Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking projected starting lineups in the NBA part 1
By Andy Quach
Bad: The bottom-5 starting lineups in the NBA
30. Orlando Magic
Projected starting lineup:
G – Markelle Fultz
G – Jalen Suggs
F – Terrence Ross
F – Chuma Okeke
C – Wendell Carter Jr.
The Orlando Magic have the least amount of talent in the entire league. Steve Clifford was relieved of his duties as head coach as he wanted no part of a rebuild. Through his stubborn desire to win, Clifford spent last season milking his veterans for every ounce of production they had and eked out all of 21 victories last season, hurting the young players’ developments and the Magic’s draft position in the meantime.
Orlando was still able to score Jalen Suggs, a pretty damn good consolation prize. Still, this starting unit is full of unproven youngsters, reclamation projects, and Terrence Ross.
I wouldn’t expect Ross to finish the season with this team, as the 3-and-D forward could net the Magic a nice return in future capital if they trade him to a contender. In the meantime, he’ll have to struggle along with the rest of the starting lineup as they go through growing pains in the NBA.
29. Detroit Pistons
Projected starting lineup:
G – Killian Hayes
G – Cade Cunningham
F – Saddiq Bey
F – Jerami Grant
C – Isaiah Stewart
The Detroit Pistons are lucky to have Jerami Grant here or they could easily be in the bottom spot instead of the Magic.
Cade Cunningham might be the most NBA-ready rookie to enter the league since LeBron James, as he’s already finely tuned in nearly every aspect of the game on both ends of the floor. He’s a bona fide floor general at 6’8, can score from all three-levels, and is an apt positional defender on the perimeter.
His lack of elite athleticism could cap his potential, though, and his pass-first mentality could lead to offensive struggles for the Pistons. Luckily, Grant is ready to serve as a number one option again next year, while the number one pick gains his footing in the league.
A team with Grant serving as their first option won’t fare too well in the win column, though.
28. Houston Rockets
Projected starting lineup:
G – Kevin Porter Jr.
G – Jalen Green
F – Jae’Sean Tate
F – Daniel Theis
C – Christian Wood
This Houston Rockets squad is absolutely loaded with high-octane athletes and should make for very entertaining losses.
A Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green backcourt offers an enticing combination of size, physicality, and top-tier scoring ability.
While they’ll need time to gel, develop their NBA IQs, and learn how to defend professional scorers, this lineup should still be a ton of fun to watch on League Pass.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder
Projected starting lineup:
G – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
G – Lu Dort
F – Aleksej Pokusevski
F – Darius Bazley
C – Isaiah Roby
Similar to the Houston Rockets, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a fresh-faced starting lineup that is full of prospects just getting their feet wet in the NBA.
What gives the Thunder the nod over the Rockets is the strength of their backcourt. SGA and Dort are already established NBA-level guards on both ends of the court.
If SGA can remain on his current trajectory, Dort can continue to grow as an on-ball scorer, and the rest of their young guns improve alongside them, the Thunder could play themselves out of the top draft slot they’ve been desperately chasing once again.
26. San Antonio Spurs
Projected starting lineup:
G – Dejounte Murray
G – Derrick White
F – Doug McDermott
F – Keldon Johnson
C – Jakob Poeltl
This team is set to give opponents fits on offense. Trying to run a possession while being hounded by Murray, White, and Johnson is a terror that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
If you somehow get past that flurry of chopping feet and infinitely stretching arms, you get the pleasure of trying to finish over/through Poeltl on the backline.
If this group can be 60-75 percent as competent on offense as they are on defense, they could make some noise for a play-in spot. Adding Doug McDermott’s professional marksmanship should go a long way towards making that dream closer to a reality.