NBA Power Rankings: Each team's best offseason addition
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
This week, we're breaking down each of the 30 team's best offseason addition.
1. Golden State Warriors (21-5)
Previous: 1
Andre Iguodala's return has helped the Warriors on both ends of the floor. His leadership, defense, and playmaking are among the reasons why Golden State is back amongst the NBA's elite teams.
2. Phoenix Suns (21-4)
Previous: 2
JaVale McGee is contributing solid minutes as a backup center for last campaign's Western Conference champions. The veteran big man averages 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in just 15.9 minutes per game.
3. Brooklyn Nets (19-8)
Previous: 3
Patty Mills' addition has proved prescient in Kyrie Irving's continued absence. The Olympic hero is averaging a career-best 12.7 points and shooting 44.3% from deep on 6.9 attempts per outing. Crikey.
4. Utah Jazz (19-7)
Previous: 4
As the understudy to a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Hassan Whiteside hasn't offered much reprieve around the rim. Opponents are shooting just 50.4% within six feet of the hoop when Whiteside's the primary defender.
5. Milwaukee Bucks (18-10)
Previous: 5
With Donte DiVincenzo only now approaching a return, Grayson Allen was a savvy, low-cost trade pickup for Milwaukee. Allen slotted in wonderfully for DiVincenzo among the starters, keeping the Bucks near that top seed.
6. Miami Heat (16-11)
Previous: 6
Kyle Lowry continues to make up for a slow start to his Heat career. At age 35, the feisty floor general is putting up 13.4 points, 8.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game.
7. Chicago Bulls (17-10)
Previous: 7
The Bulls seem to have hit on all of their key offseason moves, especially leading scorer DeMar DeRozan - a major reason the club has enough of a cushion in the standings to withstand an apparent COVID-19 outbreak.
8. Memphis Grizzlies (16-11)
Previous: 19
Steven Adams is one of the league's top playmaking centers. The eight-year veteran is registering 2.7 dimes per contest and ranks in the 76th percentile among big men in assist percentage.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers (16-12)
Previous: 21
Following what he called "the hardest year of my career" in Minnesota, Cavaliers newcomer Ricky Rubio has parlayed a standout Olympic display into a career-high 13 points in place of the injured Collin Sexton.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (15-12)
Previous: 13
Georges Niang's efficient 3-point shooting has made him a natural fit alongside Joel Embiid. The 76ers produce a 110.9 offensive rating when the pair share the floor.
11. Los Angeles Clippers (15-12)
Previous: 8
Isaiah Hartenstein wasn't the flashiest offseason addition, but he's quietly established himself as a strong rim protector coming off the Clippers' bench. The 23-year-old leads the team with 1.2 blocks per game.
12. Atlanta Hawks (13-13)
Previous: 10
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has been a so-so stand-in since sliding into Atlanta's starting five for DeAndre Hunter, draining seven of a Hawks franchise-record 25 3-pointers in a win over the T-Wolves.
13. Washington Wizards (15-12)
Previous: 9
Think the Lakers regret all the depth they gave up in the Russell Westbrook blockbuster? Kyle Kuzma has averaged 13.4 points, a team-high 8.3 rebounds, and a career-best 2.9 assists a night with solid defense.
14. Charlotte Hornets (15-13)
Previous: 11
The biggest indication of Mason Plumlee's influence at the defensive end is that the depleted Hornets are 3-5 amid his current absence, conceding an NBA-worst 126 points per game over that span. Not great.
15. Los Angeles Lakers (15-13)
Previous: 18
While Russell Westbrook acclimates to being the Lakers' third star, Carmelo Anthony has impressed as L.A.'s sixth man. The future Hall of Famer chips in 13.5 points on 41.2% shooting from distance.
16. Boston Celtics (13-14)
Previous: 14
Dennis Schroder is providing steady guard play for the Celtics after agreeing to a 1-year, $5.9-million deal when the free-agent market fizzled out. The German point will surely receive a larger payday this coming summer.
17. Dallas Mavericks (13-13)
Previous: 12
Reggie Bullock penned a 3-year, $30 million deal with the Mavericks in August, and after a slow start, the 3-and-D savant's improved off-the-ball play and timely cuts have harmonized well with Luka Doncic's playmaking.
18. Denver Nuggets (13-13)
Previous: 16
Jeff Green has stepped up in Michael Porter Jr.'s absence. The 35-year-old is averaging 10.9 points and shooting 38.5% from downtown since entering the Nuggets' starting lineup in early November.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (12-15)
Previous: 20
Patrick Beverley appeared to provide the Timberwolves with a spark early, but they've slipped into a slump lately. However, that started during his injury absence, meaning he may help right the ship now that he's back.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (11-16)
Previous: 15
Is Larry Nance Jr. the missing piece on a title contender? No. Does his team-friendly two-year, $20.4-million deal pair nicely with solid two-way contributions? Yes. In that sense, Nance is the archetypal Trail Blazer.
21. Toronto Raptors (12-14)
Previous: 23
Scottie Barnes has been a revelation for the Raptors. His 8.3 rebounds per game are a team-high, and he's scored in single digits just twice so far, inserting himself into the Rookie of the Year conversation.
22. New York Knicks (12-15)
Previous: 17
Thanks to Kemba Walker falling out of the rotation entirely, Evan Fournier has been the Knicks' best acquisition, essentially by default. However, New York has been bleeding points with Fournier on the floor.
23. Indiana Pacers (12-16)
Previous: 22
With their slow start evidently leaving new coach Rick Carlisle unimpressed, the Pacers are reportedly ready for a fire sale. At least NBA-ready rookie Chris Duarte will get plenty of reps down the stretch.
24. San Antonio Spurs (10-16)
Previous: 26
Doug McDermott is playing some of the best basketball of his career. The Creighton standout is averaging 11.1 points per game and shooting a sizzling 41.9% from deep over 19 appearances this campaign.
25. Sacramento Kings (11-16)
Previous: 24
Rookie sparkplug Davion Mitchell has been the Kings' best offseason addition by default. The head-scratching Alex Len and Tristan Thompson moves have served little purpose beyond blocking in-game reps for Marvin Bagley III.
26. Houston Rockets (8-18)
Previous: 30
The Rockets' tumultuous 2020-21 campaign wasn't in vain, as the club landed Jalen Green with this year's No. 2 overall pick. The first-year guard has flashed his scoring potential and is a player Houston can build around.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-18)
Previous: 25
OKC's treasure chest of draft picks landed them another promising prospect in Josh Giddey. The Australian floor general dishes out 5.8 assists per game, many of which are creative highlight-reel passes.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (8-21)
Previous: 28
It hasn't been pretty in the Big Easy, but Jonas Valanciunas has been sensational. Valanciunas' improved range would make him an ideal fit next to Zion Williamson whenever the latter eventually recovers from his broken foot.
29. Orlando Magic (5-23)
Previous: 29
Franz Wagner looks like the real deal as a rookie. The Michigan product fits right in as a 3-and-D wing and averages a team-high 1.1 steals while shooting 39% on 3-pointers.
30. Detroit Pistons (4-22)
Previous: 27
It took him some time, but Cade Cunningham has arrived. The first overall pick is now putting up 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 44.6% from deep over his last eight games.