2019 NBA SEASON PREVIEW

One New Lineup I’m Excited to Watch from Every NBA Team

The 2019-20 NBA season is finally here! Here’s one intriguing new lineup to get excited about from every NBA team…

AFTER A LONG, WILD NBA SUMMER, THE NEW 2019–20 NBA SEASON IS FINALLY HERE! Almost 40% of the NBA was a free agent this summer, and that’s not even counting the 60 guys from the NBA Draft, new international signings, undrafted free agents, and everyone else. It was a topsy-turvy summer that saw most NBA rosters completely overturned, and it left us with an exciting and unpredicable season with newness abounding.

With so many new players rostered around the league, it’s tough to fathom exactly what many of these teams will look like, so I thought it’d be fun to imagine one interesting five-man lineup from every NBA team and explain why it’s fascinating on the eve of the season. I skew young and small for the most part since those are the more interesting lineups. Let’s take a look!

Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young Kevin Huerter Cam Reddish DeAndre Hunter John Collins

This is actually one of my top picks on the list. It’s a lineup I’ve been excited about since the night of the NBA Draft when the Hawks went out and got two long 3-and-D wings, continuing to build this team around Trae’s gifts. This is Atlanta’s future. Young looks ready to make an All-Star push this season, and Collins was already on the verge last year. These five will struggle defensively, but Collins is most deadly at center, so this lineup is about spreading the court and just flat out outscoring the opponent.

Boston Celtics

Marcus Smart Jaylen Brown Gordon Hayward Jayson Tatum Grant Williams

A modern, switchy, nasty defensive lineup. I’m convinced Grant Williams is this team’s best crunch time center, even as a rookie. Smart can also play effectively as a center with his size and strength, and no other team has three wings that can match Tatum, Brown, and Hayward. This is positionless basketball at its finest. All five guys switch, and all five can handle on offense and cover anyone on defense (minus a handful of elite NBA big men). I don’t want this team chasing a game — then you put Kemba in but he gets targeted on defense — but it’s a heck of a closing lineup protecting a lead.

Brooklyn Nets

Kyrie Irving Garrett Temple Caris LeVert Kevin Durant DeAndre Jordan

It’s harder than you’d think to come up with an interesting Brooklyn lineup. That would be more worrying if this weren’t already a lost season with Durant injured. I prefer to imagine a lineup with him making a surprise April return in time for the playoffs. LeVert is my Most Improved Player pick, and Kyrie is a star. This lineup makes noise in May, even with KD at 75%.

Charlotte Hornets

Terry Rozier Malik Monk Nic Batum Miles Bridges P.J. Washington

Any interesting Hornets lineup has to include their three young guys Miles, P.J., and Monk. I want Miles at the four and P.J. at the five in a small ball lineup, so that means you need a point guard and a wing to fill out the lineup, and that’s arguable Charlotte’s two best players so it works. Charlotte’s only goal this year should be developing those three youngsters.

Chicago Bulls

Coby White Zach LaVine Otto Porter Lauri Markkanen Wendell Carter Jr.

Tomas Satoransky will likely start, and he should, but this is the lineup Bulls fans want to see. Coby White sets the tempo pushing the pace, and all five guys can shoot. It’s a two-man defense but a pace-and-space offense and one that could even push for the playoffs this year, if Coby is ready.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Matthew Dellavedova Dylan Windler Cedi Osman Kevin Love Ante Zizic

It’s not actually possible to build an interesting Cavs lineup, so why not throw the NBA’s last remaining whitewash on the court instead?

Dallas Mavericks

Jalen Brunson Delon Wright Luka Doncic Maxi Kleber Kristaps Porzingis

This feels like the best Mavericks lineup. Luka runs the offense, with Brunson a second handler that can shoot and play off-ball, a Rick Carlisle specialty. Delon Wright doesn’t offer much offensively but gives this team a fighting chance on D. Kleber and Porzingis are the real intrigue, two spacing bigs that both protect the rim and offer Dallas a chance at a true five-out attack.

Denver Nuggets

Jamal Murray Gary Harris Michael Porter Jr. Jerami Grant Nikola Jokic

I prefer MPJ at the four, but the Nuggets seem intent on playing him at the three so, sure, let’s see how he looks. He and Grant are the only real Nuggets additions. Jerami Grant looks like the exact sort of athletic 3-and-D four you’d put next to Jokic on a team like this. Surround Jokic with four shooters, hope there’s enough defense, and let Nikola do his thing.

Detroit Pistons

Derrick Rose Luke Kennard Tony Snell Sekou Doumbouya Blake Griffin

Listen, it’s not my fault the Pistons are the least interesting team in the NBA.

Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry D’Angelo Russell Klay Thompson Draymond Green Willie Cauley-Stein

If the Warriors are truly a playoff contender this spring, this is probably their best lineup for now. WCS has huge defensive potential and will need to find it on this team to give them any sort of shot, and he’s a good screen setter and should help this team run more pick-and-roll this year. Can DLo share the ball with Steph? Do they have any shot defensively? We’ll see.

Houston Rockets

Russell Westbrook Ben McLemore Eric Gordon Ryan Anderson Clint Capela

The lineup we really want to see is Russ and Harden, probably just the starting lineup with those two, Gordon, Tucker, and Capela, but we’ve dreamt about that one enough. One reason Houston will have a great regular season is because this is the bench lineup they can run 16 minutes a game, with Westbrook dominating poor backup PGs, surrounded by three knockdown shooters and a devastating dive man. The defense is abysmal but playing against backups, and remember, James Harden gets to play the other 32 minutes. You just don’t get a break against the Rockets.

Indiana Pacers

Malcolm Brogdon Victor Oladipo Jeremy Lamb Domantas Sabonis Myles Turner

This is the lineup the Pacers imagined this summer. Brogdon and Lamb will be asked to do a little too much early in the season, but once Oladipo comes back around the holidays, everyone downshifts a spot and makes sense. Brogdon plays off-ball, offering shooting and defense. Lamb’s shooting spaces the court. Domas and Myles do their thing inside. The Pacers just need to hang around long enough for Dipo to get there.

Los Angeles Clippers

Patrick Beverley Paul George Moe Harkless Kawhi Leonard JaMychal Green

As things stand right now, these are the five guys I expect to be standing on the court when confetti falls in June. No, I don’t think the Clippers best lineup includes Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, or Ivica Zubac. JMych feels like their best closing “center” for now, and Harkless is my fifth starter because it makes this team filthy defensively and I’ll count on Kawhi and PG to figure the offense out. This Clippers roster still needs a shooter and a center that can stay on the court defensively. They’ll trade for one of those guys soon enough and might sign the other on the buyout market.

Los Angeles Lakers

Avery Bradley Danny Green Kentavious Caldwell-Pope LeBron James Anthony Davis

It’s troublingly difficult to put together a Lakers lineup that makes sense. The problem with the Lakers is that when it gets to crunch time, I want Brow at the five, LeBron at the four, and Kuzma on the bench. That leaves L.A. with only three starters. Avery Bradley and KCP both have a reputation as good defenders, but they’re pesky on the ball but lost in team defense. They’re basically anti-Danny Greens. Can you really win a title with just three players? Like the Clippers, expect some other names in this lineup by March.

Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant DeAnthony Melton John Konchar Brandon Clarke Jaren Jackson Jr.

*drools* I wish there was a way to set up a Google alert for the moment this lineup hits the court. These are five of my very favorite players from the last two drafts. You know about Ja, JJJ, and Clarke. Melton is a stud defensive guard that will play for a decade if he can hit an open shot. Konchar is an undrafted do-everything glue guy that fills up the box score, and I’m convinced he’s an NBA player. This lineup is everything. This is the future.

Miami Heat

Goran Dragic Tyler Herro Jimmy Butler Kelly Olynyk Bam Adebayo

Miami is getting buzz, but I’m not so sure how well the pieces fit together. Jimmy Butler is great as the lead dog on a mediocre team, so he should thrive. Justise Winslow is mostly a worse version of Butler (sorry, Allana Tachauer), and I don’t really want them sharing the court. I’d either want Winslow in Butler’s role or playing small-ball center, but Butler and Adebayo are better at the things he does well. I’d rather surround those two with shooters and see what happens.

Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo Pat Connaughton Khris Middleton Sterling Brown Brook Lopez

The Bucks are in the Finals, three minutes left, tie game. What’s your lineup? This would be my choice, and it’s quite troubling. Giannis and Khris are obvious. I don’t want Eric Bledsoe on the court. He can’t shoot and ruined this team this summer. I’d rather play Giannis at center but there aren’t enough other good players, so BroLo has to be out there. I want Brogdon on the court, but the Bucks were too cheap to pay him. Mirotic is gone, and I’m not touching Ilyasova. Wes Matthews and George Hill are too old to hang in the biggest moments. This is all that’s left. The Bucks will be really good again, but this is no championship winning lineup. Not even close.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Jeff Teague Josh Okogie Jarrett Culver Robert Covington Karl-Anthony Towns

There are other interesting configurations, too. Culver at point with Jake Layman in his place is fun. There are bigger lineups with Noah Vonleh or Jordan Bell at the four. None of the interesting lineups involve Mr. Wiggins.

New Orleans Pelicans

Lonzo Ball Nickeil Alexander-Walker Jrue Holiday Brandon Ingram Zion Williamson

It’s hard to go wrong with this roster, and you can make 100 fun 5-man lineup combos, but this one feels most exciting. All five guys can handle the ball. The defense would be long and switchy and quite good. The spacing isn’t ideal but is passable, with everyone at least willing to shoot. There’s more than one reason the Pelicans are the #1 League Pass team. Still, get well soon, Zion.

New York Knicks

Julius Randle Marcus Morris Kevin Knox Bobby Portis Taj Gibson

Just kidding… mostly.

R.J. Barrett Wayne Ellington Iggy Brazdeikis Kevin Knox Mitchell Robinson

I’m not sold on any of the Knicks young guys, and you could talk me into Brazdeikis being the best one on an NBA roster in five years. But if we have to make a Knicks lineup, this is the one I want to see. R.J. Barrett is talented but I need the ball in his hands to be effective, so he’s running the point. Knox remains a mostly theoretical basketball player, but he’s most theoretical at the four stretching the court next to Mitch. Iggy and Ellington are the shooters R.J. never had at Duke. This lineup goes 12–70, but let’s see them grow.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Chris Paul Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Andre Roberson Danilo Gallinari Steven Adams

I remain convinced this is a playoff lineup, even in the West. CP3 is still awesome. Gallinari was a borderline All-Star last year. Adams is a stud. SGA has looked incredible in preseason. Roberson is still alive, somewhere. Play these guys together for a healthy 65 or 70 games, and that’s a playoff team.

Orlando Magic

Markelle Fultz Terrence Ross DaQuan Jeffries Aaron Gordon Jonathan Isaac

I dreamed a dream… in times gone by… when hope was high and life worth living… Jonathan Isaac at center! Aaron Gordon at his real position! DaQuan Jeffries on an NBA roster! Markelle Fultz on a real, live basketball court!!

Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons Josh Richardson Matisse Thybulle Tobias Harris Al Horford

The starting five is the obvious lineup we want to see, but I’m actually more intrigued by this one. I’m still not convinced Simmons and Joel Embiid work together, but what about Simmons running point with four actual shooters around him? “But Joel can shoot!!,” you say. Tell it to his 30% three the last two years. This lineup is still nasty defensively and might actually be Philly’s best offensive lineup, like a supersized version of Milwaukee’s lineup last year with Horford as BroLo and Simmons in the Giannis role, diving into swaths of space with shooters waiting in every direction.

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker Cam Johnson Kelly Oubre Jr. Mikal Bridges Deandre Ayton

I’m not exactly in on the Suns plan, but if it’s going to work, this is the how I envision it being successful. Booker at the point, Ayton in the middle, and three 3-and-D type wings around them. Ayton gets room to work with spacing all around him, Booker gets maximum amount of ball in his hands to create for himself and others, and everyone else takes open shots and tries in vain to make this a passable defense. Booker running point is interesting, and I need a defensive four next to Ayton. So naturally, Phoenix went out this summer and got Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Dario Saric, and Frank Kaminsky… Sigh.

Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard Anfernee Simons C.J. McCollum Kent Bazemore Zach Collins

Anferne Simons was one of the most exciting young players at Summer League in July, and he looks like the dynamic third guard this team was missing last year. Let’s see what this team looks like with all three guards on the court together. The defense won’t be pretty, but good luck stopping them.

Sacramento Kings

De’Aaron Fox Buddy Hield Bogdan Bogdanovic Harrison Barnes Marvin Bagley

The only lineup in the article we’ve seen before. The Kings brought in Trevor Ariza, Dewayne Dedmon, and Cory Joseph, and I like them all fine. The problem is I want Bagley at center, where he’s unlocked offensively. With Fox running point and Bagley at the pivot, this team needs to run and gun, like they did before trading for Harrison Barnes. Barnes is more valuable at the four too, and a nice fit next to Bagley at center. The Kings have some pieces, but I’m not convinced they have any idea what they’re trying to build.

San Antonio Spurs

Derrick White Dejounte Murray Lonnie Walker Keldon Johnson Jakob Pöltl

If the Spurs refuse to turn the page to the future, I’ll just have to do it for them. White and Murray are the only San Antonio building blocks with significant intrigue, though the other three are worth a look. It’s time, Pop.

Toronto Raptors

Kyle Lowry Fred VanVleet OG Anunoby Pascal Siakam Chris Boucher

Flags fly forever, but Kawhi is gone, so this season is now about pushing Pascal Siakam to the next level and seeing what you can develop from there. OG Anunoby and defending G-League MVP Chris Boucher are the two Raptors I have my eye on as Toronto’s next big thing. Let’s see what they’ve got.

Utah Jazz

Mike Conley Donovan Mitchell Royce O’Neale Joe Ingles Rudy Gobert

Everyone’s excited for the new starting five with Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic, but I’m more excited for the five they had before overpaying Bojan. I’m not convinced Bogdanovic will be on the court in Utah’s biggest possessions. I’d rather play Royce O’Neale who is far better defensively and can hit the open jumper well enough.

Washington Wizards

Isaiah Thomas Bradley Beal C.J. Miles Davis Bertans Thomas Bryant

Look, not every team has an interesting lineup. Could this team be a darkhorse playoff contender out East? It’s… not terrible? ■

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