Now with the new season here, it’s time to look at all of the NBA teams of what lineups they plan to start the season with.
With some teams, it’s easier said than done and locked in stone who will start throughout the season with a fully healthy lineup.
With other teams, you’ll have to look deeper. Depending on the internal improvements that are or aren’t made, some of these lineups may look quite different by the halfway point or playoffs. We’ve broken down our projected starting lineups for each team, with each lineup’s strengths and weaknesses.
- * Indicates injury replacement
Atlanta Hawks
- PG – Trae Young
- SG – Dejounte Murray
- SF – DeAndre Hunter
- PF – John Collins
- C – Clint Capela
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting
Boston Celtics
- PG – Marcus Smart
- SG – Derrick White*
- SF – Jaylen Brown
- PF – Jayson Tatum
- C – Al Horford
Strengths: Defense and playmaking
Weaknesses: Size
Brooklyn Nets
- PG – Kyrie Irving
- SG – Joe Harris
- SF – Kevin Durant
- PF – Ben Simmons
- C – Nicolas Claxton
Strengths: Scoring, length and 3 point shooting
Weaknesses: Interior defense
Charlotte Hornets
- PG – LaMelo Ball
- SG – Terry Rozier
- SF – Kelly Oubre Jr
- PF – PJ Washington
- C – Mason Plumlee
Strengths: Scoring, and playmaking
Weaknesses: Defense (Overall)
Chicago Bulls
- PG – Alex Caruso*
- SG – Zach Lavine
- SF – DeMar DeRozan
- PF – Patrick Willaims
- C – Nikola Vucevic
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting, Size
Cleveland Cavaliers
- PG – Darius Garland
- SG – Donovan Mitchell
- SF – Caris LeVert
- PF – Evan Mobley
- C – Jarrett Allen
Strengths: Defense and Playmaking
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting
Dallas Mavericks
- PG – Luka Doncic
- SG – Spencer Dinwiddie
- SF – Reggie Bullock
- PF – Dorain Finney-Smith
- C – Javale McGee
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting
Denver Nuggets
- PG – Jamal Murray
- SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- SF – Michael Porter Jr
- PF – Aaron Gordon
- C – Nikola Jokic
Strengths: Shooting and Playmaking
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting
Detroit Pistons
- PG – Cade Cunningham
- SG – Jaden Ivey
- SF – Saddiq Bey
- PF – Bojan Bogdanovic
- C – Isaiah Stewart
Strengths: Playmaking, 3 point shooting
Weaknesses: Defense (overall)
Golden State Warriors
- PG – Stephen Curry
- SG – Klay Thompson
- SF – Andrew Wiggins
- PF – Draymond Green
- C – Kevon Looney
Strengths: Scoring, and 3 point shooting
Weaknesses: Size
Houston Rockets
- PG – Kevin Porter Jr
- SG – Jalen Green
- SF – Eric Gordon
- PF – Jabari Smith Jr
- C – Apleren Sengun
Strengths: Athleticism, Scoring
Weaknesses: Defense
Indiana Pacers
- PG – T.J. McConnell
- SG – Chris Duarte
- SF – Buddy Hield
- PF – Jalen Smith
- C – Myles Turner
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Defense (Perimeter)
Los Angeles Clippers
- PG – John Wall
- SG – Paul George
- SF – Kawhi Leonard
- PF – Macus Morris
- C – Ivica Zubac
Strengths: Defense and Scoring
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting
Los Angeles Lakers
- PG – Russel Westbrook
- SG – Patrick Beverly
- SF – LeBron James
- PF – Anthony Davis
- C – Wenyen Gabriel
Strengths: Playmaking and Length
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting and Defense
Memphis Grizzlies
- PG – Ja Morant
- SG – Desmond Bane
- SF – Dillon Brooks
- PF – Santi Aldama*
- C – Steven Adams
Strengths: Defense and 3 Point Shooting
Weaknesses: Scoring
Miami Heat
- PG – Kyle Lowry
- SG – Tyler Herro
- SF – Jimmy Butler
- PF – Caleb Martin
- C – Bam Adebayo
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: Scoring
Milwaukee Bucks
- PG – Jrue Holiday
- SG – Grayson Allen
- SF – Khris Middleton
- PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
- C – Brook Lopez
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: Playmaking
Minnesota Timberwolves
- PG – D’Angelo Russel
- SG – Anthony Edwards
- SF – Jaden McDaniels
- PF – Karl Anthony-Towns
- C – Rudy Gobert
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting
New Orleans Pelicans
- PG – CJ McCollum
- SG – Herb Jones
- SF – Brandon Ingram
- PF – Zion Williamson
- C – Jonas Valanciunas
New York Knicks
- PG – Jalen Brunson
- SG – Evan Fournier
- SF – RJ Barrett
- PF – Julius Randle
- C – Mitchell Robinson
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting and Playmaking
Oklahoma City Thunder
- PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG – Luguentz Dort
- SF – Josh Giddey
- PF – Aleksej Pokusevski
- C – Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Strengths: Playmaking
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting and Scoring
Orlando Magic
- PG – Cole Anthony
- SG – Jalen Suggs
- SF – Franz Wagner
- PF – Paolo Banchero
- C – Wendell Carter Jr
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: 3 Point Shooting and Scoring
Philadelphia 76ers
- PG – Tyrese Maxey
- SG – James Harden
- SF – PJ Tucker
- PF – Tobias Harris
- C – Joel Embiid
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: Size
Phoenix Suns
- PG – Chris Paul
- SG – Devin Booker
- SF – Mikal Bridges
- PF – Cameron Johnson
- C – Deandre Ayton
Strengths: Defense and 3 Point Shooting
Weaknesses: Playmaking
Portland Trail Blazers
- PG – Damian Lilard
- SG – Anfernee Simons
- SF – Josh Hart
- PF – Jerami Grant
- C – Jusuf Nurkic
Strengths: 3 Point Shooting and Playmaking
Weaknesses: Defense and Size
Sacramento Kings
- PG – Da’Aaron Fox
- SG – Kevin Huerter
- SF – Harrison Barnes
- PF – Keegan Murray
- C – Domantas Sabonis
Strengths: Playmaking
Weaknesses: Defense
San Antonio Spurs
- PG – Tre Jones
- SG – Devin Vassell
- SF – Keldon Johnson
- PF – Jeremy Sochan
- C – Jakob Poeltl
Strengths: Playmaking
Weaknesses: Defense and Scoring
Toronto Raptors
- PG – Fred VanVleet
- SG – Gary Trent Jr
- SF – Scottie Barnes
- PF – Pascal Siakam
- C – Precious Achiuwa
Strengths: Defense and Length
Weaknesses: Size
Utah Jazz
- PG – Mike Conley
- SG – Jordan Clarkson
- SF – Lauri Markkanen
- PF – Jarred Vanderbilt
- C – Kelly Olynyk
Strengths: 3 Point Shooting and Size
Weaknesses: Defense
Washington Wizards
- PG – Monte Morris
- SG – Will Barton*
- SF – Rui Hachimura
- PF – Kyle Kuzma
- C – Kristaps Porzingis
Strengths: Length and Playmaking
Weaknesses: Scoring and Defense
Now with all of the lineups in place before the start of the season, it will be a wait and see approach to determine how fast some lineups will change. As the season starts, we’ll get a first glimpse as to see which lineups will lead to wins and which lineups will lead to new ones.
Leon Collington
Born and Raised in the Greater NYC Area. Long time New York Knicks fan as well as a Huge NBA fan since 2006. You can follow him on twitter at @KyosotaComics.