Media Day begins on Monday and officially ushers in the start of the NBA training camp. The dust has finally settled on free agents, and the start of training camp in September will mark the first normal schedule in two years.
The biggest news about the training camp came from Philadelphia, where Ben Simmons vowed never to play a game for the 76ers again. According to ESPN's Adrian Voynarovsky, the three-time All-Star has asked for a trade to leave Philadelphia and will not report back at the start of training camp.
Elsewhere, star players will be represented for the first time on their new teams.
Russell Westbrook and Cameron Anthony will be integrated into the Los Angeles Lakers' roster alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Kyle Lowry will host his first game as a miami heater, while DeMar DeRozan will make his debut for the Chicago Bulls and Kemba Walker will return to his hometown of the New York Knicks.
When they get to training camp, where does that leave all 30 teams? What's the biggest change after our free agent power rankings?
1. Brooklyn Nets
2020–21 results: 48-24
Odds for 2022: +225
Post-free agent ranking: 1
After joining James Harden and Blake Griffin in mid-season last season, a training camp with a full roster would be a boon for Nets coach Steve Nash. While Harden was able to blend seamlessly in flight, according to NBA advanced stats, Brooklyn will have more training time to play with all three stars after playing 332 minutes with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, including the playoffs. Figuring out how Griffin, La Marcus Aldridge and newcomers James Johnson and Paul Millsap adapt to the transformed frontcourt will also be key
2. Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 Record: 46-26
2022 Championship odds: +800
Post Free Agent Ranking: 2
Thanks to the star power surrounding the Nets and Lakers, the Bucks are good to enter the season without having to shoulder the burden of defending their titles. Look at one thing here? The play Grayson Allen, who could be an interesting addition to Dante DiVincenzo, is a point guard after coming to Milwaukee to trade with Memphis after an offseason trade.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
2020-21 Record: 42-30
Odds for 2022: +400
Post-free agent ranking: 3
The season kicked off with the new Big Three as the main attraction of Los Angeles, with Russell Westbrook teaming up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis to get the Lakers back into the championship race. According to sources, the Lakers began their trip to Las Vegas early on, a small training camp organized by James that was more about team cohesion than tense court work.
4. Phoenix Suns
2020-21 Record: 51-21
2022 Championship odds: +1500
Post Free Agent Ranking: 4
Phoenix's trip to the Finals last season didn't hit the end goal, but there were few missteps in the desert — Monty Williams shouldn't have spent much time getting his side to buy in. Landri Shamet and Elfrid Payton join the Suns with a bit of depth in the backcourt (Jevon Carter, Torrey Craig, E'Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway) and hope to adapt to Chris Paul's Point God way as soon as possible.
5. Utah Jazz
2020-21 Record: 52-20
Post-free agent ranking: 5
Most of the Jazz's rotation is still intact, with all the starting lineups and the top two players in the Sixth Man of the Year ballot returning to Salt Lake City. But Utah hoped that he would be promoted to the bench, signing Rudy Guy and Hassan Whiteside and trading Eric Paschall. It would be interesting to see how much Quinn Snyder had patched Up Guy as a center in the small-ball lineup, which wasn't an option for last season's personnel.
6. Miami Heat
2020-21 Record: 40-32
Odds for 2022: +2500
Post Free Agent Ranking: 8
Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker and Markif Morris are a good match for Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and other proud Miami teams that enter the season with championship expectations. The question for Erik Spoelstra is how quickly all these parts can come together and how much of a veteran core is needed to make a difference in the 82-game grind. An important key will be to determine how much impact Victor Oladipo will have this season while continuing to recover from quadriceps injuries.
7. Denver Nuggets
2020-21 Record: 47-25
2022 Championship odds: +2500
Free Agent Ranking: 7
Perhaps no incumbent MVP has received more attention than Nikolai Jokic. While the Nuggets need Jokic another MVP-like season to compete, Denver's chances of becoming the top four team in the West are likely to fall on michael Porter Jr.'s shoulders. Jamal Murray will be absent for a long time due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in April and Porter will have to continue his promotion. As a starter last season, he averaged 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and averaged 45 percent from three-point range this season.
8. Philadelphia 76ers
2020–21 results: 49-23
Odds for winning in 2022: +1600
Post Free Agent Ranking: 6
The NBA's biggest storyline into training camp is in Philadelphia, where the basketball world is waiting to see if Ben Simmons shows up — and whether the 76ers decide to leave him. Simmons has announced he will never play for the 76ers again, while Philadelphia is awaiting a star-level return from the 25-year-old three-time All-Star player with four years left on his contract. Until one side makes concessions, this stalemate will continue.
9. Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 Record: 41-31
2022 Championship odds: +4000
Post-free agent ranking: 9
The biggest problem the Eagles face during training camp will be how the Hawks replicated last season's success after surprisingly reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. Atalanta has a question mark on the bench point guard position, a role that sometimes relies on Bogdan Bogdanovic to fill in the playoffs. The Hawks discussed a tripartite deal with Sacramento and Boston by digging up Delong Wright.
10. Golden State Warriors
2020-21 Record: 39-33
Odds for 2022 winning: +1000
Post-free agent ranking: 12
Klay Thompson's ability to recover and return to the court is close to his former All-Star selves, which is key to any major success the Warriors have had this season. But with Steve Kerr and the company waiting for the former All-Star to get fit, the key for the Warriors will be the lottery's development pick Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, while hoping that the 2020 pick James Wiseman can take another kind of development as he continues to recover from the meniscus tear that ended early and will be absent at the start of the season.
11. Dallas Mavericks
2022 Championship odds: +3000
Post-free agent ranking: 11
What changes will new coach Jason Kidd make? Kidd has some lineup decisions to make, choosing whether he's going to play big with Maxie Kleber or Dwight Powell next to Kristaps Porzingis, or playing a smaller squad that includes free agents besides Reggie Bullock. It's also interesting to see how Kidd uses Porzingis, who is frustrated by his limited role under Rick Carlisle. What's more, how did Porzingis fare after a full healthy offseason? His lack of mobility made him a defensive disaster last season.
12. Los Angeles Clippers
Odds for winning in 2022: +2000
Post Free Agent Ranking: 10
With Kelly Leonard sidelined for most of the season and he recovers from a partially torn front cruciate ligament, the Clippers will struggle to maintain playoff status until he returns. After bringing the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals with Leonard out, Paul George is poised for a big season. Reggie Jackson will seek to maintain his performance in the playoffs, while the Clippers keep an eye on young players such as Terrance Mann and Luke Kennard, as well as new additions Eric Bledsoe, Justis Winslow, Keane Johnson, Jason Preston and Brandon Jr. Boston.
13. Boston Celtics
2020-21 Record: 36-36
Odds for 2022: +5000
Free Agent Ranking: 13
Everyone knows the Celtics will go as far as Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown did. That being said, the preseason will see three interesting arrivals in Boston: Ime Udoka, who replaced Brad Stevens as the team's head coach, and defenders Dennis Schroeder and Josh Richardson, both looking to bounce back from a disappointing season
14. New York Knicks
Odds for 2022 win: +8000
Post-free agent ranking: 14th
New York native Kemba Walker returned home this summer and agreed to a deal with the Knicks immediately after being bought out by the Oklahoma Thunder, who bought the guard from the Boston Celtics in June. Walker's health, especially after missing the last few games of the Boston first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets due to knee problems, will be a major topic of discussion in the coming weeks before reuniting with his old team on Madison Square Garden on opening night.
15. Portland Trail Blazers
2022 Championship odds: +6000
Free Agent Ranking: 15
There's a lot to do in a short period of time for Chansi Billups, who is head coaching for the first time, and after nine seasons at Portland, he will install a new system at both ends to replace Tristoltz. The Trail Blazers' starting lineup, one of the league's best lineups since joining Norman Powell mid-season, remains intact. But Portland's second-team lineup added veterans Ben McLemore, Larry Nance Jr., Tony Snell and Cody Zeller. We'll be keeping a close eye on possible improvements to the Trail Blazers' defense, which ranked 29th in possession per game last season.
16. Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 Record: 38-34
2022 Championship odds: +10000
Post-free agent ranking: 16
Steven Adams, who was swapped in an offseason trade, will fill the role of starting center for Jonas Valanciunas, a graybeard for the Grizzlies at the age of 28. The Memphis core got a taste of the playoffs for the first time last season, but it wasn't. A group that is still in the early stages of development. The Grizzlies' biggest hope is to get 22-year-old Jaren Jackson Jr. into his fourth NBA season to reach the potential he showed before he missed the game last season with a knee injury.
17. Indiana Pacers
2020-21 Record: 34-38
Odds for 2022 win: +10000
Free Agent Ranking: 18
The main change in the Indiana offseason was the replacement of first-year head coach Nate Bjork Glenn with veteran coach Rick Carlisle, who will begin his second term as Pacers leader. The Pacers must also consider how best to keep the roster healthy. Several key players have recently missed the game due to injuries. But a healthy roster of Malcolm Brogdon, Karis Levert, TJ Warren, Domintus Sabonis and Miles Turner could do some damage in the Eastern Conference.
18. Charlotte Hornets
2020-21 Record: 33-39
Odds for 2022 win: +15000
Post-free agent ranking: 17
The Hornets already have a young core around veterans Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier — and now they have to see how Kelly Oubre Jr. adapts and hopefully rookies James Bucknett and Kay Jones will make an impact as well. A year ago, Oubre had a up-and-down season with the Warriors, but at the age of 25, he had a chance to find a decent spot on the Charlotte team, a team that needed the energy he brought on either side of the ball.
19. Toronto Raptors
2020-21 Record: 27-45
Odds for winning in 2022: +10,000
Post-free agent ranking: 20
After nearly 20 months from home, the Raptors will finally return to Toronto on Monday to begin training camp. While the Raptors will certainly be happy to return home after spending last season in Tampa, the biggest story in the camp will be about a guy who also played in Florida last season: forward Scotty Barnes, who came in the NBA draft with the 4th pick this year from Florida. With Pascal Siakam coming out to start the new season after shoulder surgery, can Barnes earn Siakam's starting spot until he returns?
20. Chicago Bulls
2020-21 Record: 31-41
2022 Championship odds: +8000
Free Agent Ranking: 19
Chicago went through one of the organization's most interesting offseasons in recent memory, acquiring DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso — but the key to Billy Donovan getting into training camp was to see how these pieces and how Zach Lavin, Nikola Vucevic performed and Patrick Williams could serve as a defensive group. The league has few doubts about whether the Bulls will score, but there are many questions about whether the Bulls will be able to defend at a high enough level to win consistently.
21. Washington Wizards
2020–21 season results: 34-38
Odds for 2022: +15,000
Post-free agent ranking: 21
With Russell Westbrook being traded to the Lakers, Bradley Beal will have to adapt to several new players around him in the training camp. New coach Wes Unseld Jr. has little time around Beal to ally with Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Holiday. Daniel Garford will also be in his first training camp with the Wizards. Health remains a big issue for this team, with Thomas Bryant and Denia Avdia recovering from injuries. Can Beal get this team back into the playoffs? He certainly had more veterans around him, as well as veterans who had the motivation to prove people wrong.
22. New Orleans Pelicans
Post-free agent ranking: 22
The Pelicans' opening night lineup was guaranteed three starters: Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas. How to get out of the woods at the backcourt will be one of the biggest decisions Willie Green faced in his first training camp as head coach. The Pelicans had a lot of suitors: Derwent Graham, Nicol Alexander-Walker, Thomas Satoransky, Josh Hart, Kira Lewis Jr., Najib Marshall and Trey Murphy III could all compete for the last two positions.
23. San Antonio Spurs
Odds for 2022: +25,000
Post-free agent ranking: 23
The youth movement in San Antonio is underway. The Spurs' three longest-running players in the league — Thaddeus Young, Alfaruq Aminu and Doug McDermott — were all acquired this offseason. The Spurs parted ways with Demar DeRozan by signing first and then trading, watching Rudy Guy and Patti Mills leave as free agents. As the Spurs enter a new era, Djontai Murray (15.7 points) and Derek White (15.4 points) are two leading returning scorers.
24. Sacramento Kings
2022 Championship odds: +25000
Post-free agent ranking: 24
Kings coach Luke Walton has a talented set of defenders, with first-round draft pick David Mitchell joining De Aaron Fox, Teres Halliburton and Buddy Hield. Sacramento may find itself regularly using a three-man or even four-man line-up of defenders in order to have the most talented teams on the field.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21 Record: 23-49
2022 Championship odds: +30000
Free Agent Ranking: 25
Last week, when Gersson Rosas was fired as president of basketball operations, a largely calm Minnesota offseason was thrown into chaos. Finding a replacement for Roses could mask what happened on the pitch during training camp. It was Chris Finch's first training camp since replacing Ryan Sanders in the middle of the season. Finch's system, the development of former no. 1st pick Anthony Edwards, and the return of D'Angelo Russell and Carl Anthony Towns soon paid off as the Timberwolves beat a handful of playoff-bound teams 7-5 in their last 12 games.
26. Detroit Pistons
2020-21 Record: 20-52
Odds for winning in 2022: +50,000
Post-free agent ranking: 26
It's all about Cade Cunningham. The rise in the first pick — or no rise — will determine detroit's fate for the next five years or more. Coach DeWane Casey will have to figure out who to best have Cunningham work with besides Geralmi Grant.
27. Cleveland Cavaliers
2020-21 Results: 22-50
2022 Championship odds: +50000
Ranking after free agents: 27
While the past few years have been developing Cleveland's backcourt at Colin Sexton and Darius Garland, the focus will now be on the centre position, with No. 3 rookies Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The Cavaliers will have to figure out if these two real big men can share playing time, or if they have to play separately this season.
28. Houston Rockets
2020-21 Record: 17-55
Odds for 2022 win: +50,000
Post-free agent ranking: 29
Houston will be a strong contender for leagues ages 21 and under. The Rockets will bring eight young players to their training camp in Galveston, Texas, where five are teenagers, including all four of their first-round picks. This season has been all about the development of Houston's young core, led by 21-year-old point guard conversion project Kevin Porter Jr.'s starting back. And the No. 2 pick selected Jaren Green, which is why the two sides decided to sit and wait for John Wall while the Rockets tried to trade him.
29. Orlando Magic
2020-21 Record: 21-51
Free Agent Ranking: 28
In addition to the ongoing rehabilitation process for Jonathan Isaac and Markle Fultz, a big problem early for the Magic revolved around rookie Jalen Sargs and the impact he was able to make early in his first season. Sargas had some great times in the summer league and has the ability to inspire a fan base that craves excitement.
30. Oklahoma City Thunder
Free Agent Ranking: 30
The Thunder training camp will be our first extension with the 5th overall pick rookie Josh Gidi, who played just five minutes in the Summer League in Las Vegas after an ankle injury. With Oklahoma City's young squad, winning games is unlikely to be a priority this season. Instead, thunder's goals are related to their prospects. The growth of Theo Maledon and Aleksej Pokusevski in Year 2 is noteworthy, as is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's return to full health after foot fasciitis ended his 2020-21 regular season and left him missing out on Olympic qualifying.