By Jason Palumbo

As the preseason progresses, and we get a good look at what the rosters will be at the start of the season, who is going to be injured, and who is going to be upset about his contract, things look very different than they did just two months ago. That being the case, it seemed reasonable to rethink the power rankings that most sports sites posted many weeks ago, many of which were based on rosters that have since changed dramatically. There are a lot of teams out there so let's get to it.

1. Lakers
The bad news is: Lindsey Hunter got away. The good news is: Shaq and Kobe didn't. They might be one injured toe away from fourth place in the West, but come playoff time, this is still the horse to bet on. They have the system. They have the experience. They have the hardware. They have Phil Jackson, whom one sports writer fittingly dubbed, "The Lord of the Rings". When is last time this guy lost? (For those of you not keeping track, it was in 1995). The Lakers have it all, and early reports say that they are hungry for more.

2. Kings
The best regular season team in the league got better. Keon Clark makes the NBA's deepest front court even deeper. With Bibby's injury and Webber's legal troubles, this team has a good reason to pull together and jump out to early success. Adelman is a brilliant coach, and this team is stacked with talent everywhere. Expect them to enter the playoffs with home court advantage in every series. This is the team with the best shot at upsetting the champs.

3. Nets
The beast of the East got nastier this summer. Trading for Mutumbo and picking up free agents, Childs and Rogers, not only hurts three of the teams fighting to usurp the Nets, it also bolsters their defense and bench tremendously. In preseason play, New Jersey decimated the Celtics, the team they beat in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Mutumbo and Rogers were big contributors. Barring a serious injury, the defending Conference champs have to be the favorites to win the East. They acquired the 7 foot tall, 2 time defensive player of the year, Dikembe Mutumbo with an eye toward upsetting Shaq and the Lakers in a possible rematch of last year's NBA Finals. Someone should have shown them footage of the 2001 Finals where Shaq laid it down on Dikembe and the 76ers. They'll get rings, but not the ones they want.

4. Spurs
Believe it or not, the sliding Spurs may be the team of the future. Duncan is only in his fifth year. Future hall of fame shoe in David Robinson is on his way out and with him a lot of signing room. Emanual Ginobili, a newly acquired Argentinean two guard, is young and the real deal. With the free agent class of 2003 around the corner, things are looking up for the Spurs - that's right, Kidd, Payton, Stackhouse, there are all-star guards for Timmy to team with. However, this season is not going to be the one. The loss of Terry Porter thins the back court and removes one of the games toughest and most dependable players from their roster. Kevin Willis will help to keep Robinson fresh up front, but that won't get the boys in black over the top.

5. Mavericks
Nelly has got something going in Dallas. With their wide open, run and gun offense, the Mavs are everyone's all-highlight team and a blast to watch. All they are missing is a strong defensive commitment and some strong defensive players. Innovative as always, Cuban and Nelson have addressed the problem not by trading for defensive minded guys, but by instituting fines for missed defensive assignments. It could work. Then again, it could also wind up funding a new stadium.

6. Hornets
This team has it all. They are deep up front and talented in the back court. Without Jamal Mashburn, they took the Nets to the limit. This year they have picked up ex-Wizard Courtney Alexander to provide depth and flexibility in the back court. Baron Davis continues to astound, and the big guys up front can get points and boards in bunches. Early injuries may slow this team down, but they have the size and talent to challenge for the East this year.

7. Trail Blazers
Enough talent for two teams, and that's where the trouble starts. The Blazers are deep at every position except center, maybe too deep. Three talented point guards, two starter quality two guards, an aging hall of fame small forward and a rising young star, and all of them with super-sized egos. If this menagerie of talented individuals can gel into some sort of a cohesive unit, they may have the goods to go all the way. The return of retired center Arvydas Sabonis should be an immediate injection of team chemistry and a cog in the machine designed to combat Shaq and the champs. If Maurice Cheeks can assemble a team from the pieces he has and keep Wallace and the boys from drawing expulsions every three games, this squad could do some serious damage out west. But that's a lot of ifs.

8. Pistons
When Detroit traded their leading scorer to the Wizards this off-season, a lot of us snickered and wrote them off. Then they landed Chauncey Billups from free-agency, and rookie power forward Mehmet Okur turned some heads in the preseason. Now Detroit looks like a sure-fire to finish top four in the East. They have depth at every position and players who understand their roles. They had an amazingly productive bench last season, and that has not been altered. Defensively they are very sound, though the loss of Stackhouse may hurt them some in the athletic, guard-oriented Eastern Conference. Without a true super-star, they are limited, but this team has the chemistry and depth to go a long way.

9. Celtics
It may seem odd to rank last year's Eastern Conference runner-up fourth in the conference that they almost won, but in truth, it's a generous position. Boston not only failed to improve this off-season, they lost their sixth man to the very team that knocked them off last year. On top of that they traded their starting point guard away and are running through preseason using Walker, their power forward, as the primary distributor. This did not work for Barkley in Philadelphia, and it won't work here. Walker is too important as a scoring threat in the post to play the entire game from the perimeter. The summer did net the Celtics former all-star Vin Baker. Baker looks to add rebounding and a tried and true post game to this group of three-point bomb launchers. Sound defense and the dependable greatness of Paul Pierce will keep Boston in the hunt for the Finals, but the C's will most likely come up short.

10. Pacers
Only real question is the point guard. This squad has the depth and talent to steal the East. They took the Nets to double overtime of game five in the first round of the playoffs last year, and by all accounts they should be better this year. They have real playoff experience garnered from last year's dog fight with New Jersey, and this year Ron Artest, Ron Mercer, and Mike Miller will be in Indiana all year to gel and learn the system. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley is the unknown. Sure he was with the team last season, but he was a rookie, and he was erratic. If head coach Isiah Thomas can school the youngster on the arts of leading a team, then Reggie might get another crack at the ring that has eluded him all these years.

11. Sonics
Happy or not, the Glove is still in Seattle. Lewis and Rodmanovic are both positioned to have breakout seasons. This team is young, athletic, and deeper than people realize. They don't have the guns or the commitment to team defense to deal with the likes of the Mavericks or Kings, but they still have Gary. Whether or not Payton gets his contract extension he will play like a demon, like he always does, but Gary's efforts will only carry the Sonics as far as they always do. They will make it to the first round, but don't have the weapons to upset the top four teams.

12. Magic
The 2003 Orlando Magic are strangely reminiscent of the Chicago Bulls in 1995, when Jordan came back for the tail end of the season and the playoffs. Sure they can score. They can defend too. On any given night, the combination of a healthy Hill and McGrady can confound defenses and upset the high and mighty. Unfortunately, they have no big men to speak of. Rebounding will be a constant issue as will health. The T-Magic will drive opponents nuts with their high octane, athletic offense and great perimeter D, but in the end, they will fall to bigger, sturdier teams. Now if only Dennis Rodman were available.

13. Clippers
Have these guys got talent? How does all-star quality at each position sound? And they have depth as well, or they would if they could ever get healthy. This might be too generous of a spot for these guys with the entirety of their starting front court on the injured list or hovering dangerously near it. However, healthy, the other LA market could shock some people. Summer pick-up Andre Miller is an offensive machine, capable of forty-point outbursts and the league leader in assists the past two seasons. Lamar Odom is largely believed to be the most talented player on the team, and Elton Brand is one of the most consistent forwards in the game and a reliable 20 point 10 rebound performer. If they can get healthy, gel, and get the Kandi man to play close to his potential, they'll be dangerous. That's way to many ifs in a season that is a contract year for many of these guys. Head coach Alvin Gentry is going to have his hands full.

14. Wizards
Last year Michael Jordan dragged the inexperienced Wizards kicking and screaming to the .500 mark before his overused, 39 year old knees gave out. After that the team went into a tail spin and never recovered. However, GM Wes Unseld had a successful off season, signing two talented rookies, veteran swingmen Bryan Russell and Larry Hughes, and trading for all-star guard Jerry Stackhouse. This preseason, the Wizards' young players are performing well, especially second year forward Kwame Brown who is averaging a double - double through three games after a lackluster rookie season. The late addition of Charles Oakley adds experience, toughness, and smarts to a deep, young front line. The real wild card on this team is Jordan. This line-up should take one of the lower four playoff spots, but once they're in the show, the MJ x-factor could carry them a long way. If there's one thing the last two decades have taught us, it's don't bet against Jordan on the basketball court.

15. Timberwolves
If Kevin Garnett were the host body for a gestalt Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Wolves would have a shot in the West. He's not. KG is perhaps the most productive player in basketball today. He gets double figure rebounds while playing perimeter defense, deals out high assists while carrying the offense, and leads with passion. Unfortunately his followers are not up to the challenge. Wally Szczerbiak, an all-star swingman, is the team's only other consistent scorer, and he adds little else. When he's healthy, point guard Terrell Brandon lifts this team to another level, and his leadership and talent make them look like contenders. But Brandon isn't healthy very often, and he hasn't played a full season since he was a backup to Mark Price in Cleveland. Having Brandon gives the team another scoring threat and allows Garnett to work away from the basket for easy scores and offensive boards instead of playing the role of distributor for Wally and the gang. This team could go to the second round with a healthy Brandon, but otherwise they will struggle to make the playoffs, and as much as the sports-media community will seek to lay the blame on the Man-Child, there's only so much that one man can do, and Garnett is already doing it.

16. Rockets
Will Yao Ming amount to a new ring in Houston? He might in a few years, if the Rockets can re-sign him that is. Right now the untested big man offers Rudy Tomjanovich the best front court he has had since Barkley and Olajuwon lost the long fight with injuries and age. His back court is no laughing matter either with phenom point guard Stevie Fancis and hyper-energized Cuttino Mobley. The Rockers seem to have all the pieces to make a deep playoff run, but this is unlikely. First of all, touted center Yoa Ming is an NBA rookie, and his production is likely to demonstrate that. The rest of the Rockets front court, while talented, is somewhat undersized in the beefy power forward country out west. Finally this team still lacks identity and defensive integrity. They need to institute a true system on offense rather than living solely off the brilliant but unpredictable moves of Stevie Franchise and Cat Mobley. In two or three years these guys might be contenders, if they can keep the group together. This year they will contend for the last two playoff spots in the West.

17. Hawks
Glen Robinson joins a strong scoring tandem, and a healthy Theo Ratliff returns to man the paint. Could be that the Hawks are the surprise team in the East this year. They certainly have the talent to put up huge numbers offensively and the athleticism to compete on the boards. Unfortunately they sent their most unselfish guy to Milwaukee in the trade for Robinson. Now they are left with a bunch of gunners and no passer. Still their depth up front and ability to create shots one on one should lift them to the lower rungs of the playoffs. Unless Iverson or Ray Allen goes wild, which is a distinct possibility.

18. Bucks
They lost Big Dog and did nothing to address their miserable rebounding and defense. What they do have is an unsurpassed back-court duo in Cassell and Allen, and the ability to put up monster points in minutes. Tim Thomas should perform well from the starting three spot, and Toni Kukoc and Michael Redd will ensure that their offensive output will not drop off when the second unit comes on the floor. Unfortunately these guys don't have quite as much punch as their West counterpart, the Mavericks. They will struggle badly to rebound and on post defense, but their fast striking offense should keep them in most games. An injury to anyone in their top seven could have drastically bad results. They will fight with Atlanta, Toronto, and Philadelphia for the last playoff berths.

19. 76ers
As long as Iverson is alive and walking, the 76ers will be dangerous. With the Answer, Snow, and Mckie, Philadelphia has one of the most reliable, talented backcourts in the game. And that's all they have. Recently acquired Van Horn will help with perimeter scoring, and Derek Coleman can put up points around the hoop, but both are defensive liabilities. The loss of Mount Mutumbo will show on team defense and rebounding, especially offensive rebounding, where Coleman and Van Horn have little to offer. Iverson's fire and Larry Brown's basketball acumen may pull the 76ers into the playoffs, but they are probably not the contenders they once were.

20. Raptors
Vince returns with a vengeance. Unfortunately he is returning to a banged up, undersized team who lost three key reserves and their starting center in the off season. Without Hakeem and Clark, Antonio Davis will be forced to play most of is minutes as the team's center, and they will struggle to plug holes at power forward and point guard. With severely depleted depth, this team will need to rely on mistakes by other teams and inspired play from overachieving guards Morris Peterson and Alvin Williams to have a chance of reaching the playoffs. Or Carter will have to be Half-Man, Half-Amazing. Hey, it could happen.

21. Jazz
Utah's rank may look unrealistically low, and I admit they will probably find a way to beat out the younger more talented teams for a playoff position, but this is how things stand. Stockton and Malone have not dwelt in such a vacuum of talent in all their years of rewriting the record books. They have no starter-caliber two guard, two decent but not exceptional small forwards, and one young but encouraging center. John and Karl will still fill it up every night, especially now that Marshall is off to Chicago freeing Malone up for more shots. Mark Jackson will back up Stockton beautifully and probably see some minutes as the team's shooting guard as well. There just isn't enough talent here to really make a dent in the tough western conference.

22. Suns
This team has not had a healthy season since Barkley was league MVP in 1993. Team success rests squarely on the shoulders of Stephan Marbury, the all-star point guard who came west in the trade that sent Jason Kidd to the New Jersey Nets and the NBA Finals. Starbury can fill up a stat-sheet like nobody's business, but he is not a proven winner, and he has a serious ankle injury. He will play in pain, but he will probably not be enough to get this team into the playoffs. They also suffer a lack of size in a big division. Their best rebounder and shot-blocker is Shawn Marion, a small forward. A good team to pick fantasy players from, but not likely to go anywhere this season.

23. Warriors
If you need forwards, write the Golden State Warriors. Jamison, Fortson, Dunleavy, Murphy, these guys have a glut of forwards. Unfortunately they don't have centers, and they're guards are young and undeveloped. This is an inexperienced squad and not much is expected of them. Slam dunk champ Jason Richardson should fill some seats, and the team will likely improve on last season's abysmal record, but until they land a genuine center and some veteran guards, this team is unlikely to make real progress. Where are Run TMC when you need 'em?

24. Heat
Pat Riley finds himself mired in mediocrity for the second season in a row, and he doesn't seem to mind. With the loss of Alonzo Mourning to the progression of his kidney disease, the Heat lost their leader, their best player, and the glue that bound their offense and defense. Power forward Brian Grant will attempt to fill the large shoes left by Zo, and rookie Caron Butler will happily step into Grant's regular spot. Swingman Eddie Jones will be left to pick up the slack offensively. It will be a long year for the Heat. Riley sees his team contesting for a playoff berth, but it would have been a challenge with Mourning. Without him there is little chance.

25. Grizzlies
They're not last. As a matter of fact they might go higher than this. If Jason Williams will play within the system, and Dickerson can stay healthy, they have legitimate NBA starters at every position. Young guys need to learn quickly for this team to make real progress. Of course with Jerry West scowling from the stands, the young guys will be motivated to work hard, and the coach will be sweating for wins.

26. Knicks
The bad news is: the Knicks traded Camby, their best front court asset, for Antonio McDyess, who is now out for the season with a broken kneecap. The good news is: Camby already had an injury and wouldn't have been able to play, so they didn't really lose anything. They gave up their starting point guard, and their emotional leader, Sprewell, is on the outs with the club for reporting to training camp with a broken hand. This team has problems everywhere. If they can get a good draft pick and McDyess recovers successfully, they could see enormous improvements next year.

27. Bulls
The progression of Chandler and Curry from high school kids into NBA players is coming along nicely. Both youngsters bring a lot to the table and promise to excel in the future. In the present, the team hinges on the abilities of swingman Jalen Rose. Rose is a multi-talented veteran but not a one-man offense. Rookie Jay Williams and young guard Jamal Crawford have as much potential as the second year big guys. Chicago will be good one day, but not this day. Eddie Robinson and Donyell Marshall will also add to this team, though they will fight Rose and each other for minutes.

28. Cavaliers
The Darius Miles show is up and running. Rookies Wagner and Boozer should have good showings, and veteran swingman Ricky Davis can put up points, but this season is all about Darius Miles coming into his own. John Lucas loves Miles' work ethic and skills and plans to play him all over the court. If nothing else, the Cavs should be fun to watch, and the young nucleus of talent they have could lead them back to the playoffs in a few years.

29. Nuggets
The big story in Denver is Brazilian rookie Nene Hilario. He is a real prospect center in a league with a center shortage. Denver doesn't have much else to offer its fans right now. James Posey shows flashes of brilliance and certainly has potential, but it looks like Juwan Howard will earn his money this year carrying this team offensively. On the bright side, things can't get much worse. When you're on the bottom, the only place to go is up.