Ranking the NBA's best starting lineups for 2018-19

Playmakers abound in this lineup, led by the Greek Freak, Antetokounmpo stuffs the stat sheet as much as anyone, and even at 6-foot-11, he can run the point when needed. That allows Bledsoe to work off the ball, which he can do, as he’s proved to be adept at playing both guard spots throughout his career.

Moving into Milwaukee’s starting five this year should be Brogdon, a 2016 second-round pick who’s been exceptional thus far. He’s a capable passer, solid defender and proficient three-point shooter.

The same skills go for Middleton, who additionally makes plays off the dribble and would be more of a consistent triple-double threat if Antetokounmpo didn’t dominate the ball as often.

Washington Wizards: John Wall (1), Bradley Beal (2), Otto Porter Jr. (3), Markieff Morris (4), Dwight Howard (5) 

Even casual basketball fans outside Washington wish Wall would further develop his jumper. He’s one of the most electric, explosive guards ever and could lift his game to another level if his shot were better.

Beal battled injuries early in his career but seems to be realizing his potential as he stays healthy for longer stretches. After looking like a bust early on, Porter has come on strong the past few years as an efficient scorer and versatile perimeter guardian.

The addition of Howard gives the Wizards an upgraded interior defense. D12 will team with Morris to give Washington tons of physicality in the frontcourt.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Jeff Teague (1), Jimmy Butler (2), Andrew Wiggins (3), Taj Gibson (4), Karl-Anthony Towns (5)

The only player who seems truly invested among this bunch is Gibson, who’s the eldest as well. Butler is reportedly fed up with Towns’ nonchalant attitude and Wiggins’ lax defensive effort and work ethic.

This can only end poorly, unless Butler wrings more out of the passive Towns and Wiggins. The former is one of the most skilled big men to come along in recent memory, while Wiggins seems destined to underachieve as a No. 1 overall pick. That is, unless he plays with greater urgency.

Teague is a fine point guard but doesn’t stand out amid a golden age at the position.

Utah Jazz: Ricky Rubio (1), Donovan Mitchell (2), Joe Ingles (3), Derrick Favors (4), Rudy Gobert (5)

As much attention as Mitchell attracted for his breakout playoff performance that pushed the Jazz to the conference semifinals, Utah’s lineup boasts the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Gobert.

Mitchell is the only supreme scoring threat among the Jazz’s quintet. However, Gobert is the primary reason why Utah ranked tied for first in allowing 99.3 points per game in 2017-18.

The incumbent Jazz starters are intact, yet injury issues continue to plague Rubio. Ingles is a great outside shooter but more of a defensive liability. This group has excellent chemistry and plays hard for coach Quin Snyder. Utah lacks the offense to be ranked higher, though.

Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray (1), Gary Harris (2), Will Barton (3), Paul Millsap (4), Nikola Jokic (5)

Jokic is the best at his position in terms of fitting within the modern game. The 23-year-old shot almost 40 percent on threes in 2017-18, averaged 10.7 boards and dished out 6.1 assists to only 2.8 turnovers per game. He can distribute from anywhere on the floor to a bevy of knockdown Nuggets shooters.

Entering only his third year as a pro, Murray is a rising star who can create for himself and others. Harris is among the most underrated two-way 2-guards around, too. That duo averaged a combined 34.2 points per contest last season.

Sleep on Denver at your own peril. The Nuggets are rising to Rocky Mountain heights.

Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball (1), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (2), Brandon Ingram (3), LeBron James (4), JaVale McGee (5)

McGee won’t play much, but he should take the opening tip. From there, coach Luke Walton has a great cast for up-tempo basketball, with Ball and James as ball-handling catalysts. Ingram, James’ best new teammate, can run the point occasionally, as he did last year.

Golden State deploys a smaller “death lineup” that Walton, a former Warriors assistant, could take after. One scary version could feature L.A.’s starting five, but with reigning first-team All-Rookie selection Kyle Kuzma replacing McGee.

That’s serious firepower and freakish athleticism for opponents to negotiate. Some Lakers fans aren’t ready to crown The King yet. The winning to come — and how much better James makes his teammates — will take care of that.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook (1), Andre Roberson (2), Paul George (3), Jerami Grant (4), Steven Adams (5)

Roberson’s injury was a key reason why the Thunder couldn’t advance past the opening round this past postseason. His defense is vital to Oklahoma City’s success, and the team will need him healthy going forward.

Helping the cause is Adams’ steady development and the addition-by-subtraction decision to move on from Carmelo Anthony. Melo’s iso-ball offense slowed OKC down. The Thunder are best suited to move the ball a lot and get out and run.

Westbrook and George will have better chemistry with a full season together already to draw on. If Grant can — similar to Roberson — provide hustle plays and easy baskets, OKC will have one of the NBA’s most productive starting lineups.

Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry (1), Danny Green (2), Kawhi Leonard (3), OG Anunoby (4), Jonas Valanciunas (5)

The blockbuster trade to land Leonard for what could only be one season might be a genius move. Looking at Toronto’s starting five on paper, it’s a defensive powerhouse.

Leonard is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and Lowry is known for his work on that end of the floor. Rising second-year wing OG Anunoby can flex to the 4 and match up with the opposing team’s best scorer when Leonard isn’t doing so.

Green also joined the Raptors in the Leonard trade. He was just named second-team All-Defense and provides the three-point shooting prior DeMar DeRozan couldn’t.

Houston Rockets: Chris Paul (1), James Harden (2), Carmelo Anthony (3), P.J. Tucker (4) Clint Capela (5)

It may seem like the Rockets got better by replacing Trevor Ariza with Anthony, yet that’s debatable. At least Houston’s elite backcourt of James Harden and Chris Paul is intact.

Center Clint Capela is the X-factor. He’s an excellent rebounder, proficient scorer and elite rim protector who thrives in coach Mike D’Antoni’s system despite lacking a three-point shot.

Maligned as Anthony was with the Thunder, he shot 35.7 percent on three-pointers on over six attempts per night. He and D’Antoni had a prior falling-out with the New York Knicks, but the partnership must work for Houston to have any hope of dethroning Golden State.

Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons (1), JJ Redick (2), Robert Covington (3), Dario Saric (4), Joel Embiid (5)

Point guard Ben Simmons and center Joel Embiid are arguably the NBA’s best one-two punch of young stars. Simmons is a phenomenal passer and finisher at the rim, and there’s little Embiid can’t do at over seven feet tall. His ability to face up and what he does with his back to the basket bring to mind Hakeem Olajuwon, but Embiid also has three-point range.

Don’t forget Saric — he’s another youthful up-and-comer at only 24. Redick is the veteran leader and sharpshooter of this five. Covington can stroke it from outside but is best known for his tremendous defense. Embiid and Simmons are among the top defenders at their positions, too.

Boston Celtics: Kyrie Irving (1), Jaylen Brown (2), Gordon Hayward (3), Jayson Tatum (4), Al Horford (5)

If Irving stays put and Klay Thompson leaves the Warriors in free agency next summer, Boston’s quintet could become the NBA’s best.

Hayward broke his leg in last season’s opener. He’ll be fired up to play at length for his college coach at Butler, Brad Stevens. The pair’s lengthy past together almost guarantees Hayward will have his most efficient season to date in 2018-19.

Anchoring the frontcourt is Horford, who’s equally adept at playing center and power forward.

Then the Celtics boast two of the league’s premier young talents in Brown and Tatum. They should blossom into even better players under Stevens’ tutelage en route to a 2019 NBA Finals berth.

Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (1), Klay Thompson (2), Kevin Durant (3), Draymond Green (4), DeMarcus Cousins (5)

There’s no suspense as to who’s No. 1 when ranking anything NBA-related.

Cousins is still recovering from a torn Achilles and won’t be immediately available. It doesn’t matter who fills his spot until then — let’s say Jordan Bell — because the Warriors have the Association’s best starting five.

Curry and Thompson may be the two best shooters in basketball history. The most unstoppable, all-around scorer of the modern era, Durant, just won his second straight Finals MVP. Oh, and Green is the most versatile defensive player in the sport.

When Cousins returns sometime in 2018-19, the Dubs will be even scarier pursuing a fourth championship in five years.