With the 2024-25 NBA season opening on October 22 with the Boston Celtics hosting the New York Knicks, it’s time to review which teams have the best shot to win the title this year. There will be some familiar names on this list, but also some dark horses that not a lot of people are high on. Along with each team on this list, will be their biggest X-factor, which will affect the team the most.
Honorable Mentions:
Denver Nuggets
Call me crazy, but even with an MVP candidate and a star point guard, I still think a loss of bench depth could cost them in the Playoffs, just like it did against the Timberwolves last year. At the same time, they could also be the best team in the league, but I’ll keep them right here for now.
Orlando Magic
They’re an improved East contender with a sleeper MVP candidate at power forward, and just added one of the best bench players in the league, but they need more time for their stars to develop completely.
Los Angeles Lakers
They’re an average team, but still are filled with talent with Anthony Davis and Lebron James, so I expect this team to compete with some of the best; I could see them as a sleeper in the Playoffs.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
Biggest X-Factor: Evan Mobley’s Fit as a Power Forward
At number ten, the Cleveland Cavaliers check in as one of the worst of the best, and they have a good chance to move up into the Top 5, but as we’ve seen so far from them, they aren’t quite there yet. With a star like Donovan Mitchell, and a solid point guard in Darius Garland, their back court is more than enough to pace the offense. And with a center in Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley, you’d think their front court can provide versatility in their offense, especially in the lob threat area. However, Evan Mobley has struggled to produce heavily on the offense. However, this team is still one of the top in the league, because with a star like Donovan Mitchell, it’s hard to struggle nearly enough. As for their X-Factor, it’s been no secret that Evan Mobley has struggled to move to the power forward position. His most prominent feature is his rim protection, but a move to power forward doesn’t exactly hone his abilities in the right way. However, if he can fix his issue, then this team has a very high ceiling.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
Biggest X-Factor: Anthony Edwards Rise to Stardom
The Timberwolves ended last year with a five-game series loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, but even so, they were coming off their best season as a franchise since 2004. They went into the offseason with good vibes, with Anthony Edwards starring in the Olympics, and the team they had built last year looking very good. Anthony Edwards had made the leap from young player with potential to a star player and defender. However, not even five months later, Edwards will have to do even more for the Timberwolves. With about a month left to go in the offseason, the Knicks made a deal with the Timberwolves, acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and sending Julius Randle to Minnesota. This completely destroyed the dynamic between Ant and his other star teammate. However, the Timberwolves can still salvage their season if Anthony Edwards takes another leap towards MVP. If he does that, they will be right back where they were last year.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Biggest X-Factor: The Restoration of a Title Defense
The Milwaukee Bucks, coming off a first-round exit by the Miami Heat, acquired Damian Lillard from the Portland Trailblazers in a move out of pure desperation to keep their star. Because of this trade, they were able to sign Giannis Antetokounmpo to an extension. However, their team struggled all year, only winning 49 games and the star duo of Giannis and Dame struggled en route to a 5-game first round loss to the Indiana Pacers. Now, the main issue with this team was the loss of a title defense in 2023. In the Lillard trade, the Bucks traded away Jrue Holiday (who ended up starring in the Celtics’ Finals run), which most likely is the issue, The Bucks gave up too much to keep Giannis happy, and in the long run, Giannis isn’t going to be happy. What the Bucks need to do, is trade for someone who can fulfill the Jrue Holiday-sized hole in their roster (specifically on defense), and firing Coach Doc Rivers is a good step as well, because Doc went 17-19 as the Bucks’ head coach last year.
7. Philadelphia 76ers
Biggest X-Factor: Joel Embiid Playoff Health
The Philadelphia 76ers made a huge splash in the Offseason, forming a big three in Philly with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and new offseason acquisition Paul George. And this move is great, because Paul George is one of the better defensive wings available and the Sixers were able to lock him down for four years in Philly. This, in turn, helps Joel Embiid, who has been injured every Playoff run of his career. Last year, the Sixers went 16-27 without Embiid, but because of how good Embiid was before he got injured, they still went 47-35 and made it into the Playoffs. Now, with Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, Embiid has less pressure to play every game with extended minutes, and can most likely spend more precious minutes resting up on the bench. However, as enticing as that may seem for Embiid, that all changes once the Playoffs start. When the Playoffs start, Embiid will have to play a ton of minutes, because the stakes are higher and the Sixers will need him. So, if he could have his first healthy Playoff run this year, the Sixers could be one of the biggest threats to the Celtics in the East.
6. Memphis Grizzlies
Biggest X-Factor: Ja Morant’s Health
While the Grizzlies ranking may seem high, don’t let Ja Morant’s suspension and injury make you forget just how good this team is when Ja’s on the court. Since 2023, The Grizzlies are 46-24 with Ja on the floor, and adding a lob threat in Zach Edey to a starting five that already looks amazing. At point guard, Ja Morant; at shooting guard, Marcus Smart; at small forward, Desmond Bane; at power forward, Jaren Jackson Jr.; at center, Zach Edey. This team looks great, however, there is a chance that this all doesn’t work out for Memphis. In fact, I would consider this team the biggest question in the NBA. Because they could either be a Top 5 team with championship aspirations, or they could be struggling to make the play-in and losing in the first round. What that depends on is: Ja Morant’s health. Ja Morant is the reason this team looks so good. Without him, they might as well be tanking again. So, Ja needs to stay healthy or else the Grizzlies could see themselves falling to below 10 in the Playoff seeding.
5. Phoenix Suns
Biggest X-Factor: Mike Budenholzer’s Relationship with Kevin Durant
Okay, bear with me, because now it’s time for me to tell you why my favorite team is winning the championship, there’s no debate. The Phoenix Suns are one of the many powerhouses in the loaded West. However, this team has something not every team has, something to prove. Coming off an embarrassing first round sweep to the Timberwolves, Kevin Durant received a ton of backlash for his comments on the team. Multiple trade rumors spiraled of KD going to the Rockets or the Thunder, but by the end of the Offseason, no dice. This inspired the Suns to fire Frank Vogel, hire Mike Budenholzer, and designate the entire Offseason to building chemistry with the team. Now this will either work out beautifully, or the Suns will be trading Kevin Durant at the deadline because of the team underperforming. But let’s hope it’s the first one. This Suns team has so much potential, with new starting Point Guard Tyus Jones and extra depth with Ryan Dunn, Grayson Allen, Mason Plumlee, and Royce O’Neale. However, if they want to win, they have to keep Kevin Durant healthy, and that starts with his relationship with Coach Mike Budenholzer.
4. Dallas Mavericks
Biggest X-Factor: Klay Thompson’s Defense
The Dallas Mavericks finished last season with a horrific 5-game series loss against the Celtics in the Finals. However, the season had much good come from it. The Mavericks made the Finals, and the duo with Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić played great until the Finals. However, the team just wasn’t good enough to beat the Celtics. So, in an effort to improve, the Dallas Mavericks signed Klay Thompson to replace Derrick Jones Jr., and traded away Tim Hardaway Jr. for Quentin Grimes. In fact, they had a pretty good draft, and got a 7’5″ rookie Jamarion Sharp to practice behind Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively. However, the Mavericks’ main issue was defense; their best two guards are not very good defenders. So, the Mavericks need Klay Thompson to step up on the defensive side of the ball. They don’t really need him on offense, but it would be cool if Klay could return to his old self for the Mavs, giving Luka another catch-and-shoot threat on offense. Anyway, Klay’s impact is the difference between top-3 seed and 6th seed for the Mavericks.
3. New York Knicks
Biggest X-Factor: Karl-Anthony Towns’ Offensive Fit
The 2023-24 New York Knicks felt like they had a better season then they did. They were eliminated in the second round by the Pacers, but this season for the Knicks felt like a Conference Finals run. However, in the Offseason, the Knicks added Mikal Bridges and fulfilled the “Nova Knicks” storyline. However, that would end before it even got to begin, when the Knicks traded Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle for Karl-Anthony Towns. Now, what’s done is done, and there is no point lingering on the trade, because it is now time to focus on how Towns can help this team in their chase to beat the Celtics in the East. They need him to bring his unique offensive skillset to New York. He needs to not disrupt the Knicks’ offense too much, but he needs to get involved because there is no denying his ability. Because when this team gets to the Playoffs, there are not many teams that can defend an elite guard and an elite center. Now, it does kind of worry me that KAT is in the Big Apple, but it’s going to be fine. KAT playing for the New York Knicks before GTA 6, wow.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Biggest X-Factor: Jalen Williams’ Development
The Oklahoma City Thunder should be every team’s biggest fear. They were already the number one seed in the West last year, and they added a starting caliber center in Isaiah Hartenstein and an elite defensive bench player in Alex Caruso. This was such a huge move for a team that was already so good last year. But here is the key: the West only got better this Offseason, so if the Thunder wants to stand above the rest, they need Jalen Williams to make the leap to star. J-Dub has so much potential, and if he can develop into a second star for the Thunder, this team will be one Chet Holmgren star-leap away from legitimately unstoppable. The Thunder looked to build-off their number-one seed performance last year and add on a “cherry on top” Playoff run for their fans as OKC searches for their first championship in Oklahoma. And while yes, Shai is phenomenal; he can do his role almost automatically; he was one of the better players for the Thunder in their Playoff Series loss to the Mavericks last year. But this season’s success will largely depend on whether Jalen Williams can make the step up for the Thunder this season.
1. Boston Celtics
Biggest X-Factor: Key Player’s Health
What a surprise, the defending NBA champions show up number one on the list. Well, there is not much evidence for other teams to be ahead of Boston. The Celtics ran through everybody last year in the Regular Season, en route to a Playoff run in which Boston went 16-3 throughout the entire Playoffs. They won the Championship in five games, and embarrassed the Mavericks in games one, two, three, and five. Their Offseason consisted of three of their players participating in the Olympics, and overall Boston had some good vibes the entire Offseason. However, how will they win the championship again? Well, they already know how to, they just need to do it again. But more specifically, they need to ensure their bench depth stays healthy throughout the year, and their team isn’t gassed to start the Playoffs. Also, they need to stay away from heavy East contenders such as the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Milwaukee Bucks until the Conference Finals. How do they do that? Get the number one seed again, and keep it rolling.
And there it is, the Top 10 teams in the league, ranked from 10 to 1. Now, of course this will change as the season goes on, so we will see how that goes. And, every year there are teams that don’t live up to expectations, so we’ll check in on those as well. Be sure to watch out for the In-Season Tournament too!
Stay tuned to The Roundup for updates about the start of the NBA Regular Season!
