Power Rankings: West makes power moves to increase conference imbalance
John Schuhmann NBA.com
Aug 8, 2017 1:27 PM ET
High jumps of the summer: Minnesota (+17), Philadelphia (+8), Denver (+7)
Free falls of the summer: Atlanta (-15), Chicago (-14), Indiana (-11)
1 Golden State Warriors
2 Houston Rockets
3 San Antonio Spurs
4 Boston Celtics
5 Oklahoma City Thunder
6 Cleveland Cavaliers
7 Minnesota Timberwolves
8 Washington Wizards
9 Toronto Raptors
10 LA Clippers
11 Denver Nuggets
12 Milwaukee Bucks
13 Utah Jazz
14 Miami Heat
15 Charlotte Hornets
16 New Orleans Pelicans
17 Portland Trail Blazers
18 Memphis Grizzlies
19 Detroit Pistons
20 Philadelphia 76ers
21 Dallas Mavericks
22 Los Angeles Lakers
23 Sacramento Kings
24 New York Knicks
25 Brooklyn Nets
26 Phoenix Suns
27 Indiana Pacers
28 Chicago Bulls
29 Orlando Magic
30 Atlanta Hawks
25 Brooklyn Nets
Record: 20-62
Pace: 103.6 (1) OffRtg: 101.9 (28) DefRtg: 108.0 (23) NetRtg: -6.1 (28)
Key addition(s): D'Angelo Russell, Allen Crabbe and DeMarre Carroll
Key departure(s): Brook Lopez
Key question: Can Russell take a significant step forward?
The Nets haven't signed a single free agent (other than training camp fodder), but have used their cap space to trade for four guys who may start (Russell, Crabbe, Carroll and Timofey Mozgov), losing one (Lopez).
The small upgrades on the perimeter, as well as better health for Jeremy Lin, could more than make up for the loss of Lopez. Russell's lack of development last season, especially with him being freed from the Kobe Farewell Tour, was disappointing and the Lakers were downright awful when he shared the floor with Jordan Clarkson. The Nets' pace and floor spacing should help him, but Russell will need to get to the basket more. Among players who played in at least 40 games last season, he ranked 114th with just 4.7 drives per 36 minutes.