Fansided

NBA Power Rankings: Offseason’s good, bad and ugly

By Seth Partnow

Mar 18, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) reacts after a 100-96 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) reacts after a 100-96 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans (1) and forward Anthony Davis (23) s[eak with referee Haywoode Workman (66) during the third quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The Blazers won the game 100-94. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans (1) and forward Anthony Davis (23) s[eak with referee Haywoode Workman (66) during the third quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The Blazers won the game 100-94. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

SOLID

12. New Orleans Pelicans – They still have Anthony Davis. Plus they added a genuine interior defensive presence in Omer Asik. Russ Smith looked like a dynamic change-of-pace guard to bring off the bench thus summer as well, but the offense was never the problem. Asik’s presence will shore up the D, which combined with avoiding the deluge of injuries which assailed them last year and the Pelicans will almost certainly be much improved.

11. Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis! Jabari! But seriously, Antetokunmpo grew about 3 inches and was at summer league trying to channel his inner…I don’t know what it was because I’m not sure we’ve ever seen anything quite like what he’s trying to become. This team still won’t be any good, but they’ll be eminently watchable and have a clear path forwards, which isn’t nothing.

10. Toronto Raptors – Basically got the band back together by re-signing all their own significant free agents in Kyle Lowry, Patrick Patterson and Greivis Vasquez. Didn’t really address the need to add a bigger wing unless James Johnson proves dependable over the course of the season. Took one of the biggest flyers in the draft in selecting the nearly completely unknown Bruno Caboclo at 20. He won’t contribute this year, but Caboclo is 6’9 with a 7’7 wingspan, great athleticism and a gorgeous jump shot, so the pick which looked like a gamble at the time might end up paying off in the long run.

9. Utah Jazz – No big moves beyond adding Dante Exum, who got some hype early in Summer League, but isn’t close to the finished article yet. On the other hand, likely upgraded their coach, kept some continuity among their young players and Rudy Gobert looks like he might develop into a top level rim protector. It says here Gordon Hayward’s contract is going to look surprisingly reasonable in a few years.

8. Charlotte Hornets – Lance Stephenson for free and a surprisingly productive draft with Noah Vonleh and P.J. Hairston both looking like possible contributors. One downside is the possibility of Stephenson and Hairston, both of whom have shall we say checkered pasts violate the “one knucklehead only” rule which might prove especially volatile since they share the same position. Still, large scale talent upgrade for one of the surprise teams of last season.

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