By NBA insiders | ESPN, 2025-04-09 19:00:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024-25 赛季 NBA 常规赛将于周日收官，但所有目光都将集中在周三洛杉矶湖人队和达拉斯独行侠队的对决上（ESPN，美国东部时间晚上 7:30）。卢卡·东契奇(Luka Doncic)在二月份被重磅交易至湖人队后首次回到达拉斯，美国航空中心的气氛将会非常紧张。
周三的另一场关键比赛是萨克拉门托国王队主场迎战丹佛掘金队（ESPN，美国东部时间晚上 10:30），这将是他们自周二迈克尔·马龙(Michael Malone)被解雇后首次上场比赛。丹佛令人震惊的举动——NBA 教练本赛季第二次在赛季末被解雇——让这支由 MVP 候选人尼古拉·约基奇(Nikola Jokic)率领的西部强队的前景变得不明朗。
与此同时，季后赛的顶级竞争者们正力争锁定季后赛席位，而排名垫底的球队（尤其是犹他爵士队和华盛顿奇才队）将等待抽到状元签的命运。
在常规赛最后几天到来之际，我们的 NBA 内部人士将在本赛季最后一期的实力榜中分析每支球队是否达到或未能达到季前赛的预期。
注：球队排名基于我们的专家小组（ESPN 的蒂姆·邦坦普斯(Tim Bontemps)、贾马尔·科利尔(Jamal Collier)、迈克尔·莱特(Michael Wright)、蒂姆·麦克马洪(Tim MacMahon)、戴夫·麦克梅纳明(Dave McMenamin)、奥姆·杨米苏克(Ohm Youngmisuk)和克里斯·赫林(Chris Herring)）认为本赛季球队应处的排名。
此前排名：季前赛 | 10月30日 | 11月5日 | 11月13日 | 11月20日 | 11月27日 | 12月4日 | 12月11日 | 12月18日 | 12月25日 | 1月1日 | 1月8日 | 1月15日 | 1月22日 | 1月29日 | 2月5日 | 2月12日 | 2月26日 | 3月5日 | 3月12日 | 3月19日 | 3月26日 | 4月2日
跳转至球队：
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
- 俄克拉荷马城雷霆
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 65胜14负
- 此前排名： 1
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵菲尼克斯太阳（4月9日），客场对阵犹他爵士（4月11日），客场对阵新奥尔良鹈鹕（4月13日）
雷霆队连续第二个赛季获得西部第一的种子席位，并且在夏季之后拥有非常相似的阵容的情况下，他们可以在 2026 年实现三连冠。俄克拉荷马城队下赛季有 15 名球员在合同之下，其中包括控球后卫尼古拉·托皮奇(Nikola Topic)，他是一名乐透秀，他的新秀赛季一直在从膝伤中恢复。雷霆队今年选秀中最多可以拥有三个首轮选秀权，但 76 人队和热火队所欠的受保护的选秀权今年不太可能兑现。 – 蒂姆·麦克马洪
- 克利夫兰骑士
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 63胜16负
- 此前排名： 2
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵印第安纳步行者（4月10日），客场对阵纽约尼克斯（4月11日），主场对阵印第安纳步行者（4月13日）
对于骑士队来说，这是辉煌的一年，他们获得了球队历史上第二多的胜场数（也是他们第一个没有勒布朗·詹姆斯(LeBron James)参与的 60 胜赛季），并锁定了东部第一的种子席位。在第一年担任主教练的肯尼·阿特金森(Kenny Atkinson)的带领下——他将获得年度最佳教练的有力竞争——多诺万·米切尔(Donovan Mitchell)、达里厄斯·加兰(Darius Garland)和埃文·莫布里(Evan Mobley)都打出了全明星级别的赛季。现在他们需要一个深入的季后赛之旅——至少打进分区决赛——才能证明他们迄今为止的成功。 – 戴夫·麦克梅纳明
- 波士顿凯尔特人
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 59胜20负
- 此前排名： 3
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵奥兰多魔术（4月9日），主场对阵夏洛特黄蜂（4月11日），主场对阵夏洛特黄蜂（4月13日）
波士顿队正处于赛季开始时所希望的位置：位居东部积分榜前列，阵容健康，并且是卫冕冠军的最有力竞争者。凯尔特人队在接下来的两个月里能否一路过关斩将并赢得总冠军还远未确定，但这个赛季在波士顿的进展再好不过了。杰森·塔图姆(Jayson Tatum)场均得到 26.9 分，总决赛 MVP 共同得主杰伦·布朗(Jaylen Brown)紧随其后，场均得到 22.5 分。 – 蒂姆·邦坦普斯
- 休斯顿火箭
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 52胜27负
- 此前排名： 4
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵洛杉矶快船（4月9日），客场对阵洛杉矶湖人（4月11日），主场对阵丹佛掘金（4月13日）
火箭队实现了自 2019-20 赛季以来首次晋级季后赛的既定目标，而伊梅·乌度卡(Ime Udoka)在改变休斯顿的文化方面所发挥的作用值得年度最佳教练的考虑。除了引进狄龙·布鲁克斯(Dillon Brooks)和弗雷德·范弗利特(Fred VanVleet)等老将外，乌度卡还坚持他的愿景，即打造一支强调防守和拼搏的强硬、身体对抗性强的球队。这帮助休斯顿队在上赛季的 41 场胜利的基础上有所提高，并且这次超过了 50 胜大关。火箭队内部对杰伦·格林(Jalen Green)、阿尔佩伦·申京(Alperen Sengun)和阿门·汤普森(Amen Thompson)等年轻球员的发展感到满意。休斯顿队在季后赛中的表现将决定俱乐部在今年夏天采取的路线。范弗利特下赛季拥有球队选项（4480 万美元），但一份受限制的新合同将为这支拥有大量资产并考虑是否增加一位大牌球星的球队增加灵活性。 – 迈克尔·莱特
- 纽约尼克斯
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 50胜29负
- 此前排名： 11
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵底特律活塞（4月10日），主场对阵克利夫兰骑士（4月11日），客场对阵布鲁克林篮网（4月13日）
通过连续第二个赛季赢得至少 50 场比赛，并接近其季前赛 53.5 场比赛的胜场总数，纽约队基本上达到了季前赛的预期，成为东部最好的球队之一。但也可以认为这支焕然一新的球队在与精英球队的比赛中做得还不够。该俱乐部对阵克利夫兰、波士顿和俄克拉荷马城——NBA 战绩前三的球队——的 0 胜 9 负的战绩，引发了人们对尼克斯队能否在季后赛首轮之后保持竞争力的质疑。 – 克里斯·赫林
- 洛杉矶湖人
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 48胜31负
- 此前排名： 6
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵达拉斯独行侠（4月9日），主场对阵休斯顿火箭（4月11日），客场对阵波特兰开拓者（4月13日）
2024-25 赛季的湖人队将因洛杉矶的篮球运营副总裁兼总经理罗勃·佩林卡(Rob Pelinka)在从独行侠队获得卢卡·东契奇后完成联盟历史上最令人震惊的交易之一而永远闻名。其他一切顺利都是额外的奖励。而且还有很多额外的收获：JJ·雷迪克(JJ Redick)证明了自己作为一名第一年的主教练，奥斯汀·里夫斯(Austin Reaves)的持续发展，以及勒布朗·詹姆斯仍然以 40 岁的高龄与时间老人作斗争。 – 麦克梅纳明
- 丹佛掘金
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 47胜32负
- 此前排名： 5
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵萨克拉门托国王（4月9日），主场对阵孟菲斯灰熊（4月11日），客场对阵休斯顿火箭（4月13日）
掘金队的所有者在周二做出了重大改变，与教练迈克尔·马龙和总经理卡尔文·布斯(Calvin Booth)分道扬镳。球队所有者没有等到赛季结束，而是希望在尼古拉·约基奇职业生涯年之际，球队仍然可以在本赛季的季后赛中有所作为。消息人士称，马龙和布斯之间一直存在“冷战”，尤其是在阵容人员方面，布斯更希望马龙更多地使用年轻的角色球员。球队不仅要处理这种裂痕，还要应对阿隆·戈登(Aaron Gordon)和贾马尔·穆雷(Jamal Murray)的关键伤病。由于丹佛自全明星周末以来战绩为 11 胜 13 负，临时主教练大卫·阿德尔曼(David Adelman)接手，他是一位备受推崇的教练，曾接受过联盟各地的选帅面试。作为掘金队场边的进攻大脑，阿德尔曼将不得不考虑如何帮助约基奇，但更重要的是，要巩固联盟倒数前十的防守。 – 奥姆·杨米苏克
- 印第安纳步行者
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 48胜31负
- 此前排名： 8
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵华盛顿奇才（4月8日），主场对阵克利夫兰骑士（4月10日），主场对阵奥兰多魔术（4月11日），客场对阵克利夫兰骑士（4月13日）
印第安纳队即将锁定东部第 4 种子席位，这是继上赛季进入东部决赛之后的一次强劲而成功的赛季，特别是考虑到步行者队在 1 月初的战绩低于 50%。泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿(Tyrese Haliburton)在赛季下半段看起来像一位球星，印第安纳队很可能在季后赛首轮拥有主场优势，这为他们在季后赛中再次取得佳绩提供了更有利的途径。 – 贾马尔·科利尔
- 洛杉矶快船
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 47胜32负
- 此前排名： 12
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵休斯顿火箭（4月9日），客场对阵萨克拉门托国王（4月11日），客场对阵金州勇士（4月13日）
快船队本赛季开始时，人们对科怀·伦纳德(Kawhi Leonard)时代的期望最低。他们启用了英图伊特穹顶球馆，但伦纳德的状况仍然是个谜，因为他在前几个月都在康复他的右膝。随着保罗·乔治(Paul George)以自由球员身份离开前往费城，拉塞尔·威斯布鲁克(Russell Westbrook)被交易到犹他队，换来了克里斯·邓恩(Kris Dunn)，最终加入了掘金队，快船队用年轻、强硬、注重防守的球员重新组建了阵容。但他们也聘请了杰夫·范甘迪(Jeff Van Gundy)担任助理教练，这被证明是 NBA 中最好的补充之一。尽管如此，球队老板史蒂夫·鲍尔默(Steve Ballmer)吹嘘说，他们将成为季后赛的竞争者，而伦纳德告诉 ESPN，他可以凭借这套阵容获胜。快船队凭借联盟前五的防守和以詹姆斯·哈登(James Harden)、伊维察·祖巴茨(Ivica Zubac)和诺曼·鲍威尔(Norman Powell)为首的老将核心阵容证明了这一点，他们都打出了出色的赛季。当然，最大的问题仍然需要在季后赛中回答——伦纳德能否在关键时刻保持健康？ – 杨米苏克
- 金州勇士
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 47胜32负
- 此前排名： 7
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵圣安东尼奥马刺（4月9日），客场对阵波特兰开拓者（4月11日），主场对阵洛杉矶快船（4月13日）
勇士队以 12 胜 3 负的开局大大提高了人们的期望，尽管克莱·汤普森(Klay Thompson)在夏季离开。但金州队随后的战绩为 13 胜 21 负，这促成了对吉米·巴特勒三世(Jimmy Butler III)的勇敢交易。这让斯蒂芬·库里(Stephen Curry)和德雷蒙德·格林(Draymond Green)重新焕发了活力，并提高了布兰丁·波杰姆斯基(Brandin Podziemski)和摩西·穆迪(Moses Moody)等角色球员的水平。现在勇士队准备像 2022 年那样再次冲击，当时他们凭借冠军经验和季后赛中的有利对决赢得了上一次总冠军。库里和格林相信他们有合法的机会赢得第五个总冠军，而巴特勒的目标是赢得他的第一个总冠军，即使这不会在本赛季的季后赛中发生。但如果“季后赛吉米”出现，金州队将成为没有竞争者愿意面对的球队，尤其是在早期阶段。 – 杨米苏克
- 明尼苏达森林狼
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 46胜33负
- 此前排名： 10
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵孟菲斯灰熊（4月10日），主场对阵布鲁克林篮网（4月11日），主场对阵犹他爵士（4月13日）
尽管在赛季开始前几周交易了球队的特权球员卡尔-安东尼·唐斯(Karl-Anthony Towns)，但森林狼队渴望继续成为总冠军的竞争者。直到最近的赛季下半段的爆发，森林狼队看起来不像一支准备好参加季后赛的球队。明尼苏达队在周二惨败给雄鹿队之前曾取得五连胜，但自 3 月初以来战绩为 14 胜 4 负。这个赛季并非一帆风顺，森林狼队仍在努力避免参加西部季后赛附加赛，但他们正以正确的时机获得动力，从而为自己争取在季后赛中获得最佳机会。 – 科利尔
- 孟菲斯灰熊
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 47胜32负
- 此前排名： 9
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵明尼苏达森林狼（4月10日），客场对阵丹佛掘金（4月11日），主场对阵达拉斯独行侠（4月13日）
季后赛本可以为孟菲斯在常规赛大部分时间里执行的新的创新进攻提供完美的验证场所。人们的期望是，灰熊队在一种几乎消除了挡拆和手递手传球的进攻中会变得不那么可预测。但是，上周突然解雇教练泰勒·詹金斯(Taylor Jenkins)让灰熊队朝着新的方向发展，他们试图在临时教练托马斯·伊萨洛(Tuomas Iisalo)的领导下优化后卫贾·莫兰特(Ja Morant)。从 2 月 23 日到 3 月 27 日的 17 场比赛中遭遇 10 场失利似乎预示了詹金斯的命运。现在，总经理扎克·克莱曼(Zach Kleiman)正在寻求球队的“清晰性和方向”，因为球队即将结束本赛季。除了可能进行选帅之外，孟菲斯队可能还在考虑为贾伦·杰克逊(Jaren Jackson Jr.)提供一份丰厚的续约合同，最终可能会变成超级顶薪。尽管如此，孟菲斯队在今年夏天处于有利的财务位置，可以升级整体阵容。 – 莱特
- 密尔沃基雄鹿
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 45胜34负
- 此前排名： 14
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵新奥尔良鹈鹕（4月10日），客场对阵底特律活塞（4月11日），主场对阵底特律活塞（4月13日）
雄鹿队本赛季开始时对总冠军充满期望，但他们一直未能与顶级球队竞争或赢得足够的胜利，以至于整个赛季看起来都不像一支总冠军球队。他们以 2 胜 8 负开局，在 12 月反弹赢得了 NBA 杯，但最近跌落至东部季后赛积分榜的后半部分。总的来说，密尔沃基队对阵东部前三号种子球队的战绩为 0 胜 9 负，他们需要在最后一周表现强劲，尤其是在最后两场对阵活塞队的比赛中，这将对哪支球队以第 6 号种子身份进入季后赛产生重大影响。 – 科利尔
- 底特律活塞
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 43胜36负
- 此前排名： 13
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵纽约尼克斯（4月10日），主场对阵密尔沃基雄鹿（4月11日），客场对阵密尔沃基雄鹿（4月13日）
尽管连续两次主场失利代价惨重，这可能会迫使活塞队横扫与密尔沃基队的主客场比赛才能获得第五名，但底特律队本赛季已经超越了人们的预期。活塞队已经超过了季前赛的胜场总数 17.5 场，常规赛还剩下三场比赛。本世纪只有两支球队超过了他们的总数 20 场以上：2013-14 赛季的太阳队（27.5 场）和 2009-10 赛季的雄鹿队（20.5 场）。更不用说第一次入选全明星的凯德·坎宁安(Cade Cunningham)在他的第四个赛季中取得了巨大的进步，使他成为最快进步球员的有力竞争者。 – 凯文·佩尔顿(Kevin Pelton)
- 奥兰多魔术
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 39胜40负
- 此前排名： 18
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵波士顿凯尔特人（4月9日），客场对阵印第安纳步行者（4月11日），客场对阵亚特兰大老鹰（4月13日）
周二战胜老鹰队意味着奥兰多队可以在周日在亚特兰大结束本赛季之前锁定附加赛的头号种子。很难说魔术队从 2024 年季后赛的第五号种子滑落到本赛季的附加赛有多少可以用伤病来解释。奥兰多队在没有得分最高的球员保罗·班切罗(Paolo Banchero)和弗朗茨·瓦格纳(Franz Wagner)的情况下，总共打了 54 场比赛，但即使两人都上场，魔术队的胜率仍然低于 50%。这可以用控球后卫贾伦·萨格斯(Jalen Suggs)的缺席来解释，他因接受膝盖手术而赛季报销。奥兰多队的一个亮点：替补后卫卡勒布·休斯坦(Caleb Houstan)一直处于火热状态，自全明星赛以来，他的三分球命中率为 53%。 – 佩尔顿
- 萨克拉门托国王
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 39胜40负
- 此前排名： 17
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵丹佛掘金（4月9日），主场对阵洛杉矶快船（4月11日），主场对阵菲尼克斯太阳（4月13日）
太阳队在周二的失利锁定了国王队参加附加赛的资格，但萨克拉门托队仍在争夺主场举办 9-10 名比赛的权利，这与球队去年的排名相符。在萨克拉门托队增加自由球员德玛尔·德罗赞(DeMar DeRozan)后，人们的期望更高了，而教练迈克·布朗(Mike Brown)则为球队在 12 月的起伏不定的开局承担了责任。在临时教练道格·克里斯蒂(Doug Christie)的带领下，情况并没有太大变化，这导致国王队在交易截止日之前用球星达龙·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)换来了扎克·拉文(Zach LaVine)。附加赛失利可能意味着今年夏天会有更多的变化。 – 佩尔顿
- 达拉斯独行侠
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 38胜41负
- 此前排名： 16
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵洛杉矶湖人（4月9日），主场对阵多伦多猛龙（4月11日），客场对阵孟菲斯灰熊（4月13日）
独行侠队正在为争夺西部 9/10 名附加赛的主场举办权而战，在通过卢卡·东契奇的交易获得安东尼·戴维斯(Anthony Davis)和马克西·克里斯蒂(Max Christie)之后，他们并不打算占据这个位置。但是伤病严重破坏了达拉斯队的阵容，其中包括球星后卫凯里·欧文(Kyrie Irving)的赛季因前十字韧带撕裂而提前结束，并且很可能会让他缺席 2025-26 赛季的很大一部分时间。联盟中有很多关于欧文今年夏天的合同情况的猜测。他拥有价值 4400 万美元的球员选项，并且在他受伤之前，几位联盟消息人士预计独行侠队将以接近最高薪水的价格锁定欧文三年。 – 麦克马洪
- 亚特兰大老鹰
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 37胜42负
- 此前排名： 15
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵布鲁克林篮网（4月10日），客场对阵费城 76 人（4月11日），主场对阵奥兰多魔术（4月13日）
老鹰队在本赛季的征程中经历了一些高光时刻，包括击败东部前三名的球队——骑士队、凯尔特人队和尼克斯队——最终进入了 NBA 杯半决赛。但总而言之，他们已经回到了他们连续四年来的位置：参加附加赛，争夺季后赛的席位。他们的 37 场胜利比上赛季提高了 1 场，略高于他们的 35.5 场胜场总数。 – 克里斯·赫林
- 迈阿密热火
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 36胜43负
- 此前排名： 21
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵芝加哥公牛（4月9日），客场对阵新奥尔良鹈鹕（4月11日），主场对阵华盛顿奇才（4月13日）
在经历了吉米·巴特勒的闹剧的赛季前半段之后，迈阿密队再次陷入了连续第三个赛季的季后赛附加赛。接受这一现实是迈阿密队选择在截止日期前将巴特勒交易到金州队的原因。最大的问题是热火队将采取什么措施才能在下个赛季向前迈进一步，而不是再次停留在同一位置。 – 邦坦普斯
- 芝加哥公牛
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 36胜43负
- 此前排名： 19
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵迈阿密热火（4月9日），主场对阵华盛顿奇才（4月11日），客场对阵费城 76 人（4月13日）
尽管声称正处于过渡阶段，但公牛队将连续第三个赛季参加东部附加赛。芝加哥队并没有威胁要打进季后赛，但约什·吉迪(Josh Giddey)和科比·怀特(Coby White)在赛季末的爆发让公牛队有了一丝未来的希望。但是，在没有球星，也没有明确的获得球星的途径的情况下，公牛队的未来上限仍然很低。 – 科利尔
- 菲尼克斯太阳
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 35胜44负
- 此前排名： 20
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵俄克拉荷马城雷霆（4月9日），主场对阵圣安东尼奥马刺（4月11日），客场对阵萨克拉门托国王（4月13日）
菲尼克斯队本赛季开始时的胜场总数投注线为 48.5 场，他们需要赢得最后三场比赛才能赢得 38 场。对于太阳队来说，这是一个灾难性的赛季，他们在 2021 年打进 NBA 总决赛之后解雇了两名教练（蒙蒂·威廉姆斯(Monty Williams)和弗兰克·沃格尔(Frank Vogel)），并且在第三名教练迈克·布登霍尔泽(Mike Budenholzer)的带领下表现平平。七连败几乎完全扼杀了他们获得参加附加赛的机会，但更大的问题仍然是：该组织和凯文·杜兰特(Kevin Durant)今年夏天会做什么？ – 麦克梅纳明
- 波特兰开拓者
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 35胜44负
- 此前排名： 22
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵犹他爵士（4月9日），主场对阵金州勇士（4月11日），主场对阵洛杉矶湖人（4月13日）
尽管在周日获胜，但开拓者队在数学上已经失去了参加附加赛的资格。波特兰队一直到四月份还有比赛可打，这在赛季开始时是出乎意料的，球队总经理乔·克罗宁(Joe Cronin)在周一因球队的表现以及年轻的基石球员丹尼·阿夫迪亚(Deni Avdija)和图马尼·卡马拉(Toumani Camara)的发展而获得了多年的合同续约奖励。开拓者队的下一个决定是关于教练昌西·比卢普斯(Chauncey Billups)，他拥有 2025-26 赛季的球队选项。《玫瑰园报告》的肖恩·海金(Sean Highkin)周一表示，波特兰队尚未行使该选项。 – 佩尔顿
- 圣安东尼奥马刺
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 32胜47负
- 此前排名： 24
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵金州勇士（4月9日），客场对阵菲尼克斯太阳（4月11日），主场对阵多伦多猛龙（4月13日）
圣安东尼奥队希望在 文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)的新秀赛季中强调培养获胜习惯，以便他们能够在这位法国天才的第二个赛季中真正冲击季后赛。一系列事件阻止了这些崇高的期望变为现实。名人堂教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在赛季开始后的五场比赛中突发中风，这使他无限期地退居二线，由助理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)负责。前厅部精明地运作，在交易截止日期附近获得了速度型后卫达龙·福克斯，但在 文班亚马 因右肩血栓而赛季报销之前，他只和 文班亚马 一起打了五场比赛。俱乐部也关闭了福克斯，以便他接受手术修复左手的肌腱。圣安东尼奥队在即将到来的选秀中拥有一个乐透选秀权和一个额外的首轮选秀权，但同时也面临着关于波波维奇可能回归的不确定性。 – 莱特
- 多伦多猛龙
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 29胜50负
- 此前排名： 25
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵夏洛特黄蜂（4月9日），客场对阵达拉斯独行侠（4月11日），客场对阵圣安东尼奥马刺（4月13日）
伤病限制了多伦多队成为潜在附加赛球队的机会，但通过进入乐透区的前半部分，猛龙队有望在下个赛季立即重返季后赛。他们还可以依靠布兰登·英格拉姆(Brandon Ingram)，他于二月份从新奥尔良队获得，但自 12 月 7 日以来一直因脚踝受伤而没有上场。然而，这支球队的长期上限有多高，将取决于今年的选秀权最终落在哪里。 – 邦坦普斯
- 布鲁克林篮网
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 26胜53负
- 此前排名： 26
- 接下来的比赛： 主场对阵亚特兰大老鹰（4月10日），客场对阵明尼苏达森林狼（4月11日），主场对阵纽约尼克斯（4月13日）
布鲁克林队在二月初超过了他们 19.5 场的胜场总数预测，这是一个很大的迹象，表明篮网队超出了人们的预期。重新拥有自己 2025 年的选秀权后，篮网队普遍预计将进入重建模式。尽管如此，第一年担任教练的约尔迪·费尔南德斯(Jordi Fernandez)让球队保持了高度的竞争力，尽管球队交易了丹尼斯·施罗德(Dennis Schroder)和多里安·芬尼-史密斯(Dorian Finney-Smith)等球员，甚至得分最高的球员卡姆·托马斯(Cam Thomas)在因左腿筋拉伤而赛季报销之前只参加了 25 场比赛。现在他们的目光已经放在了乐透区，因为他们正在等待看看他们将在哪里选择以及他们将如何添加到他们的年轻阵容中。 – 克里斯·赫林
- 费城76人
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 23胜56负
- 此前排名： 27
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵华盛顿奇才（4月9日），主场对阵亚特兰大老鹰（4月11日），主场对阵芝加哥公牛（4月13日）
要说这个赛季对费城来说是一场灾难，那是一种轻描淡写。这支在休赛期获得保罗·乔治后对总冠军充满渴望的球队已经退出季后赛争夺几个月了。它的表现如此糟糕，以至于发生了不可思议的事情：76 人队可能会保留他们受前六顺位保护的选秀权，从而不必将其转让给雷霆队，这取决于下个月在乐透抽签中的结果。 – 邦坦普斯
- 新奥尔良鹈鹕
- 2024-25 赛季战绩： 21胜58负
- 此前排名： 23
- 接下来的比赛： 客场对阵密尔沃基雄鹿（4月10日），主场对阵迈阿密热火（4月11日），主场对阵俄克拉荷马城雷霆（4月13日）
休赛期加入的德琼泰·穆雷(Dejounte Murray)在赛季揭幕战对阵芝加哥的比赛中左手骨折，这开启
点击查看原文：NBA Power Rankings: Which teams met expectations, and which missed entirely?
NBA Power Rankings: Which teams met expectations, and which missed entirely?
The 2024-25 NBA regular season wraps up Sunday but all eyes will be on Wednesday’s clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET). Luka Doncic returns to Dallas for the first time following his blockbuster trade to the Lakers in February, in what should be a highly charged atmosphere at American Airlines Center.
Another key game Wednesday is the Sacramento Kings hosting the Denver Nuggets (ESPN, 10:30 p.m. ET), who’ll be taking the court for the first time since Tuesday’s firing of Michael Malone as coach. Denver’s stunning move – the second late-season firing of an NBA coach – leaves one of the strongest teams in the Western Conference, led by MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, with an uncertain future.
Amid that, top playoff contenders are aiming to lock up their postseason spots, while teams at the bottom of the standings (notably the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards) will await their fate for the No. 1 pick.
Ahead of the final days of the regular season, our NBA insiders break down whether each team met or missed preseason expectations in our last edition of the season’s Power Rankings.
Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk and Chris Herring) think teams belong this season.
Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 27 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 25 | Jan. 1 | Jan. 8 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 22 | Jan. 29 | Feb. 5 | Feb. 12 | Feb. 26 | March 5 | March 12 | March 19 | March 26 | April 2
Jump to a team:\
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE\
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND\
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN\
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX\
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2024-25 record: 65-14
- Previous ranking: 1
- Next games: @ PHX (April 9), @ UTAH (April 11), @ NO (April 13)
The Thunder have earned the West’s No. 1 seed for the second consecutive postseason and could make it three in a row in 2026 with a very similar roster after the summer. Oklahoma City has 15 players under contract for next season, including point guard Nikola Topic, a lottery pick who has spent his rookie year recovering from a knee injury. The Thunder could have as many as three first-round picks in this year’s draft, but the odds are that the protected picks owed by the 76ers and Heat won’t convey this year. – Tim MacMahon
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2024-25 record: 63-16
- Previous ranking: 2
- Next games: @ IND (April 10), @ NYK (April 11), vs. IND (April 13)
It was a banner year for the Cavs, securing the second-most wins in franchise history (and their first 60-win season that didn’t involve LeBron James) and clinching the No. 1 seed in the East. Under first-year coach Kenny Atkinson – who’ll receive strong consideration for Coach of the Year – Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley each had All-Star seasons. Now they’ll need a deep postseason run – to the conference finals at least – to validate their success thus far. – Dave McMenamin
3. Boston Celtics
- 2024-25 record: 59-20
- Previous ranking: 3
- Next games: @ ORL (April 9), vs. CHA (April 11), vs. CHA (April 13)
Boston is right where it hoped to be entering the season: sitting among the top spots in the East standings with a healthy roster and as the favorites to defend its championship title. It’s far from assured the Celtics will make it through the next two months and win the title, but things couldn’t have gone much better in Boston this season. Jayson Tatum is scoring 26.9 points per game and Finals-MVP co-star Jaylen Brown is right behind him averaging 22.5. – Tim Bontemps
4. Houston Rockets
- 2024-25 record: 52-27
- Previous ranking: 4
- Next games: @ LAC (April 9), @ LAL (April 11), vs. DEN (April 13)
The Rockets made good on their stated goal of advancing to the postseason for the first time since the 2019-20 season and Ime Udoka deserves Coach of the Year consideration for his role in shifting the culture in Houston. In addition to bringing in veterans such as Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet, Udoka was adamant in his vision to build a tough, physical team that emphasized defense and hustle. That helped Houston improve on its 41 wins from last season and surpass the 50-win mark this time. Internally, the Rockets are pleased with the development of young players such as Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. How Houston performs in the playoffs will determine the route the club will take this offseason. VanVleet has a team option next season ($44.8 million) but a restricted new deal would add flexibility for a franchise teeming with assets and pondering whether to add a big-name star. – Michael Wright
5. New York Knicks
- 2024-25 record: 50-29
- Previous ranking: 11
- Next games: @ DET (April 10), vs. CLE (April 11), @ BKN (April 13)
By winning at least 50 games for the second consecutive season and finishing near their preseason over/under win total of 53.5, New York has essentially met its preseason expectations to be one of the East’s best teams. But it’d also be fair to feel as if this new-look group hasn’t done enough against elite competition. The club’s 0-9 mark against Cleveland, Boston and Oklahoma City – the teams with the NBA’s three best records – raises questions about whether the Knicks can be competitive beyond the first round of the playoffs. – Chris Herring
6. Los Angeles Lakers
- 2024-25 record: 48-31
- Previous ranking: 6
- Next games: @ DAL (April 9), vs. HOU (April 11), @ POR (April 13)
The 2024-25 Lakers season will be forever known for L.A.‘s vice president of basketball operations and general manager, Rob Pelinka, pulling off one of the most shocking trades in league history after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Mavericks. Everything else that goes their way will be a bonus. And there has been a lot in the bonus column: JJ Redick proving himself as a first-year head coach, Austin Reaves’ continued development and LeBron James still winning the battle against Father Time as a 40-year-old. – McMenamin
7. Denver Nuggets
- 2024-25 record: 47-32
- Previous ranking: 5
- Next games: @ SAC (April 9), vs. MEM (April 11), @ HOU (April 13)
Nuggets ownership made a seismic change on Tuesday by parting ways with both coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. Instead of waiting until the end of the season, ownership made the moves with the hopes that the team could still do something this postseason amid a career year from Nikola Jokic. Sources said a “cold war” had been going on between Malone and Booth, especially over roster personnel with Booth preferring that Malone play younger role players more. The team not only had to deal with that rift but with key injuries to Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray. With Denver going 11-13 since All-Star weekend, interim head coach David Adelman, a well-regarded coach who has drawn interviews for head coaching vacancies around the league, takes over. As the offensive mind on the Nuggets’ sideline, Adelman will have to figure out how to help Jokic but, more importantly, shore up a bottom-10 defense. – Ohm Youngmisuk
8. Indiana Pacers
- 2024-25 record: 48-31
- Previous ranking: 8
- Next games: vs. WAS (April 8), vs. CLE (April 10), vs. ORL (April 11), @ CLE (April 13)
Indiana is closing in on locking up the No. 4 seed in the East, a strong and successful campaign following an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals last season, especially considering the Pacers were under .500 at the start of January. Tyrese Haliburton has looked like a star in the second half of the season and Indiana will likely have homecourt in the first round of the playoffs, giving them a more favorable path toward another deep run in the postseason. – Jamal Collier
9. LA Clippers
- 2024-25 record: 47-32
- Previous ranking: 12
- Next games: vs. HOU (April 9), @ SAC (April 11), @ GS (April 13)
The Clippers came into the season with the lowest expectations of the Kawhi Leonard era. They opened the Intuit Dome with Leonard’s status as a mystery as he rehabbed his right knee for the first couple of months. And with Paul George leaving for Philadelphia in free agency and Russell Westbrook traded to Utah for Kris Dunn and eventually joining the Nuggets, the Clippers retooled the roster with young, hard-nosed, defensive-minded players. But they also hired Jeff Van Gundy as an assistant coach, which proved to be one of the best additions in the NBA. Still, team owner Steve Ballmer boasted that they would be a playoff contender, and Leonard told ESPN he can win with this roster. The Clippers backed that up with a top-five defense and a veteran core – James Harden, Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell – that had big seasons. Of course, the biggest question still has to be answered in the playoffs – can Leonard stay healthy when it matters most? – Youngmisuk
10. Golden State Warriors
- 2024-25 record: 47-32
- Previous ranking: 7
- Next games: vs. SA (April 9), @ POR (April 11), vs. LAC (April 13)
The Warriors opened with a 12-3 start that raised expectations significantly despite the summer departure of Klay Thompson. But Golden State then went 13-21, which prompted the bold trade for Jimmy Butler III. That rejuvenated Stephen Curry and Draymond Green and raised the levels of role players such as Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody. Now the Warriors prepare for a run like in 2022, when they last won the title on the strength of their championship experience and favorable matchups in the postseason. Curry and Green believe they have a legitimate chance at winning a fifth championship as Butler aims for his first, even if that doesn’t take place this postseason. But if “Playoff Jimmy” shows up, Golden State will be a team no contender will want to face, especially in the early rounds. – Youngmisuk
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2024-25 record: 46-33
- Previous ranking: 10
- Next games: @ MEM (April 10), vs. BKN (April 11), vs. UTAH (April 13)
The Wolves aspired to remain a championship contender despite trading franchise player Karl-Anthony Towns weeks before the start of the season. Up until a recent second-half season spark, the Wolves looked anything but playoff-ready. Minnesota was on a five-game winning streak before its devastating loss to the Bucks on Tuesday but are 14-4 since the start of March. It hasn’t been the smoothest season, and the Wolves are still fighting to stay out of the Western Conference play-in tournament but they’re gaining momentum at the right time to give themselves the best chance in the postseason. – Collier
12. Memphis Grizzlies
- 2024-25 record: 47-32
- Previous ranking: 9
- Next games: vs. MIN (April 10), @ DEN (April 11), vs. DAL (April 13)
The playoffs would have provided the perfect proving ground for the new, innovative offense Memphis executed for most of the regular season. The expectation was that the Grizzlies would be less predictable in an offense that virtually eliminated ball screens and dribble handoffs. But the surprise firing of coach Taylor Jenkins last week pushed the Grizzlies in a new direction in their attempt to optimize guard Ja Morant under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo. A string of 10 losses in 17 outings from Feb. 23 to March 27 appeared to seal Jenkins’ fate. Now general manager Zach Kleiman seeks “clarity and direction” from the team as it closes out the season. In addition to likely conducting a coaching search, Memphis could be eyeing a hefty extension for Jaren Jackson Jr. that could turn out to be a supermax. Still, Memphis is in an advantageous financial position this offseason to upgrade the overall roster. – Wright
13. Milwaukee Bucks
- 2024-25 record: 45-34
- Previous ranking: 14
- Next games: vs. NO (April 10), @ DET (April 11), vs. DET (April 13)
The Bucks entered the season with championship expectations, but they haven’t been able to contend with the top teams or win consistently enough to look the part all season. They started 2-8, rebounded to win the NBA Cup in December, but recently have faded to the bottom half of the East playoff standings. Overall, Milwaukee went 0-9 against the top three seeds in the East and will need a strong final week, especially in their last two games against the Pistons, which will go a long way in deciding which team enters the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. – Collier
14. Detroit Pistons
- 2024-25 record: 43-36
- Previous ranking: 13
- Next games: vs. NYK (April 10), vs. MIL (April 11), @ MIL (April 13)
Despite a costly pair of back-to-back home losses that will likely force the Pistons to sweep a home-and-home set with Milwaukee to reach the fifth seed, Detroit has smashed expectations this season. The Pistons have already beaten their over/under win total by 17.5 games, with three to play in the regular season. Just two teams this century have surpassed their total by more than 20 games: the 2013-14 Suns (27.5) and the 2009-10 Bucks (20.5). Not to mention first-time All-Star Cade Cunningham has taken a huge leap forward in his fourth season that makes him a strong contender for Most Improved Player. – Kevin Pelton
15. Orlando Magic
- 2024-25 record: 39-40
- Previous ranking: 18
- Next games: vs. BOS (April 9), @ IND (April 11), @ ATL (April 13)
Tuesday’s win over the Hawks means Orlando can clinch the top seed in the play-in before finishing the season Sunday in Atlanta. It’s tough to say how much of the Magic’s slide from the fifth seed in the 2024 postseason to the play-in this season can be explained by injuries. Orlando has played a combined 54 games without leading scorers Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but the Magic are still below .500 when both play. This could be explained by the absence of point guard Jalen Suggs, who’s out for the season after undergoing knee surgery. One bright spot for Orlando: Reserve guard Caleb Houstan has been on a hot streak, shooting 53% on 3s since the All-Star break. – Pelton
16. Sacramento Kings
- 2024-25 record: 39-40
- Previous ranking: 17
- Next games: vs. Den (April 9), vs. LAC (April 11), vs. PHX (April 13)
The Suns’ loss on Tuesday locked up a play-in spot for the Kings but Sacramento is still playing for the right to host the 9-10 game, which would match where the team finished last year. Expectations ran higher after Sacramento added free agent DeMar DeRozan, and coach Mike Brown took the fall for his team’s uneven start in December. Things haven’t been much different under interim coach Doug Christie, which led the Kings to deal star De’Aaron Fox for Zach LaVine before the deadline. A play-in loss could mean even more changes this summer. – Pelton
17. Dallas Mavericks
- 2024-25 record: 38-41
- Previous ranking: 16
- Next games: vs. LAL (April 9), vs. TOR (April 11), @ MEM (April 13)
The Mavs are fighting for the right to host the West’s 9/10 play-in game, which isn’t a position they planned on occupying after acquiring Anthony Davis and Max Christie in the Luka Doncic trade. But injuries have wreaked havoc on the Dallas roster, including a torn ACL that ended star guard Kyrie Irving’s season and will likely sideline him for a significant portion of the 2025-26 season. There is a lot of intrigue around the league about Irving’s contractual situation this summer. He has a $44 million player option, and several league sources anticipated before his injury that the Mavs would lock up Irving for three years at near maximum money. – MacMahon
18. Atlanta Hawks
- 2024-25 record: 37-42
- Previous ranking: 15
- Next games: @ BKN (April 10), @ PHI (April 11), vs. ORL (April 13)
The Hawks had ridden a few high moments throughout this season’s campaign, including knocking off the East’s top three teams – the Cavs, Celtics and Knicks – en route to reaching the NBA Cup semifinals. But all in all, they’ve landed back where they’ve been for four consecutive years now: in the play-in, fighting for a spot in the playoffs. Their 37 wins, a one-game improvement from last season, are just above their 35.5 over/under projection. – Chris Herring
19. Miami Heat
- 2024-25 record: 36-43
- Previous ranking: 21
- Next games: @ CHI (April 9), @ NO (April 11), vs. WAS (April 13)
After enduring the Jimmy Butler III drama for the first half of the season, Miami is once again mired in the play-in for a third straight postseason. Accepting that reality is why Miami chose to trade Butler before the deadline to Golden State. The biggest question is what the Heat will do to take a step forward next season rather than remain in the same position again. – Bontemps
20. Chicago Bulls
- 2024-25 record: 36-43
- Previous ranking: 19
- Next games: vs. MIA (April 9), vs. WAS (April 11), @ PHI (April 13)
Despite claiming to be in a transition phase, the Bulls are heading to the East play-in tournament for the third consecutive season. Chicago is not a threat to make a deep playoff run, but a late-season surge from Josh Giddey and Coby White has given the Bulls a semblance of the future. But without a star and no clear path on how to acquire one, the ceiling on the Bulls still seems low for the future. – Collier
21. Phoenix Suns
- 2024-25 record: 35-44
- Previous ranking: 20
- Next games: vs. OKC (April 9), vs. SA (April 11), @ SAC (April 13)
Phoenix came into the season with an over/under betting line of 48.5 wins and will need to win the final three games just to win 38. It has been a disastrous season for the Suns, who have followed up an NBA Finals run in 2021 by firing two coaches (Monty Williams and Frank Vogel) and are falling flat with a third in Mike Budenholzer. A seven-game losing streak has done all but dash their chances of claiming a spot in the play-in tournament, but the bigger question remains: What will the organization and Kevin Durant do this summer? – McMenamin
22. Portland Trail Blazers
- 2024-25 record: 35-44
- Previous ranking: 22
- Next games: @ UTAH (April 9), vs. GS (April 11), vs. LAL (April 13)
Despite winning Sunday, the Blazers were mathematically eliminated from play-in contention. That Portland had something to play for through April was unexpected coming into the season, and GM Joe Cronin was rewarded Monday for the team’s performance and the development of young foundation players Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara with a multiyear contract extension. The next decision for the Blazers is on coach Chauncey Billups, who has a team option for 2025-26. Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report indicated Monday that Portland has yet to exercise the option. – Pelton
23. San Antonio Spurs
- 2024-25 record: 32-47
- Previous ranking: 24
- Next games: @ GS (April 9), @ PHX (April 11), vs. TOR (April 13)
San Antonio wanted to emphasize the development of winning habits during Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season so that it could make a legitimate run at the postseason during the French phenom’s second-year campaign. A series of events prevented those lofty expectations from coming to fruition. Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke five games into the season that has indefinitely sidelined him, leaving assistant Mitch Johnson in charge. The front office shrewdly maneuvered to acquire speedy guard De’Aaron Fox near the trade deadline, but he played just five games with Wembanyama before the latter was shelved for the season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. The club also shut down Fox so that he could undergo surgery to repair a tendon on his left hand. San Antonio has a lottery pick and an additional first-rounder in the upcoming draft but also faces uncertainty regarding Popovich’s potential return. – Wright
24. Toronto Raptors
- 2024-25 record: 29-50
- Previous ranking: 25
- Next games: vs. CHA (April 9), @ DAL (April 11), @ SA (April 13)
Injuries curtailed Toronto’s chances of being a potential play-in team, but by landing in the top half of the lottery, the Raptors are positioned to immediately leap back into the playoff picture next season. They’ll also be able to count on Brandon Ingram, who was acquired from New Orleans in February but has not played since Dec. 7 due to an ankle injury. How high this group’s long-term ceiling is, however, will come down to where this year’s draft pick lands. – Bontemps
25. Brooklyn Nets
- 2024-25 record: 26-53
- Previous ranking: 26
- Next games: vs. ATL (April 10), @ MIN (April 11), vs. NYK (April 13)
Brooklyn surpassed its over/under projection of 19.5 in early February, a big sign that the Nets exceeded expectations. Back in possession of their own 2025 draft pick, the Nets were widely expected to be in a rebuilding mode. Still, first-year coach Jordi Fernandez kept the group highly competitive despite the team trading players such as Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith, and even as leading scorer Cam Thomas played in just 25 games before exiting for the remainder of the season with a left strained hamstring. Now their eyes are set on the lottery as they wait to see where they will pick and how they will add to their young roster. – Chris Herring
26. Philadelphia 76ers
- 2024-25 record: 23-56
- Previous ranking: 27
- Next games: @ WAS (April 9), vs. ATL (April 11), vs. CHI (April 13)
To say this season has been a disaster in Philadelphia is an understatement. A team that had championship aspirations after acquiring Paul George in the offseason has been out of the playoff picture for months. It has struggled so much that the unthinkable has happened: The 76ers could keep their top-six protected pick from conveying to the Thunder, depending on how the pingpong balls fall next month in the lottery. – Bontemps
27. New Orleans Pelicans
- 2024-25 record: 21-58
- Previous ranking: 23
- Next games: @ MIL (April 10), vs. MIA (April 11), vs. OKC (April 13)
Offseason addition Dejounte Murray fractured his left hand in a season-opening win against Chicago, tipping off what would be a vicious wave of injuries for a team that lost 16 of its first 20 games. The vaunted trio of Murray, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram never stepped foot on the court together, with Ingram traded to Toronto in February. In all, the Pelicans lost Murray, Ingram, Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones and Jose Alvarado at some point to either season-ending or prolonged injuries. The club also shut down CJ McCollum for the season. So, consider this a lost season for New Orleans – and there’s still a chance Murray and Murphy will miss the start of next season – as it recovers from injuries. New Orleans could be making its first top-five selection in the upcoming draft since taking Williamson in 2019 with the No. 1 pick. Overall roster health and continuing to build around Williamson appear to be the Pels’ top priorities in the offseason. – Wright
28. Charlotte Hornets
- 2024-25 record: 19-60
- Previous ranking: 28
- Next games: @ TOR (April 9), @ BOS (April 11), @ BOS (April 13)
There certainly weren’t playoff expectations for this season, but with Charlotte being a full 10 games below its preseason over/under of 29.5, it’s fair to call this injury-riddled season another forgettable one for the Hornets. They could be faced with some difficult questions in the offseason. Chief among them: Is 23-year-old LaMelo Ball, who had a career-high usage rate on career-low shooting percentages, still the player the franchise wants to build around? This season marked the third time in his five-year career that he played in fewer than 50 games. – Herring
29. Washington Wizards
- 2024-25 record: 17-62
- Previous ranking: 29
- Next games: vs. PHI (April 9), @ CHI (April 11), @ MIA (April 13)
The Wizards entered the season with the excitement surrounding the No. 2 pick in Alex Sarr and fellow first-round picks Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George. But there was never any question that this was another year in the building process. And with this draft touted as a deep one, Washington’s primary goal was to continue to develop young building blocks like Bilal Coulibaly, keep adding assets when possible and get the highest pick possible in the lottery. They also added vets like Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart to help mentor their youngsters as well. Losing 60-plus games for a second straight year is painful. But if Washington wins the lottery or has a top-three pick, it’ll ease the pain. – Youngmisuk
30. Utah Jazz
- 2024-25 record: 16-63
- Previous ranking: 30
- Next games: vs. POR (April 9), vs. OKC (April 11), @ MIN (April 13)
After pushing the limits of the player participation policy all season, the Jazz will be sweating out the results of the draft lottery. Utah, which is projected to be one of the three teams with the maximum 14% odds for the No. 1 pick, desperately needs to land a player who can be a franchise centerpiece. The Jazz didn’t unload any of their veterans before this season’s trade deadline, but they will have those discussions again this summer as the franchise operates with a long-term view in mind. – MacMahon
By NBA insiders | ESPN, via ESPN