Predicting Every NBA Team's Most Entertaining Lineup for 2014-15 Season
As teams use their training camps to settle on a starting lineup for the 2014-15 season, the primary deciding factor is which set of personnel is likely to translate into the most wins.
It's not just a matter of individual talent. It's also a question of chemistry, fit and experience. It's as much about which group works as which players "deserve" to be there. This is one of the most important decisions a head coach makes prior to the start of the regular season.
Sure, said coach can always change his mind—but this decision sets a tone and goes a long way toward establishing a pecking order.
Without a close look at what transpires during training camps, however, we're already free to make a far less important decision.
Which lineups promise to be the most entertaining?
Based on a rough projection of which five players are most likely to grab and hold fans' attention, here's a look at the unit each team should deploy if and when entertainment value is its bottom line. It's not exactly an objective criterion, so feel completely free to disagree with these lineups in the comment section.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
The Lineup: Jeff Teague, Kent Bazemore, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, Al Horford
The Atlanta Hawks may not be the first team that comes to mind when pondering exciting lineups, but they're still the first team alphabetically.
Exciting or not, the Hawks are better than advertised. After sneaking into the 2013-14 playoffs with 38 wins, the organization is counting on the return of big man Al Horford to take things to another level. Having played just 29 games a season ago due to injury, the 28-year-old will instantly make the Hawks more competitive.
The other big additions come at the shooting guard spot, where Thabo Sefolosha and Kent Bazemore will compete for playing time.
Sefolosha may claim the starting job with his experience and defensive pedigree, but Bazemore could bring a jolt of life when he comes in the game. The 25-year-old made the most of his increased minutes with the Los Angeles Lakers in late February and March. In the 15 games that he started, Bazemore averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest.
Entering just his third season, Bazemore's dynamic playmaking ability could add something special to Atlanta's veteran core.
Add Paul Millsap's inside-outside scoring ability, Kyle Korver's perimeter shooting and Jeff Teague's game management, and this isn't a bad combination. Whether it entertains anymore is another matter altogether.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
The Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Marcus Smart, Marcus Thornton, Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger
The Boston Celtics' decision to select a point guard (Marcus Smart) with the sixth overall pick might have made you wonder just how much longer the organization expects four-time All-Star—and 2015 free agent—Rajon Rondo to stick around.
According to the Celtics themselves, however, the two floor generals aren't mutually exclusive.
"I don't think there's any doubt, I think they can play together," head coach Brad Stevens told reporters in June. "I think it will be great for Marcus to have a guy like Rondo to look up to, to learn from. Not many guys get that opportunity, especially early on in the draft like this."
And watching them play together would be interesting at the very least. Though it makes for a small backcourt, both Rondo and Smart are two-way players who should maintain a stiff perimeter defense.
While going small, the Celtics might as well spread the floor by adding a third guard (Marcus Thornton) and tweener forward Jeff Green to the mix.
Leave the paint to burly big man Jared Sullinger, and Stevens has himself a lineup that could score some serious points from all over the floor.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
The Lineup: Deron Williams, Jarrett Jack, Joe Johnson, Mason Plumlee, Brook Lopez
Take a seat, Kevin Garnett. After spending his summer absorbing Team USA's collective awesomeness at the FIBA World Cup in Spain, big man Mason Plumlee is ready to adopt a more prominent role in his second season out of Duke.
As Bleacher Report's Jim Cavan suggested in September, "Rubbing shoulders with the likes of [Team USA teammates] DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond, Anthony Davis and Kenneth Faried is bound to yield some helpful dividends as well."
Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez remain Brooklyn's three best players, so they'll be on the floor more often than not.
The X-factor here is nine-year veteran Jarrett Jack, who replaces Shaun Livingston as the Nets' "other" point guard. It remains to be seen how new head coach Lionel Hollins will juggle the rotation, but Livingston spent major minutes alongside Williams last season—ultimately starting 54 games as a shooting guard who could pitch in with plenty of ball-handling and passing.
Expect Jack to do the same this season, whether he starts or not.
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
The Lineup: Kemba Walker, Lance Stephenson, Gerald Henderson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Al Jefferson
Add Lance Stephenson to any team, and its entertainment potential escalates immediately. The ear-blowing, trash-talking swingman may now be better known for his antics than his production, but the Hornets are primarily interested in the latter—and for good reason.
The 24-year-old knows how to make things happen.
His playmaking ability would be especially valuable alongside an uptempo lineup that includes point guard Kemba Walker and swingmen Gerald Henderson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Though MKG typically plays the small forward position, his defense and rebounding ability should allow him to occasionally slide over to the 4 spot when Charlotte wants to get out and run.
With center Al Jefferson holding his own in the post, the Hornets could get away with such a lineup for maybe 15 minutes per game. Even if that's as sustainable as this arrangement gets, it could very well help head coach Steve Clifford change the pace and put up some quick points.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
The Lineup: Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Doug McDermott, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah
After giving fans a preview of his return during the FIBA World Cup in Spain, Derrick Rose is poised to restore his Chicago Bulls to the title conversation. That storyline should be enough to hold your attention regardless of who else is on the floor.
As for the supporting cast, expect to see lots of 2014 Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah and summer addition Pau Gasol in the front court. Both big men are highly capable passers and will play an instrumental role in keeping Chicago's half-court offense humming.
Coming off a season in which he averaged 38.7 minutes, we should also expect to see plenty of shooting guard Jimmy Butler—a talented two-way threat whose offense may come into its own with a former MVP running the offense full time.
And while 12-year veteran Mike Dunleavy may get the nod as the Bulls' starting small forward, things will get interesting when rookie Doug McDermott steps on the floor.
"The first couple practices you're a new player, new system and things are going a thousand miles per hour and you feel kind of dumb running around out there," McDermott recently told reporters. "I still have a lot to learn, but I think I've come a long way in three or four days. That's my goal, just to keep improving every day."
Already a talented and versatile shooter, McDermott could be a breath air for head coach Tom Thibodeau's sometimes uneven offense—even if it takes him a little while to find his NBA rhythm.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
The Lineup: Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Anderson Varejao
The Cleveland Cavaliers' most probable starting lineup may also be its most entertaining.
And the most entertaining part of all may be whether there are enough basketballs to go around.
Cleveland's star power is undeniable, and—one way or the other—those stars will develop some serious chemistry before long. We think, anyway. There's no guarantee everything goes precisely according to plan, particularly with a wild card like Dion Waiters suddenly learning to adopt a far more complementary role than he once might have imagined.
The constants—LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving—will all play big minutes for the Cavaliers. The question is who they'll be sharing those minutes with.
Expect Waiters to see many of them at the shooting guard spot while Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson share time manning the paint.
Varejao gets the nod in this list on account of his hair, bounciness and undying commitment to the art of flopping.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
The Lineup: Raymond Felton, Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler
This may well be the Dallas Mavericks' starting lineup as well. The only real question mark is who will win the starting job at point guard.
It's a pick-your-poison kind of situation.
With Raymond Felton, Devin Harris and Jameer Nelson forming something of a point guard platoon, it's entirely possibly that head coach Rick Carlisle will experiment with a variety of combinations en route to the playoffs.
In at least one respect, Felton may be the most intriguing option of all. After a disappointing season with the New York Knicks (in which he made just 39.5 percent of his field-goal attempts), the 30-year-old's stint with Dallas could either give birth to a timely resurgence or a spectacularly disastrous career implosion. Either way, it's a story.
The rest of this lineup isn't especially controversial. Monta Ellis will make plays while Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons make plenty of shots.
And Tyson Chandler? He'll be making a difference. A vocal leader and intimidating defensive presence, Chandler will help ensure the Mavericks reclaim the defensive identity that propelled them to a championship in 2011.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
The Lineup: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, JaVale McGee
The Denver Nuggets' impressive depth creates no shortage of intriguing lineup options.
You could easily replace either Danilo Gallinari or Kenneth Faried with Wilson Chandler without losing much in terms of either competitive prowess or entertainment value.
As the engine that keeps this offense running, Ty Lawson may be the most indispensable starter. Arron Afflalo provides a veteran two-way weapon, and Gallinari helps space the floor.
But the highlights will by and large come from the guys patrolling the interior. Faried is coming off a heroic showing at the FIBA World Cup in Spain, and JaVale McGee is coming off a campaign in which he played just five games thanks to an early season-ending injury.
Between the two, Denver will boast endless footage of above-the-rim amazement that just might make you forget about whoever else is on the floor.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
The Lineup: Brandon Jennings, D.J. Augustin, Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond
The Detroit Pistons belong in an entertainment genre that includes the Kardashians and similar displays of so-called reality."
Like a train wreck, it's hard to take your eyes off the dysfunction.
So it would only be fitting for Josh Smith to again try his hand at a small forward position he just wasn't cut out for. With Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond at his side, this lineup is almost certainly too big for its own good. If it somehow begins to click, we may very well have to throw Stan Van Gundy into that Coach of the Year conversation.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should be ready to play big wing minutes soon enough, but it will be awfully tempting to see what the tiny backcourt of Brandon Jennings and D.J. Augustin might accomplish together. It's the kind of speedy duo that could carve up some defenses and put points on the board.
And keep fans interested in the process.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
The Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut
It's the lineup former head coach Mark Jackson eventually turned to in the opening round of last season's playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers.
With Draymond Green in place of power forward David Lee, the Golden State Warriors become a more versatile team that's slightly better at defending, passing and shooting the long ball. To be sure, there are a lot of things Lee does well—particularly when it comes to rebounding—but Green will allow new head coach Steve Kerr to shift gears from time to time.
The rest of this lineup pretty much speaks for itself.
The Splash Brothers compromise perhaps the most explosive backcourt in the league. Andre Iguodala is a jack of all trades whose defensive pedigree can take Golden State to new levels. And Andrew Bogut—when healthy—is one of the most rugged and defensively inclined centers in the game.
Kerr can turn to any number of interesting lineup options with guys like Shaun Livingston and Harrison Barnes anchoring the second unit. It remains to be seen whether the Warriors truly qualify as a contender, but they're certainly worth watching.
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
The Lineup: Patrick Beverley, James Harden, Trevor Ariza, Terrence Jones, Dwight Howard
Yep, the Houston Rockets' most watchable lineup also reasons to be the one it starts.
After losing Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik in a variety of offseason moves, head coach Kevin McHale really won't have many alternatives.
But with James Harden and Dwight Howard remaining on the floor for long stretches at a time, this unit may still be good enough to make some noise in the Western Conference.
As Harden put it to the Philippines Star's Joaquin Henson in July, "Dwight and I are the cornerstones of the Rockets. The rest of the guys are role players or pieces that complete our team. We've lost some pieces and added some pieces. I think we'll be fine next season."
Perhaps Harden has a point. Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley may be one of the league's most formidable defensive tandems on the perimeter. If everyone just does his job—including underrated power forward Terrence Jones—the Rockets should still have enough firepower to keep pace with elite clubs like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Depth may be a different story altogether, and the lack thereof could very well take a toll when the postseason rolls around.
In turn, this starting lineup is probably Houston's only lineup worth watching.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
The Lineup: George Hill, Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles, David West, Roy Hibbert
With Paul George's season thwarted by a devastating broken leg and Lance Stephenson lost via free agency to the Charlotte Hornets, the Indiana Pacers won't have many viable lineup options at their disposal this season.
New additions Rodney Stuckey and C.J. Miles could very well find themselves with starting jobs on Day 1. The rest of that lineup should remain unchanged—with George Hill running point while David West and Roy Hibbert anchor the front line.
Describing the combination as Indiana's most entertaining arrangement really isn't saying much.
The Pacers will struggle to score points this season, and they may even struggle to crack the playoffs in an otherwise wide-open Eastern Conference.
If there's a storyline worth following, it's whether Hibbert can make the most of the team's power vacuum and reassert himself as one of the league's premier centers. The 27-year-old is coming off a frustrating up-and-down campaign that sometimes saw him fall short of increasingly high expectations.
Those expectations will reach new heights this season as Hibbert becomes a focal point of Indiana's offensive endeavors. If old-school, back-to-the-basket post play is your cup of tea, don't sleep on the Pacers this season—even if everyone else does exactly that.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
The Lineup: Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
The Los Angeles Clippers do a pretty good job on enthralling audiences regardless of who's on the floor.
Having a couple of high-flyers like Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will do that, especially with an icon like Chris Paul setting the table.
Deploying a three-guard lineup that supplements Paul with J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford could liven things up even more, albeit while trading off with a strong defensive presence on the wing. Chances are that need for defense will keep Matt Barnes in the starting lineup, but the combination of Redick and Crawford certainly keeps opponents on their heels.
The two shooters can score from virtually anywhere, keeping perimeter defenders honest and dissuading them from helping in the paint against Griffin and Jordan.
Floor spacing can do wonders like that.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
The Lineup: Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin, Nick Young, Kobe Bryant, Jordan Hill
Yes, it's a small lineup—probably far too small to keep on the floor for any extended period of time. More often than not, the Los Angeles Lakers will almost certainly feature either Carlos Boozer or rookie Julius Randle at power forward.
Still, there's something to be said for the occasional use of a lightning-quick, potent combination of point guards and swingmen.
To that end, why not join Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin's ability to break down defenses with the versatile offense of Kobe Bryant and Nick Young?
You may even need two point guards to create enough shots for the trigger-happy likes of Bryant and Young.
Should the Lakers remain healthy, new head coach Byron Scott will have plenty of options at his disposal—far more than Mike D'Antoni was working with a season ago. It remains unclear how Scott will distribute playing time given the roster's improved depth, but these Lakers should be competitive enough to vie for a playoff spot.
And they'll be fun to watch in the process.
If nothing else, stay tuned to see how the hyper-competitive Bryant co-exists with the comparatively happy-go-lucky Young—also known as Swaggy P. Let's just hope opposites really do attract.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
The Lineup: Mike Conley, Vince Carter, Michael Beasley, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol
The Memphis Grizzlies haven't exactly been a paragon of entertaining basketball. Their plodding pace and defensive focus typically sacrifices scoring for an old-school, grind-it-out formula.
It's probably a good thing for the wins column—maybe not as good for the average fan's attention span.
One man could change that, however, and that man is Michael Beasley.
Beasley still has something to prove to head coach David Joerger, but every minute he's on the floor is a minutes Grizzlies fans shouldn't miss. The 25-year-old's up-and-down career is still searching for a long-term home, and this season may very well be his last chance to find one.
Beasley can score, meaning he fills a very real need in Memphis. If he defends enough to stay on the floor, all the better.
The Grizzlies also signed 16-year veteran Vince Carter, which should also address that scoring need to a large degree.
Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph will remain pillars of Memphis' interior dominance, and Mike Conley will again serve as one of the league's more underrated point guards. The bigger question is who fills in on the wing, who spaces the floor and who gives Memphis a chance against the Western Conference's high-volume scorers.
Together, Carter and Beasley may be a start.
Miami Heat
16 of 30
The Lineup: Shabazz Napier, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh, Chris Andersen
OK, so the Miami Heat's Big Three as we knew them is no more. In its stead, remaining cornerstones Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh join forces with small forward Luol Deng in a bid to remain relevant in an Eastern Conference that's up for grabs.
A variety of weapons may surround that trio at any given time, especially with the acquisition of Josh McRoberts providing head coach Erik Spoelstra another big man who can spread the floor.
But we're talking about entertainment here, so temporarily forget about the fact that Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole are the team's most experienced options at point guard. The big question is how quickly rookie floor general Shabazz Napier will acclimate himself to NBA life. With the prospect of Miami getting a little bit younger—and maybe a little bit better in that backcourt—Napier's minutes will be worth following.
In the middle?
That's an easy one. Chris "Birdman" Andersen is one of the most entertaining players in the league—in part because of his eccentricity and in part because of his very legitimate talent and explosiveness around the rim.
The Heat may be missing a four-time MVP, but there are still plenty of reasons to watch this team unfold.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
The Lineup: Brandon Knight, O.J. Mayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, Larry Sanders
Milwaukee Bucks veterans like Ersan Ilyasova and Jared Dudley may be more equipped for starting roles, but making this team interesting isn't the same thing as making it competitive.
Indeed, the Bucks will entertain in much the same way as a summer league squad. You're not watching to see who wins. You're watching in order to bear witness to the development of young players who could one day amount to something special.
To that end, "Greek Freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo is an absolute must. The 6'9" 19-year-old is—at the moment—a versatile and unformed piece of clay with virtually limitless potential. And—at the moment—new head coach Jason Kidd really isn't even sure what position he'll play.
His ability to handle the ball, however, has made him a prime candidate to initiate some offense.
"We've seen it in practice, and so when you see a player's comfort level with the ball no matter what size, we want to see it in game action and we slowly have started letting him have the ball and running the offense," Kidd told reporters during summer league play in July.
"With the group we have right now, with B-Knight [Brandon Knight] and Giannis, we have additional playmakers and when we have that on the floor, it makes the game easy," Kidd added. "We'll see how the roster shakes out, but we're not afraid to play him at the point, as you see."
Knight is probably better than advertised, and things can only getter better for O.J. Mayo after the season he just had. Throw in second-overall pick Jabari Parker and 25-year-old center Larry Sanders, and this lineup is loaded with upside.
Even if it isn't loaded with a whole lot else.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
The Lineup: Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, Thaddeus Young, Gorgui Dieng
It wasn't all bad news for the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer. Gone is disaffected superstar Kevin Love, but in his place we find two No. 1 overall draft picks who have their whole careers ahead of them—including celebrated 2014 selection Andrew Wiggins.
Minnesota's own first-round pick—Zach LaVine—has some potential of his own.
Between the two, point guard Ricky Rubio will be joined by a couple of hyper-athletic swingmen who were born to play above the rim. Beyond the high-flying possibilities, this lineup is rich with forward-looking storylines. Wiggins and—to a lesser degree—LaVine could be stars in the making.
For fun, let's add Thaddeus Young and Gorgui Dieng to the front line, ensuring a lineup that—from top to bottom—can run the floor and finish at the rim.
More veteran options like Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic will likely remain in the starting lineup, but that doesn't mean the Timberwolves should turn down the opportunity to get out and run from time to time. The uptempo unit may well be more transfixing than any product involving Kevin Love.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
The Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Ryan Anderson, Anthony Davis
The New Orleans Pelicans battled injury issues last season even as they attempted to integrate newcomers Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans into the rotation. Assuming key pieces remain healthy this season, now may be the time when the organization really starts reaping the benefits of its aggressive offseason attempts to surround franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis with a strong supporting cast.
Those three—and shooting guard Eric Gordon—should encounter ample playing time, hopefully alongside one another.
Evans, for example, started only 22 games last season, and that had more to do with necessity (created by injury) than an earnest attempt to put his talent on full display. That needs to change. Nice as it is to feature a credible sixth man, Evans' exceptional playmaking ability demands that he stay on the floor as long as possible.
So the only real question about this lineup is which big man you pair with Davis. Omer Asik is the better defensive option, but—when it comes to entertainment—you have to like Ryan Anderson's ability to space the floor.
The Pelicans will be at their offensive best when Davis slides over to center and Anderson becomes a stretch 4.
That's a lineup with no shortage of skill and firepower.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
The Lineup: Jose Calderon, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire
Carmelo Anthony is at his best when he plays the role of undersized power forward. His ability to shoot from anywhere and beat larger defenders off the dribble makes him an even more lethal scoring threat, to say nothing of his underrated penchant for activity around the basket.
The rest of this lineup is all about scoring—something the New York Knicks sometimes struggled to do a season ago when they ranked 20th leaguewide with just 98.6 points per contest. That means more J.R. Smith, more Amar'e Stoudemire and—hopefully—a more offensively adept Iman Shumpert.
Jose Calderon—acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in the Tyson Chandler trade—could help everything fall into place.
He's a good passer who can space the floor with a deadly three-point shot. Calderon made an unreal 44.9 percent of his three-point attempts last season, and his consistency will be welcome in New York.
You could argue that Andrea Bargnani would be more entertaining than Stoudemire on account of his range, but there's something to be said for the entertainment value associated with defense—even if it's only a modicum thereof.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
The Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Reggie Jackson, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams
This may well be the Oklahoma City Thunder's starting lineup in the event head coach Scott Brooks opts to go with Reggie Jackson and Steven Adams at the shooting guard and center positions (respectively).
The other three—Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka—are foregone conclusions in the starting lineup.
Jackson badly wants to start, and he hasn't made any secret of it.
"I want to be a starter," he recently told reporters at the team's media day. "I've always wanted to be a starter. I've always wanted to be great. All the greats I've seen started, so that's kind of the mold."
He probably deserves the opportunity, even if it removes a valuable weapon from Brooks' second unit.
Meanwhile, Adams has emerged as one of the most watchable young big men in the game. He throws elbows, sets hard screens and keeps his motor running at all times. And with OKC's other option at center—Kendrick Perkins—becoming less and less of a factor, the case for Adams is an easy one.
Whether this is the lineup that ultimately starts games, there's a pretty good chances it's the one that finishes them.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
The Lineup: Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Maurice Harkless, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic
The Orlando Magic are young and raw, appealing more because of high ceilings than their current ability to compete. This is the stage of rebuilding at which the organization now finds itself.
Accordingly, there will be plenty to watch.
Rookies Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton top the list of things to watch, thanks in large part to their NBA-ready bodies and all the acrobatic things they can do with those bodies. Much as these youngsters have to learn, they'll do much of their learning on the job—ensuring we get to see their ups and downs in the process.
Victor Oladipo should play heavy minutes in his second season out of Indiana, and there are still high hopes for 21-year-old Maurice Harkless. Even Nikola Vucevic—the veteran of this group—is only 23 years old.
The Magic will have some experienced options in their ranks, namely stretch 4 Channing Frye and guard Ben Gordon. But this season isn't about winning games. It's about preparing for the future. The younger the lineup, the better.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
The Lineup: Michael Carter-Williams, Tony Wroten, Luc Mbah a Moute, Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel
There's a pretty good chance Joel Embiid misses the entire season, but his presence in this lineup has as much to do with necessity as hopefulness. Without him, the Philadelphia 76ers may not have five players worth watching.
As it is, including Tony Wroten and Luc Mbah a Moute is a stretch. But when you're other options are guys like Alexey Shved or Jason Richardson, well, stretches are inevitable. The Sixers are bad by design, general manager Sam Hinkie's attempt at a sustained tanking experiment that could cumulatively yield a wealth of prospects and assets.
That's all well and good.
In the meantime, we'll just have to make the most of reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams and 2014-15 ROY possibility Nerlens Noel. Together, they'll give fans in Philly a much-needed taste of the future and perhaps inspire some even more needed patience.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
The Lineup: Isaiah Thomas, Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, Gerald Green, Alex Len
Goran Dragic's selection as 2013-14 Most Improved Player was indicative of this team's broader evolution. The Phoenix Suns have slowly but surely turned into one of the league's up-and-coming franchises, narrowly missing the playoffs with 48 wins in a crowded Western Conference.
We may never see this particular lineup, but you have to hope the Suns will eventually resort to a strategy that involves overwhelming the opposition with all of the point guards ever—or anyway, three very good ones.
This summer's sign-and-trade acquisition of Isaiah Thomas suddenly makes that possible.
If the combination of Dragic and Eric Bledsoe worked a season ago, perhaps anything is possible under ever-creative head coach Jeff Hornacek. And if anything is indeed possible, let's hope it also includes gravity-defying swingman Gerald Green.
For the sake of having some size on the floor, we'll also include 7'1" center Alex Len.
Unrealistic as this scenario may be, it would raise some eyebrows—a lineup thought experiment if you will.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
The Lineup: Damian Lillard, Wes Matthews, Nic Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Robin Lopez
No need to get too creative here. The Portland Trail Blazers rely on their starting lineup so heavily for a reason.
It's pretty good—and, yes, fun to watch.
Damian Lillard, Wes Matthews and Nic Batum are all versatile scorers with extensive range. On its best nights, there's seemingly no limit to how many points this team can score—and those perimeter threats have a lot to do with it.
LaMarcus Aldridge has of course emerged as one of the most elite power forwards in the game, even as center Robin Lopez has perhaps become one of that game's most underrated big men.
The addition of center Chris Kaman and continued evolution of youngsters like Thomas Robinson and Meyers Leonard could bolster Portland's depth this season, but there remains a fairly significant gap between the top-shelf starters and a bench still in transition.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
The Lineup: Darren Collison, Ben McLemore, Rudy Gay, Derrick Williams, DeMarcus Cousins
With Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins coming off stints with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup in Spain, the Sacramento Kings are hoping their core enters the 2014-15 season with renewed vigor and some valuable experience.
The big question is who will step up and help that core.
Point guard Darren Collison will do his best to replicate the production Isaiah Thomas yielded a season ago, and the rest of Sacramento's fortunes largely hinge on how quickly younger players develop.
Two of those younger players are shooting guard Ben McLemore and forward Derrick Williams. Both former top-10 draft picks, there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful. And when it comes to entertaining the masses, the evolution of emerging prospects should be a step in the right direction.
The Kings are nowhere close to contending in the Western Conference. Just making the playoffs will be a steep uphill battle.
This season is really about the smaller victories, the lessons learned and corners turned.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
The Lineup: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Boris Diaw, Tim Duncan
A season after head coach Gregg Popovich held every member of his roster under 30 minutes per game, the reigning champion San Antonio Spurs proved they have plenty of personnel options.
At their best, however, the Big Three (Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili) are supplemented by Kawhi Leonard and Boris Diaw.
Leonard is the team's emerging star, the 2014 Finals MVP and a lethal two-way threat who's only beginning to discover his offensive potential. Diaw is a 32-year-old big man unlike any other, replete with passing skills that make him the perfect accompaniment for a team that privileges its ability to keep the ball moving.
Popovich told reporters during the Finals:
"You know, Boris pretty much does the same thing every night as far as helping us be a smarter team, at both ends of the floor. He knows what's going on most all the time. At the offensive end he's a passer. He understands mismatches. He knows time and score. At the defensive end, he knows when to help. He's active.
"
In short, he's precisely the kind of glue guy San Antonio needs to make the most of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili.
When it comes to rotations, Ginobili and Diaw will likely remain on the bench for most of the regular season. But when the going gets tough, this is the lineup San Antonio will turn to.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
The Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Greivis Vasquez, Terrence Ross, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas
Center Jonas Valanciunas has increasingly become an X-factor for the Toronto Raptors. His size and acuity around the rim have made him one of the best up-and-coming big men in the game and an absolute necessity for any regularly used lineup in Toronto.
Though Valanciunas is typically joined by either Amir Johnson or Patrick Patterson at power forward, it's tempting to imagine what kind of damage the Raptors could do with a smaller lineup—namely one that utilizes backup point guard Greivis Vasquez alongside starting point guard Kyle Lowry.
The 6'6" Vasquez has the size to defend shooting guards, and his playmaking ability would ostensibly make the most of the Raptors at his side—including Lowry himself.
Terrence Ross and DeMar DeRozan add some nice length and scoring ability to the mix, to say nothing of their ability to finish at the rim with a dizzying array of highlight-worthy dunks.
This crew would lose a few rebounds, but it would play at an incredible tempo and keep things exceptionally interesting on the offensive end.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
The Lineup: Trey Burke, Dante Exum, Gordon Hayward, Jeremy Evans, Derrick Favors
After finishing dead last in the Western Conference with 25 wins last season, Utah Jazz fans probably shouldn't expect a radical turnaround in 2014-15.
They can, however, expect another step forward for a young rotation still attempting to forge some chemistry and find its NBA footing. Gordon Hayward, Trey Burke, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are all fairly safe bets for the starting lineup.
The question is who will join them on the wing. Three-year veteran Alec Burks is the most experienced option, but the curious among us are eager to find out what rookie—and fifth overall pick—Dante Exum can do. Exum is traditionally more of a point guard, but he has the size to become a highly versatile option at the shooting guard spot.
If we're being honest, it won't be easy for the Jazz to field an especially entertaining product this season.
One guy who can help is former Slam Dunk Contest champion Jeremy Evans, a forward who gives the team a bit more tempo than Kanter brings to the lineup.
Being that such tempo generally translates into good things, Evans gets the nod in this lineup.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
The Lineup: John Wall, Bradley Beal, Paul Pierce, Nene Hilario, Marcin Gortat
Given Kris Humphries' familiarity with the world of reality television, he may very well being the most entertaining man in the NBA.
But for the Washington Wizards' purposes, fans are coming to see the starting lineup. Guards John Wall and Bradley Beal headline that lineup while also comprising one of the most promising young backcourts in the league, rivaling the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as perhaps the very best duo.
Meanwhile, Nene Hilario and Marcin Gortat have proven one of the most capable interior tandems in the league, giving Washington the credible inside-outside approach that helped spur an appearance in the conference semifinals last season.
The big change going into 2014-15 is that Paul Pierce will replace Trevor Ariza at the small forward position.
The 36-year-old may not be a world-class athlete at this stage of his career, but his penchant for clutch shots earns him a spot in this lineup. And his ever-vocal leadership and championship pedigree certainly won't hurt.
