AROUND the NBA:

[Knutsen]

ESPN has it's player rankings out for this upcoming season.  This is a predictive ranking of next season and not necessarily a past resume ranking.

1. Jokic
2. SGA
3. Luka
4. Giannis
5. Wemby
6. Anthony Edwards
7. Steph
8. Lebron
9. Durant
10. Brunson
11. Jalen Williams
12. Cade Cunningham
13. Evan Mobley
14. Anthony Davis
15. Donovan Mitchell
16. Devin Booker

Lakers should win with 2 top 8 players… I don’t see LeBron that high.

[KillerLeft]

Lakers should win with 2 top 8 players… I don’t see LeBron that high.

I think both LeBron and Luka are ranked appropriately...when they're at their best. In my opinion, the problem with both players, albeit for different reasons, is that they're not at their best as consistently as some of the other players on that list.

[Knutsen]

I think both LeBron and Luka are ranked appropriately...when they're at their best. In my opinion, the problem with both players, albeit for different reasons, is that they're not at their best as consistently as some of the other players on that list.

And that both of them are much better on offense than on defense, right? They won’t scratch the top 50 on a best defenders list probably, that’s where age really caught up to LeBron.

[Chicagojk]

It will be interersting to see skinny Zion.   It is a travesty we really haven't seen the Duke Zion.  He was so good as a freshman.    That peak athleticism may be gone, but he still should be really good.    The longterm injury concerns are valid.  I just have trouble seeing him put together mulitple years of being generally injury free.   I also think he is eventually moved from New Orleans.    I could see a scenario where he goes to Miami and has a career rebound.