With the start of the season rapidly approaching, it is time to look at who will be taking to the floor to start each game and see how each team lines up against the competition. We have given our best predictions for each team’s starting five and will use a combination of net rating, previous accolades, and matchups to come up with our rankings. This list is also not a reflection on where a team may rank overall for the season as depth is a key factor in any team’s success.
30. San Antonio Spurs
PG: Tre Jones (30), SG: Devin Vassell (29), SF: Doug McDermott (29), PF: Keldon Johnson (20), C: Jakob Poeltl (24)
Accolades: N/A
2021-22 Net Rating: -20.6 (in 20 possessions)
29. Utah Jazz
PG: Mike Conley (26), SG: Collin Sexton (20), SF: Malik Beasley (27), PF: Lauri Markkanen (22), C: Walker Kessler (29)
Accolades: 1x All Star, 1x All-Defensive, 2x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
28. Oklahoma City Thunder
PG: Josh Giddey (24), SG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9), SF: Luguentz Dort (28), PF: Darius Bazley (30), C: Jaylin Williams (30)
Accolades: 2x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
27. Houston Rockets
PG: Kevin Porter Jr (28), SG: Jalen Green (17), SF: Eric Gordon (25), PF: Jabari Smith Jr (24), C: Alperen Sengun (27)
Accolades: 1x 6MOY, 2x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
26. Detroit Pistons
PG: Cade Cunningham (15), SG: Jaden Ivey (30), SF: Saddiq Bey (19), PF: Marvin Bagley (29), C: Isaiah Stewart (22)
Accolades: 4x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
25. Orlando Magic
PG: Cole Anthony (27), SG: Jalen Suggs (23), SF: Franz Wagner (23), PF: Paulo Banchero (21), C: Wendell Carter Jr (20)
Accolades: 1x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
24. Indiana Pacers
PG: Tyrese Haliburton (14), SG: Chris Duarte (27), SF: Buddy Hield (24), PF: Jalen Smith (26), C: Myles Turner (14)
Accolades: 4x All-Rookie, 2x BLK Leader
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
23. Charlotte Hornets
PG: LaMelo Ball (11), SG: Terry Rozier (21), SF: Gordon Hayward (18), PF: PJ Washington (28), C: Mason Plumlee (26)
Accolades: 2x All Star, 1x ROY, 3x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
22. Sacramento Kings
PG: De’Aaron Fox (16), SG: Kevin Huerter (24), SF: Harrison Barnes (17), PF: Keegan Murray (27), C: Domantas Sabonis (8)
Accolades: 1x Championships, 2x All Star, 2x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
21. Washington Wizards
PG: Monte Morris (29), SG: Bradley Beal (6), SF: Will Barton (26), PF: Kyle Kuzma (17),
C: Kristaps Porzingis (12)
Accolades: 1x Championships, 3x All Star, 1x All-NBA, 2x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
20. New York Knicks
PG: Jalen Brunson (17), SG: Evan Fournier (26), SF: RJ Barrett (11), PF: Julius Randle (10),
C: Mitchell Robinson (19)
Accolades: 1x All Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x MIP, 1x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
19. Miami Heat
PG: Kyle Lowry (19), SG: Victor Oladipo (22), SF: Jimmy Butler (6), PF: Max Strus (23), C: Bam Adebayo (4)
Accolades: 1x Championships, 15x All Star, 6x All-NBA, 1x All-Rookie, 9x All-Defensive, 2x MIP, 2x STL Leader
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
18. LA Clippers
PG: Reggie Jackson (25), SG: Norman Powell (19), SF: Paul George (5), PF: Kawhi Leonard (2), C: Ivica Zubac (21)
Accolades: 3x Championships, 2x Finals MVP, 2x DPOY, 12x All Star, 11x All-NBA, 11x All-Defensive, 1x MIP, 2x All-Rookie, 2x STL Leader, 1x All Star MVP
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
17. Los Angeles Lakers
PG: Russell Westbrook (23), SG: Patrick Beverley (13), SF: LeBron James (3), PF: Anthony Davis (4), C: Thomas Bryant (28)
Accolades: 5x Championships, 5x MVP, 4x Finals MVP, 35x All Star, 31x All-NBA, 3x Scoring Leader, 13x All-Defensive, 1x ROY, 3x All-Rookie, 4x AST Leader, 6x All Star MVP, 3x BLK Leader
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
16. Dallas Mavericks
PG: Luka Doncic (2), SG: Spencer Dinwiddie (11), SF: Dorian Finney-Smith (21), PF: Christian Wood (12), C: JaVale McGee (23)
Accolades: 3x Championships, 3x All Star, 3x All-NBA, 1x ROY, 1x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
15. Portland Trail Blazers
PG: Damian Lillard (5), SG: Anfernee Simons (15), SF: Josh Hart (20), PF: Jerami Grant (14),
C: Jusuf Nurkic (13)
Accolades: 6x All Star, 6x All-NBA, 1x ROY, 2x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
14. Chicago Bulls
PG: Lonzo Ball (18), SG: Zach LaVine (5), SF: DeMar DeRozan (4), PF: Patrick Williams (25),
C: Nikola Vucevic (11)
Accolades: 9x All Star, 3x All-NBA, 3x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: +11.0 (in 135 possessions)
13. Toronto Raptors
PG: Fred VanVleet (12), SG: Gary Trent Jr (16), SF: OG Anunoby (15), PF: Scottie Barnes (13), C: Pascal Siakam (6)
Accolades: 3x Championships, 2x All-NBA, 2x All Star, 1x MIP, 1x ROY, 1x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: +1.8 (in 700 possessions)
12. Milwaukee Bucks
PG: Jrue Holiday (10), SG: Grayson Allen (28), SF: Khris Middleton (7), PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (1), C: Brook Lopez (16)
Accolades: 4x Championships, 2x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 6x All-NBA, 11x All Star, 1x DPOY, 10x All-Defensive, 1x MIP, 2x All-Rookie, 1x All Star MVP
2021-22 Net Rating: +21.7 (in 20 possessions)
11. Brooklyn Nets
PG: Kyrie Irving (7), SG: Seth Curry (18), SF: Kevin Durant (1), PF: Ben Simmons (11), C: Nic Claxton (25)
Accolades: 3x Championships, 1x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 22x All Star, 14x All-NBA, 2x All-Defensive, 3x ROY, 3x All-Rookie, 3x All Star MVP, 4x Scoring Leader, 1x STL Leader
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
10. Denver Nuggets
PG: Jamal Murray (9), SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (25), SF: Michael Porter Jr (10),
PF: Aaron Gordon (15), C: Nikola Jokic (1)
Accolades: 1x Championships, 2x MVP, 4x All Star, 4x All-NBA, 2x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
9. Atlanta Hawks
PG: Trae Young (4), SG: Dejounte Murray (8), SF: De’Andre Hunter (22), PF: John Collins (9), C: Clint Capela (15)
Accolades: 3x All Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x All-Defensive, 2x All-Rookie, 1x STL Leader, 1x REB Leader
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
8. Philadelphia 76ers
PG: Tyrese Maxey (21), SG: James Harden (4), SF: Tobias Harris (12), PF: PJ Tucker (18),
C: Joel Embiid (2)
Accolades: 1x Championships, 1x MVP, 15x All Star, 11x All-NBA, 1x 6MOY, 3x All-Defensive, 2x All-Rookie, 4x Scoring Leader, 1x AST Leader
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
7. Memphis Grizzlies
PG: Ja Morant (3), SG: Desmond Bane (12), SF: Dillon Brooks (16), PF: Jaren Jackson Jr (8),
C: Steven Adams (18)
Accolades: 1x All Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x MIP, 1x ROY, 1x All-Defensive, 4x All-Rookie, 1x BLK Leader
2021-22 Net Rating: +25.1 (in 232 possessions)
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
PG: Darius Garland (8), SG: Donovan Mitchell (2), SF: Isaac Okoro (30), PF: Evan Mobley (7), C: Jarrett Allen (7)
Accolades: 5x All Star, 3x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
5. New Orleans Pelicans
PG: CJ McCollum (13), SG: Herbert Jones (14), SF: Brandon Ingram (9), PF: Zion Williamson (5), C: Jonas Valanciunas (10)
Accolades: 2x All Star, 2x MIP, 4x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
4. Boston Celtics
PG: Marcus Smart (20), SG: Jaylen Brown (3), SF: Jayson Tatum (2), PF: Al Horford (16),
C: Robert Williams (9)
Accolades: 9x All Star, 3x All-NBA, 1x DPOY, 5x All-Defensive, 4x All-Rookie
2021-22 Net Rating: +24.3 (in 907 possessions)
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
PG: D’Angelo Russell (22), SG: Anthony Edwards (7), SF: Kyle Anderson (14), PF: Karl-Anthony Towns (3), C: Rudy Gobert (3)
Accolades: 7x All Star, 6x All-NBA, 3x DPOY, 6x All-Defensive, 1x ROY, 3x All-Rookie, 1x REB Leader, 1x BLK Leader
2021-22 Net Rating: N/A
2. Phoenix Suns
PG: Chris Paul (6), SG: Devin Booker (1), SF: Mikal Bridges (13), PF: Jae Crowder (19),
C: Deandre Ayton (5)
Accolades: 15x All Star, 12x All-NBA, 10x All-Defensive, 1x ROY, 3x All-Rookie, 5x AST Leader, 6x STL Leader, 1x All Star MVP
2021-22 Net Rating: +8.1 (in 1544 possessions)
1. Golden State Warriors
PG: Stephen Curry (1), SG: Klay Thompson (10), SF: Andrew Warriors (8), PF: Draymond Green (6), C: Kevon Looney (17)
Accolades: 16x Championships, 2x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 18x All Star, 12x All-NBA, 1x DPOY, 8x All-Defensive, 1x ROY, 3x All-Rookie, 2x Scoring Leader, 2x STL Leader, 1x All Star MVP
2021-22 Net Rating: +17.1 (playoffs only)