The NBA season is just around the corner and here is a ranking of the top 10 teams in the league and some thoughts on how the standings will shake out in the eastern and western conferences for the 2015-16 slate.
Top 10 teams:
Golden State Warriors:
The champions deserve the top spot until they are knocked off. The team kept Draymond Green and the main core remains from the title run last season.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
LeBron James returns along with everyone else (Tristan Thompson pending) and the team could be even better after adding Richard Jefferson and Mo Williams.
San Antonio Spurs:
The Spurs signed LaMarcus Aldridge to a free agent deal and kept Kawhi Leonard on a long term contract and they should contend for years with those two. The team kept Danny Green and Tim Duncan is returning for another run.
Los Angeles Clippers:
The Clippers should be improved after adding a number of new players to help with depth, including Lance Stephenson, Paul Pierce, Josh Smith and Pablo Prigioni. The team also retained DeAndre Jordan after he nearly signed with the Mavs.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
The health of Kevin Durant will likely be the key factor for OKC this season and if he stays healthy, the team will be contenders. The team kept Enes Kanter in the offseason.
Atlanta Hawks:
The Hawks lost DeMarre Carroll, but they return their core and come in after finishing first in the east last season. The team should be in the mix again.
Memphis Grizzlies:
Marc Gasol returns and the Grizzlies have one of the deepest rosters in the west.
Houston Rockets:
The Rockets finished second in the west last season James Harden is looking to have another big year after losing the MVP to Stephen Curry.
Chicago Bulls:
The Bulls kept Jimmy Butler on a max deal and the team also retained Mike Dunleavy, Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks. Derrick Rose returns after being able to stay healthy through the playoffs. Team can challenge the Cavs in the east.
Miami Heat:
Miami missed the playoffs last season, but the team should be much better this year. D-Wade returns along with Goran Dragic and players like Justise Winslow, Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green add some strong depth for Wade, Luol Deng and Chris Bosh.
Best of the rest:
Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors
New Orleans Pelicans, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers
New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings
Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers
