Ranking all the backcourts in the Eastern Conference

After a wild summer of NBA moves, where does the Miami Heat’s backcourt stand as it relates to the rest of the Eastern Conference?

With all the shaking and moving of free agency and the potential for a league-altering blockbuster deal, the Miami Heat may finally be able to break through, as the Eastern Conference may be as open as it’s ever been.

With the defections of Paul George and Jimmy Butler and the potential departure of Kyrie Irving (perhaps to Miami?), the Heat find themselves moving up the power rankings of the Eastern Conference.

While the overall talent leaves some to be desired, the backcourts are fantastic. Here’s a list ranking from worst to best.

In these rankings, the focus is on the team as currently constructed. We’ll start with the worst:

15. Philadelphia 76ers – Ben Simmons/Markelle Fultz/JJ Redick

This ranking is less about the talent and more about the fact that the two biggest names in the trio have yet to play a single NBA game. So it’s more of an incomplete ranking than a solid state of being. If Simmons is the point guard, as he proclaimed recently, then the Sixers will be much higher on this list by the end of the season.

14. New York Knicks – Frank Ntilikina/Courtney Lee/Tim Hardaway Jr.

Out goes Derrick Rose, and in comes Frank Ntilikina, a 6’5 rookie point from France. Ntilikina is a nice two-way player that’s still pretty raw. The Knicks being a state of flux and uncertainty doesn’t do the kid any favors. Lee is a solid performer, but nothing to write home about. Hardaway Jr. is the Knicks newest signing, but can he live up to the massive contract he just received?

13. Chicago Bulls – Kris Dunn/Dwyane Wade/Zach LaVine

The Bulls have possibly had the most confusing offseason in the Eastern Conference, if not the entire league. Giving away Jimmy Butler for about $0.25 on the dollar will never make sense, even if it yielded LaVine, who is full of potential but coming off an ACL injury. Wade is clearly just there to get paid.

12. Indiana Pacers – Lance Stephenson/Victor Oladipo/Darren Collison

The Pacers find themselves in the post-Paul George era and the genesis doesn’t look all that great. Stephenson is always a work in progress, Collison is a journeyman, and Oladipo is hoping a return to Indiana gives his career some spark.

11. Atlanta Hawks – Dennis Schroeder/Kent Bazemore

Atlanta is going to look completely different going into next season, as Paul Millsap, Dwight Howard, and Tim Hardaway Jr. have all made noteworthy exits. Bazemore was the big name signing a year ago but didn’t show much to warrant such a deal. Schroeder is a score-first guard that fits well in today’s game but is he ready to truly lead a team?

10. Orlando Magic – Elfrid Payton/Evan Fournier

The Magic are just another team on this list that seems to have no direction, but Payton is a solid player, averaging 13 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. He just can’t shoot. Fournier is a decent player as well, scoring 17 points a game last season. Neither is special but not completely useless.

9. Charlotte Hornets – Kemba Walker/Nicolas Batum/Malik Monk

The Hornets backcourt at full strength can sneak up this list in no time. Walker is an all-star level talent that showed major progress last season. Batum is the versatile,do-it-all player that can find himself starting in the backcourt or frontcourt most nights. Monk is a knockdown shooter with all the potential to be special.

8. Brooklyn Nets – D’Angelo Russell/Jeremy Lin/Caris LeVert

Jeremy Lin continues to be a really good NBA player after “Linsanity” took the league by storm. The newly acquired Russell is extremely talented but embattled. Maybe a change of scenery will light the necessary fire under him. LeVert is a solid young player that could thrive either as a starter or sixth man with this unit.

7. Detroit Pistons – Reggie Jackson/Avery Bradley

Although I’m not a big fan of Reggie Jackson, he is a very serviceable player capable of filling the basket. Recent acquisition Bradley is one of the best on-ball defenders in the league and has progressed quite nicely offensively.

6. Milwaukee Bucks – Matthew Dellavedova/Khris Middleton/Malcolm Brogdon

Though limited, Dellavedova is a guy that plays hard and pays attention to detail. Middleton is arguably the most underrated player in the league. Brogdon is the reigning rookie of the year who will be looking to avoid a sophomore slump.

AND THEN THERE WERE FIVE…

5. Boston Celtics – Isaiah Thomas/Marcus Smart

Isaiah Thomas averaged almost 30 points a game last season (28.9 to be exact) and led the Celtics to the top seed in the East last season. Marcus Smart has the qualities to be a high-impact defender in the NBA but faces many questions about his maturity.

4. Miami Heat – Goran Dragic/Dion Waiters/Josh Richardson

This ranking for the Miami Heat is projecting a full season of health for everyone involved. Dragic is a master of getting into the paint and drawing contact. Waiters had been playing some of the best basketball of his life before missing time with ankle injuries and was rewarded with a new contract. Richardson showed amazing ability in his rookie year before an MCL sprain derailed last season for him.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving/JR Smith

Although involved in trade talks, Irving still remains a Cavalier. He is one of the most dangerous scorers in the league, and possibly the greatest guard finisher at the rim ever. Smith is a very streaky shooter and above average defender but comes with questionable decision making.

2. Toronto Raptors – Kyle Lowry/DeMar DeRozan

The all-star backcourt will be together for the foreseeable future after Lowry re-signed in the offseason. DeRozan has mastered the art of the midrange game and looked to take a step forward as the number one option. Save for some troubles in the postseason, Lowry is a fantastic player who helps to carry the Raptors burdens well.

Next: Top 5 point guards in Heat history

1. Washington Wizards – John Wall/Bradley Beal

Wall has become one of the premier point guards in the league, combining unbelievable athleticism with an incredible floor game and an edge the Wizards haven’t had in a long time. Beal came into last season with serious questions, both about his health and newly signed contract. He responded with his healthiest season to date and validated why the Wizards had so much faith in him.