Preseason Power Rankings

[Zach Lowe]

30. Atlanta Hawks

This team is in for a major rebuild of the overall roster. Gone are the days of Harden and Dame terrorizing teams on a weekly basis with 200+ point weeks as the organization looks to start over. While there are some intriguing pieces long term they all come with their own issues. Miles Bridges is a star if he can get back on the court and not beat up women. De'Andre Hunter, Josh Christopher, Jaylin Williams, Thomas Bryant can all be solid depth pieces but at the moment are at the forefront of this team. The hawks are surely hoping they have a future stud in Jarace Walker but only time will tell. This team is tanking harder than the Titanic but its all according to plan. If you lose to the Hawks this year, it will be quite a shameful day. 

Prediction: 2-27

[Zach Lowe]

29. Los Angles Lakers

The Lakers have more question marks on their roster than most. With some of their top guys not even signed to teams its hard to see guys like Oubre and PJ Washington come even close to scoring what they did last year. Kemba Walker is playing in the south of France, and while that might not be a terrible life choice, it won't score in the BBall26 board. There are things to look forward to though, Can Jaden Hardy, Christian Braun, Ousmane Dieng take steps and build on the flashes they showed at times last year. Is it too early to call Johnny Davis a bust? I hate to do that after just 1 year but thing have got to improve for him. There is just not much on this baren roster currently and with the FO deciding to sit still in free agency I am not sure I would have any confident in this franchise moving up anytime soon. Hope they turn it around but man this is going to be one heck of a long road for a team sitting at the bottom of the West. 

Prediction: 2-27

[Zach Lowe]

28. Charlotte Hornets

This Charlotte team is quite an interesting cast of characters. John Collins and Gafford as the top end pieces is not going to get you any wins usually. I could see Dillon Brooks getting a healthy 23-25FPPG this year especially in the earlier part of the year. Do the Warrior blunders of Wiseman and Kuminga show anything this year? Beyond those 5 pieces this roster is baren. Lots of guys that might as well be UFAs but stay on this roster. For most teams tanking this bad they tend to have some G-League guys that show potential, even that is a missing part on this roster. Long way to go for the FO to bring this team into some sort of relevance. 

Prediction: 4-25

[Zach Lowe]

27. Sacramento Kings

The kings FO is new, they took over a project that was long abandoned and needed a new vision. While I like the direction the team is heading in, it is far from reaching that destination. Buddy Hield should be a steadying force alongside Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes. Obi Toppin and Rui Hachimura finally have teams that want them there. I could see both flourishing in their new roles, and could even see a potential MIP in the books for Obi this season. After those guys the roster really starts to show its holes, guys like Paul Reed, Cam Thomas are very talented but their roles up to this point has made it hard for them to show out, while I don't see it changing too much this year, they aren't bad pieces to keep around. While the kings have a long way to make this roster competitive, I think midseason trades for their top guys to bring in picks has to be the move for Steve. Can he maximize the value of his aging point scorers and pick up long term core pieces? Only time will tell. 
For now I don't see a way the team scores enough to win more than a handful of games. 

Prediction: 5-24

[Zach Lowe]

26. Washington Wizards 

This is where things start to get difficult. While there are a few teams that are persistent on saying they are tanking it gets a bit hard to differentiate between these rosters. For the Wizards there are some things to like, Tre Jones and Ivan Zubac still have yet to hit their prime and are already 25+ guys. Monte Morris is probably a deadline trade candidate but that contract should be easy to shop around and get some assets for. Garry Trent might have more room to grow in Toronto if some pieces are moved as well. While I am not sure why Bagley was signed aside from pure speculation on talent alone it could be a move that pays off for the FO as Bagley is one of the most often traded players in the league. Brandon Clarke should gain a prominent role once he returns as well. There are other guys who could gain some fantasy relevance depending on how their respective roster shakes out between Tate, Nance, Powell, Bullock and even Naji Marshal. I hope the Wizards use whatever relevance these guys can find and turn that into assets but overall there is some depth and a chance for this team to outperform the preseason ranking and projections. 

Projection: 8-21

[Zach Lowe]

25. San Antonio Spurs

Picking up Brandon Ingram and Devin Vassell as core pieces is masterful work by the Spurs FO. Guys like Deni Avdija and Jeremy Sochan should be winning pieces moving forward and are still quite young and should continue to grow. After that the roster is thin and missing producers that can realistically help. Will T.J. McConnells value be fully utilized in a midseason trade? Hopefully so. The most confusing part of the Spurs offseason has been lack of spending. In a league that does not punish you for dishing out bad contracts the Spurs decided to keep their 49M in cap space as if it was going to be paid out in bonuses throughout the front office. For me that's a large negative and speaks of negligence from the team but maybe the goal is to snipe every noteworthy FA during the season instead. 

Prediction: 8-21

[Zach Lowe]

24. Chicago Bulls

I am not sold on this team in any way. Mobley and Carter are quite a nice duo to build around, something the Bulls haven't done. Even though getting RJ for what they did was still a steal, the organization has to be slightly worried with a 3rd straight year of regressing point totals. I really did like the Naz Reid pickup, one trade can turn him into a bargain at that price. Kira Lewis, Jaden Springer, are in the bucket of talent but nothing to show for that I worry about the most, but with a team that isn't going to compete I guess the FO has time to wait around on these guys. I almost expect Carter to be traded midseason and hopefully the Bulls can start stocking up on picks. It's been a rocky time for the one time back to back Eastern Conference Champions and I don't really see a quick turnaround on the cards anytime soon. I hope Charles keeps up the trash talk to keep himself engaged because it is indeed a long road ahead. 

Prediction: 9-20

[Zach Lowe]

23. Cleveland Cavaliers 

Just a couple years ago this team was led by behemoths. While those days are long gone, the FO has done a good job of pivoting and build out a competitive core within the likes of Darius Garland and Jalen Brunson. I am quite high on Jabari Smith as well but he will have to really continue the improvement he showed towards the end of last season to not get lost in the Rockets rotation. Kelly Olynyk scores when he's on the floor and I think he will continue to do so in Utah. Jarred Vanderbilt will get plenty of scoring opportunities being part of a thin rotation for the Lakers. There are X-Factors on this team and how their roles and playtime shake out will highly influence this teams win/loss total. Keldon Johnson and Cole Anthony would do well to retain their scoring from last year but its going to be tough sledding with all the additions both their teams have made this offseason. This team realistically has a chance to finish the season MUCH higher but the depth worries be quite a lot. What will guys like Marjon, Cody Martin, Keita Bates-Diop be able to provide on a nightly basis to not lose matchups. Only time will tell but from where this team was just a year ago having traded the best player in the league for pennies on the dollar there is light at the end of the tunnel once again. 

Projection: 12-16-1

[Zach Lowe]

22. Houston Rockets

I really went back and forth with this one, at points I had this team as high as 18, but I guess that's what happens when a majority of your team is so young. Its a 3 headed monster with Paolo, Herro and Green as the proven core for this team, all of them should average 25+ with Banchero pushing 30s. You can pen in a solid 26-28 fppg from Klay and call it a day. Outside of those guys its question marks all over in terms of production. Killian Hayes enjoyed a LOT of playing time due to injuries last year and should see his numbers drop this year. Can guys like Mo Bamba and Ricky Rubio, Richaun Holmes keep prominent roles throughout the season and stay within the 15-20 point support range? IF all 3 can do that this team can push for playoff chops in the West. What happens to AJ Griffin? I like the talent but the role is murky with all the trade rumors around. We haven't even touched Amen, whom many might consider the long term jewel for the rockets. With the flashes we saw in summer league, sky is the limit here but for this season it will be interesting how much playing time he can really garner after the Rockets went out and spent so much money to bring in a new point guard. Who is JT Thor? Will we find out eventually? BJ Boston also exists on this roster. 

Projection: 13-16

[Zach Lowe]

21. Golden State Warriors

I can't quite remember the last time the Warriors had such little expectations going into a season. Eventually everyone has to retool or reshape their roster and for the Warriors FO they've taken quite an aggressive approach at doing that. Gone are stars like Demar Derozan and Jusuf Nurkic, and we now get to watch the development of some promising players within Keyonte George, Gradey Dick and Josh Green. I personally am a huge fan of George, and while he might not go ballistic in his rookie campaign, he should take over the Derozan role with ease as he grows his game. Steph Curry is going to be himself and score in bunches. From a depth perspective I am worried about this team, THT showed some promise towards the end of last year but can he build on that? Precious, Ziaire, Day'Ron should all see some uptick in their playtime and improve from their current numbers, how much they can bring those higher will go a long way in determining the fate of the Warriors playoff hopes. Fultz and Ben Simmons are huge bets the FO has taken on and while Fultz has shows so much promise again already, I am unsure about Ben. I know Caleb loves him and if he can get back to stardom it will be a HUGE win for the team, but that remains to be seen. What exactly is Moses Moody at this point in his career? Someone tell me. 

Projection: 14-15

[Zach Lowe]

20. Brooklyn Nets

I keep preaching it, but depth is so important for long season runs and especially for teams vying for the playoffs. Depth ensures you're not loosing a random week 12 matchup to the lowly Rockets because you had one of your big guys miss a couple of games. The Nets have no depth to speak of, you cannot rely on guys like Ryan Hollis, Max Christie, Aaron Wiggins and 2 rookies to show up on a nightly basis. Can Luka and Durant carry the workload? Sure. Will they play healthy all year? Doubtful. Load management is too key for Durant especially for him to show up for 65+ games. What will a potential Clint Capela trade lead to? I personally like him to stay around 30-35 mark no matter where he ends up playing this year. Russell Westbrook likely comes down from his 30 fppg finally, although his availability is huge for the nets to pull out some much needed games. Luke Kennard should see some good usage early in the season but can he maintain that pace throughout the season will be a key factor. Drew Eubanks and Jordan Goodwin play on a team that lacks depth so they will score points in this league regardless and at their price are bargains for the Nets. I think with a weak East bottom this year, Nets will remain in playoff contention but man it will not be a pretty season by any stretch of the imagination. 

Projection: 14-15

[Zach Lowe]

19. Denver Nuggets

Another day another surprise on the rankings to many. Teams 16-20 are very very close in terms of roster construction and it would take the slightest of mishaps or breaks for one team to move way down or way ahead between the pack. For the Nuggets they will be hoping they catch a break, starting with Spencer Dinwiddie and Cameron Johnson being integral parts of the nets rotation and continue the end of the year production put up by them after being traded to the nets. Keegan Murray has started to come on and with him starting to stack flashes and turn that into real production he will be a fun watch this year. Saddiq bey has a new home, and Herb Jones has a solid role with the Pelicans, I do wonder what their respective ceilings are but they are good depth to have no less. Quintin Grimes came in with a lot of hype last year and for all measures put together some solid production and should see those numbers improve slightly. Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Jalen Johnson are all guys that will put up some points, but largely be looking for injuries to gain prominent roles. What is Davion Mitchell at this point? The Bust label looms large and it won't go away anytime soon. Kai Jones is much in the same and had those 2 picks not gone that way for the Nuggets plus the Franz trade, they are probably building a scary core. Rudy will score his points and lead a group of role players into some upsets this year. 

Projection: 14-15

[Zach Lowe]

18. Toronto Raptors

What a BOLD move it was to go and get Harden. While many disagree on the package that was given up from a team that has largely been a free win most weeks over the year few years, you cant doubt Hardens ability to put up points in this league. Mikal Bridges is a budding star in my opinion and he should continue to that ascend as the Nets feed him opportunities this year. I believe Al and OG are solidified scorers that can at least be counted on most nights to be solid, as long as they can also stay healthy. Caris found himself a nice role in Cleveland, and if the rumors around Spida come to fruition, he could once again find even more playing time soon. What exactly will Bol Bol produce in Phoenix will go a long way in how the Raptors bench performs, and I know that's wild statement for a team to have to rely on Bol Bol. Gabe should have a chance at 20 fppg this year. The rest is all crapshoot between the likes of Aaron Nesmith, Chris Duarte, Sandro Mamu, James Bouknight, all of whom have seen playing time dwindle towards the end of the year and some might never make it back. What is left of Evan Fournier? While his tweets indicate a revenge seasonal tour is forthcoming, the playing time he gets in New York might limit that tour to 1-2 nights on the season. This team likely has the lowest floor for any ranked in this range, and I would not be surprised if they finished towards the early 20s, but I like to be optimistic. 

Projection: 14-15

[Zach Lowe]

17. Utah Jazz


If this team could run back last years production, you would have to rate them quite high. There are a lot of pieces that will be affected by new roles or teams so it will be quite an interesting team to keep an eye on. CP3 should continue to put up points, but joins an interesting trio of guards for the Warriors and the fit does not sit well with me personally for his own style of play. Claxton has continued to grow his offensive game while he continues to anchor the Nets defense and should improve upon that further this year. Jaren Jackson is in a similar mold and should see quite some scoring opportunities in the first part of the season with Ja sitting out. Jonas Val is an interesting piece, you would believe he loses some scoring punch this year but he is still such an elite rebounder as he averaged 10 per game even after a 6 minutes per game drop in playtime. Wood is jobless but if he can stick somewhere as a backup should still be able to score fantasy points. I think Derrick White might be one of the better players for this team this year as his role increases for the Celtics with Smart gone and Brogdon continuously hurt. Bennedict Mathurian is still a young exciting talent and I have no reason to believe he wont push for 22+ fppg this season as he continues to grow his game. The team rounds out with guys like Cam Payne, Malik Beasley, Bones Hyland and Duncan Robinson. None of those guys really give you any confidence to have consistent production with their roles, teams and playtime constantly in a flux but would it really be surprising if they were all able to contribute anyways?

Projection: 14-15

[Zach Lowe]

16. Phoenix Suns

I am quite high on the Suns this year, although there will surely be some growing pains for a team so littered with youth. Boy is that young core exciting though, and the FO has to be over getting such a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama. I fully expect Victor to score 35+ this year and the only thing that concerns me is if he will be rested towards the end of the year. You have so much quality depth on this roster and veteran leadership as well. Jarrett Allen, Bobby Portis, Mike Conley, Kevon Looney are all guys that should score close to how they did last year and be integral parts for this teams success. Dennis Schroder has a new role and I could def see an ascension in points for him as the starting point guard in Toronto. Tari Eason and Patrick Williams should both take a step forward as they continue to grow into their roles. Nikola Jovic seems to have all the opportunity in Miami and should be yet another guy scoring more this year than last year. Some guys do concern me as Suggs is facing even more competition for his role than ever, and Nick Richards is going to be behind a budding player in Mark Williams. You still have Ausar Thompson who should be another exciting watch although I think his development will be a bit longer and might not fit the timeline for the Suns this year. I absolutely love the roster build for this team, and if it wasnt for the sheer amount of young players on this roster, I could see them MUCH higher than 17th. Future is bright in Phoenix and Tyler is showing fellow tankers on how to truly rebuild and compete quickly. 

Projection: 15-14

[Zach Lowe]

15. Boston Celtics

This team was one of the hardest to slot in, I think I had them as high as 14 and as low as 19. There's a LOT to like at the top, SGA, KAT, Fox are one of the absolute top trios in the league at this time. The combination of Lowry, Hayward, Jock and Matisse should give these team some semblance of depth to carry them on some rougher weeks if needed. Health is a big concern between Lowry and Hayward though and that continues to worry me a lot. What will the 4 rookies bring to this team? Brandon Miller will have ALL of the green light possible but I think anything north of 22 fpgg from him will be seen as a shock this year. The rest of the guys will be fighting for playing time and might not get much of it early on. While the ceiling is so high for this team, it makes me uncomfortable even having them at 16. 

Projections: 15-13-1

[Zach Lowe]

14. Los Angles Clippers

This is a team I am quite confident on, even as teams on either side of the standings continue to move, as long as injuries dont bite the Clippers should be solidly in contention in the West. While there is so single SUPER star for bball26 scoring, there is so much depth at the top. Edwards should continue to increase his scoring. Jakob improved overall in Toronto last year and should continue to do so. DLo might take a slight downgrade, but that should be more than mitigated by the ascension of Austin Reaves who I fully suspect will close above 25+ this year for the Clips. Mitchell's injury concerns aside, he is a Bonafide scorer for our league and if he can play 60+ games man will that be a boost. How good is Franz? What a steal he continues to be and again, another player that will continue to grow his game and should score more. Jalen Smith, Corey Krisp, John Konchar will be okay depth in many ways but nothing that will wow you most weeks. There are question marks on this team with guys like Isaiah Livers, Keon Johnson but they can be replaced during the season. Any production from Jalen Hood-Schifino will be seen as a positive. Will the FO finally trade away Ball and get some production back? That will be ideal but that hasn't been the case so far and there are worries the value window might have closed on him at this point.

Projection: 16-13

[Zach Lowe]

13. Orlando Magic



I will continue to reiterate the close bundling of teams 16-21. Orlando is the next team for me for now. Jason Tatum is a STUD, and should once again be top 5 overall scorers in the league. Jimmy and Pascal are really really good secondary options, I do worry about their health but they will play enough to be scary most often. KPJ should sadly take a bit of a backseat this year but I think he is too talented to not put up points and might play more freely than ever. After that it starts to fall apart. Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Trey Lyles should put up solid points as complimentary pieces and come at relatively cheap salaries. What will the roles be for guys like Isaiah Joe, Cam Reddish, Nickeil Alexander-Walker? Can they somehow assert themselves into the 15 fppg range and bolster the Magics depth? That in my mind will be the key that can push the Magic much higher but until that happens its a tough thing to count on. Will Caleb Houston and Hamidou Diallo even make it to opening night? Surely you can replace them with someone that can give you 10 points, if not more. For the Magic they will forever be lead by the Core Trio, and that alone will take them far. How much farther is all dependent on the depth and while there is a glimmer of hope for some of those guys being rostered, it will take a lot to accomplish lofty goals the Magic FO surely have for their stars.



Projection: 16-13

[Zach Lowe]

12. New York Knicks

The Knicks. Where do we even start wit this team. Getting Trae Young is a solid move no matter how you look at it. Adding to the PG13 core this is a solid foundation for any team. I am still unsure how Bradley Beal plays out in terms of scoring next to two ball dominant players but the drop shouldnt be too terrible. IQ is a budding player in the league but the playoffs showed there was a lot of growth still needed for the young guard. Zach Collins will be a good player next to victor and even give him some breathers, I almost see his scoring increasing this year. Trey Murphy is a advanced stats freak, but will there really be more opportunities in NO this year for him to increase his scoring? DSJ and Marcus Morris are guys that score when they get time on the floor, and their time should remain about the same so it will just come down to injuries and how many games they can stay on the court for. Dario Saric might be one of the best pickups in the offseason that no one is really talking about. Coby White and Marcus Sasser are unknown commodities in terms of what the actual fuck they will really do on the court this year. Then there's Cam Whitmore, we all know about the draft slide, we all know about his chuck style of play. Houston is a deep roster this year and finding time will be tough for any young player, but if he can carve out a role, Cam could end up being a steal in a year or two. End of the day the Knicks SHOULD make the playoffs, but as the years have shown, the team is usually riddled with injuries and it wouldn't be a surprise if the team was the last team left out and avoided their usual first round exits this year. 

Projection: 17-12

[Zach Lowe]

11. Indiana Pacers

I LOVE this roster. Alperen Sengun might  be one of my favorite talents to watch and observe on the court right now, and with new coaching I think he takes another step this year into fantasy stardom. Anfernee Simons should be a focal point of the blazers offense and with Dame gone and 2 young pups next to him, should be his year to shine. MPJ will always worry me with his injury history being what it is, his role is also not what it once was on a team thats so well oiled they don't need much from him but to just shoot that rock. Jalen Duren will surely take another step forward and should be an exciting watch for 30 fppg this year. THE DEPTH is nice beyond that long list of guys. Jaden McDaniels, Isaiah Jackson should both be solid reliable scorers. I would usually say the same for Ingles, but I am warry of what his role really will be for a Magic team filled with young talented players that will surely want the time to grow themselves. Josh Richardson should be a baller on a Miami team losing a lot of scoring punch from previous years and he knows the system well and thrived in it before. While we really don't know what comes of Jose Alvarado and David Roddy this year, any production from them should be seen as a positive. That alone is a formidable playoff roster. Things really get dangerous IF Zion can start to play and stay on the court. I am truly unsure if that will happen on a consistent basis and until I see it I have to rank this team right outside the top 10.


Projection: 18-11

[Zach Lowe]

10. Philadelphia 76ers

Ah, the Eastern Conference runner-ups. The roster is LARGLEY changed from what it looked like last year. We have moved on from Sabonis and Trae show to a bit more of a depth filled roster. I admire the approach as the biggest downfall for the team last year was depth alone. Lauri Markkanen rose to stardom last year in Utah, if he continues that rise he can be a solid #1 option for any team. Devin Booker is a stud, and even if he loses some production you can't hate him as a #2. Josh Giddey is still only 20 and with no jump shot manages to be a menace on the court and an absolute joy to watch. That is the new trio. Will the rest of the depth be enough for another late playoff push? I am not sure that will be the case. Mason Plumlee had a great first half of the season but now sits behind Zubac and will surely lose a lot of his fantasy scoring punch. Jerami Grant got PAID, so I can see him pick up his scoring with the opportunities he will have but is there really more left to his game? Bogdan, Pat Beverly, Jalen McDaniels should all provide consistent production most nights and although it won't be dazzling, it will be enough to win some tougher games. Xavier Tillman enjoyed a breakout year with the absence of Aquaman for the grizzlies, how will he settle in once he reverts back to a full time bench role. Seth Curry is back in Dallas and should see his game return to a consistent level as well. Andrew Nembhard might be the key for this team to truly unlock their potential. Last year he finished with one of the more impressive second halves from a young player and if he can continue to build on that, he might help mitigate some of the production the 6ers lost.

Projection: 18-11

[Zach Lowe]

9. Detroit Pistons

What a difference just a couple years can make. Cade Cunningham is a budding star and if he can get over his injury woes from last year, should see a banner year for his young career so far. Kyle Kuzma enters this year as his teams 1A star this year, a role he hasnt had before, look for him to take advantage and hit his scoring to the 30s. Jusuf Nurkic might not know what team he will be playing for on opening night, but the guy can surely score when he is on the court and healthy. Jordan Poole is my MIP favorite this year, finally out of the shadows of the splash brothers onto a team where he should share the scoring burden with Kuzma and sky is really the limit for him there. While the Pistons are filled with talented players Jaden Ivey should still improve his numbers as he looks to become more efficient as well. De'Anthony Melton actually showed a lot last year, and if Harden is really to be traded could take another step up in production. Alec Burks and Nicolas Batum will be somewhat below average pieces that will struggle to find consistent time but can give you some points. Chet Holmgren is healthy, and if SL is anything to go by, man we are in for some exciting basketball. While it is hard to directly gauge his points, how does he not end up somewhere in the 30s. Scoot might be one of the more exciting watches to come out of the draft and once Dame gets traded, the Blazers might look to him to be their cornerstone moving forward. You still have Kawhi to this team and we all know he will put up points, how many games he plays will be interesting as it usually is. 

This teams achilles heel will continue to be injuries. If the team can stay healthy I really do like this ranking for them. If the health becomes an issue, I can see this team being in the lottery again. 

Projection: 18-11

[Zach Lowe]

8. Oklahoma City Thunder 

For a 1 game matchup, this is one of the more dangerous teams to have to play. Imagine having to deal with 200 point weeks from Bron and Embiid in the same week while having to follow that with 150+ from Jrue. Depth wise the combination of Rozier, Gordon, Tobias, and Jordan Clarkson can be a lot to handle for most teams out there but some of those roles might not be what they were last year and will that be a tough sell? Eric Gordon, Gary Payton II, Otto Porter fill out a very mediocre bench that inspires very little. While the starting lineup is one of the best in the league currently health permitting, the bench is bottom tier as a contender but enough to not cry about. Hopefully the thunder can trade in some of their assets to bring in more depth but only time will tell. 

Projection: 19-10

[Zach Lowe]

7. New Orleans Pelicans

If you told me just last year this team would be ranked anywhere but in the top 3, I would call you a liar. The lack of real moves, and a roster filled with aging superstars can lead you astray at times. Kyrie is still magic on the court, but will he stay on there all season will always be a question worth asking these days.  Zach LaVine and CJ McCollum are volume scorers, that continuously miss games in previous years yet somehow enjoyed banners years in terms of health and asking for that to happen again is like asking for lightning to strike you twice. Draymond Green managed to get Jordan Poole sent out of town, but will he start to beef with CP3 next? Andrew Wiggins is a solid piece that should almost have a bounce back from a weird season last year. Tyrese can truly be unleashed if Harden leaves, and I expect that to happen. Will we finally get to see what all the hype is about. Royce O'Neal and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are some of the best bench pieces to lug around and should continue to stay that way. Kenrich Williams and Mortiz Wagner could lose playing time due to their respective rosters being filled with young talent demanding more time.  I know Malaki is a fan favorite of the FO but so far its a lot more hype than anything else on the court from him, still a bump in production should be coming. 

Projection: 20-9

[Zach Lowe]

6. Dallas Mavericks 

The core of this team is solidified and credit has to go to Kyle for turning it around from where it was just a couple of years ago. Spida, Bam and Murray are the star trio that keeps the machine moving and if anything I could see a bump from Murray to further elevate this team. Josh Hart just signed an extension in New York and should see his role be a mainstay while Thibs runs him ragged. Jalen Williams could be a budding star in the league, one that only the true basketball heads are starting to take notice of. Unlocking the true Oneyka might go a long way in moving this team further up the rankings but we're going into year 4 where that hasn't happened so I am not holding my breath just yet. Isaiah Stewart was once seen as untradeable, but now the FO might be hoping he gets traded IRL to extract more production there. Malik Monk and Terrance Mann will put up decent bench production. What will Jonathan Isaac bring? Outside of some IR stints not quite sure. Jamal Cain could actually be worth something, if only because Miami seems to bring out some random guy that starts to produce every year. Gallinari is a solid addition honestly, as long as he's playing will be a solid piece. Will Wendell More (Guy who cost the Mavs a championship ring) do anything on the court worth mentioning? Doubtful for this year. 

Projection: 20-9

[Zach Lowe]

5. Memphis Grizzlies 

Top to bottom might be the most "complete" team in the league right now. While there is a lack of top end reliable talent, I think if Porzingis can continue to keep the form he found last year he can be a solid leader. Bane has continued to grow beyond anyone's wildest imagination, and the first few weeks without Ja should be some really high scoring weeks to watch out for. What will Fred VanVleets green light truly look like on a new team? Surely he wont be playing 37 minutes a game with a lot of young talent that is going to be begging for that PT. I think Scottie had a rough sophomore year slump in many ways, but with FVV gone and the answer at PG being a scoring first guard, he will take up more of the playmaking abilities and gets back to being 34+. Brook Lopez had a studly year, will that continue? The Bucks franchise sure hopes so. Kyle Anderson and Bojan are good dependable players to have around. Where I really see some big uptick is Tyus Jones. How he meshes with Jordan Poole will be important, but as a starter for the grizzlies last few years, Tyus splits are hard to deny and I would not put 30fppg out of the question as of now. Donte and kenyon Martin as your 9-10 guys are more than solid and honestly better than most teams around. Weird to say but the production of Maxi and Lonnie Walker will really be essential for this team to fully achieve this potential but even if they are unable to do so, I expect the production to be accounted for in other ways. 

Projection: 20-9

[Zach Lowe]

4. Miami Heat


The heat have arguably one of the best rosters from top to bottom in the league. They have 6 players that could theoretically be 30+ a game and 2 of those players are guaranteed to be in the high 30s and 40s in Ja and Sabonis. Those 2 by themselves are a top duo in the league but adding Ayton, Turner, Derozan and Mark Will to that seems almost unfair. I’m including Mark Williams in this group because I definitely think 30 a game is possible for him this year. Even if it’s a little less he should be a nice young anchor. Ayton and Turner are very good bigs that should eat whenever they are healthy and playing. Santi, Strus and THJ provide three reliable depth pieces along with the core 6 and Niang should also be in line for a better year with the Cavs. Sam Hauser should be a rotation regular and also chip in. Only thing left for Heat is arguably finding an updated 12th man from Damion Lee because I’m not sure what his role will be on that suns team but it is def worth waiting to see. All in all, the Heat should definitely challenge for a title again this year provided Ja can keep his head straight for the entire year.

Projection: 22-7

[Zach Lowe]

3. Minnesota Timberwolves

Is there a single better duo in the league better than Anthony Davis and Tyrese Haliburton? What a crazy good jump Hali has made too, absolutely incredible and I don't think it gets talked about enough. While Julius Randle may never make it back to 40 fppg he is reliable and a source of a lot of points most weeks. Jaylen Brown got PAID, and should continue to be the 1B in Boston and score points like there's no tomorrow. This team really did miss Steven Adams a lot last year, and FO decided to not put him up as an asset and sell low, now they are looking to reap the rewards with a healthy year from the Aquaman. What is Malcolm Brogdon's true role on the Boston team and can he stay healthy to be the 6th man he was for most of last year? Torrey Craig and Alex Caruso are good pieces for the Chicago Bulls, and should continue to be a reliable source of bench points. After that it starts to fall apart a bit. Garry Harris, Jeremiah Robinson, Cedi Osman and Kobe Brown will all struggle to find regular playing time on their perspective teams and could be the ultimate demise for this team, but most weeks they will be so hard to beat with the Core 6 on this team being so so good. 

Projection: 22-7

[Zach Lowe]

2. Milwaukee Bucks 

Once back to back champs, the Bucks will be out for revenge having gone home earlier than expected last year. Giannis is Him. Lamelo Ball had quite a weird year and if hes back to being healthy should go back to dominating like he has previously. Dejounte Murray could be interesting, while his spurs time ball domination is no longer, unless the Hawks trade for Siakam, his projection should largely stay the same. Walker Kessler showed a lot last year, and yet no one will tell you he reached his potential, so scary hours are ahead. There are some question marks too on this team, but ones I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to on players that have been there and done it before. Khris Middleton should return to his old form, and staying healthy will be essential. Robert Williams needs to also stay healthy and help the Bucks return to their dominant starting lineup that would beat most teams 12 man teams. Bruce Brown and Dwight Powell are solid depth. Jae Crowder, Ishmail Wainwright, Christian Koloko will need to do very little most nights to really even matter but any production will help the Bucks ensure 1000+ point weeks that are synonymous with league domination. 

Projection: 24-5

[Zach Lowe]

1. Portland Trail Blazers

Man this team is so good top to bottom, there is a good reason Tyler is positioned for the 2nd b2b champion in the league. You have the best player in the league coming off a ring in here and IRL in Jokic averaging absurd numbers at 57+. You add to that a full season of Lillard and you have by far the strongest duo in the league as they averaged 100 ppg combined which is just absurd. Then you most likely have the strongest trio in the league when you add in Nikola Vucevic combined these 3 are close to 140 fppg and that hurts my brain just as much as every opponent the Blazers beat on their way to the championship last year. Marcus Smart is such a solid producer and should continue his scoring even with his new team. Delon Wright will be interesting as theres a lot of changes in Washington at the PG spot but should be the main backup for now. Caleb Martin showed in the playoffs what hes capable of and with all the departures in Miami should have some room to grow. Kevin Love will be interesting but the guy scores when hes on the floor. Isaiah Hartenstein, Dorian Finney-Smith, Troy Brown, Shake Milton are all guys that will give you points when they're on the court and for some their roles could even be increased coming next year. Can this team be scarier as most expect Shaedon Sharpe to take another step this year and if he is able to do that jesus this team is scary good and could be the second b2b champs in league history. 

Projection: 25-4