NBA mid-summer power rankings

team. 118. I’m quite prepared to be wrong about this bunch (they might be solid) but like so many teams this year, they look tossed together. Rudy Gobert is a dandy defender, but everyone on the offense looks like a Plan B scorer. What do Joe Johnson or Boris Diaw have left? Trey Lyles may be ready for his close-up; if he can co-exist with Derrick Favors, the Jazz might be playing sweet music.  . (0-0). Previous: 21st. Utah Jazz. 21

79. Talk about a team of question marks! Can Dirk Nowitzki still light it up every night? Can Harrision Barnes emerge as an elite scorer? Which Deron Williams will show up? Head coach Rick Carlisle has his work cut out. I can’t rank the Mavs higher until I see some results from all the tinkering.. (0-0). Previous: 22nd. Dallas Mavericks. 22. team

Previous: 23rd. New York Knicks. 23. team. 27. This team hasn’t won a championship since 1973, and they won’t break that depressing streak this season. Two disappointments, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, have moved from Chicago to Manhattan, where they will try to revive their careers with Carmelo Anthony, big talented sophomore Kristaps Porzingis, and retreads like Brandon Jennings and Courtney Lee. I’m not feeling it, partly because any team which has roster spots for both Lou Amundson and Sasha Vujacic isn’t going anywhere.. (0-0)

86. Can you be #24 with a bullet? You can if you’re the young and talented T’Wolves. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins should be knocking on the All-Star dressing room door very soon, Zach Lavine looks good. Will they finally get anything out of Nikola Pekovic? If only Ricky Rubio could shoot…Tom Thibodeau is the new Mr. Everything there. I hope he doesn’t replay the mistake of his Chicago tenure by burning out his top players while everyone else rots.. (0-0). Previous: 24th. Minnesota Timberwolves. 24. team

25. team. 66. I’ll wager money I won’t be starting this team at such a lowly ranking next year. Last year’s Team Turmoil is in decent shape, with an interesting rookie (Dragan Bender) and an exciting sophomore shooter (Devin Booker). I’ve always like Brandon Knight at the point, P. J. Tucker is a fierce defender – they don’t have enough yet, but the trend line is positive. T. J. Warren is my dark horse Sixth Man of the Year candidate.. (0-0). Previous: 25th. Phoenix Suns

84. This team might have the worst backcourt in the league. DeMarcus Cousins will put up big numbers, pout and complain about his mates, and with justification. Rudy Gay wants out, or is being pushed that way, depending on who you read. I think they should dump all the veterans and start again.. (0-0). Previous: 26th. Sacramento Kings. 26. team

27. team. 93. Long-suffering Philly fans won’t have playoffs to look forward to, but perhaps they will have a team that doesn’t look like a contender for the D-League championship. They have size, maybe too much, with Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid (I’ll believe when I see it), and Jahlil Okafor, shooting (c’mon Stauskas – where’s the magic?) and perhaps Dario Saric. They need at least a year to figure everything out.. (0-0). Previous: 27th. Philadelphia 76ers

28. team. 69. Perhaps I’m being harsh, but have you ever seen such a collection of disappointing players on one team? Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, Norris Cole, Alonzo Gee, James Ennis, Jrue Holiday – wow. New Orleans has become the Last Chance Saloon. Even the superb Anthony Davis came up short last year. Better hope the rookies have some firepower. This team will have more games with fewer than 80 points than any other.. (0-0). Previous: 28th. New Orleans Pelicans

(0-0). Previous: 29th. Los Angeles Lakers. 29. team. 20. Last year’s farcical campaign is behind them – maybe they can play ball now. There are a lot of kids who will need much care and feeding, and comfort after yet another loss. Take your medicine, Lakers fans. This group needs two years together, at least.

More than sad – at least when Philly loses, they are developing young players. Anthony Bennett and Luis Scola get to cash more cheques, as do Jarrett Jack and Trevor Booker. I’m not doing win-lose records yet, but I’ll be astonished if this collection of misfits gets to 20 W.. (0-0). Previous: 30th. Brooklyn Nets. 30. team. 147