NBA Power Rankings: Where Does Each Team Stand Pre-Training Camp?

It's closer than you think. In a little over a month, the NBA re-opens for on-court business with the start of training camp. A few weeks from there, the regular season tips off, and the madness officially begins.

While we have yet to see any in-game evidence of how the league's power structure will take shape, the offseason has provided us with the tools necessary to provide ourselves with a complete outlook.

A majority of the Association's 30 teams have been quite busy this summer, retooling rosters, restructuring personnel and reviewing current blueprints.

So, while hardly any basketball is played during the summer, the off-court dealings that have taken place play a significant role in every team's standing heading into the start of next season.

Simply put, the locker room doors may be closed, the arenas may be empty and the players may still be on vacation, but the chase for a championship has already begun.

30. Charlotte Bobcats

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 7-59

The Bobcats made some significant additions this summer, but right now, that doesn't change anything.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist gives Charlotte a face to sell to people, but the team's roster hardly screams promising at this point.

Despite the additions of Brendan Haywood, Ben Gordon and Ramon Sessions, the Bobcats remain a wildly unbalanced team in flux; they've got plenty of variety, but no clear direction.

So, while plenty of other teams have emerged from the offseason a little worse for wear, Charlotte was worse off to begin with. No single move the franchise has made serves as legitimate evidence that the Bobcats are navigating the path to success.

As such, heading into training camp, last season's most horrific team remains at the bottom of the league's barrel until it—or another franchise—proves otherwise.

29. Houston Rockets

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 34-32

Oh, how the promising have fallen.

After just missing the cut for the postseason, the Rockets have embarked on an unprecedented free fall.

Shortly after decimating their roster in hopes of landing Dwight Howard, Houston went on a spending spree of epically unjustified proportions.

The result? Overpaying the likes of the unproven Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin.

To be fair, though, such players do fit the Rockets' current motif; Houston's roster is nearly void of proven ability, yet lined with plenty of uncertainty.

People can play the "youth movement" or cap space cards all they want. The fact is, the Rockets—courtesy of a docket laden with ambiguity—will enter training camp on an almost level playing field with the Bobcats.

If you're keeping score at home, that's not a good field to be playing on.

28. Orlando Magic

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 37-29

After the offseason the Magic had, they must thank their lucky stars for the Bobcats and Rockets' existence.

Dwight Howard and the Orlando organization held us hostage for the better part of 18 months, forcing us to wait with bated breath and perpetual scowls for a solution to the saga to present itself.

After a year-and-a-half of waiting, the epic conclusion was, well, anything but epic.

The Magic were never going to come out bona fide winners of this soap opera, but at the very least, they could have avoided getting their legs ripped out from under them.

Orlando didn't receive a star-caliber player in return for Howard's services and are still left with a bounty of overpaid players, including the self-inflicted wound that is Jameer Nelson's new contract.

The Magic's saving grace?

They've assembled a team with plenty of veterans, which should ensure they rattle off more victories than Houston or Charlotte.

I'm just not sure how much solace there is to be found in that reality, though.

27. Detroit Pistons

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 25-41

It's all about the future in Detroit.

In terms of immediacy, the Pistons have little to look forward to. While they have assembled a promising low-post tandem in Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, the duo won't begin to pay serious dividends for at least a couple of years.

That said, Detroit's stockpile of young talent will make it an exciting team to watch and a formidable opponent on any given night. Ridding the franchise of Ben Gordon's illustrious contract has also set the Pistons up nicely for next summer's free-agency bash.

Unfortunately, though, that doesn't do the team a whole lot of good now, leaving the Pistons to endure the present, a necessary sacrifice if they wish to improve their future outlook.

26. Sacramento Kings

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 22-44

Things are a mess in Sacramento.

Though the Kings, much like the Pistons, have an exciting, young low-post core, their structure on the perimeter is absolutely chaotic.

Sacramento has created an unnecessary logjam in the backcourt and continues to make headlines in its search for a new location. Factor in that hardly any of its pieces seem to complement each other, and you have a recipe for another year's worth of disasters.

Don't get me wrong—the Kings have some promising young pieces, but as we saw last year, sometimes that's not everything.

Considering Sacramento has done little to revamp its roster, it should come as no surprise when the franchise continues its free fall heading into next season.

25. Cleveland Cavaliers

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 21-45

The Cavaliers should consider this a gift.

Outside of reaching for Dion Waiters and landing Tyler Zeller, Cleveland didn't improve its immediate outlook much.

Kyrie Irving is on the cusp of superstardom, but he's in need of a supporting cast that consists of more than just promising prospects; he needs proven performers.

Until the Cavs provide Irving with the necessary experience he needs to thrive—and help the team thrive—they're going to continue to be left out of the playoff picture.

24. Washington Wizards

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 20-46

The Wizards are better than last year—just not playoff-worthy yet.

Bradley Beal has finally given John Wall the fast-paced running mate he needs, and the additions of Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza will help Washington's cause as well, but not by leaps and bounds.

Not only are both Nene and Okafor injury risks, but the Wizards roster is piled high with unproven athletes like Jordan Crawford and Jan Vesely.

While there's a lot of promise to be found in this locker room, there are still too many unanswered questions, unresolved issues and potential pitfalls to believe this is the year Washington is postseason-bound.

Maybe next year.

23. Portland Trail Blazers

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 28-38

You want to believe in the Blazers, but after last year's implosion, you just can't. Not completely, anyway.

Though Portland had a strong draft, coming out the other side with a future star in Damian Lillard and a capable big in Meyers Leonard, the team's depth chart remains underwhelming.

Not only will both rookies likely be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, but LaMarcus Aldridge will be coming back from a right hip injury, and despite having thrown tens of millions of dollars in his direction, the Blazers still don't know exactly what they have in Nicolas Batum.

Factor in an underwhelming string of bench players, and Portland seems destined to finish well below the .500 mark once again.

For a team that was considered a title contender only a year ago, that's more than tragic.

22. New Orleans Hornets

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 21-45

Times are a-changing in New Orleans.

Anthony Davis leads a completely revamped Hornets roster into training camp, and all indications are this team will become a serious player. Soon.

Re-signing Eric Gordon gives New Orleans a current star to carry the scoring load, and Ryan Anderson's addition paves the way for a dynamic attack on that end of the ball as well.

Both Davis and Austin Rivers will also be bright spots for the Hornets next season, yet their inexperience coupled with their prominent roles all but ensures New Orleans won't be making a playoff splash this year.

That said, sometimes knowing the team is headed in the right direction is worth more, and that's the case here, as the Hornets are a drastically improved squad compared to last year.

While the playoffs are not in their immediate future, reaching relevancy is.

21. Toronto Raptors

2011-2012 Regular-Season Record: 23-43

Even after missing out on Steve Nash, the Raptors were able to significantly improve their roster.

Kyle Lowry was acquired for next to nothing, Landry Fields—while overpaid—gives Toronto a two-way workhorse, Jonas Valanciunas' arrival is already a highly-touted occurrence and the drafting of Terrence Ross adds ever-valuable versatility to the fold.

But there's still plenty of work to be done.

Not only are the Raptors the owners of an excessive number of point guards, but they are tasked with establishing chemistry between their new faces and returnees.

While this offseason marked a step in the right direction for the Toronto franchise, the team won't be reaping the benefits until a couple years down the road.

20. Phoenix Suns

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 33-33

No Steve Nash, no problem. Almost.

Phoenix has handled Nash's departure admirably, scooping up two promising point guards in Goran Dragic and Kendall Marshall. They also added some substantial—and much-needed—depth in Luis Scola and Michael Beasley; those are two acquisitions that will prove huge down the road.

As difficult as it is to picture the Suns surviving without Nash, their newly-formed cast of role players should be enough for them to play close to .500 basketball. Look for them to employ the same type of selfless and star-less dynamic the Nuggets do, a concept that will certainly help their cause.

No, the playoffs aren't in its immediate future, but Phoenix will not be completely lost without Nash; this is a team with hope for the future.

After incurring the type of loss the Suns did this summer, this is about as good a position as they could be in.

19. Golden State Warriors

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 23-43

For Golden State, it's all about health.

Will Stephen Curry's ankles ever fully heal? Can Andrew Bogut remain healthy enough to make a daily impact? Could Richard Jefferson's knees allow him to recapture some of his old swagger?

It's also about chemistry.

Can Jarrett Jack effectively direct Golden State's offense? Will Harrison Barnes be able to withstand the pressure of assuming a prominent role right out of the gate? Can Klay Thompson duplicate his summer league performance?

That's certainly a lot of questions, but they exist because the Warriors have taken a lot of risks. And you know what? I love that, because they have the potential to pay huge dividends.

Just not this year, not in the form of a playoff berth anyway.

18. Milwaukee Bucks

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 31-35

Welcome to Milwaukee, the land of fringe playoff teams.

Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings have the potential to become one of the most formidable backcourt pairings in the league. But they also have the potential to implode.

That said, I'm a believer. They play similar styles of basketball, but that includes fantastic off-ball movement, meaning they should be able to find a way to capitalize on each other's presence.

In short, they're not the problem—the Bucks' interior attack is.

I get how versatile and effective Ersan Ilyasova can be, but Milwaukee—even with Drew Gooden and Samuel Dalembert—lacks that prolific presence inside. The team's bench is also nothing to write home about.

Maybe John Henson will prove to be that prolific presence. Maybe he'll provide a spark off the bench. Maybe, just maybe, he can help push the Bucks over the postseason hump.

Just not this year.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 26-40

The Timberwolves may have gotten better this offseason. We can't know for sure right now.

That's because they made a bounty of questionable moves.

Signing both Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko was intriguing, and it has the potential to transform Minnesota into a playoff contender. But it also runs the risk of backfiring. Badly.

It's not so much the money—though Kirilenko is overpaid—as it is the role either player will be asked to assume.

Both Kirilenko and Roy are a year removed from the NBA, and it's asking a lot for them to make comebacks without having missed a beat, especially Roy. If he or Kirilenko doesn't perform up to snuff, Kevin Love's scowl is bound to make a comeback of its own.

Yes, Ricky Rubio should be healthy, and yes, Love is officially a superstar, but while it takes two to tango, it takes more than two to lead a Western Conference playoff charge.

Right now, we can't be sure if the Timberwolves have more than two to lead such an endeavor.

16. Atlanta Hawks

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 40-26

I love that the Hawks are Josh Smith's team now, and all of Atlanta will come to feel the same way.

Joe Johnson's scoring prowess will be missed, but that's what Lou Williams and Kyle Korver are for—to minimize that feeling.

Alongside the ever-improving talents of Jeff Teague, minimize it they will. Even Devin Harris—at his best—adds a two-way dynamic that should keep the Hawks backcourt thriving.

There's always Al Horford to consider as well. He's a big man on the rise and a lock to contend for a spot on this year's All-Star team, health permitting.

Oh, and let's not forget about the explosive two-way talents of Smith, who is the fuel to Atlanta's fire, which will be burning brighter than anyone could have imagined of a team that just traded away a superstar.

15. Utah Jazz

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 36-30

People continue to underestimate the Jazz.

Not only does Utah boast the deepest low-post quartet of any NBA team, it significantly strengthened its perimeter attack this offseason as well.

Mo Williams is the high-octane scorer the Jazz's backcourt was missing, while Randy Foye brings a versatile stopgap into the fold—one who can put points up in bunches, by the way.

Even Marvin Williams' acquisition was huge. He hardly thrived in Atlanta but should flourish with the extra playing time he is bound to receive in Utah.

No, the Jazz aren't title contenders, but they're not a lottery team either; they'll see the light of the playoffs again next season.

14. Chicago Bulls

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 50-16

It's not going to be a pleasant year in Chicago.

Though making the playoffs is never a bad thing, a postseason berth at a significantly lower seed does make it bittersweet.

That's what the Bulls are facing.

Not only is Derrick Rose set to miss half the season, he's bound to be far from his explosive self when he actually makes his return.

If we learned anything this past spring, the Bulls cannot depend upon Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer to all remain both healthy and consistent enough to lead this team to excessive prominence.

Couple that reality with Chicago's lackluster display in free agency, and you now have a former championship contender turned mediocre performer.

While this year will not be considered a lost season, it will be one to forget by the Bulls' standards.

13. Dallas Mavericks

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 36-30

Many tend to believe the Mavericks are screwed next season, but I steadfastly disagree.

Dirk Nowitzki isn't retiring now, and despite losing Jason Kidd and Jason Terry to free agency, Dallas plugged the holes with more-than-capable athletes.

In fact, while their playoff seeding is unlikely to change, this will actually prove to be a better Mavericks team than last year. Not only are O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison younger and faster than the old-timers they're replacing, but Chris Kaman is an instant upgrade at center.

Factor in the continuously dominant play of Nowitzki and role players like Vince Carter and Shawn Marion, and you have, at the very least, a mid-level playoff team.

Maybe even better.

12. Philadelphia 76ers

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 35-31

The 76ers are not a top-four team in the Eastern Conference.

Andrew Bynum's acquisition certainly makes them worlds better, but there are too many other blanks to fill in right now.

Jrue Holiday is a great scorer, but his playmaking abilities are subpar. Evan Turner, in fact, is probably the team's best option to run the offense, which isn't saying much.

While guys like Thaddeus Young, Nick Young, Dorell Wright and Jason Richardson are solid contributors, there's still something separating Philadelphia from the league's elite.

Is that something Bynum's inexperience as "The Man"? Perhaps, but the overkill of wings and absence of a true point guard aren't helping the Sixers' case either. 

Philadelphia will undoubtedly make the playoffs next season, but it needs at least another year to work out the kinks and establish some legitimate chemistry before it's ready to seriously contend for a title.

11. Brooklyn Nets

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 22-44

Expect the Nets to make some noise next season, just not Heat- or Laker-esque noise.

Deron Williams leads a retooled team into Brooklyn, one that is guaranteed to double its win total from last season. But a new arena is not all the team will be getting used to.

While Joe Johnson's pickup—finances aside—was a great move for Brooklyn, he still needs time to develop some chemistry with his point guard. The same can be said for Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez, who have all only seen limited action next to Williams.

There's no denying the Nets improved by leaps and bounds this summer, but with that improvement came a plethora of new faces.

Those new faces will need time to adjust to one another before challenging teams like the Heat for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

10. New York Knicks

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 36-30

It's all going to work out for the Knicks next season. To an extent.

Much like the Nets, the Knicks added some serious depth to their docket this summer. But unlike the Nets, their roster has maintained a semblance of familiarity—in a good way.

While Raymond Felton may not be as intriguing an option at point guard, he excels within the pick-and-roll and is familiar with Amar'e Stoudemire's offensive tendencies. That reality is key moving forward as both players attempt to resurrect their respective careers.

Then there's also Carmelo Anthony, who was on fire throughout the Olympics, and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Tyson Chandler to consider; they're two-thirds of one of the best front lines in the NBA.

New York still has plenty of pieces to fit into its puzzle, but the puzzle itself is finally beginning to take shape. With so much riding on this season, it's hard not to imagine Anthony and Stoudemire coming to an offensive understanding.

Simply put, despite a questionable offseason that saw the Knicks get plenty older, this team is the real deal.

Miami real? No, not yet. But it's a start.

9. Los Angeles Clippers

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 40-26

To answer your question, no, I'm not kidding.

The Clippers are a powerhouse, but they're one of the most underwhelming and unbalanced powerhouses in the league.

Chris Paul is an absolute mastermind on either end of the floor, but his latest injury isn't helping matters. While he should be ready for the season, there's no telling how well his surgically repaired thumb will hold up.

Although Blake Griffin is a star in his own right, he has yet to add some efficient post moves or shot-creating tactics to his arsenal. Yet if you think he's limited offensively, take a look at DeAndre Jordan. Thirty seconds of tape will show you he forces the Clippers to play a man down on offense far too often.

Take into account what will prove to be the counterproductive signing of Jamal Crawford and the deteriorating abilities of Caron Butler, and you have a one-dimensional super team that isn't all that super.

Unless Grant Hill and Chauncey Billups return to All-Star form, this team won't break the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

8. Indiana Pacers

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 42-24

Oh, Indiana.

There are bound to be plenty of readers uncomfortable with the Pacers' current placement, and to those people I say, "Why?"

Not only did Indiana fail to improve its roster, but it arguably got worse.

D.J. Augustin's addition remains understated, because he is going to work wonders with the second unit, but George Hill's emergence as the team's primary playmaker sets the Pacers back quite a bit.

Despite being a fundamentally sound two-way combo guard, Hill is no facilitator. He's a shoot-first, pass-later athlete who's much better suited as a spark plug off the bench or a full-time shooting guard.

Yet the Pacers gave him $40 million to do what he isn't fit to do.

Mark my words—that's going to be their primary downfall. The stagnant development of Roy Hibbert isn't going to help either.

While the Pacers are poised for a commendable top-four finish, they're once again destined to fall short of legitimate title contender status.

7. Memphis Grizzlies

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 41-25

It's time to stop underestimating the Grizzlies.

While they essentially imploded in the first round of the playoffs last spring, the fact the series was theirs to lose is actually encouraging. The fact that they lost it is not.

That said, Jerryd Bayless' presence changes everything for this team.

Yes, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol will reach new levels of familiarity this year, but it's the backup point guard who will prove to be the motivating factor behind the Grizzlies' surge.

No longer will Memphis merely look to whomever has the ball for offensive guidance when Mike Conley is on the bench. Bayless isn't a terrific playmaker, but he's as good a backup as there is in this league and easily better than some of the starters.

Even without O.J. Mayo's up-and-down accolades, the Grizzlies have positioned themselves to hang with the top teams in the talent-heavy Western Conference.

Why would we want to underestimate or overlook a team like that?

6. Boston Celtics

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 39-27

Ray Allen is gone, yet the Celtics are in a much better position this year than they were last season.

Though the additions of Jason Terry and Courtney Lee are more than enough to help Boston overcome Allen's absence, it's Rajon Rondo who really sets the Celtics apart.

This is going to be the year Boston officially hands the reins of the team to Rondo. Two-thirds of the Big Three remain, but make no mistake, this is Rondo's team now.

As such, expect to witness a more controlled and calculated Rondo next season, one who is conscious of his turnovers and makes a concerted effort to improve his mid- to long-range game.

Combine Rondo's destiny with the ever-consistent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, along with the up-and-coming Avery Bradley, and you have a suddenly deep Celtics team poised to re-assume their place near the top of the Eastern Conference.

5. Denver Nuggets

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 38-28

Yes, it happens that fast.

Andre Iguodala's presence has transformed the Nuggets in more ways than one.

Not only does Denver now have a household name in its possession, but the team is officially a selfless, versatile machine.

At first glance, the Nuggets may seem to have an abundance of wings, a reality that could prove counterproductive or even detrimental. But if you look closer, you'll able to see that they're also laden with playmakers and matchup headaches that will allow them to employ a wide variety of athletic and unconventionally effective lineups.

Denver is a team that can match up with anyone. It has players on the rise in Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, among others, and experienced leaders in Iguodala and Andre Miller, who will help the team navigate the waters of championship contention.

That's officially the territory the Nuggets have entered.

4. San Antonio Spurs

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 50-16

The Spurs are old and hardly tweaked their roster at all, but after last year, we know better than to count them out.

San Antonio has always been—and remains—the pillar of consistency. The team won't blow you away with its athleticism, but it will cut you deep with its penchant for execution.

From Tony Parker to Tim Duncan, from Manu Ginobili to Danny Green, from top to bottom, the Spurs are a calculated team, and each member prides himself on knowing his role, embracing it and maximizing its potential.

As a collective, San Antonio's ball movement is unwavering, its defense impenetrable and its chemistry unstoppable. As a result, there's no telling what this string of familiar faces is truly capable of.

But we do know what they're not capable of—falling out of the championship equation.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 41-25

Somewhere in the new CBA there is a provision that states the newly signed pact is designed to assist small-market teams...and the Lakers.

Steve Nash and Dwight Howard haven't just ensured Los Angeles' return to prominence, but also immediately placed the team amongst the ranks of championship favorites. The organization's newly acquired depth, courtesy of Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks, only solidifies that status further.

While there are some questions surrounding Howard's health and Kobe Bryant's ability to co-exist with a ball-dominating point guard, such quandaries will ultimately prove futile in an attempt to derail the Lakers' newfound dynamic.

The truth is, this team is too talented to fail, its pieces too prolific to fall flat. They're going to find a way to work together, and while that may take some time, it won't be long until the Lakers are picking-and-rolling their way to devastation.

Seemingly overnight, everything has changed in Tinseltown.

For the better of the Lakers, at the expense of the rest of the league.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 47-19

Like the Spurs, the Thunder didn't make many changes or additions to their roster this summer. Then again, they didn't have to.

Despite falling in underwhelming fashion in the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City has a good thing going. Its core is as exceptionally young as it is talented, and the team has showed the ability to drastically improve from year to year.

It also doesn't hurt that at the Thunder's very core are four superstars on the rise who play off one another like it is second nature. You simply cannot buy that type of chemistry.

And the Thunder didn't—they drafted it.

While teams like the Lakers and Nuggets have captured headlines with their roster-altering moves, Kevin Durant and company have remained near the top of the league by exuding patience and a willingness to grow as a unit.

It is those very attributes that will continue to carry the Thunder closer to a championship next season.

1. Miami Heat

2011-12 Regular-Season Record: 46-20

Somehow, some way, the Heat have managed to build on a championship-obtaining performance before even stepping out on the hardwood to defend their title.

Miami was already a cohesive machine, but it was able to add two complementary pieces in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis who will only help it in its title defense.

There aren't any teams that can top that heading into training camp, not the new-look Lakers, nor the just as prolific Thunder.

Simply put, some franchises have improved, and drastically done so, but the Heat are one of them, and heading into next season they're the league's most talented team until another collective can prove otherwise.

If another team can even prove otherwise.

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