We have reached the point in March where there is peak Madness. While next season’s draft class makes its final impressions, it’s a good time to check in on this season’s draft class in the NBA.
Notice I said draft, not rookie. I’m not taking sides in the whole Donovan Mitchell vs. Ben Simmons debate (Blake Griffin knows what I’m talking about). This week’s Power Rankings project is going to look at the contributions of players who were in the 2024 NBA Draft class, whether they were selected or not.
A reminder: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week:
• Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league.
• In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams.
• The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack.
• Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do.
• Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear.
Here is the final draft for The Athletic’s Week 21 NBA Power Rankings. Records and statistics are through Monday’s games.
Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (56-11)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W vs. BRK, W at MEM, L vs. ORL
Offensive rating: 121.5 (first)
Defensive rating: 110.9 (seventh)
2024 draft class: SF Jaylon Tyson (Drafted No. 20), PF Nae’Qwan Tomlin (undrafted)
The Cavaliers just had their 16-game winning streak snapped, and there’s been no place for a rookie in the rotation. Tyson reached 10 minutes in only three of the games during Cleveland’s most recent streak, so obviously he’s not a part of what the team is doing, especially now that De’Andre Hunter and Javonte Green are on the team. Tomlin earned a 10-day and then a two-way contract with Cleveland after attending four schools.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (56-12)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W at BOS, W at DET, W at MIL
Offensive rating: 118.5 (fourth)
Defensive rating: 106.2 (first)
2024 draft class: PG Nikola Topić (12), SF Dillon Jones (26), PG Ajay Mitchell (38), SF Alex Ducas (undrafted), C Branden Carlson (undrafted)
The Thunder need more losses from Cleveland in case both teams make the NBA Finals. Short of that, the Thunder are just trying to bubble wrap accordingly, which is also what is happening with their draft class. They used their Russell Westbrook-blessed lottery pick on Topić, who is redshirting because of ACL surgery. Jones has only reached 10 minutes in a game once since the All-Star break. Mitchell did well enough as a backup point guard to graduate from a two-way contract, but he hasn’t played since Jan. 3 because of toe surgery. Ducas has played 76 minutes on a two-way contract; he’s a big wing shooter at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds. Carlson was in camp with the Toronto Raptors and was needed when centers Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams were all injured; he’s on a two-way contract now.
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3. Boston Celtics (49-19)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: L vs. OKC, W at MIA, W at BRK
Offensive rating: 119.2 (second)
Defensive rating: 110.4 (fifth)
2024 draft class: SG Baylor Scheierman (30)
The Celtics were swept by the Thunder this season, and they should be rooting for the field in the Western Conference if they make it back to the NBA Finals. Scheierman is the only rookie on the roster, and half of his total points for the entire season came earlier this month in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers. It does appear that Scheierman has passed two-way contract Drew Peterson on the depth chart, at least.
4. Houston Rockets (44-25)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: W vs. PHO, W vs. DAL, W vs. CHI, W vs. PHI
Offensive rating: 114.2 (12th)
Defensive rating: 109.6 (fourth)
2024 draft class: SG Reed Sheppard (3), C N’Faly Dante (undrafted)
It took a 25-point comeback and overtime against the remains of a Sixers team that was in Dallas the day before, but Houston has won seven in a row. None of those wins are against a team with a winning record, but that’s not Houston’s fault. None of those wins have come with Sheppard playing, as he’s out until next month because of a fractured thumb. It’s been a very quiet rookie season for Sheppard, as he’s only broken 20 minutes or 10 points three times each. He only has 174 points on 196 attempts while shooting just 27.9 percent from 3. Two-way contract Dante had 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks two weeks ago in Oklahoma City, his only appearance for Houston; Sheppard had 25 points in that game.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (42-25)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: L at MIL, L at DEN, W vs. PHO, W vs. SA
Offensive rating: 114.5 (11th)
Defensive rating: 112.9 (13th)
2024 draft class: SF Dalton Knecht (17), SG Bronny James (55)
LeBron James needs to play in seven more games to stay eligible for postseason awards. The Lakers have seven games in April, with five of them coming in seven days. I’d expect James to be back before March ends and possibly as soon as the next road trip that begins next week. In the meantime, Knecht is back to getting up a ton of shots and trying not to give it all back on the other end of the floor. Bronny James has played 94 minutes this season. You’ve likely seen every second of them on your least favorite social media app.
DK on the run 💥 pic.twitter.com/oFCsDSZPmM
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 15, 2025
Tier 2: In a Good Place
6. Denver Nuggets (44-25)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: L vs. MIN, W vs. LAL, L vs. WAS, W at GS
Offensive rating: 119.1 (third)
Defensive rating: 114.7 (20th)
2024 draft class: C DaRon Holmes II (22), SG Trey Alexander (undrafted), C PJ Hall (undrafted), SF Spencer Jones (undrafted)
This wasn’t a great week for the Nikola Jokić MVP campaign. Denver was smoked at home by the same Minnesota Timberwolves squad that ended its season last year, needed a Jamal Murray game-winner to escape the short-handed Lakers and lost to the Washington Wizards despite another god-tier scoring game from Jokić. The Nuggets are only 4-4 this season when Jokić scores 40 points, including 0-2 against the Wizards. So of course, the Nuggets go into Golden State without Jokić, Murray or Most Improved Player candidate Christian Braun and win comfortably behind Aaron Gordon’s best game since being traded from Orlando. The only rookie to play Monday was Jones, a two-way contract who held up well defensively in the first extended run of his career. Holmes tore his Achilles tendon in summer league, Hall has played only 49 minutes all season on a two-way contract, and Alexander is a two-way contract who hasn’t played 10 minutes in a game since November.
7. Golden State Warriors (39-29)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: W vs. SAC, W vs. NY, L vs. DEN
Offensive rating: 113.7 (16th)
Defensive rating: 111.2 (eighth)
2024 draft class: C Quinten Post (52), PG Taran Armstrong (undrafted)
The Warriors got Jonathan Kuminga back this past week as they near full strength; the last piece is Brandin Podziemski. Golden State ran its win streak out to seven games before the Nuggets snapped it Monday. Post was promoted from a two-way contract in February and has emerged as a spot starter capable of making better than 40 percent of his 3s, but he’s likely not going to play as much when Podziemski and Kuminga play in their first game together since the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler. Armstrong was playing for the worst team in the NBL (Australia) before Golden State added him last month on a two-way contract.
8. New York Knicks (43-24)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: W at POR, L at GS, W vs. MIA
Offensive rating: 117.8 (fifth)
Defensive rating: 113.3 (14th)
2024 draft class: SF Pacôme Dadiet (25), PG Tyler Kolek (34), PF Anton Watson (54), SG Kevin McCullar Jr. (56), C Ariel Hukporti (58)
The Knicks continue to do what they do: Beat the teams they are supposed to, and come up short in big games. It took an overtime buzzer-beater from NBA minutes leader Mikal Bridges for the Knicks to escape Portland, while NBA minutes runner-up Josh Hart missed every shot he took in Golden State. Don’t expect any relief for those two players to come from New York’s draft class. None of Dadiet, Kolek, Watson, McCullar or Hukporti average 10 minutes per game. Dadiet has yet to play 20 minutes in a game. Kolek still doesn’t play even though Jalen Brunson is out with an ankle injury. Watson was drafted by Boston and never played there while on a two-way contract before being waived and put on a two-way with the Knicks. McCullar also is on a two-way contract and has yet to play for New York; he finally debuted in the G League on Jan. 31 after recovering from a knee bone bruise. Hukporti was promoted from a two-way contract in November, but he needed surgery to repair a torn meniscus last month.
Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, shown here defending Atlanta’s Clint Capela, have played major roles for Memphis. (Petre Thomas / Imagn Images)
9. Memphis Grizzlies (43-26)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W vs. UTA, L vs. CLE, W vs. MIA, L at SAC
Offensive rating: 117.7 (sixth)
Defensive rating: 112.1 (10th)
2024 draft class: C Zach Edey (9), SF Jaylen Wells (39), SG Cam Spencer (53), PG Zyon Pullin (undrafted)
The Grizzlies are starting to look like schedule merchants, which is fine until you are playing for your season. Memphis hasn’t beaten a team with a current winning record since Feb. 2 and has allowed at least 120 points 10 times since then. No good team relies more on rookies than Memphis, a team that starts two of them in lottery pick Edey and obscure second-rounder Wells. Edey is a superb offensive rebounder who does the things a 7-foot-4 player is supposed to do, but Memphis is getting cooked defensively with Edey on the floor lately. Wells has been used as a top wing defender while leading all rookies in 3s made, which might be enough for him to be a Rookie of the Year finalist. Spencer is a short shooting guard on a two-way contract who is starting to get run whenever Ja Morant, Luke Kennard or Scotty Pippen Jr. are out. Pullin had knee surgery and likely won’t be seen again after playing only three minutes on a two-way contract.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (38-29)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L at IND, W vs. LAL, W vs. IND, L vs. OKC
Offensive rating: 114.0 (14th)
Defensive rating: 112.1 (11th)
2024 draft class: C Tyler Smith (33)
The Bucks split the week with the Indiana Pacers, which was good enough to give them the regular-season series tiebreaker over their Central Division rival and potential first-round playoff opponent. Milwaukee also blew out a short-handed Lakers squad and got blown out by the Thunder on zero days’ rest. Typical week for the Bucks, who continue to matriculate through the season just hoping to be healthy. On that note, Milwaukee lost backup center Jericho Sims for the rest of the regular season because of thumb surgery. With Bobby Portis suspended until the final week of the season, it will be interesting to see if this is Smith’s opportunity to contribute. He has played 10 minutes in a game only once this season, and it was when the Bucks were blown out in Oklahoma City last month. In that game, Smith launched 10 3s but missed 11 of 15 shots overall. The only other healthy non-starter on Milwaukee’s roster taller than 6-6 is two-way contract Pete Nance.
11. Indiana Pacers (38-29)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: W vs. MIL, W at PHI, L at MIL, W at MIN
Offensive rating: 115.1 (eighth)
Defensive rating: 114.2 (16th)
2024 draft class: SG Johnny Furphy (35), C Enrique Freeman (50), PG RayJ Dennis (undrafted)
What a week for the Pacers. Sure, they lost Saturday in Milwaukee to surrender the season series. But Tyrese Haliburton beat the Bucks on a four-point play, then with Indiana in the middle of a stretch of five games in seven days and sitting four starters in Minnesota, Obi Toppin came through with his own left corner, game-winning 3. The only starter who was available in Minnesota was Andrew Nembhard, who got ejected in the third quarter while drawing a Flagrant 2 from Rudy Gobert. The Timberwolves selected none other than two-way contract rookie Freeman to shoot the free throws! He knocked them down, which proved critical when Indiana blew what was a 15-point lead and had to win the game in overtime. Even with Indiana depleted, Furphy didn’t play in Minnesota because of illness, and he has only played 271 minutes all season. Freeman has only played 139 minutes, and Dennis has only played 23 minutes after joining Indiana on a two-way contract in January.
the angle + the call 📻
Mark Boyle and Eddie Gill call Obi Toppin’s overtime game-winner in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/GCbc7QnyZP
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) March 18, 2025
12. Detroit Pistons (38-31)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: W vs. WAS, L vs. WAS, L vs. OKC, W at NO
Offensive rating: 113.8 (15th)
Defensive rating: 111.4 (ninth)
2024 draft class: SF Ronald Holland II (5), PF Bobi Klintman (37), PG Daniss Jenkins (undrafted), C Tolu Smith (undrafted)
A mark of many good teams is how they don’t need rookies to play major roles. Detroit’s turnaround this season has not been initiated by this draft class, but Holland gets credit for playing in every game for the Pistons as an athletic wing defender who averages more than 15 minutes. It will be tough to play Holland in the playoffs because of his 22 percent 3-point mark, but at the very least, he provides insurance for Ausar Thompson. Klintman has played only 17 minutes, Jenkins only 10 on a two-way contract, and Smith has yet to play for Detroit after signing a two-way contract in January.
Tier 3: The Bubble
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-30)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at DEN, W vs. ORL, W vs. UTA, L vs. IND
Offensive rating: 114.7 (10th)
Defensive rating: 110.7 (sixth)
2024 draft class: PG Rob Dillingham (8), SF Terrence Shannon Jr. (27), PG Tristen Newton (49), C Jesse Edwards (undrafted)
The last team the Utah Jazz beat was the Timberwolves on the last day of February. Minnesota went on to win its first eight games of March, with the highlight being a beatdown in Denver. But beating more than one team with a winning record during the streak proved to be too tall of a task, as they were unable to overcome the Obi Toppin show Monday. It makes Minnesota’s perilous position in the standings clear as day despite its stretch of strong play. None of the Wolves’ rookies played against the Pacers either (Jaylen Clark was drafted in 2023). Only one of Dillingham’s six 20-minute games have come since the All-Star break. Shannon had five double-digit scoring games in February but has scored only 16 points so far in March. Newton was claimed on waivers in January after being waived by Indiana but has played only eight minutes for Minnesota. Edwards has played only five minutes all season.
14. LA Clippers (38-30)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: L at NO, W at MIA, W at ATL, W vs. CHA
Offensive rating: 112.5 (18th)
Defensive rating: 109.3 (second)
2024 draft class: SG Cam Christie (46), SF Trentyn Flowers (undrafted)
You have to squint to see Clippers rookies in uniform; no team has played rookies less often than LA. Christie has played only 41 minutes for LA this season, and Flowers has played only 16. The Clippers were down quite badly for stretches of this season because of player unavailability, but they are still deep at the positions that Christie or Flowers play, and they certainly are not needed now that the Clippers are reaching full strength for the first time since the All-Star break.
15. Sacramento Kings (34-33)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: L at GS, L at PHO, W vs. MEM
Offensive rating: 115.7 (seventh)
Defensive rating: 114.7 (19th)
2024 draft class: PG Devin Carter (13), PF Isaac Jones (undrafted), SF Isaiah Crawford (undrafted)
Sacramento selected Carter in the lottery even though he needed shoulder surgery. He didn’t debut until January and has understandably struggled to find his footing on both ends of the floor. But interim coach Doug Christie seems ready to let Carter figure it out rather than lean on free agent addition Markelle Fultz, the first pick of the 2017 draft. Jones hasn’t played as much under Christie as he did with Mike Brown while on a two-way contract. Two-way contract Crawford happened to be active when Domantas Sabonis injured his ankle Monday against the Grizzlies, and Crawford was selected to shoot Sabonis’ free throws in the third quarter. That was the first time Crawford played before garbage time in his NBA career.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear
16. Atlanta Hawks (32-36)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: W vs. CHA, L vs. LAC, L at BRK
Offensive rating: 112.1 (19th)
Defensive rating: 114.5 (17th)
2024 draft class: SF Zaccharie Risacher (1)
I watched Risacher in person twice last week at Atlanta. He has a long way to go, but he has come a long way as well. I mentioned earlier this season that Risacher is simply not in a position to be your typical on-ball, creating No. 1 pick. But he has improved his scoring and efficiency for three months in a row and is up to 54.1 percent from the field in March. There are still more gains for Risacher to make, especially as a decision-maker, as he now has more turnovers than assists this season. But he’s a teenage wing playing meaningful games for the first time in the United States, and his head is in the right place.
Zaccharie Rishacher, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, has shown some improvement throughout the season. (Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)
17. Orlando Magic (32-37)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: W at NO, L at MIN, W at CLE
Offensive rating: 107.8 (28th)
Defensive rating: 109.3 (third)
2024 draft class: PF Tristan da Silva (18)
It’s been a rough season for the Magic in terms of player availability and trying to field a competent offense to go with their elite defense. But that defense is why they’re going to be a chore to play if they survive the Play-In Tournament, and they have some decent building blocks as well. One of those building blocks is da Silva, who started 34 of his 36 games with either Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner out and has missed a team-low four games all season. He struggles to score, making only 41.7 percent of his field goals, and averages less than 1.0 free-throw attempts per game. But da Silva has flashed 3-point range while shooting 86.4 percent from the free-throw line.
18. Chicago Bulls (29-39)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: W vs. BRK, L at HOU, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 112.0 (20th)
Defensive rating: 115.3 (23rd)
2024 draft class: PF Matas Buzelis (11), PF Emanuel Miller (undrafted), PG Jahmir Young (undrafted)
The Bulls have won five of their last six games after losing 11 of 16 before that stretch, and now they might host a Play-In game with how Miami is free-falling. Buzelis has had a relatively quiet rookie season and doesn’t do anything particularly well, but he has taken hold of a starting job in front of Patrick Williams since February. Anytime Buzelis’ athleticism results in production or he’s making his 3s is an exciting moment for a Chicago franchise bereft of them. Miller and Young were added on two-way contracts after Christmas, with both playing only two minutes each in a blowout loss to the Cavaliers earlier this month in their lone appearance for Chicago this season.
19. Phoenix Suns (32-37)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: L at HOU, W vs. SAC, L at LAL, W vs. TOR
Offensive rating: 115.0 (ninth)
Defensive rating: 116.3 (26th)
2024 draft class: SF Ryan Dunn (28), C Oso Ighodaro (40), PF Jalen Bridges (undrafted)
It’s been a wretched season in Phoenix, especially considering that the Suns are 30-26 when Kevin Durant plays. That’s still a winning percentage that would leave Phoenix outside of the top eight in the West, but it’s in the bottom five without any games left against the seven teams that have clinched losing records already this season. Phoenix has also followed up its last eight wins before Monday with losses. Dunn is back in the starting lineup, so we’ll see if that changes this week. The Suns haven’t been as bad defensively when Dunn is on the floor, but Dunn’s percentages are tough to overcome (42.7 percent field goals, 30.2 percent 3s, 48.4 percent free throws). Ighodaro has been buried behind Jusuf Nurkić, Nick Richards and Mason Plumlee this season, but Phoenix is 10-8 when Ighodaro plays at least 20 minutes. Bridges is on a two-way contract and has only played 25 minutes all season for Phoenix.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (30-39)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L vs. NY, W vs. TOR, W vs. WAS
Offensive rating: 110.9 (22nd)
Defensive rating: 114.2 (15th)
2024 draft class: C Donovan Clingan (7)
It must have felt like summer league out there Monday with Clingan and Alex Sarr starting against each other. Portland is now 12-13 when Clingan starts this season, and he’s a real difference-maker defensively at 7-2, 280 pounds. Clingan is not nearly as impactful offensively, but it’s not like he’s getting real run out there with plus playmakers. Portland is still within a stone’s throw of the Play-In, and it got another helpful defender in Matisse Thybulle back in the lineup this past week.
21. San Antonio Spurs (28-39)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: W vs. DAL, L vs. CHA, W vs. NO, L at LAL
Offensive rating: 113.7 (17th)
Defensive rating: 116.3 (25th)
2024 draft class: SG Stephon Castle (4), PF Harrison Ingram (48), PF Riley Minix (undrafted)
San Antonio still hasn’t won back-to-back games since Jan. 3, and now De’Aaron Fox (pinkie surgery on shooting hand) joins Victor Wembanyama on the season-ending injured reserve. That will give Castle a runway to put up serious volume for the rest of the season. Castle already leads all rookies in total points and is second only to Jared McCain in points per game; McCain’s season ended in December. Castle is up to 20.6 points per game in March, showing an ability to get to the free-throw line at will while also finding his teammates. Castle’s shooting is poor (28.6 percent 3s, 71.8 percent free throws), and he doesn’t make many plays defensively, but his combination of size (6-6, 215 pounds) and burst is notable. He’s the top reason to watch San Antonio for the rest of the season. Ingram is on a two-way contract and has played only 17 minutes for San Antonio, while two-way contract Minix tore his labrum in January, ending his season after only one game in November.
22. Dallas Mavericks (33-36)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: L at SA, L at HOU, L vs. PHI
Offensive rating: 114.2 (13th)
Defensive rating: 114.8 (22nd)
2024 draft class: 📭
Twenty-four players have played for the Mavericks this season, including former face of the franchise Luka Dončić and Texas Legends assignee Anthony Davis. None of them were members of the 2024 draft class. They’re the only team in the league this season without a player on the roster from this class. Their 2024 first-round pick was shipped out in 2019 to help acquire Kristaps Porziņģis, with whom they later attached a 2022 second-round pick to trade to Washington for Dāvis Bertāns and Spencer Dinwiddie. So at least Dinwiddie is still in Dallas.
23. Miami Heat (29-39)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L vs. LAC, L vs. BOS, L at MEM, L at NY
Offensive rating: 110.9 (23rd)
Defensive rating: 112.7 (12th)
2024 draft class: C Kel’el Ware (15), SF Pelle Larsson (44), PF Keshad Johnson (undrafted), PG Isaiah Stevens (undrafted)
This is an atrocious basketball team, and while trading Jimmy Butler is more understandable than trading Dončić, Andrew Wiggins is to Miami what Anthony Davis is to Dallas. The Heat can’t make anything work. They tried starting rookie Ware next to Bam Adebayo, but the Heat were 3-11 with those two starting together and had to extinguish that arrangement. Larsson has averaged 13 minutes per game and held up defensively, but he hasn’t shot well enough to help this woeful offense. Johnson was promoted in December from a two-way contract but has played only 57 minutes this season. Stevens took the two-way contract that Johnson vacated, but he hasn’t appeared in a game for Miami yet.
24. Toronto Raptors (24-45)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: W vs. PHI, W at UTA, L at POR, L at PHO
Offensive rating: 109.8 (26th)
Defensive rating: 114.8 (21st)
2024 draft class: SG Ja’Kobe Walter (19), PF Jonathan Mogbo (31), PG Jamal Shead (45), C Ulrich Chomche (57), SF Jamison Battle (undrafted)
It’s been a season full of rookie contributions for the Raptors despite their 2024 lottery pick being routed to San Antonio for the right to acquire Jakob Poeltl at the 2023 trade deadline. Walter has missed a lot of games because of injury, but he has upside as a shooter. Mogbo isn’t able to help on offense right now, but he has been used up and down the frontcourt. Shead has the reputation of a standout defender, but his size (6-1) is going to be a real challenge. Chomche only played 32 minutes on a two-way contract before suffering a season-ending MCL tear. Battle earned a two-way contract in camp, then a standard contract in February while making 40.7 percent from 3.
25. Brooklyn Nets (23-45)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L at CLE, L at CHI, L vs. BOS, W vs. ATL
Offensive rating: 109.3 (27th)
Defensive rating: 115.5 (24th)
2024 draft class: PG Reece Beekman (undrafted)
The Nets didn’t have a single selection in the 2024 draft, and they had to waive Cui Yongxi after the undrafted rookie tore his ACL in December while playing for Long Island. Beekman went undrafted in 2024 and began the season on a two-way contract with the Warriors before being included in a tank trade that saw the Warriors acquire Dennis Schröder and Brooklyn acquire the contract of DeAnthony Melton, who is also recovering from ACL surgery. Beekman has the reputation of being a strong defender, but he can’t put the ball in the basket from anywhere (30.3 percent field goals, 19.4 percent 3s, 54.5 percent free throws in 329 minutes with the Nets).
Tier 5: Basement Floor
26. Philadelphia 76ers (23-45)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L at TOR, L vs. IND, W at DAL, L at HOU
Offensive rating: 111.6 (21st)
Defensive rating: 116.6 (27th)
2024 draft class: SG Jared McCain (16), C Adem Bona (41), PF Justin Edwards (undrafted)
The Sixers were supposed to take the next step this season toward breaking the seal on a conference finals appearance for the first time since 2001. Instead, Joel Embiid and Paul George are both done for the season before spring, while Tyrese Maxey seems likely to be right around the corner for an early start to the offseason. They weren’t alone. McCain got off to a great start with eight 20-point games, but his season ended in December after surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Before a sprained ankle, Bona had a four-game stretch in which he averaged 13.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks in 27.9 minutes. Edwards was another marvelous find, earning a promotion from a two-way contract in February while shooting 34.8 percent from 3.
27. Washington Wizards (15-52)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L at DET, W at DET, W at DEN, L at POR
Offensive rating: 106.1 (30th)
Defensive rating: 117.6 (28th)
2024 draft class: C Alex Sarr (2), PG Bub Carrington (14), SG AJ Johnson (23), SF Kyshawn George (24)
The Wizards have split their seven-game road trip so far, with the last game coming in Utah on Wednesday in what should be the tank that ends all tanks! Except … Washington has played much better over the last six weeks. Entering February, the Wizards were 6-41. Since then, they have won seven games away from Washington. They have four first-round picks from last year’s draft on the team; no team has used rookies more as a result. Sarr has deeply troubling shooting percentages (39.3 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from 3, 65.3 percent free throws), but he shot well enough to tag Denver with a career-best 34 points while adding five assists. He’s 19 and skilled, but he needs some Flintstones vitamins. Carrington is second among all rookies in assists, but like Sarr, he doesn’t make 40 percent of his shots. Johnson was included in the trade with Milwaukee that sent Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks for Khris Middleton, and he’s already played 62 more minutes with the Wizards than he did with the Bucks. He’s also under 40 percent from the field in Washington. George has the worst field goal percentage of all the rookies at 36.9 percent, though only Jordan Poole and Corey Kispert make more 3s per game than George.
Yves Missi has been one of the few bright spots for the Pelicans. (Matthew Hinton / Imagn Images)
28. New Orleans Pelicans (18-51)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: W vs. LAC, L vs. ORL, L at SA, L vs. DET
Offensive rating: 110.1 (25th)
Defensive rating: 118.8 (30th)
2024 draft class: C Yves Missi (21), SG Antonio Reeves (47), SF Keion Brooks Jr. (undrafted)
When training camp started, there was little thought to Missi being the starting center for a Pelicans team that was supposed to dole out minutes for Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, to go with Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado. And we all know how those plans went. The silver lining of the season was the emergence of Missi as a starting center, as he has averaged 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. He’s not much of a scorer, but he’s a building block as a 20-year-old big. Reeves has made 35.8 percent from 3 in limited minutes. Brooks earned a two-way contract in January and has played 10 minutes for New Orleans.
29. Charlotte Hornets (17-50)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L at ATL, W at SA, L at LAC
Offensive rating: 107.1 (29th)
Defensive rating: 114.6 (18th)
2024 draft class: PF Tidjane Salaün (6), PG KJ Simpson (42)
The Hornets are really bad, but Salaün has been spending more time in Greensboro than Charlotte lately. Salaün doesn’t turn 20 until August, and he could use all the seasoning he can get. He also happens to play the same position as Miles Bridges, the only Hornet capable of playing 30 minutes without missing 20 games at some point. But Wendell Moore Jr. is playing rotation minutes while Salaün works in the G League, which feels backward at this point of the season. Salaün has scored only 252 points on 254 shots, which outlines his struggles offensively. Simpson is on a two-way contract and has also been stashed in the G League this month while 26-year-old 10-day contract Marcus Garrett gets run; Simpson is athletic, but in 20.4 minutes per game, he has made only 33.5 percent from the field and 21.6 percent from 3.
30. Utah Jazz (15-54)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L at MEM, L vs. TOR, L at MIN, L vs. CHI
Offensive rating: 110.6 (24th)
Defensive rating: 118.1 (29th)
2024 draft class: SF Cody Williams (10), PG Isaiah Collier (29), C Kyle Filipowski (32)
Let it be known the Jazz were finally fined for tanking to the point where they were shamed into putting Lauri Markkanen back on the floor. They have a worse record now than a team with a point differential of minus-11.8! Do you know how deep in the bunker you have to be to accomplish that? So let’s talk about Utah’s rookies, who are each contributing to the tank in their own ways. Williams was a top-10 pick, and the Jazz are praying he reaches his brother Jalen’s level at some point; Cody Williams has more field goal attempts than points this season. Collier is leading all rookies in assists by a mile, but he’s also leading them by turnovers as well, and he can’t shoot. Filipowski has been fine as a second-round pick, but he’s unlikely to ever be an effective rim protector. You can understand how the Jazz need their next blue-chip talent, as the cupboard is bare in that department as far as their young players are concerned, and Markkanen doesn’t really fit the bill there either.
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(Top photo of Amen Thompson: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
