- 13 Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC) – not deserving - 12 Golden State Warriors – decline in lottery luck; not positioned for No. 1 - 11 Miami Heat – no-tank stance leaves them in no-man’s land - 10 Atlanta Hawks (via NOP or MIL) – front office has maneuvered well; still in mix - 9 Charlotte Hornets – improved with LaMelo Ball return; volatility remains - 8 Dallas Mavericks – fanbase deserved a better bounce-back; injuries affected season - 7 Indiana Pacers – Haliburton absence hurt; bold trade for Zubac shows competing intent - 6 Utah Jazz – bold moves; suspected to have tanked to influence odds; anti-tanking context noted - 5 Chicago Bulls – improved leadership and direction; deserving a hopeful path - 4 Brooklyn Nets – tanking history acknowledged; strong front office and assets merit luck - 3 Memphis Grizzlies – front office competence; turning the page with a rebuild in mind - 2 Sacramento Kings – fanbase deserves a brighter future despite ownership issues - 1 Washington Wizards – new direction under Will Dawkins; two-way talent, winning roadmap, signs of a rebuild turning the corner Like 👍 Subscribe 🔔 and stay informed. Visit NHENews.COM for more top headlines.