#25 Minnesota Timberwolves – Last Season’s Record: 23-49
Key Offseason Additions: F Taurean Prince, G Patrick Beverley, F/C Nathan Knight (Two-Way)
Key Offseason Departures; G Ricky Rubio, F Juan Hernangómez, G/F Jarrett Culver
Making the playoffs just once since the 2004-05 season is not much to brag about for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they may finally have a team that can at least make some noise in the Western Conference. With there now being a play-in tournament, allowing the 9-seed and 10-seed to contend for a playoff spot, as well as the Western Conference getting weaker as a whole this offseason, there is a slim chance that the Timberwolves could work their way into one of these play-in tournament spots during the 2021-22 season.
If they can stay healthy, Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels make up a very strong core. Depth was one of their biggest problems last year, but now, the Timberwolves have Patrick Beverley and Taurean Prince as veteran bench options for them.
Minnesota still has a handful of roster spots open and there are rumors that they could possibly pursue Ben Simmons, so they are definitely a team to keep an eye on before the start of next season. Depending on who else they add to their roster, the Timberwolves could easily wind up moving up a couple spots in these Power Rankings before the start of the 2021-22 season.
#24 Cleveland Cavaliers – Last Season’s Record: 22-50
Key Offseason Additions: F/C Evan Mobley, C Jarrett Allen, G Ricky Rubio, F Lauri Markkanen (via sign-and-trade w/t CHI)
Key Offseason Departures: F Taurean Prince, C Isaiah Hartenstein, F Larry Nance Jr.
LeBron James is not walking through the doors of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, at least in a Cavaliers uniform, but the Cleveland Cavaliers may actually be alright without him. Koby Altman has done a really nice job of building his team in the post-LeBron era in Cleveland and they finally have a young, sustainable core to work with.
Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen and now Evan Mobley make up what should be a very fun and athletic starting five to watch, but the key headline to keep an eye on coming out of Cleveland is what ends up happening with Kevin Love.
The veteran forward is owed $60.2M over the next two seasons and the Cavaliers do have interest in moving him, so it should be interesting to see if they are able to trade him or just settle with buying him out of his contract.
READ MORE: Predictions for Latest NBA Trade Rumors: Simmons, Siakam, Dragic, Lillard
Other than Love, the Cavaliers actually have a solid young squad that they have put together over the years that could wind up sneaking into the play-in tournament, much like the Charlotte Hornets did last season. However, with the Eastern Conference seeing a major upgrade in teams improving, Cleveland may very well end up picking inside the Top-10 of the NBA Draft once again.
What happens with Kevin Love and whether or not the Cavs extend Collin Sexton long-term are the two storylines though to keep tabs on during the 2021-22 season for Cleveland.
#23 Sacramento Kings – Last Season’s Record: 31-41
Key Offseason Additions: C Richaun Holmes, G Davion Mitchell, G/F Terence Davis, C Alex Len
Key Offseason Departures: G Delon Wright, C Hassan Whiteside
Your 2021 NBA Summer League Champions are the Sacramento Kings! Finally, after years of suffering, the Kings finally have a banner that they can hang! I am sorry Kings fans, I have to try and find some light to talk about with your franchise because nothing has gone right for them over the years.
Sacramento has not made the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons, the longest active drought in the NBA currently and tied for the longest playoff drought in NBA history. Unfortunately, the 2021-22 season is going to be the 16th consecutive season in which the Kings do not make the playoffs, but hey, I think they can win 32 games instead of 31 from the last two years!
De’Aaron Fox is going to continue getting better and possibly flirt with being an All-Star, Tyrese Haliburton should be able to build off of a really solid rookie season in his “sophomore” season and rookie Davion Mitchell is an absolute stud. Everywhere this guy goes, he helps his team win games, which is why the Kings will have a hard time keeping him off the floor.
At this point, Sacramento should be willing to try anything so who knows, we may see our first glimpse of a three-guard lineup in the NBA this year with Fox, Haliburton and Mitchell! What happens with Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes and Marvin Bagley III remains a big question mark, as all three could very well be traded during the 2021-22 season, but overall, this Kings team should at least show signs of improving from what they have been the last couple of seasons. I mean… at this point, the only way they can go is up.
#22 Toronto Raptors – Last Season’s Record: 27-45
Key Offseason Additions: F Scottie Barnes, G/F Gary Trent Jr., C Khem Birch, G Goran Dragić, F/C Precious Achiuwa
Key Offseason Departures: G Kyle Lowry, F DeAndre’ Bembry, G/F Rodney Hood
We talked about the San Antonio Spurs being “losers” of the offseason, but the Toronto Raptors were the “biggest losers” of this past offseason. They really did not do anything to better themselves this offseason in terms of trades or free agency signings and they lost their leader in Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat. Getting Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa in return is at least decent value, but their decision to keep Lowry at the trade deadline is looking worse and worse every single day.
At the trade deadline during the 2020-21 season, the Toronto Raptors had multiple offers on table from the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers for Kyle Lowry that would have given them a ton of value, buti instead, they kept their veteran point guard. This was a big mistake because they now ended up with less value than they would have received if they traded him then.
Masai Ujiri is a great league executive and knows what he is doing in terms of roster constriction, but the Toronto Raptors have taken some massive steps back since winning their first championship in 2019. Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam now are the leaders of this young Raptors team, but who knows, Siakam could be on the move very soon given all the trade speculation surrounding him.
#21 Charlotte Hornets – Last Season’s Record: 33-39
Key Offseason Additions: G James Bouknight, F/C Kai Jones, C Mason Plumlee, G/F Kelly Oubre Jr., G Ish Smith
Key Offseason Departures: G Devonte’ Graham, C Cody Zeller, C Bismack Biyombo, G Malik Monk
The Charlotte Hornets were one of the more exciting teams to watch in the league during the 2019-20 season and this was in large part because of LaMelo Ball. After winning the Rookie of the Year Award, Ball is heading into his second season in the league with massive expectations and has a chance to be one of the best point guards in the league.
With other young, dynamic talents in Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington and now both Kelly Oubre Jr. and James Bouknight around him, as well as experienced veterans in Gordon Hayward, terry Rozier and Mason Plumlee, the Hornets definitely have a chance to build off of last year and have another chance at making the playoffs.
They are not a bad team by any measures, but the reason they are only ranked 21st in these Power Rankings is because they simply do not have the offensive firepower that other teams have individually. Who knows, maybe they will be a great team in terms of passing and assists, but overall, Charlotte is still missing that one piece to push them into playoff contention.
