The Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns took spots 15-11 in Installment No. 4 of The Daily News’ 2024 NBA Power Rankings.
Installment No. 5 dives into the Top 10, featuring teams — including one at Madison Square Garden — with their sights set on dethroning the Boston Celtics as NBA champions.
No, the New York Knicks aren’t cracking the top five to start the season, but they, along with several other Eastern and Western Conference contenders, are well-positioned for a deep playoff run. If a few things break their way, they could be staring down an NBA Finals appearance.
Check back on Friday for the final installment. Below, teams 10 through 6 are ranked.
10 – Memphis Grizzlies
- Additions: C Zach Edey (#9)
- Subtractions: N/A
- Best 5: Morant, Smart, Bane, Jackson Jr, Edey
- Next 5: Rose, Kennard, Jackson II, Williams, Clarke
Ja Morant is back, and he’s got something to prove. After serving his suspension for conduct detrimental to the league and then suffering a season-ending shoulder injury upon his return, Morant is ready to reclaim his spot among the league’s elite.
Despite a dismal 27-55 record that landed them 13th in the West, the Grizzlies managed a 6-3 record in the nine games Morant played. Now, with the addition of 7-foot-4 Zach Edey as the ninth-overall pick, Memphis is poised to re-enter the dark horse championship conversation — assuming Morant stays healthy and locked in.
9 – New Orleans Pelicans
- Additions: G Dejounte Murray (via ATL), C Daniel Theis (UFA), C Yves Missi (#21)
- Subtractions: F Larry Nance Jr. (via ATL), G Dyson Daniels (via ATL), C Jonas Valanciunas (via WSH)
- Best 5: Murray, McCollum, Jones, Ingram, Williamson
- Next 5: Alvarado, Hawkins, Murphy II, Theis, Missi*
The Pelicans are stacked after trading for Dejounte Murray, but is it enough to push them into legitimate championship contention? Murray was expected to be the piece that elevated Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, but instead, the Hawks missed the playoffs and stumbled into the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Now, Murray must prove his worth in New Orleans, where Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum could find themselves on the trading block if the Pelicans’ front office loses faith in this roster’s championship potential.
Zion Williamson looked dominant before an injury knocked him out of the Play-In Tournament. Now 25 pounds lighter (and counting), he could lift New Orleans to new heights — but questions loom, especially at center after losing Jonas Valanciunas. Rookie Yves Missi might need to step up sooner than expected.
8 – Philadelphia 76ers
- Additions: G Paul George (via LAC), F Caleb Martin (via MIA), G Kyle Lowry (via MIA), G Eric Gordon (via PHX), C Andre Drummond (via CHI)
- Subtractions: F Tobias Harris (via DET)
- Best 5: Maxey, Oubre, George, C. Martin, Embiid
- Next 5: Lowry, Jackson, Gordon, K. Martin, Drummond
The 76ers pulled off one of the most aggressive offseasons in the league and now face the task of implementing five new rotation players into a championship-caliber core.
As long as Joel Embiid is in a Sixers uniform, Philadelphia will be in the title hunt.
Now, with Paul George and Tyrese Maxey as co-stars, the Sixers have the balance and firepower to make a deep run — especially with Tobias Harris’ hefty contract off the books, allowing for a more flexible roster.
Of course, there are concerns. Embiid’s health is always a question mark, George has his own injury history, and the lack of a more traditional forward could be an issue against the likes of Julius Randle and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But if Embiid is on the court, the Sixers are in the mix, and this is the deepest supporting cast he’s had since Jimmy Butler’s short-lived tenure in Philly.
7 – New York Knicks
- Additions: F Mikal Bridges, G Cameron Payne, F Keita Bates-Diop (via BKN), F Pacome Dadiet (#25), G Tyler Kolek (#34)
- Subtractions: C Isaiah Hartenstein (via OKC), F Bojan Bogdanovic (via BKN), five first-round picks plus a pick swap (via BKN)
- Best 5: Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Randle, Robinson
- Next 5: McBride, Payne, DiVincenzo, Hart, Achiuwa
The Knicks aren’t all friendship and good vibes. Madison Square Garden is also home to one of the deepest rosters in all of basketball.
The Knicks completed the Nova circle, reuniting the very nucleus responsible for powering Villanova to 2016 and 2018 college basketball national championships. Now, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo take center stage at Madison Square Garden, and with a healthy Julius Randle and a re-signed OG Anunoby, the Knicks enter the season bona fide title contenders.
However, questions still remain.
The Knicks are thin at center following Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure and filled that void by re-signing Precious Achiuwa.
Julius Randle’s future in New York is also uncertain: He has yet to sign a contract extension despite becoming eligible to do so at the beginning of August. Randle could be entering the final year of his contract, as he wields the power to decline the fourth-year player option on his deal to test free agency next summer.
After finishing with the East’s No. 2 seed and the franchise’s first 50-win season since 2014, the Knicks remain poised to build on last season’s success.
Captain Brunson will lead the charge.
6 – Denver Nuggets
- Additions: G Russell Westbrook (via LAC), C Dario Saric (via GSW)
- Subtractions: G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (via ORL)
- Best 5: Murray, Braun, Porter Jr., Gordon, Jokic
- Next 5: Westbrook, Strawther, Tyson, Watson, Saric
Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic stings, but the Nuggets aren’t sweating it. In Christian Braun and — potentially — Peyton Watson, Denver has two capable 3-and-D wings ready to fill the void. And then there’s Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP, former Finals MVP and new Olympic bronze medalist, who remains the ultimate difference-maker.
The Nuggets’ 2024 season may have ended in disappointment, but it’s far too soon to write-off the 2023 champions.
The addition of Russell Westbrook is particularly intriguing—a low-risk, high-reward move that could pay dividends if the future Hall of Famer thrives in his new role as captain of the second unit.