Predicting the 5 worst defensive teams in the 2021-22 NBA season

#3 Orlando Magic

Los Angeles Clippers v Orlando Magic

Before blowing up the roster by trading away Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier, the Orlando Magic were consistently one of the better defensive teams in the NBA. The continuous losses of their primary defensive impacts, combined with turning their focus to developing youth, has caused that trend to dramatically halt.

The Magic finished last season with the fifth worst defensive rating, and were particularly bad for the second half of the season. The X-Factor for their defense this season is when and how Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac return to play. Both of those players are very talented and impactful defenders, but their level of play when returning from substantial injuries is questionable.

There are some capable defenders on the roster outside of those two: Gary Harris, Wendell Carter Jr., Robin Lopez, and Chuma Okeke. The two lottery talents of Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner project as positives on that end throughout their careers as well, but asking that in year one is optimistic.

I could look back and regret this selection, but it really comes down to me thinking that the Orlando Magic are going to be one of the worst teams in the NBA this season with their eyes set on acquiring more lottery talent.

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#2 Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder v Indiana Pacers

Extreme youth is the trend with the final three selections on this list, and Oklahoma City may be the most future focused of the bunch. The Thunder were the second worst defense post-All-Star break of the 2020-21 NBA season, which may have been somewhat intentional.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and Derrick Favors have all proven to be positive defenders in the NBA, particularly Dort. I expect Sam Presti to shop Derrick Favors throughout the entire season.

Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon, Darius Bazley, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Josh Giddey may all end up as decent to above-average defenders throughout their NBA careers, but very few young players are impactful there.

The roster's defensive talent is notably underwhelming, and effort levels could wane from players when they realize the front office is striving for the highest lottery pick possible.

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#1 Houston Rockets

Los Angeles Clippers v Houston Rockets

Again, the Houston Rockets are just extremely young. They posted a horrendous defensive rating of 118.0 after the All-Star break in the 2020-21 NBA season, good for dead last during that stretch.

Their big three of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Christian Wood are all phenomenally talented at scoring the basketball, but defending is a vastly different story.

John Wall is reportedly being shopped and will continue to be if he does not find a new home before the regular season tips off. Eric Gordon's contract complicates things, but I would guess he falls under the same category. Either way, neither of those players are known for their defensive impact.

The notable positive defenders on the Houston roster are Daniel Theis, Usman Garuba, David Nwaba, and Danuel House. Aside from Garuba (and rookies are almost always poor defensively), none of those players are making a substantial defensive difference.

Additionally, the Rockets will probably find themselves content with adding another lottery selection in the 2022 NBA Draft and therefore show subpar effort in stopping the opposition. I predict that Houston will have the worst defensive rating in the 2021-22 NBA season.