Updated: 1. Miami 2. Houston 3. Oklahoma City 4. San Antonio 5. Golden State 6. Chicago 7. Indiana 8. LA Clippers 9. Cleveland 10. Memphis 11. Portland 12. Dallas 13. Atlanta 14. Utah 15. Washington 16. New Orleans 17. Detroit 18. Denver 19. Brooklyn 20. Orlando 21. LA Lakers 22. Boston 23. Toronto 24. Minnesota 25. Philadelphia 26. New York 27. Phoenix 28. Milwaukee 29. Sacramento 30. Charlotte
[rQUOTEr] Don't you love it when a plan comes together? Daryl Morey sure does. The Rockets' GM saw his pursuit of a superstar yield not one but two (James Harden and Dwight Howard) over the past 12 months, pushing Houston from 13th in the Future Power Rankings to the lofty status of No. 1 challenger to the Miami Heat. The Rockets still aren't a finished product. They have to figure out the right complement to Howard in the frontcourt from a large group of contenders, including incumbent center Omer Asik (a possible trade candidate) and sophomores Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas. Houston also must determine whether Jeremy Lin is the answer at point guard or defensive-minded Patrick Beverley fits better next to Harden. Our panel has faith in the ability of Morey and head coach Kevin McHale to answer those questions; the Rockets ranked fourth in management. And even if it takes a year or two to find the right pieces around Harden and Howard, Houston has time because its two stars are 27 (Howard) and 24 (Harden). The Rockets have all their own first-round picks and a chance at cap space in 2015, when Asik and Lin become free agents, giving Morey plenty of flexibility. This is one contender built with staying power. For the first time since August 2010, Oklahoma City finds itself outside the top two of the Future Power Rankings. If the Thunder's future no longer looks quite as certain as it did with Harden, there's still plenty going for Oklahoma City. The Thunder ranked No. 1 in players on the strength of stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, both of whom improved last season and could still be growing in their mid-20s, and 24-year-old Serge Ibaka. Behind a terrific starting lineup, Oklahoma City posted the NBA's best point differential during the 2012-13 regular season. Who knows what might have happened had Westbrook not gone down with a torn meniscus that ended his postseason. Yet there are plenty of question marks for the Thunder going forward. Oklahoma City needs the new generation of young talent that Sam Presti has amassed to start paying dividends. Reggie Jackson showed promise replacing Westbrook during last season's playoffs, while Jeremy Lamb will step into a much larger role with the departure of sixth man Kevin Martin and this year's lottery pick Steven Adams could be the heir apparent to Kendrick Perkins in the middle. How well those recent first-round picks develop will determine whether the Thunder can return to the top of the Western Conference while continuing to dodge the luxury tax, the team's biggest concern at least until Perkins' contract expires in 2015.[/rQUOTEr]