NBA Team Tiers: Ranking all 30 teams’ chances of winning a title in 23–24
By Cal Durrett
NBA Tier 4: Possible play-in teams
24) Charlotte Hornets
23) Toronto Raptors
22) Chicago Bulls
21) Indiana Pacers
20) Brooklyn Nets
19) San Antonio Spurs
18) New Orleans Pelicans
17) Oklahoma City Thunder
Tier 4 features eight teams in the hunt, though not every team will make the playoffs or even the play-in tournament. The Thunder and Pelicans are both likely the best teams in this group, though there are some variables that could keep them from being playoff locks. The Thunder turned heads last season, thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s breakout season.
OKC also has a strong young core surrounding him, including Josh Giddy, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. How those three perform will help determine the team’s ceiling. If they all play well, then the Thunder could be a top-6 playoff team; if some don’t, then OKC may only contend for the play-in tournament.
The Pelicans two best players, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, both missed a combined 90 games last season. Zion, in particular, played just one game after New Year’s, leading to concerns about his status for the start of this season. If both he and Ingram can stay healthy, then the Pelicans should make the playoffs easily.
If they can’t, then the Pelicans may be on the outside looking in on the playoff race. Another potential play-in team is the Spurs, who have a star in the making in Victor Wembanyama and can surround him with two high-scoring wings in Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson. They also have do-it-all power forward Jeremy Sochan and a surprisingly deep roster, though it’s unclear how quickly they will all fit together. Rounding out the tier are the Bulls, Raptors, and Hornets.
Both the Bulls and Raptors have the talent to make the playoffs, but they both struggled last season, and each team may decide to rebuild if they get off to a slow start this season. As for Charlotte, they got their 2021-22 leading scorer Miles Bridges back and added a potential future star in Brandon Miller to pair with young star LaMelo Ball. However, plenty of off-the-court issues could make it that much harder for the Hornets to make a move in the stacked East. Next, on to tier 3!