Oct 7, 2026 · 2h 3m
NBA teams 25 through 21 reveal five different rebuild dilemmas
Preseason Power Rankings, Part 2 (feat. Bill Simmons) | Group Chat
The rankings expose how uncertain timelines, fragile identities, and star decisions shape the league’s middle tier.
- 1New Orleans lacks a coherent direction as Zion Williamson’s availability and role remain central organizational questions.
- 2Memphis has depth, size, and draft flexibility, but its crowded roster still needs shooting and reliable creation.
- 3Dallas, Washington, and Phoenix each face a different test involving star support, competing timelines, or defensive identity.
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The panel debates whether Dallas should keep Kyrie Irving to mentor Cooper Flagg or trade him for future assets.
The brief
Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann continue the preseason rankings with Bill Simmons, beginning at No. 25 and examining what separates a reset from drift.
New Orleans has talent but no clear shape, and the panel’s debate over Zion Williamson becomes a larger question about availability, fit, and organizational direction.
Memphis offers a more controlled rebuild: depth, physicality, young players, and draft flexibility create a plausible play-in path, though shooting and minutes remain concerns.
Dallas must decide whether Kyrie Irving’s mentorship and creation matter more to Cooper Flagg than the assets a trade could bring, while Washington balances veterans against A.J. Dybantsa’s development.
Phoenix closes the ranking with a harder question: can last season’s effort-based defense survive roster changes and Devin Booker’s continued burden as the primary star?