. Although this year was lost, this is the core that nearly made it to the Finals last season.
17. Brooklyn Nets (7th in the East)
Kevin Durant’s coming back. That’s it.
Tier 5: Meh.
18. San Antonio Spurs (10th in the West)
Love that LaMarcus Aldridge has stretched his range, but the Spurs are still just okay.
19. Orlando Magic (8th in the East)
They’re three games ahead in the eighth spot, but there’s not much more to say than that.
20. Washington Wizards (9th in the East)
They’re more fun to watch than we thought … but they can’t play defense. And when John Wall comes back, we’ll see what that really means for the future of the franchise.
Tier 6: Oh no! We suck again
21. Phoenix Suns (12th in the West)
Feels like they’ve been stuck in this tier forever.
22. Sacramento Kings (13th in the West)
I had high hopes after last year, but they’ve been dashed to pieces.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (14th in the West)
At least they got out from under the Andrew Wiggins contract. And maybe D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns playing together actually helps.
24. Atlanta Hawks (14th in the East)
The plan was probably for the team to be bad again. At least Trae Young has blossomed and they have John Collins, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter and the newly-acquired Clint Capela to build on.
Tier 7: What time is the NBA draft lottery?
25. Golden State Warriors (15th in the West)
They probably belong in Tier 4, but their fates also tie into the lottery. If they get the top pick and have Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Wiggins AND a No. 1 selection? Look out.
26. Charlotte Hornets (11th in the East)
They did unearth a gem in Devonte’ Graham. That’s a positive. It’s just that he plays the same position as Terry Rozier, who was signed-and-traded in the offseason in the Kemba Walker deal. That’s a negative.
27. Chicago Bulls (10th in the East)
What a mess. Zach LaVine is a bright spot, Lauri Markkanen is not, and everything else feels up in the air.
28. New York Knicks (13th in the East)
(Homer Simspon whisper) They’ve won four of their last six. Yes, those wins came against some mediocre teams. But the front office hire was good. The next step, probably: finding a good coach, hitting at the next couple of lotteries and hoping the R.J. Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox core take steps in the right direction.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (15th in the East)
Collin Sexton is a bright spot, Darius Garland has shown flashes, maybe they can find a way to move Kevin Love in the offseason and Andre Drummond can play. It’s just that they all don’t quite fit together. Still, they’re sooooo far from win-now mode.
30. Detroit Pistons (12th in the East)
They got next to nothing for Drummond, Blake Griffin lost a year due to injury … it might be time to blow it all up and start over.
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