NBA Depth-Chart Projections for All 30 Teams Entering 2016-17 Season
Most NBA teams have made those final, painful roster cuts and delivered the bad news to the players on the wrong side of them.
But for each bit of bad news, there's corresponding happiness from a man who made the active roster.
Teams are finally piecing together rotations and deciding who makes the starting lineups. They're determining which contributors will serve as primary backups, as well as which ones will be relegated to the ends of benches until it's time for mop-up duty.
The depth charts are all but set for the start of the campaign, and we're here to give you a sneak preview at how your favorite teams stack up.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
| Dennis Schroder | Kyle Korver | Kent Bazemore | Paul Millsap | Dwight Howard |
| Malcolm Delaney | Tim Hardaway Jr. | Thabo Sefolosha | Mike Scott | Tiago Splitter |
| DeAndre' Bembry | Taurean Prince | Mike Muscala | Walter Tavares | |
| Kris Humphries |
It took a surprising move to solidify the back end of the Atlanta Hawks roster, but Kris Humphries, Mike Muscala and Walter Tavares should all breathe massive sighs of relief. Their jobs are far more secure after the surprising decision to waive veteran point guard Jarrett Jack.
The move indicates the Hawks feel quite comfortable with the production of their younger point guards, to the point they can trust both Dennis Schroder and Malcolm Delaney without any veteran guidance at the position.
Both have looked quite capable during preseason action, so long as you're willing to look at their per-36-minute numbers, via RealGM.com, while excusing the low shooting percentages that often come naturally during exhibition season:
| Dennis Schroder | 15.3 | 4.4 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 49.5 |
| Malcolm Delaney | 14.0 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 47.8 |
The focus on the floor-general rotation also brings to light just how little is shifting elsewhere in the depth chart. With a starting lineup that's not subject to any immediate changes and experienced backups taking precedent over their younger counterparts, Atlanta's rotation is one of the easiest to piece together.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
| Isaiah Thomas | Avery Bradley | Jae Crowder | Amir Johnson | Al Horford |
| Marcus Smart | Gerald Green | Jaylen Brown | Jonas Jerebko | Kelly Olynyk |
| Terry Rozier | R.J. Hunter | Jordan Mickey | Tyler Zeller | |
| Demetrius Jackson |
Even though neither R.J. Hunter nor James Young profiles as a standout defender, the former does have a slight advantage in the battle for the final roster spot. Boston.com's Brian Robb explains:
"Defensively, the former Georgia State star [Hunter] has lacked the strength and speed to stay with proven shooters at times, but he still demonstrates a solid game IQ. He knows the fundamentals well, likely the byproduct of being a coach's son (his father Ron Hunter coached him at Georgia State). While he may never be a plus NBA defender, he's still ahead of Young in that department, something that bodes well for him come decision time.
"
That's enough to push Hunter slightly ahead, though James won't sever ties with the organization, instead playing for the Developmental League's Maine Red Claws as he continues attempting to justify his status as a lottery pick.
This is just one of many tough decisions the Boston Celtics have to make—a problem (for lack of a better word) created by the fantastic job they've done acquiring depth.
Terry Rozier has played well enough to earn a starting job in many situations (20.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per 36 minutes while shooting 54 percent from the field and 60 percent from downtown, per RealGM.com), but he's blocked by Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley.
Demetrius Jackson is brimming with potential, but he's relegated to the fourth point guard role. Jordan Mickey looks great in short spurts, but it's tough to see him getting playing time at the expense of either Amir Johnson or Jonas Jerebko.
The C's have star power next to Thomas and Jae Crowder after the offseason signing of Al Horford. Now, they also have a significant amount of depth that will aid their challenge of LeBron James' Eastern Conference supremacy.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
| Jeremy Lin | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Bojan Bogdanovic | Trevor Booker | Brook Lopez |
| Greivis Vasquez | Randy Foye | Sean Kilpatrick | Luis Scola | Justin Hamilton |
| Isaiah Whitehead | Caris LeVert | Chris McCullough | ||
| Joe Harris | Anthony Bennett |
Joe Harris shot the proverbial lights out during his preseason tryout with the Brooklyn Nets, beating out Yogi Ferrell for the final spot. Even with Jeremy Lin as the only true primary ball-handler and more of a need for secondary playmakers than off-ball standouts, Harris was too good to cut.
But Ferrell may well get his shot later in the year, because it's almost guaranteed this roster will not exist in its present form from start to finish. Even if Brook Lopez avoids the trade block and thrives in the uptempo system he's still adjusting to, the Nets could pawn off Greivis Vasquez, Randy Foye or Luis Scola to a competitive team looking for some quality veteran depth.
Heading into the year, it's those experienced backups who are staving off their younger competition. The aforementioned players are a bit too talented to bury on the bench; they can't yet be forced into mentor roles without running the risk of losing them mentally.
But Isaiah Whitehead, Caris LeVert and Chris McCullough will eventually earn larger gigs as soon as they get more comfortable.
Brooklyn can't justify letting Whitehead serve as Lin's primary backup when he's shooting just 21.1 percent from the field during preseason action, per RealGM.com. Ditto for McCullough and Trevor Booker, since the 2015 first-rounder is knocking down just 35 percent of his looks. LeVert hasn't even played yet as he continues to fight back from a foot injury.
It'll happen eventually. For now, the Nets must continue to promote the facade that they're competitive.
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
| Kemba Walker | Nicolas Batum | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | Marvin Williams | Roy Hibbert |
| Ramon Sessions | Marco Belinelli | Jeremy Lamb | Frank Kaminsky | Cody Zeller |
| Brian Roberts | Aaron Harrison | Christian Wood | Spencer Hawes |
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be a starter.
Even though it'll be tough for head coach Steve Clifford to figure out schemes when both MKG and Nicolas Batum are on the floor, the Charlotte Hornets need the 23-year-old's defensive talent. He makes the team so much better when he's playing, and that's been the case every season of his career:
| 2012-13 | 15.7 | 2.2 | Plus 13.5 |
| 2013-14 | 3.9 | Minus-8.3 | Plus 12.2 |
| 2014-15 | 1.2 | Minus-0.9 | Plus 2.1 |
| 2015-16 | Minus-7.0 | Minus-13.2 | Plus 6.2 |
You can't ask a player making that type of impact to come off the pine, which pushes Nicolas Batum to shooting guard and both Marco Belinelli and Jeremy Lamb to the second unit. As such, the rotation should be set at each of the three smallest positions.
It's the larger ones that invite question marks.
Roy Hibbert seems to have the slight edge at center, though it's likely he and Cody Zeller will platoon and trade nights as matchups shift. Frank Kaminsky could also push his way into the starting five by displacing both of the natural centers, and Christian Wood remains a wild card with enormous upside.
But given the limitations of both Hibbert and Zeller, the Charlotte coaching staff may well be rooting for depth-chart chaos. It has no choice but to play the established contributors at the start of the year, but shouldn't hesitate making changes if the youngsters earn bigger minutes.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
| Rajon Rondo | Dwyane Wade | Jimmy Butler | Taj Gibson | Robin Lopez |
| Michael Carter-Williams | Denzel Valentine | Doug McDermott | Nikola Mirotic | Bobby Portis |
| Jerian Grant | Isaiah Canaan | Paul Zipser | Cristiano Felicio |
Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Robin Lopez are locked in as the starters at their respective positions, but anything could happen at power forward.
Based on preseason results, it's Taj Gibson who will get the early nod. That feels like a temporary solution, given the shooting limitations of the players he'll join on the court. He doesn't provide enough spacing and could clog up driving lanes his star teammates need to thrive.
As such, don't be surprised if head coach Fred Hoiberg is constantly mixing it up.
Nikola Mirotic should start on some nights, helping the offense reach new levels as he takes and makes plenty of three-pointers. Doug McDermott could fill the same role if Hoiberg is willing to sacrifice even more defense and use a smaller quintet. Bobby Portis could emerge as the long-term starter if he proves the spurts of success during his rookie season were sustainable.
The issue is, no one was able to distinguish himself during preseason. That's especially true of Portis, who shot just 32.7 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from downtown, per RealGM.com.
But fear not. Changes will eventually come in the Windy City, even if most of this depth chart is locked into place for the time being.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
| Kyrie Irving | J.R. Smith | LeBron James | Kevin Love | Tristan Thompson |
| Kay Felder | Iman Shumpert | Mike Dunleavy Jr. | Channing Frye | Chris Andersen |
| Jordan McRae | Richard Jefferson | |||
| James Jones |
The surprise retirement of Mo Williams makes it likely the Cleveland Cavaliers will keep one roster spot open for future use while handing Kay Felder the important role of primary backup to Kyrie Irving. The diminutive rookie may not play much while the starter is healthy, but Irving's lengthy injury history means the Cavs would be far more comfortable if Felder developed quickly.
Unless he struggles, there isn't much opportunity for movement.
According to nbawowy.com, Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson shared the court for 461 minutes during the 2015-16 regular season and outscored the opposition by a staggering 12.2 points per 100 possessions. Against tougher playoff competition, that net rating grew to 15.4 over the course of 356 minutes.
The backups won't lead nearly as much success, but they're still nearly set in stone. Though Jordan McRae could throw a wrench in the plans by outplaying Iman Shumpert—ditto for Richard Jefferson and Mike Dunleavy Jr.—there seems to be a logical second-stringer across the board.
Expect to see Cleveland give its star players plenty of maintenance days throughout a suspense-free regular season, thereby creating opportunities for the nondescript veterans and young players. But it's only on those nights that we should see depth-chart drama.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
| Deron Williams | Wesley Matthews | Harrison Barnes | Dirk Nowitzki | Andrew Bogut |
| J.J. Barea | Seth Curry | Justin Anderson | Dwight Powell | Salah Mejri |
| Devin Harris | Nicolas Brussino | Quincy Acy | A.J. Hammons | |
| Dorian Finney-Smith |
The Harrison Barnes experiment has not worked out so far.
Granted, preseason games often have no bearing on contests that actually matter. Barnes is merely getting his feet wet in a new location and should improve as he becomes more comfortable in head coach Rick Carlisle's scheme. But it still has to be troubling that he's played this poorly.
According to RealGM.com, the maxed-out small forward has averaged 12.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per 36 minutes, which doesn't sound disastrous until you see he's shot 23.5 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from beyond the arc. Coming off his putrid showing in the 2016 NBA Finals, that's not what you want. Ever.
But Barnes is still nearly guaranteed a starting spot, if only because of his exorbitant contract (four years and $94 million) and the long-term hopes the organization has placed upon him.
Unless Seth Curry continues to light it up from downtown (42.9 percent on eight attempts per 36 minutes) and pushes his way to starting alongside Wesley Matthews on the wings, Barnes will be on the floor for every opening tip. Justin Anderson (19.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per 36 minutes while shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from deep) could also create problems, but Dallas is likely to bring him around more slowly.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
| Emmanuel Mudiay | Gary Harris | Danilo Gallinari | Nikola Jokic | Jusuf Nurkic |
| Jamal Murray | Will Barton | Wilson Chandler | Kenneth Faried | Jarnell Stokes |
| Jameer Nelson | Malik Beasley | Juan Hernangomez | Darrell Arthur |
As Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone told BSNDenver.com's Harrison Wind, Jamal Murray has confidence, and that can be both good and bad:
"He's confident, he's not afraid of the moment. I think his biggest challenge right now, he does too much at times. He over dribbles at times and he knows that. We have to get him to be a little more efficient with his game. He steps up and he makes big shots and he makes big plays. I think that speaks to his upbringing, his confidence, and the fact that he's ready for the moment.
"
He's so ready, in fact, he should serve as Emmanuel Mudiay's primary backup right away. He may also be the first man off the bench at shooting guard while Gary Harris is recovering from a right groin strain that could keep him out at the beginning of the regular season.
Either way, Murray is going to play enough that he possesses an outside shot at winning Rookie of the Year.
The bigger question—both literally and abstractly—comes in the frontcourt, where the starting power forward is still up in the air. Malone could go with a smaller lineup that pushes Danilo Gallinari or Wilson Chandler to the 4. He could continue to start Kenneth Faried, or he could move Faried to the bench in favor of starting both Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic.
Especially with Nurkic thriving during the preseason, the last option seems like the best one. So long as he's willing to accept a diminished role, Faried is a natural fit for an uptempo bench, and the starting lineup won't prevent Malone from going small in key situations.
Sure, the Nurkic-Jokic pairing struggled in limited action last year. But nbawowy.com shows it has produced a 14.5 net rating in 85 preseason minutes.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
| Reggie Jackson | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Marcus Morris | Tobias Harris | Andre Drummond |
| Ish Smith | Darrun Hilliard | Stanley Johnson | Jon Leuer | Boban Marjanovic |
| Ray McCallum | Michael Gbinije | Reggie Bullock | Henry Ellenson | Aron Baynes |
"While Michael Gbinije was a foregone conclusion to join the Grand Rapids Drive in the NBA D-League once the season starts," Duncan Smith wrote for Piston Powered, "it seems as though he's suddenly forced his way into the conversation for a rotational spot."
With the release of Lorenzo Brown, Gbinije not only forced his way into the conversation.
He made the roster.
The Detroit Pistons will be lucky to have the swingman in the rotation for years to come, even if current playing time will be hard to come by. Perhaps he can eventually beat out Darrun Hilliard or Reggie Bullock for minutes, but he'll spend a lot of time watching from the pine in 2016-17.
Elsewhere, having Henry Ellenson and Aron Baynes serving as third bigs at their respective positions was important to lock down roster spots, despite the injury to Reggie Jackson almost mandating the Pistons carry four point guards at the start of the season.
Ish Smith produced for the Philadelphia 76ers last year, but he's no lock to thrive in his new role as a temporary Detroit starter. Behind him, there's only more uncertainty in the form of Ray McCallum. Still, Brown couldn't make the cut as an end-of-bench guard.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
| Stephen Curry | Klay Thompson | Kevin Durant | Draymond Green | Zaza Pachulia |
| Shaun Livingston | Patrick McCaw | Andre Iguodala | David West | Anderson Varejao |
| Ian Clark | Kevon Looney | JaVale McGee | ||
| James Michael McAdoo | Damian Jones |
There's almost no uncertainty here.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia are locked into the starting five as one of the most powerful opening lineups the Association has ever witnessed. Even as they gain their sea legs during preseason action, nbawowy.com shows they've outscored the opposition by 28.7 points per 100 possessions.
Stop. Let that sink in.
Last year, Golden State's typical starting five of Curry, Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Green and Andrew Bogut posted a 13.3 net rating en route to a record-setting 73 wins. This year's bunch is more than doubling that mark—granted, typical preseason caveats apply.
Now, throw in the second unit. Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala are back, and the latter will help form an even more invincible small-ball outfit than last year's "death lineup." David West brings physicality to the frontcourt. Kevon Looney, James Michael McAdoo, JaVale McGee and Damian Jones will all help spell the veterans in front of them on the depth chart.
And we can't just look past Patrick McCaw.
RealGM.com shows he's averaged 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per 36 minutes while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from three-point range and 92.3 percent at the stripe. Plus, he's playing good defense, which basically cements his status as a key member of the bench mob and the unquestioned backup to Thompson.
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
| James Harden | Eric Gordon | Trevor Ariza | Ryan Anderson | Clint Capela |
| Patrick Beverley | P.J. Hairston | Corey Brewer | Montrezl Harrell | Nene |
| Pablo Prigioni | K.J. McDaniels | Chinanu Onuaku | ||
| Tyler Ennis | Sam Dekker |
Yes, we're listing James Harden as the starting point guard. New head coach Mike D'Antoni explained why during the Houston Rockets media day, per ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins:
"He's more or less responsible giving rhythm to the team, that's what a point guard does. He's going to be on the ball and he's going to be distributing the ball and it will take some adjusting. He's got a lot more responsibilities as a point guard. A play-caller, a good basketball mind, he's already telling guys we can do this we can do that.
"
So far, the experiment is working wonders.
It's not so different than the role Harden filled in 2015-16, but the slightly increased ball-handling responsibilities have allowed him to lead all NBA players in assists per game (10.7) during the preseason. And he's still scoring 20.2 points per contest while averaging fewer than 30 minutes, per RealGM.com.
Moving Harden to the 1 also allows D'Antoni to maximize the shooting in his opening lineup by starting Eric Gordon, Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson and Clint Capela. The second unit could be a bit weaker with no go-to scorer (barring a career resurgence from Nene), but it should be handed plenty of big leads after offensive explosions from the starters.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
| Jeff Teague | Monta Ellis | Paul George | Thaddeus Young | Myles Turner |
| Aaron Brooks | Rodney Stuckey | C.J. Miles | Lavoy Allen | Al Jefferson |
| Joseph Young | Glenn Robinson III | Georges Niang | Kevin Seraphin | |
| Rakeem Christmas |
The Indiana Pacers' starting five isn't up for debate: Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis, Paul George and Thaddeus Young are guaranteed. Then, there's Myles Turner, who has been beasting.
Through four preseason games, RealGM.com reveals the young center has averaged 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per 36 minutes while shooting 48.8 percent from the field. He's also performed quite well on defense, minimized his turnovers and shown an ability to stretch out the floor for his teammates while engaging in the uptempo system.
Fortunately for the Pacers, there's little uncertainty on the bench, either.
Veterans take up most of the second-unit spots, and the challengers are few and far between. For example, we've seen Georges Niang thrive during preseason action, but it's unlikely Indiana is willing to trust him enough right away that he displaces Lavoy Allen as Young's primary backup.
This roster is locked into place. Now it's just a matter of how well it performs with a new, faster style and pieces that are still working to build chemistry.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
| Chris Paul | J.J. Redick | Luc Mbah a Moute | Blake Griffin | DeAndre Jordan |
| Austin Rivers | Jamal Crawford | Wesley Johnson | Brandon Bass | Marreese Speights |
| Raymond Felton | Alan Anderson | Paul Pierce | Brice Johnson | Diamond Stone |
"We kind of know what we want..." Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers explained, per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Daily News. "We're just looking at combinations. We feel like we pretty much know where we want to go, but you're always looking for a combination where you say, 'Wow, that's pretty good,' or, 'Oh, that's awful.'"
Rivers was referring to the uncertainty surrounding the small forward position, which could see a number of different players start. Austin Rivers could move into the opening lineup and push J.J. Redick to the 3, or the Clippers could go a more traditional route with Alan Anderson, Luc Mbah a Moute, Wesley Johnson or Paul Pierce.
But it appears Mbah a Moute has taken the clear lead in this uninspiring race, mostly because his defensive ability can make life easier for the offensive talents surrounding him. Valuable as Anderson's perimeter work and Johnson's defense against wings can be, it's Mbah a Moute's knack for switching onto bigger assignments that should win him the job.
Still, there's no guarantee the decision sticks.
Small forward could be a revolving door for the Clippers, much as it was while they dealt with injuries throughout 2015-16. Unless Brice Johnson breaks out or Raymond Felton outplays Austin Rivers to such an extent that nepotism can't reign supreme, it'll be the only area of uncertainty on this depth chart.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
| D'Angelo Russell | Lou Williams | Luol Deng | Julius Randle | Timofey Mozgov |
| Marcelo Huertas | Jordan Clarkson | Brandon Ingram | Larry Nance Jr. | Tarik Black |
| Jose Calderon | Nick Young | Anthony Brown | Yi Jianlian | Ivica Zubac |
Lou Williams and Luol Deng will join D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Timofey Mozgov in the Los Angeles Lakers' starting five on opening night, but there's no guarantee they continue to fill those roles forever.
In fact, Russell is the only man who seems guaranteed the same job throughout 2016-17. Marcelo Huertas and Jose Calderon can be valuable veterans, but they're not threats to take over as the starting point guard. Instead, they're in place to provide depth and leadership.
At shooting guard, Jordan Clarkson should eventually supplant Williams as the starter. He's a superior all-around player, offers the Lakers a secondary playmaker alongside Russell and would move Williams back to his more natural role as a sixth man and volume scorer off the bench.
Talented as Deng is at this late stage of his career, Brandon Ingram has a much loftier ceiling. He's struggled in preseason action and may come off the bench throughout his rookie go-round, but it's by no means inconceivable that he could either replace Deng in the opening unit or push the veteran to the 4 in a small-ball lineup.
And as for the starting bigs, neither man is guaranteed a starting role.
Though Randle has looked great on the boards and shows offensive talent, his defense is atrocious—to the point it opens a slim opportunity for Larry Nance Jr. to move past him. Mozgov may have just signed a monstrous contract, but he's a limited player and could cede more minutes to either Tarik Black or Ivica Zubac if either youngster dramatically exceeds expectations.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
| Mike Conley | Tony Allen | Chandler Parsons | JaMychal Green | Marc Gasol |
| Wade Baldwin IV | Troy Daniels | Vince Carter | Zach Randolph | Brandan Wright |
| Andrew Harrison | James Ennis | Jarell Martin | Deyonta Davis | |
| Troy Williams |
It's the end of an era.
Zach Randolph is moving to the bench, where he'll join Wade Baldwin IV, Brandon Wright, Troy Daniels and Vince Carter in a second unit that has more firepower than you can typically find on Beale Street. If Jordan Adams or James Ennis can play well enough to move Carter into an even smaller role, that might make the Grizz backups stronger still.
But this will only remain true if the Green-Gasol combo really does work. So far, so good:
"He really compliments (sic) Marc [Gasol] well with his speed, his versatility, his ability to switch pick-and-rolls, trap pick-and-rolls and make open jump shots," new Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale said about JaMychal Green, per Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "He has kind of that Draymond Green versatility. Maybe not off the dribble yet. But from every other aspect, I like what he brings to the table."
In 90 preseason minutes, Memphis has posted a 118.3 offensive rating while both big men are on the floor, per nbawowy.com. Better still, it's allowed the opposition to score just 105 points per 100 possessions, putting its net rating in elite territory.
Miami Heat
16 of 30
| Goran Dragic | Josh Richardson | Justise Winslow | Josh McRoberts | Hassan Whiteside |
| Tyler Johnson | Dion Waiters | Luke Babbitt | Derrick Williams | Willie Reed |
| Wayne Ellington | Luis Montero | James Johnson | Udonis Haslem | |
| Rodney McGruder |
At the expense of Briante Weber and Beno Udrih, Rodney McGruder has earned the Miami Heat's final roster slot, per Anthony Chiang of the Palm Beach Post.
"Rodney reminds me, not necessarily the way he plays but his impact doing the little things that help you win, similar to Justise [Winslow]," head coach Erik Spoelstra told Chiang. "You don't necessarily see his impact from the box score. He does a lot of little things and those little things add up and they become winning plays."
Except McGruder is also contributing to the box score: During the preseason, he's averaged 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per 36 minutes while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from downtown, per RealGM.com.
If he's putting up those types of numbers as a non-featured option and contributing in ways that don't show up statistically, he shouldn't even have ever been on the bubble.
As for other questions marks: Once Josh McRoberts is healthy, he should take over as the starting power forward next to Hassan Whiteside and Justise Winslow. Josh Richardson also proved his worth last season, and a return to health should allow him to hold down a starting gig once more.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
| Matthew Dellavedova | Tony Snell | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Jabari Parker | Miles Plumlee |
| Jason Terry | Rashad Vaughn | Steve Novak | Mirza Teletovic | Greg Monroe |
| Malcolm Brogdon | Michael Beasley | John Henson | ||
| Khris Middleton | Thon Maker |
This isn't how the Milwaukee Bucks' depth chart was supposed to look.
Michael Carter-Williams is no longer the starting point guard now that he's been shipped off to the Chicago Bulls for Tony Snell. And because of the potentially season-ending injury to Khris Middleton (who would've otherwise been listed as the starting 2), Snell will likely be in the opening lineup despite showing little to prove he deserves such a role.
That leaves Matthew Dellavedova moving to the top of his position and Giannis Antetokounmpo taking on even more ball-handling responsibilities. It also makes it more likely Malcolm Brogdon stays on the active roster rather than developing in the D-League, since the Bucks need all the healthy bodies they can get on the wings.
But that's not where the confusion ends: John Henson is on the second season of a four-year, $44 million extension, but he'll likely be relegated to the bench as the No. 3 center. Greg Monroe was handed a three-year deal worth $50 million last offseason, and he'll also be starting games on the pine.
It's Miles Plumlee who has been serving as the starter throughout preseason, and he'll continue to fill that role when results actually count.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
| Ricky Rubio | Zach LaVine | Andrew Wiggins | Gorgui Dieng | Karl-Anthony Towns |
| Kris Dunn | Brandon Rush | Shabazz Muhammad | Nemanja Bjelica | Cole Aldrich |
| Tyus Jones | Adreian Payne | Jordan Hill | ||
| John Lucas III |
The Minnesota Timberwolves are going to be loaded.
With Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng and Karl-Anthony Towns, the starting lineup is fantastic and could thrive on both ends of the floor. There are weak defensive pieces (LaVine and Wiggins), but head coach Tom Thibodeau is in town to turn those issues around.
But the excellence doesn't stop there.
Kris Dunn is a true Rookie of the Year contender, which pushes Tyus Jones to the end of the bench even after the young guard looked great in limited minutes and during summer-league play. Jones is even on the trade block, per the Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Elsewhere in the lineup, Brandon Rush can be a valuable wing, while Shabazz Muhammad still has potential. Nemanja Bjelica fills a floor-spacing 4 role with aplomb, and Cole Aldrich was sneakily one of the more valuable per-minute bigs during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The question have to do with chemistry, defense and experience.
In terms of overall talent, Minnesota is beyond reproach.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
| Jrue Holiday | E'Twaun Moore | Tyreke Evans | Anthony Davis | Omer Asik |
| Tim Frazier | Buddy Hield | Solomon Hill | Terrence Jones | Alexis Ajinca |
| Langston Galloway | Lance Stephenson | Quincy Pondexter | Cheick Diallo | |
| Dante Cunningham |
Shooting guard could turn into a seesaw affair for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Buddy Hield was the team's top draft pick, but E'Twaun Moore was the big free-agent signing. Both can help space the floor for Anthony Davis and Co., and neither one has proved he deserves to be an NBA starter on even a moderately competitive squad.
So, let's turn to the preseason statistics (per 36 minutes), courtesy of RealGM.com:
| Buddy Hield | 16.5 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 43.3 | 28.6 | 10.3 |
| E'Twaun Moore | 20.7 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 53.1 | 52.9 | 20.5 |
If this were based purely on merit, Moore would win the job easily. And, for at least the beginning of the season, it looks like he has, per a report from NOLA.com's John Reid.
Now, the Pelicans can turn their attention to other competitions.
Will Tim Frazier serve as Jrue Holiday's primary backup when the expected starter is ready to play? Will New Orleans really roll out Omer Asik for the opening tip every night, or will it eventually move Davis to the 5 and Terrence Jones into the starting lineup? Can Tyreke Evans hold off Solomon Hill?
The depth chart is fairly intuitive right now but could be subject to major changes as the year progresses.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
| Derrick Rose | Courtney Lee | Carmelo Anthony | Kristaps Porzingis | Joakim Noah |
| Brandon Jennings | Justin Holiday | Lance Thomas | Maurice Ndour | Willy Hernangomez |
| Sasha Vujacic | Mindaugas Kuzminskas | Kyle O'Quinn | ||
| Ron Baker | Marshall Plumlee |
Mindaugas Kuzminskas is quickly becoming a lock to stay on the New York Knicks' active roster. It's also not inconceivable that he could play a big part in their future plans.
"When I was going to this team, people would say it is bad you're going with Carmelo [Anthony]," the Lithuanian small forward told Newsday.com's Barbara Barker. "But I think it's a good thing because in practice, I can learn a lot. Defending every day against Lance [Thomas] and Melo and playing offense against them, these lessons are priceless."
So far, the lessons are paying off: According to RealGM.com, he's posted a player efficiency rating (23.9) that beats out Kristaps Porzingis (22.8) and trails only Kyle O'Quinn (26.1) and Sasha Vujacic (25.8). Carmelo Anthony is the lone Knick posting more points per 36 minutes. In fact, Kuzminskas is logging 24.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes while shooting 52.6 percent from the field.
He's looked like far more than a role player, and could work his way up the depth chart rather quickly.
For now, New York's starting five is set in stone. Derrick Rose has too much star power to come off the bench at the beginning of the season, even though it's possible a motivated Brandon Jennings could outplay him. Courtney Lee, Anthony, Porzingis and Joakim Noah aren't going anywhere.
It's the bench where uncertainty reigns supreme, as the Knicks have a handful of veterans and intriguing youngsters competing for minutes. It wouldn't be surprising to see Willy Hernangomez, Ron Baker and Kuminskas take on bigger roles. It also wouldn't be shocking to see them fade into the background as O'Quinn, Lance Thomas and Justin Holiday prove they can help keep the team in playoff contention.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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| Russell Westbrook | Victor Oladipo | Andre Roberson | Ersan Ilyasova | Steven Adams |
| Cameron Payne | Alex Abrines | Kyle Singler | Domantas Sabonis | Enes Kanter |
| Ronnie Price | Anthony Morrow | Josh Huestis | Nick Collison | Joffrey Lauvergne |
Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo and Andre Roberson are locked in as starters at the smaller positions. Cameron Payne (when healthy) and Alex Abrines are the clear-cut backups. Kyle Singler fills a similar role for the moment, though Josh Huestis could take it away before too long. But power forward and center could go in a million different directions, and we're only being slightly hyperbolic.
When the campaign kicks off, Ersan Ilyasova and Steven Adams should be the starters at their respective positions. But it's not inconceivable that Domantas Sabonis could soon displace Ilyasova. The Thunder could also decide they need Enes Kanter's offense more than Adams' defense without Kevin Durant on the roster.
Hell, they could even start Kanter and Adams together. And what if Joffrey Lauvergne plays his way into the picture?
This is one of those good problems—an excess of non-overlapping talent at two positions.
OKC has plenty of intriguing pieces, and they all fill different roles. Head coach Billy Donovan will have his work cut out for him as he attempts to manage matchups, but at least none of his options will be terrible.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
| Elfrid Payton | Evan Fournier | Aaron Gordon | Serge Ibaka | Nikola Vucevic |
| D.J. Augustin | Jodie Meeks | Mario Hezonja | Jeff Green | Bismack Biyombo |
| C.J. Watson | C.J. Wilcox | Damjan Rudez | Arinze Onuaku | Stephen Zimmerman |
Yes, the Orlando Magic overloaded their frontcourt with new pieces throughout the offseason.
No, it isn't difficult to piece together the order at each position.
Serge Ibaka and Nikola Vucevic will be on the court for the opening tip, pushing Aaron Gordon down to small forward. Jeff Green and Bismack Biyombo will be the primary backups, with Arinze Onuaku and Stephen Zimmerman receiving sparse, garbage-time minutes.
Gordon's presence also pushes Mario Hezonja to the bench and could limit Evan Fournier's impact if the French swingman is giving up some playing time to the contingent of bench shooters—Jodie Meeks, C.J. Wilcox and Damjan Rudez.
But while it isn't tough to figure out the order, it may damage the development of key pieces.
No one will be able to receive as much run as they'd deserve on a more well-balanced squad, to the point that midseason trades could be necessary as the front office tries to eliminate the clutter it created.
Philadelphia 76ers
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| Jerryd Bayless | Gerald Henderson | Robert Covington | Ben Simmons | Joel Embiid |
| T.J. McConnell | Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot | Hollis Thompson | Dario Saric | Nerlens Noel |
| Sergio Rodriguez | Nik Stauskas | Jerami Grant | Jahlil Okafor | |
| Richaun Holmes |
How exactly do the Philadelphia 76ers plan on getting all of these players the necessary minutes?
- Joel Embiid: a two-way preseason stud who can only reasonably line up at the 5.
- Nerlens Noel: a big who can play power forward if he's paired with a floor-spacing 5, though it's troubling how little his jumper has developed.
- Jahlil Okafor: a true old-school center who plays slower than most of the other players on this roster.
- Ben Simmons: a point guard masquerading as an oversized forward who should line up at the 4 once he's healthy.
- Dario Saric: a 6'10" forward whose natural position is the 4 but might be shifted to small forward out of necessity.
- Jerami Grant: an uber-athletic 6'8" power forward who seeks out blocks and loves protecting the rim.
- Richaun Holms: a talented 6'10" big who might be the odd man out.
Good luck, Brett Brown.
Embiid seems to have emerged as the starter after his preseason exploits, but the center position should be an amorphous entity. Listing Okafor as the third-stringer doesn't necessarily mean he'll spend the majority of his time on the pine, since the Sixers should be getting creative with some oversized lineups that maximize the amount of raw talent on the floor.
Perhaps more so than any other roster—and this is especially true if Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot outshines Gerald Henderson or Jerryd Bayless can't hold his own as a lead point guard—this depth chart will be in a near-constant state of flux.
Phoenix Suns
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| Eric Bledsoe | Devin Booker | T.J. Warren | Jared Dudley | Tyson Chandler |
| Brandon Knight | Leandro Barbosa | P.J. Tucker | Marquese Chriss | Alex Len |
| Tyler Ulis | Archie Goodwin | Dragan Bender | Alan Williams | |
| John Jenkins |
As Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough explained on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM's Burns and Gambo show, via ArizonaSports.com's Kevin Zimmerman, T.J. Warren is making strides on the right end of the floor:
"I think he’s much-improved defensively. We've had some difficult matchups at the small forward position (this preseason). I think he did pretty well in those matchups. We know he can score … Really, if he can take that next step defensively — he's always been above-average I think on the ball, guarding his own man. Where we've really seen progress is off the ball, being in his gaps and utilizing weakside help rotations.
"
There's no doubt Warren can score the basketball. If he can morph into even an average defender, he'll become such a lock for the starting five that P.J. Tucker won't have a chance of regaining his old role even once fully healthy.
But the same isn't true of every backup in Phoenix's projected depth chart.
Brandon Knight could play his way back into the starting lineup—or just become the leading point guard if Eric Bledsoe suffers yet another injury. Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender have seemingly unlimited potential at power forward and could soon force Jared Dudley into a limited role that sees him spend his time mentoring. Alex Len could even break out and push Tyson Chandler to the bench, though that seems increasingly unlikely with each passing year.
But for now, the youngsters—important and promising pieces who aren't yet ready to earn wins—are going to remain in their current spots.
Portland Trail Blazers
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| Damian Lillard | C.J. McCollum | Maurice Harkless | Al-Farouq Aminu | Mason Plumlee |
| Shabazz Napier | Allen Crabbe | Evan Turner | Meyers Leonard | Ed Davis |
| Tim Quarterman | Pat Connaughton | Jake Layman | Noah Vonleh | Festus Ezeli |
Allen Crabbe, Maurice Harkless and Evan Turner have battled throughout preseason for the right to start at small forward, per RealGM.com's per-36-minute numbers:
| Allen Crabbe | 12.3 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 43.2 | 43.9 | 11.2 |
| Maurice Harkless | 12.4 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 50.0 | 41.2 | 16.4 |
| Evan Turner | 14.2 | 6.0 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 36.4 | 30.0 | 12.9 |
Turner is the most well-rounded offensive player, capable of serving as a secondary playmaker. But he's a limited shooter who doesn't always fit next to Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, which may well be the team's most important test.
Crabbe is the best shooter of the bunch and doesn't make many errors, but he's also the weakest defender and struggles to contribute in other areas.
It's Harkless who's the best of both worlds, and he's emerged as the most impressive contributor during preseason action. That's given him the starting nod as we head into the regular portion. But—and this is also true of Festus Ezeli and Meyers Leonard at different positions—don't count out his competitors in their quests for bigger roles.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
| Darren Collison | Arron Afflalo | Rudy Gay | Willie Cauley-Stein | DeMarcus Cousins |
| Ty Lawson | Ben McLemore | Matt Barnes | Anthony Tolliver | Kosta Koufos |
| Jordan Farmar | Garrett Temple | Omri Casspi | Skal Labissiere | Georgios Papagiannis |
Darren Collison is going to start at point guard, and Ty Lawson is closer to losing the backup job than he is to supplanting Collison after missing a team flight that came after partying in Las Vegas.
Unless Ben McLemore experiences a post-hype breakout, he'll be spelling Arron Afflalo. Omri Casspi, who served as one of the NBA's most underrated players in 2015-16, will be relegated to third-string duty at small forward.
And, shockingly (note: heavy sarcasm), DeMarcus Cousins is starting at center.
The only true question comes at power forward: Will Willie Cauley-Stein start next to Cousins, or will the Sacramento Kings opt for a more traditional look with Anthony Tolliver spacing out the court?
For now, Cauley-Stein should be the favorite. Sacramento must commit to some of its young players, and this particular Kentucky product runs the risk of being buried by an avalanche of big bodies if he's only allowed to play at the 5.
Of course, everything we've written will change if/when Rudy Gay is traded away.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
| Tony Parker | Danny Green | Kawhi Leonard | LaMarcus Aldridge | Pau Gasol |
| Patty Mills | Manu Ginobili | Kyle Anderson | David Lee | Dewayne Dedmon |
| Dejounte Murray | Jonathon Simmons | Davis Bertans | ||
| Bryn Forbes | Nicolas Laprovittola |
If it feels like the San Antonio Spurs have more young contributors than usual, they do.
Dejounte Murray was a steal at the end of the first round, and he should play significant minutes at both guard spots during his rookie season. Jonathon Simmons might not receive as much run as in 2015-16, but he's still a useful bench piece. Dewayne Dedmon has plenty of upside and figures to be the primary backup to Pau Gasol at center.
And that's saying nothing of the more unheralded face (Bryn Forbes, who has impressed immensely in preseason) and the new crop of international talent. Davis Bertans should figure prominently into head coach Gregg Popovich's plans, and he's already turning some heads.
Per Bleacher Report's Mike Monroe, Manu Ginobili compared him to longtime former Spur Matt Bonner:
"Matty had a great career, with championships, played 10 years on one team. It's not a bad comparison. For sure, [Bertans] has the potential to do more, because of his athleticism, because of his size, his quick release. He's going to need a little time to adjust. He's going to play. Pop likes his game. Opponents are going to have to respect his shot.
"
This roster still revolves around incumbent starters and the big offseason addition (Gasol). But let's not overlook how much upside is laying in wait on th bench, just waiting for opportunities to become the franchise's newest success stories.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
| Kyle Lowry | DeMar DeRozan | DeMarre Carroll | Jared Sullinger | Jonas Valanciunas |
| Cory Joseph | Norman Powell | Terrence Ross | Patrick Patterson | Jakob Poeltl |
| Delon Wright | Bruno Caboclo | Pascal Siakam | Lucas Nogueira | |
| Fred VanVleet |
Are there any doubts about the Toronto Raptors' starters?
The All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan is back in business and once more joined by Jonas Valanciunas up front. But this time, the incumbent trio will be paired with a healthy DeMarre Carroll and Jared Sullinger, who signed this summer to add some stretchiness and interior toughness to the Raptors frontcourt.
"[Patrick] Patterson's presence with the second unit and the staggered units will be a must have for Casey," Zach Harpe wrote for CBSSports.com. "Throwing Sullinger out there to help with the rebounding in the first unit and allowing Patterson to be used as this wild-card weapon for Casey makes sense."
Patterson's presence will indeed make Toronto's second unit stronger, regardless of whether Jakob Poeltl or Lucas Nogueira ends up as the backup center, filling Bismack Biyombo's old role. With a true big, a floor-spacing 4, Terrence Ross, Norman Powell and Cory Joseph, the Raptors will be prepared to overwhelm the more limited depth of other organizations.
And if Delon Wright, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam or Bruno Caboclo (who's now zero years away from being two years away) can expedite their developmental timetables, the sky is the limit.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
| George Hill | Rodney Hood | Gordon Hayward | Derrick Favors | Rudy Gobert |
| Shelvin Mack | Alec Burks | Joe Johnson | Boris Diaw | Jeff Withey |
| Dante Exum | Joe Ingles | Trey Lyles | ||
| Raul Neto | Joel Bolomboy |
According to nbawowy.com, the four-man combination of Rodney Hood, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert tortured opponents during the rare instances in which they were all healthy in 2015-16. Over the course of 689 minutes, they posted a 110.6 offensive rating to go along with their 106.4 defensive rating.
That's already solid, and it was done while Shelvin Mack, Raul Neto and Trey Burke were playing point guard. Now, George Hill pushes everyone else at his position down in the rotation. Ditto for the newly healthy Dante Exum, who should also log some time at shooting guard.
This is a team with a deadly starting lineup and plenty of depth, especially now that it has retained so many key pieces while adding Boris Diaw and Joe Johnson into the mix. Even if Trey Lyles isn't in the running for Most Improved Player and Mack regresses immensely, the Jazz will inevitably be in great shape.
After all, you can't push toward 50 wins without a strong starting unit and the right pieces behind it.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
| John Wall | Bradley Beal | Otto Porter | Markieff Morris | Marcin Gortat |
| Trey Burke | Tomas Satoransky | Kelly Oubre | Andrew Nicholson | Ian Mahinmi |
| Marcus Thornton | Danuel House | Jason Smith | ||
| Sheldon McClellan | Daniel Ochefu |
John Wall and Bradley Beal will continue to dominate Washington Wizards headlines in 2015-16. Marcin Gortat will make highlight reels with his pick-and-roll dunks as a top-tier rim-runner alongside the starting guards.
But it's Otto Porter who could break out, whether he's the starting small forward or moving up a slot and pushing Markieff Morris to the bench.
Porter was quietly one of the league's most improved players in 2015-16, averaging 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from beyond the arc. But he's entering his fourth professional season now, and he's showing signs of adding new elements to his game.
Sure, his shot has been a bit off from outside the paint. But he's also working as a facilitator with increased frequency and doing so without turning over the rock. His efforts on the glass looks improved, and his defense has been better than ever.
It also helps that Kelly Oubre Jr. is pushing him from behind, eager to take over the job as the team's starting 3. So long as the competition remains healthy and forces both young players to continue improving, the Wizards will have one of those good problems on their hands.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are from Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com or NBA Math and are accurate heading into games on Oct. 21.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.
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