The first wave of the offseason is over. The draft is behind us as is the first wave of free agency. Most of the money around the league has been spent.
As the league descends upon Las Vegas for Summer League, the trade market may begin to move with every executive and decisionmaker all in one place for the games, team meetings and Vegas negotiations. This is NBA convention.
There are perhaps a few lingering trades to think about—will the Utah Jazz move Lauri Markkanen or the New Orleans Pelicans move Brandon Ingram? Even the Orlando Magic might get involved with the potential to go sign Tyus Jones if needed (the Magic reportedly still have their room mid-level exception to spend) and the Los Angeles Lakers may be fishing around to make a move after a very quiet offseason.
But, for the most part, the NBA is set to go dormant for the summer, turning its focus on the Olympics at the end of July and then looking ahead to the start of training camps at the end of September. The work is done, and the upcoming season's battle lines are beginning to form.
Everyone in the Eastern Conference has one goal these days: Defeat the Boston Celtics.
The defending champions are at the top of the mountain and after bringing everyone back from their dominant title-winning team, everyone is looking up at them around the league. The battle for the Eastern Conference is figuring out who is going to challenge them.
For the first time in a long time, the Magic should be considered among those teams competing for their place in the Eastern Conference.
They spent the 2024 season announcing themselves to the NBA world. Their breakthrough to the playoffs and Paolo Banchero's becoming an All-Star and shining on the playoff stage has made the Magic one of the best young teams in the league and a team even the national media are starting to notice.
Orlando was fairly quiet this offseason. Even with the potential and reporting that they would make a big splash, the Magic held the boat steady. They added a starter in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope but then doubled down on their own roster.
The Magic are betting they can grow internally and repeat their success in 2024.
The rest of the Eastern Conference is not lying down though.
The Philadelphia 76ers made the biggest move and were likely to outperform last year's 7-seed showing. The battle for seeding in the Eastern Conference came down to the season's final day with the Magic able to finish as high as fourth on the final day and as low as eighth.
Expect another battle every day of the season. Every team fighting for a playoff spot will be battling for all 82 games. Take some time to take a deep breath now, because the 82-game season will be a battle every day and every win and loss will matter by the time we get to April.
Now that the Magic are in the race, we have to ask where do they stand? As the offseason begins to quiet down, we get the NBA Cup groups and the 2025 season becomes real, it is time to assess where the team stands in the current Eastern Conference power rankings.
2024 Post-Free Agency Eastern Conference Power Rankings
Tier 1: The Contenders
Key Additions: Baylor Scheierman (No. 30 pick)
Key Losses: Oshae Brissett (unsigned)
Everyone in the Eastern Conference—and really everyone in the league—is looking up at the Boston Celtics. The Celtics won the title last year and then went out and re-signed all their free agents and got new contracts for Jayson Tatum and Derrick White.
Rumors of the demise of the dynasty in the NBA's second apron era may be greatly exaggerated. Now that the Celtics have won one title, the doubts about them are quickly fading away. Everyone is chasing Boston at the top of the standings.
And with so little activity throughout the Eastern Conference and the top of the Eastern Conference, the Celtics still sit atop the mountain. There is no reason to knock them off.
Their starting lineup is perfect. They have a good blend of high-end stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and secondary creators in Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis. They are versatile and they are completely bought in.
The Celtics are the prohibitive favorites to repeat this year. The apron has not claimed them yet.
Key Additions: Paul George (free agency from LAC), Jared McCain (No. 16 pick)
Key Losses: Tobias Harris (signed with DET), De'Anthony Melton (signed with GSW)
The Philadelphia 76ers were not a bad team last year. Yes, they finished seventh in the Eastern Conference. But everyone recognized they were a sleeping giant. Just look at the season-ending nine-game win streak that nearly got them out of the Play-In Tournament.
That is how good Joel Embiid is. And with how much time he missed due to injuries, it is easy to forget that he was the front-runner to win MVP once again before he missed time to become ineligible for the award.
Just for the record then, in lineups where Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey played together, the Sixers had a +12.4 net rating with a 122.4 offensive rating. This was an elite team. . . when they were healthy.
The Sixers reshaped their roster to create the cap room that netted them an All-Star in Paul George. And that should elevate this team. When the Philadelphia 76ers are healthy, they are the best team to challenge the Boston Celtics. There is no denying the billing at the top of the ticket and marquee in Philadelphia.
It was a good summer for the Sixers.
Tier 2: Hopeful for a Chance
Key Additions: Mikal Bridges (trade from BKN), OG Anunoby (re-signed)
Key Losses: Isaiah Hartenstein (signed with OKC), Alec Burks (signed with MIA)
The New York Knicks made the biggest impression and the biggest splash on the offseason market. They were the ones who made the surprise trade of the offseason, acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and mortgaging a good chunk of their future draft capital to do so.
But this is the time to push in for the Knicks. They hit on something that got them to the second round behind an All-NBA season from Jalen Brunson. And they added to it by adding Mikal Bridges and retaining OG Anunoby.
Brunson boosted those hopes by taking a less-than-max extension to give the Knicks more flexibility to keep adding to what they hope is a title contender.
The Knicks have a lot of offensive firepower and players who will buy completely into Tom Thibodeau's system. Bridges is an excellent defender who has put that on hold to be the Nets' top scorer.
There are still questions. Losing Isaiah Hartenstein hurts a ton. They could lean on Mitchell Robinson, but he has struggled with injuries throughout his career and appeared in only 31 games and has played more than 70 games just once in his career.
The Knicks may not be done. They are reportedly hunting for Walker Kessler. And they could still re-sign Precious Achiuwa. But if there is a reason the Knicks could fall short, it is their lack of depth at center.
Key Additions: Taurean Prince (signed from LAL), Delon Wright (signed from MIA)
Key Losses: Malik Beasley (signed with DET), Jae Crowder (Unsigned)
The Milwaukee Bucks were a mess last year. Things started early with the disputes that occurred during the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament. It continued with the team's mid-season firing of Adrian Griffin and hiring of Doc Rivers. The Bucks tried to figure out how to get their defense right and never got it there.
The season fittingly ended with a second straight first-round exit with Giannis Antetokounmpo out with an injury. The Bucks were stuck in a salary cap hole and could not make significant moves this offseason because of it.
That means the Bucks' bet to become contenders rests on a full offseason and training camp with Doc Rivers (he did help the Bucks improve their woeful defense) and health for their aging stars. Milwaukee's biggest issue probably remains their lack of athleticism.
They are veterans and still high-level veterans—a Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton trio should still be one of the best in the Eastern Conference. It is just whether they will be healthy that is the ultimate question.
And that is not a question anyone can answer with any certainty anymore.
Tier 3: Young and Hungry
Key Additions: Pascal Siakam (Re-Signed), Johnny Furphy (No. 35 Pick)
Key Losses: Jalen Smith (Sign with CHI)
No one can ignore that the Indiana Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals last year, even if it ended in an unceremonious and somewhat embarrassing sweep after three collapses in the fourth quarters of that series with the Boston Celtics.
The Indiana Pacers staked a claim to be the young team to watch in the conference and should get the notoriety that Orlando Magic fans probably feel their team deserves.
It is Tyrese Haliburton, after all, who was one of two carryovers from the 2023 FIBA World Cup team to join Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. Haliburton is a bankable star at this point (and the Pacers should be getting more attention on the national TV schedule for it).
Indiana did its major lifting during the trade market last year, adding Pascal Siakam. That made them a more legitimate contender and bolstered their defense.
Pairing that with their strong offensive philosophy and the Pacers should be a dangerous team this year. A team that could easily threaten to return to the Eastern Conference Finals once again.
Key Additions: Kentavious Caldwell (signed from DEN), Tristan da Silva (No. 18 Pick)
Key Losses: Markelle Fultz (Unsigned), Joe Ingles (signed with MIN)
The Orlando Magic are a better team on paper.
They upgraded their guard position, their shooting and their defense by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. They are young enough that they should be able to bet on internal growth to fill in the gaps.
And Paolo Banchero showed in last year's Playoffs he is clearly good enough to lift the team based on his own internal improvement. Orlando clearly believes that Franz Wagner can get there too with his max extension signed this offseason. The Magic are betting on their internal growth with Jalen Suggs and a healthy Wendell Carter thrown into the mix.
The problem for the Magic is that nobody knows how quickly those young players will grow and how quickly they will step up and improve on their breakthrough 2024 season.
Magic fans are rightfully excited for that potential. Just as they are rightfully concerned that they did not address their playmaking needs this offseason. That opportunity may not have been present this offseason. But another season of running it back leaves the possibility that things go stale too.
The Orlando Magic should be better on paper but did not outwardly solve many of the problems that led to their Playoff defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even Caldwell-Pope brings concerns that he does not shoot enough and only reinforces what the Magic were already good at.
Still, their youth is something worth betting on. And the Magic may not have the dream season they had in 2024, but it should still put them in the ring of secondary contenders who could break through to an unexpected seeding or an unexpected playoff run.
Orlando should look at the Eastern Conference and see an opportunity to compete. This team should be unafraid of anyone.
Tier 4: Contenders No More?
Key Additions: Donovan Mitchell (Re-signed), Jaylon Tyson (No. 20 Pick)
Key Losses: Isaac Okoro (Qualifying Offer Pending), Marcus Morris (Unsigned)
Before Cleveland Cavaliers fans get upset at the No. 7 next to their name (or as Orlando Magic fans get angry at the No. 6 next to their name), let's make this point clear: The difference between teams 3-7 are incredibly narrow. We are talking about a few games here and there. These are races that will come down to Game 82 in April. Power rankings are just a temperature of today.
And Cavs fans incensed that a Magic blog would rank the Magic above the Cavs are right: Cleveland won the series in seven games. Even if it took a heroic effort from Donovan Mitchell.
This part should be clear too, when Cleveland was healthy for good chunks of last season, they were as tough as any team last year. The Cavs have plenty of talent and potential to be a surprise team this season.
But those problems that caused so much hand-wringing during the series with the Magic are still present. Mitchell is still individually brilliant. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are still a tough frontcourt to crack and lock down the paint completely.
But the biggest task for Kenny Atkinson is to figure out how to make those four key players work together. And it was clear during the series with the Magic that the Cavs' four best players were not at their best when they all shared the court.
Cleveland is still potent, but the questions have not gone away even if Mitchell signing an extension has lowered the temperature and eased the pressure.
Key Additions: Kal'El Ware (No. 15 Pick), Alec Burks (signed from NYK)
Key Losses: Caleb Martin (signed with PHI), Delon Wright (signed with MIL)
The Miami Heat still have to be considered a Playoff team and a dangerous one at that. They still know how to perform in the Playoffs with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. They are only two years removed from reaching the NBA Finals at the 8-seed. That makes the Heat the constant boogeyman in the Eastern Conference.
But that is also two straight seasons where the Heat sat as the 8-seed. They are severely flawed and unable to maintain consistency in the regular season. Injuries constantly follow them and Miami can only hold the ship steady.
There is seemingly little downward pressure on them. The teams outside the top eight do not feel like major threats. But the Heat also do not feel like a team that is about to turn the corner and shock the Eastern Conference. This feels like a team in decline or a team stagnating. And that could result in them having to fight their way out of the Play-In Tournament for a third straight year.
Tier 5: Not Tanking
Key Additions: Ja'Kobe Walter (No. 19 Pick), Davion Mitchell (Traded from SAC)
Key Losses: Gary Trent Jr. (Unsigned), Jalen McDaniels (Traded to SAC)
The Toronto Raptors are transitioning to a new era. They spent their offseason signing Scottie Barnes to a max contract and turning the keys officially over to him. Like the Orlando Magic, the Toronto Raptors love to build on length and versatility.
But this is a team in transition. The Raptors are still likely good enough to compete for a Play-In spot. They are full of veterans and Barnes is a gifted player -- a worthy All-Star even if there was plenty of debate about it.
Toronto though is not considered a serious contender for anything beyond the Play-In Tournament. This will be Barnes' first season as the main player and star. That always takes some adjusting to even with such a talented player.
Key Additions: Zaccharie Risacher (No. 1 Draft Pick), Larry Nance Jr. (Traded from NOP)
Key Losses: Dejounte Murray (Traded to NOP), Saddiq Bey (Signed with WAS)
The Atlanta Hawks broke up their ill-fated duo of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray when they traded Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans this summer. The idea to pair two high-scoring, high-usage guards just never came together. It was clear the Hawks were spinning their wheels.
Does that mean Atlanta is set to be on the right track? Not quite.
The No. 1 pick in Zaccharie Risacher should set them on a path moving forward. But the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is not a game-changing prospect. At least it does not appear to be so on its face.
Still, the Hawks have Trae Young. And in a single game situation, that is still going to make them competitive for all of his flaws inherent with him. That will keep the Hawks competitive even if their ceiling is another trip to the Play-In Tournament.
Key Additions: Matas Buzelis (No. 11 Pick), Josh Giddey (Trade from OKC)
Key Losses: DeMar DeRozan (Signed with SAC), Alex Caruso (Traded to OKC)
The Chicago Bulls are seemingly perpetually stuck in the middle of the Eastern Conference. They are still far too talented to outright tank -- and team governor Jerry Reinsdorf seems to be against the idea. But they are also not good enough to compete for much more than their annual spot in the Play-In.
Trading Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey was a downgrade defensively for a team built on its defense even if it gives them some better playmaking in the backcourt.
But there stars are just not working at the high level they have to. Nikola Vucevic is a solid offensive player who has slowed down as he exits his peak years. And Zach LaVine is still a dynamic scorer when he is healthy. But a knee injury and an onerous contract made it impossible for the Bulls even to give LaVine away.
Chicago will still be a tough out every night. Even after losing DeMar DeRozan. But it is hard to get excited about what is being built in Chicago these days.
Key Additions: Tidjane Salaun (No. 6 Draft Pick), Reggie Jackson (Trade from DEN)
Key Losses: Davis Bertans (Waived), Seth Curry (Waived)
On one hand, the Charlotte Hornets seem to be embracing a new youth movement. They are sticking with a bunch of young players and draft picks they have put together. They are not trying to stitch together a roster that can compete for the Play-In. At least, not yet.
That is the right way for this team to build. Because they could be very dangerous very quickly.
It is not just how good Brandon Miller looked at the end of his rookie season and the leap he is expected to make in his second year (he averaged 17.3 points per game as a rookie last year). It is that they still have LaMelo Ball, who is a game-changing point guard when he is healthy. And they still have a gifted scorer in Miles Bridges.
The whole probably does not work quite yet at a playoff level. But there are a lot of strong building block pieces for new coach Charles Lee to begin building around. And they were a Play-In team when Ball was healthy.
Tier 6: Lag for Flagg
Key Additions: Tobias Harris (Signed from PHI), Ron Holland (No. 5 Draft Pick)
Key Losses: Evan Fournier (Unsigned), Troy Brown Jr. (Unsigned)
The Detroit Pistons fired Monty Williams after one disastrous season that seemed to set back their development plans. The Pistons did not have much of a direction it seemed. And Cade Cunningham's injury (he played in 62 games after appearing in 12 in his sophomore season) only slowed things down.
The Pistons did not have a great secondary scorer or much shooting. It just made life hard for everyone.
The Pistons did not necessarily solve all of those problems. But Cunningham is still a really good player. A veteran like Tobias Harris will help them improve. But this is still a mess of a roster and a rebuild seeking clarity and direction.
Key Additions: Nicolas Claxton (Re-Signed), Bojan Bogdanovic (Traded from NYK)
Key Losses: Mikal Bridges (Traded to NYK), Lonnie Walker (Unsigned)
The Brooklyn Nets picked a new direction this offseason when they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. They netted five first-round picks in the deal to set up their future.
That is at least something to restart their rebuild.
And there is a long way for the Nets to go now. This is a hard reset and Brooklyn's roster is going to be searching for a galvanizing player. The Nets are going to fall to the bottom of the standings.
Certainly the race for a strong 2025 Draft class makes that decision a little easier to swallow as the Nets try to rebuild themselves.
Key Additions: Alex Sarr (No. 2 Draft Pick), Malcolm Brogdon (Traded from POR)
Key Losses: Tyus Jones (Unsigned), Deni Avdija (Traded to POR)
The Washington Wizards still have some powerful offensive weapons and players. They are still going to catch some teams by surprise, Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma are NBA scorers. The question will always be whether they can score more than they give up. That was the issue with them last year.
The Wizards should look much the same this year.
Alex Sarr represents a transition of sorts. He will give them some defensive presence. But rookies are rookies and there is a steep learning curve. Who knows how long Malcolm Brogdon will play -- likely just enough for them to shuttle him along. Perhaps Tyus Jones comes back after he has struck out in free agency.
But the Wizards certainly have a long way to go.