Welcome back to part 2 of our Reinventing the NBA blog. If you missed last Monday’s part 1, click here to read that first, or else you may be quite confused as to what is going on.

To recap, each team’s most valuable player was removed from their respective team and a year was played with some of the biggest names in the game sidelined. It was a year with no Steph, LeBron, Giannis, Luka, Jokic, Embiid, etc. In this league, guys like Jaylen Brown, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving were atop the MVP ladder.

In today’s part 2, we will be running our own lottery based on our reinvented NBA’s projected standings. We will then have a draft where each team will have a chance to draft any star player that is still in the draft room waiting to be selected. Finally, we will analyze every team with their newly added superstar.

Before we get into the lottery, please make sure to subscribe to The MVP Blog and follow us on Twitter and Instagram if you are enjoying the content.

The Reinvented NBA Lottery

It’s lottery time. Each team has sent a representative that they hope will bring the team good luck that could turn around their sorry franchise. Although there are only great players available in this draft, everyone still wants one of the coveted top 3 picks. The ability to select a guy like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, or Luka Doncic is a franchise changing selection.

Here is the expected draft order with the percent chance each team has at receiving the #1 overall pick:

1. Detroit Pistons – 14.0%
2. San Antonio Spurs – 14.0%
3. Oklahoma City Thunder – 14.0%
4. Charlotte Hornets – 12.5%
5. Orlando Magic – 9.8%
6. Houston Rockets – 9.7%
7. Indiana Pacers – 6.8%
8. Dallas Mavericks – 6.7%
9. Washinton Wizards – 4.5%
10. Toronto Raptors – 2.5%
11. Los Angeles Lakers – 2.5%
12. Utah Jazz – 1.5%
13. New York Knicks – 0.8%
14. Sacramento Kings – 0.7%

Here we go. It’s lottery time.

Things start as expected. Kings. Knicks. Jazz. When will we get our first team jumping into the top 4?

The Lakers stay at 11.

The 10th pick card is revealed. The Wizards. The Raptors rejoice as they have jumped into the top 4! They have been searching for a franchise changing piece since Kawhi left for LA after winning a ring. Now with a guaranteed top 4 pick in a draft full of superstars, they are going to get what they have so desperately wanted.

The next 3 picks go as expected. Mavericks. Pacers. Rockets.

The 6th pick belongs to the… Oklahoma City Thunder? Just brutal luck to fall out of the top 4. Hearing this, however, brings great joy to the city of Orlando. They had just lost Paolo Banchero, their cherished young phenom. Now they are guaranteed a top 4 pick and will replace him with a proven superstar.

The 5th pick belongs to the San Antonio Spurs. More tough luck for a franchise that needs all the help it can get.

This leaves the Raptors, Magic, Hornets and Pistons. Although you can’t go wrong with any player in this draft, everyone wants a top 3 pick. Everyone wants the guarantee of Giannis, Luka, or Jokic.

The 4th pick belongs to… the Charlotte Hornets. Sorry MJ.

The 3rd pick belongs to… the Orlando Magic.

The 2nd pick belongs to… the Toronto Raptors.

That means…

THE DETROIT PISTONS HAVE WON THE REINVENTED NBA LOTTERY, SO GO CRAZY, MOTOWN!

The Reinvented NBA Draft

It is important to note that we are drafting for best fit for each team. Some teams are in win now mode, other teams are building for the future. Although LeBron James and Steph Curry are two of the best players in the world right now, it would be silly for a team like the Magic or Rockets to take one of them over the likes of Ja Morant or Anthony Edwards.

With that out of the way, The Reinvented NBA Draft is officially underway.

Detroit Pistons. You’re on the clock.

1. Detroit Pistons – Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Toronto Raptors – Nikola Jokic
3. Orlando Magic – Luka Doncic
4. Charlotte Hornets – Jayson Tatum
5. San Antonio Spurs – Tyrese Haliburton
6. Oklahoma City Thunder – Paolo Banchero
7. Houston Rockets – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
8. Indiana Pacers – Ja Morant
9. Dallas Mavericks – Joel Embiid
10. Washington Wizards – Stephen Curry
11. Los Angeles Lakers – Donovan Mitchell
12. Utah Jazz – Anthony Edwards
13. New York Knicks – Kevin Durant
14. Sacramento Kings – Zion Williamson
15. Atlanta Hawks – Devin Booker
16. Minnesota Timberwolves – LeBron James
17. Chicago Bulls – Jimmy Butler
18. Golden State Warriors – Damian Lillard
19. Philadelphia 76ers – Pascal Siakam
20. Phoenix Suns – Dejounte Murray
21. Milwaukee Bucks – Paul George
22. Portland Trail Blazers – Cade Cunningham
23. Denver Nuggets – Domantas Sabonis
24. Miami Heat – Lauri Markkanen
25. Los Angeles Clippers – LaMelo Ball
26. New Orleans Pelicans – Julius Randle
27. Cleveland Cavaliers – Jalen Green
28. Memphis Grizzlies – Keldon Johnson
29. Brooklyn Nets – DeMar DeRozan
30. Boston Celtics – Bradley Beal

The Reinvented NBA Team Analysis

There has been a lot of talk about super teams in recent years. If you don’t have 2-3 superstars, you probably are not a serious title contender, with the 2021-22 Warriors being the exception (Steph was the only superstar on that team). In our reinvented NBA, there are no more super teams. The stars are spread out like never before and this is the most parody the league has ever seen. The NBA has never been as competitive as it is in our reinvented league. Let’s take a look at every team with their new look.

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks
Player Removed: Dejounte Murray
Player Added: Devin Booker
New Starting Lineup: Trae Young, Devin Booker, De’Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela
Key Reserves: Bogdan Bogdanovic, AJ Griffin, Onyeka Okongwu

Devin Booker is a slightly better fit next to Trae Young compared to Dejounte Murray. While Murray’s ability to be a defensive anchor on the perimeter helps mask Trae’s deficiencies on that end of the floor, Booker’s ability to score off the ball makes him the perfect backcourt partner in Atlanta. Booker is a capable, albeit unspectacular, defender. However, his offensive production is exactly what the Hawks need to take some of the pressure off of Trae Young. At just 26 years old, he is the perfect pick to help the Hawks continue to assemble a true contender for the present and future. 42-40.

Boston Celtics
Player Removed: Jayson Tatum
Player Added: Bradley Beal
New Starting Lineup: Marcus Smart, Bradley Beal, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Robert Williams
Key Reserves: Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, Grant Williams

Even without Jayson Tatum, the Celtics were an elite team in our reimagined NBA. Despite the fact that they were rewarded for their excellence with the last pick in the superstar draft, they remain an elite team by selecting Bradley Beal. The Celtics will enjoy greater floor spacing with the sharpshooting guard in their starting lineup, and Jaylen Brown will see fewer double teams due to Beal’s presence. Meanwhile, Derrick White moves back to the bench, a role in which he is thriving in the real NBA this season. Long story short, the Celtics are still an incredible basketball team, and Beal only solidifies that. 51-31.

Brooklyn Nets
Player Removed: Kevin Durant
Player Added: DeMar DeRozan
New Starting Lineup: Kyrie Irving, Royce O’Neale, DeMar DeRozan, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton
Key Reserves: Seth Curry, T.J. Warren, Joe Harris, Yuta Watanabe

The Brooklyn Nets are going to sorely miss the dominant scoring presence that Kevin Durant provides. Kyrie Irving is more than capable of becoming the tip of the offensive spear, but he could use a sidekick to help balance the scoring attack. DeMar DeRozan provides just that. The eternally underrated swingman has elevated his game in recent years to become one of the most efficient midrange scorers in NBA history, offering a perfect complement to Irving’s masterful control of the perimeter. While Durant is a better defender than DeRozan, and the Nets definitely become a worse team overall with DeMar instead of KD in the lineup, they’re still good enough to make the play-in. 41-41.

Charlotte Hornets
Player Removed: LaMelo Ball
Player Added: Jayson Tatum
New Starting Lineup: Dennis Smith Jr., Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Mason Plumlee
Key Reserves: Kelly Oubre Jr., P.J. Washington, Jalen McDaniels

For the first time in franchise history, the Charlotte Hornets have a superstar on their roster. Jayson Tatum arrives from Boston after becoming the 4th overall pick in our superstar draft. The Hornets definitely improve a lot as a result of Tatum’s two-way talents, but they’re still a bad team, especially in our remarkably competitive reinvented NBA. Dennis Smith Jr. is undoubtedly a fun player to watch, but he’s not an adequate replacement for LaMelo Ball as the floor general of the offense. Further, Rozier and Hayward are unreliable second scoring options next to Tatum. Sorry Jayson. 32-50.

Chicago Bulls
Player Removed: DeMar DeRozan
Player Added: Jimmy Butler
New Starting Lineup: Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Jimmy Butler, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic
Key Reserves: Alex Caruso, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Javonte Green

The return of Jimmy Buckets to the Windy City. Bulls’ fans would be ecstatic with Chicago’s selection of Jimmy Butler with the 17th pick in the superstar draft. Butler provides everything the Bulls lack: elite defense, reliable scoring, and team leadership. The Bulls are currently a team in disarray, lacking an identity despite the fact that their roster is built to try and win now. Butler is an upgrade over DeRozan and has the ability to elevate his solid supporting cast (Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic) to help the Bulls reach the play-in. 41-41.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Player Removed: Donovan Mitchell
Player Added: Jalen Green
New Starting Lineup: Darius Garland, Jalen Green, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Key Reserves: Kevin Love, Caris LeVert, Cedi Osman, Ricky Rubio

The Cavs replace Donovan Mitchell with Jalen Green in one of the biggest downgrades in terms of current talent in our reimagined NBA. So, what’s the upside? For starters, Jalen Green is just 20 years old, and he’s shown flashes of superstar potential in his first two seasons in the league. Further, Green’s youth fits the timeline in Cleveland, as the other core pieces on the Cavs roster (Garland, Mobley, and Allen) are all 24 years old or younger. The Cavaliers definitely drop a bunch more games without Spida to provide nearly 30ppg of efficient offense, but they’re still a very good team with lots of depth. 43-39.

Detroit Pistons
Player Removed: Cade Cunningham
Player Added: Giannis Antetokounmpo
New Starting Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Isaiah Stewart
Key Reserves: Saddiq Bey, Jalen Duren, Alec Burks, Marvin Bagley

The Detroit Pistons earned the top spot in the superstar draft as the joint-worst team in our superstar-less NBA. That 23-59 record should improve dramatically now that they have Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup, arguably the world’s best basketball player. The Greek Freak immediately becomes the most talented player in the Pistons’ storied history, but his supporting cast leaves a lot to be desired. Simply put, Detroit is not built to win now. The ultra-young backcourt of Killian Hayes and Jaden Ivey may be fun, but it won’t win many games. Giannis can take over games in a flash and lead the team to wins by himself, but he can’t carry Detroit to the playoffs. 37-45.

Indiana Pacers
Player Removed: Tyrese Haliburton
Player Added: Ja Morant
New Starting Lineup: Ja Morant, Buddy Hield, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner
Key Reserves: T.J. McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Jalen Smith

In real life, the Indiana Pacers have been one of the unlikely success stories of the NBA season thus far. This has largely been due to the brilliant abilities of franchise floor general Tyrese Haliburton. Ja Morant, who arrives in Indiana via the superstar draft, is definitely an upgrade, but it’s much more marginal than many would assume. Not much changes in Indiana with Morant at the helm; they’re still a young, exciting team which has a bright future. However, with the rest of the Eastern Conference (and the league as a whole) becoming even more competitive due to the superstar draft, the Pacers come up just shy of reaching the play-in. 40-42.

Miami Heat
Player Removed: Jimmy Butler
Player Added: Lauri Markkanen
New Starting Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, Lauri Markkanen, Bam Adebayo
Key Reserves: Victor Oladipo, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent

Let’s be honest. Even with Jimmy Butler, the Heat’s window to win a title has probably closed. For that reason, now that Butler has been removed from the team, the Heat would benefit from adding a third young star to their exciting core of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. For that reason, Lauri Markkanen arrives in Miami as the 24th overall pick in the superstar draft. At just 25 years old, “The Finnisher” has finally broken out into an All-Star caliber wing. He’s having a season worthy of the Most Improved Player award in real life, averaging 25/9 on 66% true shooting. He is a three-level scorer who also controls the glass and spaces the floor, a true luxury in the modern NBA. The Heat wouldn’t win as many games in the present, but adding Lauri to their roster could kickstart a more prosperous future. 33-49.

Milwaukee Bucks
Player Removed: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Player Added: Paul George
New Starting Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Paul George, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez
Key Reserves: Grayson Allen, Jevon Carter, Pat Connaughton

In a seismic blow to the Milwaukee Bucks, they no longer get to rely on the generational talent of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Regardless, Paul George is a pretty good consolation prize, as he fits seamlessly into the Bucks offense next to Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. George spaces the floor much better than Giannis, but he is just as versatile, albeit with less production in each statistical category. PG13 is a more than capable scorer as the first option for the offense, an underrated playmaker, a good rebounder, and an excellent perimeter defender. The main issue for Milwaukee when it comes to swapping Giannis for PG is that their window becomes much shorter. Giannis is 28 years old, and he will likely be an elite player in the NBA for at least the next 5 years. Meanwhile, Paul George is starting to regress with each passing year now that he’s 32 years old. For now, in the present, the Bucks are still a top 4 seed in the East in our reinvented NBA. 47-35.

New York Knicks
Player Removed: Julius Randle
Player Added: Kevin Durant
New Starting Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Kevin Durant, Mitchell Robinson
New Bench Unit: Immanuel Quickley, Jericho Sims, Obi Toppin

Kevin Durant and the New York Knicks are a match made in heaven. This isn’t a slight to Julius Randle, who is having a very underrated season for the Knicks in real life, averaging 24/11/4 on 58% true shooting. However, it’s tantalizing to think about how raucous the Garden would be if the Knicks faithful got to see one of the greatest pure scorers of all time lace it up every night. There’s not much to say about KD that hasn’t already been said. His combination of height, length, athleticism, and skill make him an unstoppable scorer, as the best defense that can be played on him boils down to praying that he misses. Brunson, Barrett, and Durant would make for an imposing big three in New York, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see the Knicks improve in the win column in our reinvented NBA. 45-37.

Orlando Magic
Player Removed: Paolo Banchero
Player Added: Luka Doncic
New Starting Lineup: Luka Doncic, Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, Bol Bol, Wendell Carter Jr.
Key Reserves: Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Mo Wagner

The Orlando Magic already have one of the most promising young cores in the entire NBA before they upgrade excellent rookie Paolo Banchero by drafting Luka Doncic in the superstar draft. At just 23 years old, Doncic represents both great value and great team fit as the 3rd pick. Despite his youth, the Slovenian guard is indisputably a top 5 player in the league, and he’s enjoying an incredible season in real life for the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 34/9/9 on 61% true shooting. As a generational playmaker, he will make life easier on the offensive end for fellow young star Franz Wagner. Bol Bol and Wendell Carter Jr. are modern big men – able to set screens, space the floor, crash the glass, and impose their will on defense – who will see their offensive production increase due to Luka’s presence. The Magic aren’t contenders right now, but they’d no doubt contend at some point in the future as a result of their good luck in the superstar draft. 38-44.

Philadelphia 76ers
Player Removed: Joel Embiid
Player Added: Pascal Siakam
New Starting Lineup: James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, P.J. Tucker, Pascal Siakam
Key Reserves: De’Anthony Melton, Shake Milton, Georges Niang, Montrezl Harrell

The Sixers swap one Cameroonian big man for another in the superstar draft. Losing franchise cornerstone Joel Embiid is a massive blow for the team’s scoring, offensive spacing, rebounding, and interior defense, but Pascal Siakam makes the Sixers more dynamic. Compared to Embiid, Siakam is less of a “ball stopper”, and his ability to run in transition will lead to more open looks for Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris. Even as a slight downgrade from Embiid, Siakam can hold his own as a defender and rebounder despite his relative lack of size (Embiid is 7 feet tall, Siakam is 6’9″). Siakam is a much better playmaker than Embiid, and it would be interesting to see how playmaking virtuoso James Harden would fit in an offense with another capable passer by his side. Given all of these positives, it’s no surprise that Philly is still a legit contender. 49-33.

Toronto Raptors
Player Removed: Pascal Siakam
Player Added: Nikola Jokic
New Starting Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., O.G. Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Nikola Jokic
Key Reserves: Chris Boucher, Precious Achiuwa, Otto Porter Jr.

The Raptors are in desperate need of a true superstar to lead their talented squad, and they get just that in Nikola Jokic. This development is a real stroke of luck for Toronto, as they had the 10th best odds in the superstar draft and yet they jumped up the board to obtain the 2nd overall pick. Pascal Siakam is an All-Star talent with a long, successful career ahead of him, but he doesn’t hold a candle to “The Joker”. The NBA’s back to back MVP is having yet another incredible season as he makes the case for a third straight MVP award, averaging 25/11/10 on an absurd 69% true shooting. Jokic is one of the greatest passers in NBA history, and his ability to operate as the hub of the offense will lead to plenty of open looks for Toronto’s wide array of scoring options (VanVleet, Trent, Anunoby, and Barnes). Behind their newfound source of efficient offense, the Raptors don’t just jump into the playoffs, they also establish themselves among the NBA’s best teams. 50-32.

Washington Wizards
Player Removed: Bradley Beal
Player Added: Stephen Curry
New Starting Lineup: Stephen Curry, Will Barton, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis
Key Reserves: Monte Morris, Corey Kispert, Rui Hachimura

The Wizards are another team that emerge as “winners” in this reinvented NBA. They add (arguably) a top 10 player in NBA history, and they fill a dire positional need in their lineup at the same time. Monte Morris is a great bench player, but he’s not good enough to lead an offense as the starting point guard. In contrast, Stephen Curry is one of the best offensive players the game of basketball has ever seen. His three-pointer is a weapon of mass destruction, and Curry’s ability to draw the defense’s undivided attention will make life a lot easier for the other scoring options on the Wizards, most notably Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma. Steph has proven his historic worth as the lead guard of one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties, and it goes without saying that he is an immense upgrade over Bradley Beal. Even though the Wizards are still a piece or two shy of becoming a real contender, they’re a much-improved team in the East, good enough to make the playoffs. 44-38.

Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks
Player Removed: Luka Doncic
Player Added: Joel Embiid
New Starting Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Christian Wood, Joel Embiid
Key Reserves: Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell, Jaden Hardy

When you look at what this team had around Luka, it is almost unfathomable as to how he was able to carry this team to the playoffs every single year. There was just so little around him. This team needs that dominant guard to win. Embiid was the pick that had to be made here, but he can’t carry the Mavs in the same way that Luka did. Dinwiddie would have to step up big time for this team to have any chance in this reinvented, uber-competitive NBA. 34-48.

Denver Nuggets
Player Removed: Nikola Jokic
Player Added: Domantas Sabonis
New Starting Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Domantas Sabonis
Key Reserves:  Bones Hyland, Bruce Brown, Jeff Green

Out of every player that has found a new team, this is perhaps my favorite fit. In so many ways, Domantas Sabonis is basically Nikola Jokic, just a slightly lesser version. These two players do so many similar things on the basketball court. Both are more traditional big men in the fact that they post-up and aren’t really a huge threat from three. Both are fantastic rebounders. Jokic is the best passing big in the NBA, but Sabonis is right behind him in that regard too. It always stings when you lose a back-to-back MVP, but this team shouldn’t miss a beat since they don’t need to change any of their offensive plays or schemes. It might be a controversial take, but Sabonis wouldn’t be all that big of a drop off from Nikola Jokic for Denver. 52-30.

Golden State Warriors
Player Removed: Stephen Curry
Player Added: Damian Lillard
New Starting Lineup: Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney
Key Reserves: Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, Anthony Lamb, Jonathan Kuminga

This is another very fun fit in that both Curry and Lillard, his replacement, do a lot of similar things on the basketball court. There are only about 3 guys in the NBA who are in shooting range the second they cross half-court, but Curry and Lillard are 2 of those guys. Part of what makes Curry so special is his off-ball movement. That man just runs and runs and runs. We have never seen Lillard do things like that, but he has also never been coached by the great Steve Kerr. Lillard, a slightly lesser version of Curry, would be used in a very similar way as to how Kerr used Curry. This Warriors team would still very much be must watch television every time they take the floor. 46-36.

Houston Rockets
Player Removed: Jalen Green
Player Added: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
New Starting Lineup: Kevin Porter Jr., Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Eric Gordon, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Key Reserves: Jae’Sean Tate, Tari Eason, Kenyon Martin Jr.

Shai-Gilgeous Alexander has vaulted into NBA superstardom this season. He’s averaging 31 points per game while shooting over 50% from the floor. He’s also getting to the charity stripe over 10 times per contest. He’s just about the most efficient scoring guard this league has to offer. He now joins a young, talented Rockets core that is just oozing with potential. He would instantly make this team better, but they are still 2-3 years out from being anything. With that being said, the future of this team is so incredibly bright. 27-55.

Los Angeles Clippers
Player Removed: Paul George
Player Added: LaMelo Ball
New Starting Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terance Mann, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac
Key Reserves: John Wall, Norman Powell, Luke Kennard, Nicolas Batum

In all honesty, LaMelo would be an awkward fit for the Clippers. They desperately need a lead ball handler, and Ball was really the only one of those left when the Clippers made their selection late in the draft, so this was the pick that had to be made. Even with a very good point guard, this team has gotten significantly worse after replacing Paul George with LaMelo Ball. This is an older, win now team. LaMelo Ball doesn’t really fit that bill. Sure, he will be around for a long time, but the Clippers aren’t winning a title in this 2-3 year championship window they are currently in. Kawhi Leonard would keep this team relevant, but if he were to get hurt (again), this team wins about 30 games. 42-40.

Los Angeles Lakers
Player Removed: LeBron James
Player Added: Donovan Mitchell
New Starting Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Donovan Mitchell, Austin Reaves, Troy Brown Jr., Anthony Davis
Key Reserves: Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Lonnie Walker IV, Thomas Bryant

Donovan Mitchell is an absolute stud. He wouldn’t be blinded by the bright lights of LA. There is no doubt in my mind that he would become the next Laker great, but they need to put some more talent around him. AD is phenomenal, but he is ALWAYS hurt. Russell Westbrook is enjoying a resurgence year, but he’s not a part of the future in LA. This team just has so little talent. Austin Reaves is a very solid role guy and is incredibly loveable, but he has to be just that: a role player. He is more than a role guy on this Lakers squad with so little talent. LeBron James couldn’t bring this team success in 2021-22. That means Donovan Mitchell sure as heck isn’t with the same team. 32-50.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Player Removed: Anthony Edwards
Player Added: LeBron James
New Starting Lineup:  LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Jaden McDaniels, Karl Anthony-Towns, Rudy Gobert
Key Reserves: Taurean Prince, Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid, Jordan McLaughlin

LeBron freaking James. Welcome to Minnesota. I must admit, I have never liked you. But now you are on my team, and we are instantly championship contenders. This lineup is MASSIVE, but those are the 5 that would have to start. Russell switching over to a more off-ball role would be very beneficial for his career, in my opinion. It would take this team 30-40 games to gel and find their rhythm, but just based on individual talent alone, this team would be tough to beat and finishes near the top of the West. Come playoff time, this may be the team to beat. 51-31.

Memphis Grizzlies
Player Removed: Ja Morant
Player Added: Keldon Johnson
New Starting Lineup: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Keldon Johnson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams
Key Reserves: Dillon Brooks, John Konchar, Brandon Clarke

Ja Morant is so incredibly talented, but he doesn’t make the Grizzlies dominant. Sure, he raises their ceiling, but this team is near the top of the west with or without Morant. Tyus Jones is the best backup PG in the league, and there is little doubt in my mind that he would excel in a starting role. Desmond Bane and JJJ are both fantastic basketball players who know their role and do it so well. With no Ja, Bane becomes the #1 offensive option and develops into a Donovan Mitchell type player. Yes, he is that good. JJJ is probably the best defender the NBA has to offer. The only thing that is holding him back is constant foul trouble. Adding Keldon Johnson gives this team an all-star caliber wing that slides in alongside Bane to add another offensive threat. This move also allows Dillon Brooks to move to a bench role, where he would serve as the 6th man and the leader of the second unit. This team is really freaking good. 53-29.

New Orleans Pelicans
Player Removed: Zion Williamson
Player Added: Julius Randle
New Starting Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Jonas Valanciunas
Key Reserves: Trey Murphy III, Naji Marshall, Jose Alvarado, Larry Nance Jr.

Julius Randle is back! Randle spent the 2018-19 season in New Orleans. That was the first season where he really started to show just how good he might become, averaging 21/9/3. Randle being available at 26 was a dream come true for the Pelicans, who were looking to add a 4 after losing Zion Williamson. Randle fits in so well on this team. CJ, Ingram, and Randle form the new big 3, but this team is about their depth. You’ll be hard pressed to find a deeper team in the NBA than the New Orleans Pelicans. This team is very good. 48-34.

Oklahoma City Thunder
Player Removed: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Player Added: Paolo Banchero
New Starting Lineup: Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren
Key Reserves: Aleksej Pokusevski, Tre Mann, Kenrich Williams

The Thunder lost a 24-year-old superstar. That stings. It hurts a little less when you replace him with 20-year-old budding superstar Paolo Banchero. Banchero fills a position of great need for the Thunder. This also allows Josh Giddey to become the primary ball handler. Jalen Williams has been outstanding in his rookie campaign. With the new season also comes the NBA debut of 2022 2nd overall pick Chet Holmgren. The Thunder now have the #1, #2, and #12 picks from that draft. This team will be contending for titles within 2-3 years, but for now, they are just too young to compete. 29-53.

Phoenix Suns
Player Removed: Devin Booker
Player Added: Dejounte Murray
New Starting Lineup: Chris Paul, Dejounte Murray, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, DeAndre Ayton
Key Reserves: Cam Payne, Landry Shamet, Damion Lee, Torrey Craig

Many people are so down on the Suns because of their struggles this season. CP3 has been in and out of the lineup. Ayton has been in and out. Cameron Johnson has been out since the 3rd week. Booker has missed extended time. Let me ask you this. What team would be good without 4 of their 5 starters? That’s what I thought. The fact that the Suns have stayed afloat is incredible. With the new season comes fresh health. Devin Booker is gone, but Dejounte Murray joins the mix. Murray and Bridges defending on the same court is an absolutely terrifying thought for opposing offenses. The bench isn’t as good as it once was, but this team is still good enough to be in the middle of the pack in the West. 44-38.

Portland Trail Blazers
Player Removed: Damian Lillard
Player Added: Cade Cunningham
New Starting Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart, Jerami Grant, Jusuf Nurkic
New Bench Unit: Justise Winslow, Shaedon Sharpe, Gary Payton II, Drew Eubanks

Cade Cunningham joins Anfernee Simons to form probably the most promising backcourt in this reinvented NBA. This team is the perfect mix of youth and veterans. Shaedon Sharpe joins Cunningham and Simons as the youthful players with great potential. Hart, Grant, Nurkic, and Winslow provide the veteran presence to keep this team somewhat relevant and show the young guys how to compete in this league and do a little bit of winning in the process. Most would expect this team to fall off without Dame, but that may not be the case. This team still has a lot of talent, even without a superstar. 38-44.

Sacramento Kings
Player Removed: Domantas Sabonis
Player Added: Zion Williamson
New Starting Lineup: De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Zion Williamson
New Bench Unit: Davion Mitchell, Malik Monk, Terence Davis, Trey Lyles

Given the loss of a true center in Sabonis, the fit of Zion at the 5 is dubious to say the least. But when Zion is available at 13, it’s impossible to pass up on him. This team would get absolutely bullied on the boards. People have this idea in their mind that Zion is a much better rebounder than he actually is due to his insane athleticism. However, he averages just 7.8 rebounds per 36 minutes for his career. That number would go up slightly on this team, but it’s still not enough to make up for their lack of size without Sabonis. As a result, Richaun Holmes might start getting some serious minutes on this team for the first time in a while. This team has a lot of scoring, so they would definitely stay competitive in the West, but the lack of size/rebounding limits their upside. 40-42.

San Antonio Spurs
Player Removed: Keldon Johnson
Player Added: Tyrese Haliburton
New Starting Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Devin Vassell, Josh Richardson, Jeremy Sochan, Jakob Poeltl
New Bench Unit: Tre Jones, Zach Collins, Doug McDermott

If you are dumbfounded or upset by the Spurs selecting Haliburton over Morant, that probably means you haven’t actually ever seen Haliburton play. This kid has unlimited potential. In his first full season as the #1 option in the real NBA, he is averaging 20+ points and leads the league in assists. He has also led the Pacers to a very unexpected 23-22 record. On top of that, Tyrese just fits the Spurs so well. He is so humble and would be exactly what Pop has been desperate for ever since Duncan retired. Ja Morant has a HUGE ego. Huge egos don’t last long with Coach Pop. Tyrese provides the foundation for the rebuilding Spurs. This team is young, but that doesn’t mean they have a bright future. The young talent on this team isn’t great. Even with Hali, this is the worst team in the league. They need to get him help. 24-58.

Utah Jazz
Player Removed: Lauri Markkanen
Player Added: Anthony Edwards
New Starting Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler
New Bench Unit: Malik Beasley, Colin Sexton, Kelly Olynyk

The 2022-23 real NBA Utah Jazz has been walking proof that you don’t necessarily need a superstar to be competitive in this league. They lose Lauri Markkanen, who has been a vital part of their success, but they add Anthony Edwards, who will jump into superstardom with the Jazz. This offense runs through Anthony Edwards, and he wouldn’t disappoint. Expect Ant to average 28-30 points per game in the reinvented NBA. Clarkson, Beasley, and Sexton also provide a scoring punch. Vanderbilt and Kessler are both fantastic defensive players, with Kessler being one of the top rim protectors in the NBA. This team would stay in the play-in mix. 37-45.

Projected Reinvented NBA Standings

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics (51-31)
2. Toronto Raptors (50-32)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (49-33)
4. Milwaukee Bucks (47-35)
5. New York Knicks (45-37)
6. Washington Wizards (44-38)
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (43-39)
8. Atlanta Hawks (42-40)
9. Chicago Bulls (41-41)
10. Brooklyn Nets (41-41)
11. Indiana Pacers (40-42)
12. Orlando Magic (38-44)
13. Detroit Pistons (37-45)
14. Miami Heat (33-49)
15. Charlotte Hornets (32-50)

Western Conference

1. Memphis Grizzlies (53-29)
2. Denver Nuggets (52-30)
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (51-31)
4. New Orleans Pelicans (48-34)
5. Golden State Warriors (46-36)
6. Phoenix Suns (44-38)
7. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40)
8. Sacramento Kings (40-42)
9. Portland Trail Blazers (38-44)
10. Utah Jazz (37-45)
11. Dallas Mavericks (34-48)
12. Los Angeles Lakers (32-50)
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (29-53)
14. Houston Rockets (27-55)
15. San Antonio Spurs (24-58)

NBA Finals Prediction

Toronto Raptors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

LeBron James is back in the NBA Finals for the 11th time, with the Minnesota Timberwolves being the 4th team that he has brought to the brink of basketball immortality. Winning a 5th ring with 4 different franchises could be the tipping point that puts James ahead of Michael Jordan in many people’s eyes.

On the other side is a man that someday will be talked about with the all-time greats in Nikola Jokic. He took over a struggling Raptors team and has propelled them to the NBA Finals. With Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr, and OG Anunoby spacing the floor alongside Jokic, the Raps are an incredibly efficient offense that has continued to score with ease throughout the playoffs.

In these late season matchups, the stars will more or less cancel each other out. LeBron James will be LeBron James. Nikola Jokic will be Nikola Jokic. It’s the supporting cast that wins you a championship. Karl Anthony-Towns is the 3rd best player in this series, but he has shown a tendency to disappear in big moments. D’Angelo Russell has shot just 35% from the field in 11 career playoff games. Those aren’t great signs for a Timberwolves team trying to win their first ever title.

Simply put, the 3 floor spacers plus Scottie Barnes are just a better all-around supporting cast for their star. Even though the Timberwolves have a better bench, that doesn’t mean a whole lot when we get to the time of the year where starters are playing 42-44 minutes every night. This would take an all-time performance from King James for the Wolves to win. Raptors in 5.

What are your predictions for this reinvented, incredibly competitive NBA? Who do you think would win the Finals?

Let us know in the comments!

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Authors: Ben Pawlak and Ryan Macdonald

Published: 01/17/23 at 5:00pm EST

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Sources/Works Cited:

Google Images, Google, https://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en.

“NBA.com.” The Official Site of the NBA for the Latest NBA Scores, Stats & News. | NBA.com, https://www.nba.com/.

Sports Reference LLC. Basketball-Reference.com – Basketball Statistics and History. https://www.basketball-reference.com/. 7 February 2022.

StatMuse, https://www.statmuse.com/.