1. Denver Nuggets

They boast one of the best rosters in the league. There’s no doubt that they are contenders.

2. Portland Trail Blazers

When Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are clicking they are just about unstoppable.

3. Utah Jazz

Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert aren’t going anywhere. That means Utah will continue to be a playoff team.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

Is this going to be Karl-Anthony Towns’ team, D’Angelo Russell’s or Anthony Edwards? All three were top-two picks with Russell being selected #2 by another team.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

With the amount of assets they have, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them become instant contenders sooner rather than later.

Head Coach: Michael Malone

Key Position: Forward

Key Rookies: F Zeke Nnaji, G R.J. Hampton

Key Acquisitions: F JaMychal Green (LA Clippers)

Starting Lineup: G Jamal Murray, G Gary Harris, F Michael Porter Jr., F Paul Millsap, C Nikola Jokic

Head Coach: Terry Stotts

Key Position: Forward

Key Rookies: None

Key Acquisitions: C Enes Kanter (Boston), F Derrick Jones Jr. (Miami), F Robert Covington (Houston)

Starting Lineup: G Damian Lillard, G CJ McCollum, F Derrick Jones Jr., F Robert Covington, C Jusuf Nurkic

Head Coach: Quin Snyder

Key Position: Forward

Key Rookies: C Udoka Azubuike

Key Acquisitions: F Derrick Favors (New Orleans)

Starting Lineup: G Mike Conley, G Donovan Mitchell, F Royce O’Neale, F Bojan Bogdanovic, C Rudy Gobert

Head Coach: Ryan Saunders

Key Position: Everything

Key Rookies: G Anthony Edwards, F Jaden McDaniels

Key Acquisitions: G Ricky Rubio (Phoenix)

Starting Lineup: G D’Angelo Russell, G Malik Beasley, F Josh Okogie, F Jake Layman, C Karl-Anthony Towns

Head Coach: Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City – assistant)

Key Position: Forward

Key Rookies: F Aleksej Pokusevski, G Theo Maledon

Key Acquisitions: G George Hill (Milwaukee), C Al Horford (Philadelphia), F Justin Jackson (Dallas)

Starting Lineup: G George Hill, G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, F Luguentz Dort, F Darius Bazley, C Al Horford