What happened: On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Bill Simmons said Sacramento's $49 million combined commitment to Keegan Murray and his wing partner represents "the worst contract in the league." Simmons argued on the show that neither Sacramento forward would crack the rotation for the Boston Celtics, whom he placed outside the league's top five. Moving to No. 27, Simmons praised Caleb Wilson as an effortless 22-point, 7-rebound scorer after the rookie delivered a hard foul with 45 seconds left in a 40-point loss to Boston.

Why it matters: Simmons pointed to sparse home attendance and a questionable $64 million guard deal on The Bill Simmons Podcast to explain why the 1-3 Milwaukee Bucks have slipped into a bleak stretch since their 2021 championship. He added that local attention has shifted toward the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series and the Green Bay Packers' playoff push, though the Bucks still hold Miami's draft pick. At No. 26, Simmons said the 1-2 Phoenix Suns face a grueling year amid poor perimeter defense and unsettled center play.

What to watch: Simmons noted on the show that he recorded the rankings ahead of Tuesday's slate, flagging the Detroit Pistons' game and the Boston Celtics' matchup against the 0-3 No. 29 team as key early tests.