NBA preseason power rankings: Thunder, Spurs lead all 30 teams

The NBA preseason is underway, which means it’s also time for everybody’s favorite October exercise; Ranking teams before the games actually count.

Here’s the complete 1-through-30 order, along with a quick Hoops Wire thought on each.

1. Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off another MVP season, and Oklahoma City remains loaded despite some offseason changes. Until somebody knocks the Thunder off their perch in the West, putting them here is pretty easy to defend.

2. Spurs

Victor Wembanyama and a young core that already reached the Finals? Yeah, expectations aren’t exactly low in San Antonio anymore.

3. Knicks

The defending champions bring back the core that finally broke through. Now comes the difficult part: doing it again.

4. 76ers

Philadelphia has gone all-in with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Talent certainly won’t be the excuse.

5. Celtics

Boston remains firmly in the contender conversation even after Brown’s departure. There’s still plenty of championship experience left around Jayson Tatum.

6. Cavaliers

Cleveland enters the season with championship expectations after adding James Harden to Donovan Mitchell and an already deep roster. The question isn’t whether the Cavaliers are good enough to win a lot of games. It’s what happens in May and June.

7. Rockets

Houston continues to look like one of the West’s most dangerous teams. At this point, youth is becoming experience.

8. Pistons

Detroit has gone from rebuilding story to legitimate Eastern Conference threat in a hurry. Cade Cunningham and company aren’t sneaking up on anyone anymore.

9. Nuggets

As long as Nikola Jokic is healthy, Denver belongs somewhere around this neighborhood. The supporting cast will determine how high the ceiling goes.

10. Timberwolves

Minnesota still has Anthony Edwards and plenty of size and athleticism around him. That alone gives the Timberwolves a chance on most nights.

11. Raptors

Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto, which alone makes the Raptors one of the league’s more fascinating teams. How much he has left could determine whether this ranking is too low or too high.

12. Lakers

Any team with Luka Doncic is dangerous. The Lakers’ challenge will again be determining whether the rest of the roster is good enough to survive the West.

13. Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton remains the engine, and Indiana has enough experience now that expectations have changed. Merely making the playoffs isn’t the goal anymore.

14. Heat

Adding Giannis Antetokounmpo automatically changes the equation. Erik Spoelstra now gets to figure out how to maximize one of the most unique players in basketball.

15. Hawks

Atlanta has enough talent to be interesting and enough unanswered questions to make projecting it difficult. That sounds about right for the middle of the rankings.

16. Magic

Orlando is betting that Sean Sweeney can unlock more offense from Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane. The defense should still give the Magic a reliable floor.

17. Trail Blazers

Portland made the playoffs and then added more veteran talent. The Blazers may not be a title favorite, but they’re well past the rebuilding stage.

18. Hornets

Charlotte has reshaped the roster dramatically. Now comes the harder part: Turning all the pieces into an actual team.

19. Warriors

Stephen Curry is still Stephen Curry, which means dismissing Golden State is probably foolish. But the mileage continues to pile up.

20. Mavericks

Cooper Flagg is already the centerpiece, Kyrie Irving is finally returning, and Dallas has plenty to sort through. The Mavericks could look considerably better by April than they do in October.

21. Suns

Phoenix underwent another makeover and is hoping Miles Bridges can become a major part of the new core. This feels like a team with a pretty wide range of possible outcomes.

22. Jazz

Utah finally has enough young talent to make the rebuild interesting, particularly with Darryn Peterson joining Ace Bailey and Keyonte George. Now the Jazz need those prospects to start turning promise into wins.

23. Wizards

Despite the presence of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, Washington continues to build around youth. Progress matters more than the standings for now.

24. Bulls

Chicago remains difficult to peg, though the early returns from some of the younger players have been encouraging. The Bulls badly need somebody from that group to emerge.

25. Pelicans

Zion Williamson remains the biggest variable. New Orleans has talent, but the questions about health, spacing and roster fit haven’t disappeared.

26. Clippers

The Clippers appear to be entering a different stage of their cycle. How quickly the younger pieces develop will go a long way toward determining what this season becomes.

27. Nets

Brooklyn is coming off a difficult season, although an improved offense could at least make things more competitive. One hot preseason shooting night isn’t enough to declare everything fixed.

28. Grizzlies

Health may matter more than anything else in Memphis. Getting Zach Edey back on the floor is a start.

29. Bucks

The post-Giannis era has officially begun in Milwaukee. That means development and figuring out who belongs in the next version of the Bucks may matter more than the record.

30. Kings

Somebody has to be last, and Sacramento gets the honor here. The Kings have intriguing young players, but it’s difficult to see where enough wins come from right now.