You never know what to expect from the NBA. This offseason delivered some of the most drama in recent memory.
LeBron James is wearing a new uniform. Jaylen Brown was traded. Giannis Antetokounmpo found a new home. LaMelo Ball is starting over in Minnesota. And nearly every franchise enters the 2026-27 campaign looking dramatically different than it did just a few months ago.
Without question, the NBA landscape has completely changed, and we look forward to a host of teams competing from opening tip-off for a chance to win it all.
With training camp rapidly approaching, here’s how all 30 NBA teams stack up entering the 2026-27 season, ranked from worst to best.
30. Sacramento Kings
2025-26 Record: 22-60, 14th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Darius Acuff Jr. (draft), Alex Karaban (draft), Emanuel Sharp (draft)
Outgoing Players: DeMar DeRozan (waived), Russell Westbrook (free agency), Devin Carter (trade)
The Kings finally admitted that it is time to hit the reset button. DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook are gone, opening the door for No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff Jr. to become the face of a younger era. Hopefully, more changes are coming so the tanking begins.
Sacramento still has offensive firepower with Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray, but the defense remains a glaring concern. Until the youngsters prove they can consistently win games, the Kings deserve to start at the bottom. Expect Sabonis, LaVine, and possibly Monk to be on the trading block as soon as possible.
29. Memphis Grizzlies
2025-26 Record: 25-57, 13th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Cameron Boozer (draft), Isaiah Stewart (trade), Jerami Grant (trade), Kris Murray (trade), Quinten Post (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Ja Morant (trade), Santiago Aldama (trade)
The Ja Morant era is officially over, and finally we can all move on. Memphis has undertaken a complete rebuild by adding Cameron Boozer, Jerami Grant and Isaiah Stewart while creating financial flexibility for the future. It wasn’t easy to move Morant, as it took a simple package with no picks involved to do so.
There’s talent here, but patience will be required as the next generation develops around Boozer and Zach Edey. We have high hopes for Boozer as an All-Rookie First Team contender and possible Rookie of the Year candidate, so at least that’s a positive.
28. New Orleans Pelicans
2025-26 Record: 26-56, 11th Western Conference
Incoming Players: None
Outgoing Players: Kevon Looney (free agency)
New Orleans needs a complete change of roster and direction, yet the Pelicans largely stood still. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III continue to dominate trade speculation, while the roster still lacks a clear identity. We cannot understand why.
Unless several young players take major leaps, another frustrating season could be on the horizon. Pelicans fans have suffered enough with waiting for Zion to stay healthy, so perhaps they should make more of a push for a complete reset. Otherwise, expect the team to fall into the lottery once again.
27. Milwaukee Bucks
2025-26 Record: 32-50, 11th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Tyler Herro (trade), Kel’el Ware (trade), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (trade), Kasparas Jakucionis (trade), Brayden Burries (draft), Nate Ament (draft)
Outgoing Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo (trade), Bobby Portis (trade)
Trading away Giannis Antetokounmpo has closed one of the greatest chapters in franchise history. The Bucks received a respectable collection of young talent, including Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr., but replacing one of the NBA’s most dominant players simply isn’t possible.
The Bucks have enough depth to stay competitive on certain nights, yet this roster is clearly focused on building toward the future rather than chasing championships. Expect Herro to have a strong individual season next year because he will be the star of the small-market show now and moving forward. Unfortunately, there won’t be enough wins to follow.
26. Brooklyn Nets
2025-26 Record: 20-62, 13th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Julius Randle (trade), Mikel Brown Jr. (draft), Moritz Wagner (free agency), Keon Ellis (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Nic Claxton (trade), Ziaire Williams (free agency)
Brooklyn accelerated its rebuild by bringing in Julius Randle while also adding promising rookie point guard Mikel Brown Jr. The Nets have quietly assembled a respectable mix of veterans and young talent, but they still lack the elite star needed to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
Development is still the priority, so the Nets will continue stacking losses. We hope to see improvement from Egor Demin as well, because he will be challenged as the floor general on the team. Not much else to talk about regarding the Nets roster that will look ahead to the 2027 Draft.
25. Chicago Bulls
2025-26 Record: 31-51, 12th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Caleb Wilson (draft), Norman Powell (free agency), Nic Claxton (trade), Dailyn Swain (draft)
Outgoing Players: Anfernee Simons (free agency), Collin Sexton (free agency)
The Bulls finally have something that looks like a positive direction. No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson flashed All-Star potential during Summer League, while Norman Powell and Nic Claxton provide experienced leadership. Those are some big names to watch out for.
However, the Bulls still won’t threaten the league’s elite, but there’s finally optimism surrounding one of the NBA’s youngest cores. The Bulls had a solid offseason, overall, because they didn’t lose anyone important but added better players. Hopefully, they can prove us wrong with their early 25th-spot ranking.
24. Los Angeles Clippers
2025-26 Record: 42-40, 9th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Brandon Ingram (trade – pending investigation), Gradey Dick (trade – pending investigation), Keaton Wagler (draft), Rui Hachimura (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Kawhi Leonard (trade – pending investigation), John Collins (trade), Bogdan Bogdanovic (free agency)
The Clippers appear headed toward a much-needed youth movement after agreeing to move Kawhi Leonard, pending league approval after an intense investigation that could last until 2027. Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and future draft capital would represent a much-needed new core, but losing Leonard almost certainly means taking a step backward before eventually moving forward.
Assuming Leonard is gone, the Clippers can finally move on with a new core of Brandon Ingram and Darius Garland. Will it be enough to get into the playoffs in the West? No. But at this point, the Clippers will get anything they can get after mortgaging their future for so long.
23. Dallas Mavericks
2025-26 Record: 26-56, 12th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Morez Johnson Jr. (draft), Zaccharie Risacher (trade), Santiago Aldama (trade), Marcus Sasser (trade)
Outgoing Players: Khris Middleton (trade), Marvin Bagley III (free agency)
Everything now revolves around Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks added another former No. 1 overall pick in Zaccharie Risacher while allowing Masai Ujiri to patiently reshape the roster. Drafting Morez Johnson Jr was a great move, and finally, the horrible Luka Doncic trade is showing some minor benefits two years later.
Kyrie Irving remains, but the Mavericks are clearly prioritizing long-term growth over immediate contention and still have some other major roster concerns. Expect the Mavs to shop Kyrie at some point because a superstar of his caliber should be in a winning situation rather than trying to stay healthy on a bad one.
22. Washington Wizards
2025-26 Record: 17-65, 15th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: AJ Dybantsa (draft), Felix Okpara (draft), Deandre Ayton (trade), Khris Middleton (trade)
Outgoing Players: D’Angelo Russell (trade), Jaden Hardy (trade)
The Wizards continue stacking talent. Potential superstar AJ Dybantsa joins Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Trae Young and Anthony Davis in what has become one of the NBA’s most intriguing cores. For the first time since prime John Wall and Bradley Beal led the backcourt, there is sincere excitement in Washington with some growing expectations.
The Wizards should improve overall, but they’re probably still another year away from becoming legitimate playoff contenders. We cannot rank them anywhere in the top-20 yet until we see Davis healthy for more than a handful of weeks at a time.
21. Charlotte Hornets
2025-26 Record: 44-38, 9th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Naz Reid (trade), Grayson Allen (trade), Royce O’Neale (trade), Dorian Finney-Smith (trade)
Outgoing Players: LaMelo Ball (trade), Miles Bridges (trade)
Losing LaMelo Ball changes everything, and it might be for the better after spending too many seasons fighting for a play-in spot. The Hornets wisely embraced depth over star power, adding Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith while collecting future assets.
Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel now inherit the keys to the franchise. We can’t wait to see how the two All-Star-caliber talents compete with the offense completely handed over to them, and there are enough two-way players to make them look better. Time will tell if the Ball (and Bridges) trade works out in their favor.
20. Golden State Warriors
2025-26 Record: 37-45, 10th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Yaxel Lendeborg (draft)
Outgoing Players: Quinten Post (free agency), Pat Spencer (free agency)
The Warriors are trying to squeeze one more playoff run out of an aging core, but it isn’t looking great. Stephen Curry is obviously spectacular, but injuries, declining depth, and limited offseason improvements make Golden State difficult to trust in an increasingly loaded Western Conference.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg may help immediately, but expecting him to dramatically change the franchise’s trajectory is unrealistic. Jimmy Butler will miss the bulk of next season, and expecting a 38-year-old Curry to perform magical miracles isn’t sustainable. It won’t look good for the Warriors next season, and that could lead to some difficult conversations.
19. Phoenix Suns
2025-26 Record: 45-37, 8th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Miles Bridges (trade), Luke Kennard (free agency), Koa Peat (draft)
Outgoing Players: Grayson Allen (trade), Royce O’Neale (trade)
Phoenix doubled down on athleticism by acquiring Miles Bridges while keeping Devin Booker and the core intact. The Suns are clearly talented enough to challenge for a playoff spot, but questions about consistency and overall depth prevent them from climbing much higher.
That means the Suns will likely be in the play-in position considering how talented the teams in the Western Conference are. Unless Devin Booker turns into an MVP-level superstar next season and Miles Bridges plays at an All-Star level, that is the reality for them.
18. Portland Trail Blazers
2025-26 Record: 42-40, 7th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Ja Morant (trade), Branden Carlson (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Jerami Grant (trade), Kris Murray (trade)
Portland rolled the dice by acquiring Ja Morant to pair with Damian Lillard. If both stars stay healthy and productive, the Blazers could easily outperform this ranking, especially since Deni Avdija is at an All-Star level after a career year last season.
That’s also the problem: there are simply too many variables surrounding health, chemistry, and ball dominance to rank them much higher today. Can all the egos work together? Can Micah Nori reel in what could be some difficult moments for the team? What about the fact that the team might be moving cities? Overall, a lot of questions remain unanswered.
17. Utah Jazz
2025-26 Record: 22-60, 15th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Darryn Peterson (draft), Jaxson Hayes (free agency), Josh Okogie (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Walker Kessler (trade)
The Utah Jazz signaled they were finished rebuilding by drafting No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson and continuing to invest around Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey and Keyonte George.
Walker Kessler’s departure hurts defensively, but Utah finally appears headed in the right direction. Finally, the days of tanking are over, and we expect the Jazz to make noise in the Western Conference. Enough noise to get into the postseason without a play-in seeding? Probably not, but they aren’t as far away as we might think.
16. Orlando Magic
2025-26 Record: 45-37, 8th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Nikola Vucevic (free agency), Izaiyah Nelson (draft)
Outgoing Players: Moritz Wagner (free agency)
Defense has never been Orlando’s problem. Now the Magic hope Nikola Vucevic can provide the offensive balance they’ve desperately needed. At the very least, Vuc will push Wendell Carter Jr to be a more impactful player.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are one of the East’s best young duos, making Orlando a dangerous postseason opponent if they are hitting their shots. But that is also what is preventing them from climbing higher: lack of offensive consistency. Still, we expect the Magic to do their absolute best to stay out of the play-in next season.
15. Indiana Pacers
2025-26 Record: 19-63, 14th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Kelly Oubre Jr. (free agency)
Outgoing Players: None
Tyrese Haliburton’s return instantly changes Indiana’s potential next season. He is that impactful when healthy, although it might be asking too much for him to return to an MVP level after a nasty Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Add a healthy Ivica Zubac and versatile wing Kelly Oubre Jr. to Pascal Siakam, and the Pacers once again look capable of pushing into the Eastern Conference’s upper tier if everyone stays healthy. Until we see how Hali plays again, we cannot rank them higher than 15th. At some point next season, they could climb to a much higher spot.
14. Atlanta Hawks
2025-26 Record: 46-36, 5th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Luguentz Dort (trade), Aaron Wiggins (trade), Devin Carter (trade), Ryan Nembhard (trade), Kingston Flemings (draft), Zuby Ejiofor (draft)
Outgoing Players: Jonathan Kuminga (free agency), Zaccharie Risacher (trade), Gabe Vincent (free agency), Keaton Wallace (free agency)
Atlanta had one of the smartest (and busiest) summers in the NBA. Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins bring elite defense and championship experience, while Dyson Daniels now forms one of basketball’s toughest defensive backcourts. Of course, Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum are still there.
The Hawks may not grab headlines, but they’ll be a difficult matchup every night. Losing Kuminga won’t hurt much since he didn’t play that big of a role last season, and everyone else they lost was a non-factor. Overall, a strong offseason that could place the Hawks in a strong playoff seeding.
13. Toronto Raptors
2025-26 Record: 46-36, 5th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Kawhi Leonard (trade – pending investigation)
Outgoing Players: Brandon Ingram (trade – pending investigation), Gradey Dick (trade – pending investigation), Sandro Mamukelashvili (free agency)
Everything hinges on Kawhi Leonard. If Toronto reunites with its former Finals MVP and greatest franchise player, the Raptors become one of the East’s biggest threats. We hope the trade goes through, obviously, because both teams involved need this change.
Until the league investigation is over, they’re a talented team waiting for clarity. If it doesn’t happen, the Raptors will likely fall a few spots because they won’t have enough star power around Scottie Barnes to intimidate teams. We think Brandon Ingram is a good player, but he isn’t Kawhi Leonard, and that’s why the Raptors’ top-15 spot is in jeopardy.
12. Miami Heat
2025-26 Record: 43-29, 10th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo (trade), Bobby Portis (trade), Tim Hardaway Jr. (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Tyler Herro (trade), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (trade), Kel’el Ware (trade), Kasparas Jakucionis (trade), Norman Powell (free agency)
Pat Riley finally landed Giannis Antetokounmpo. That alone changes the franchise’s outlook, because pairing Giannis with Bam Adebayo and Bobby Portis creates arguably the NBA’s most physical frontcourt. But they should not rest on their laurels.
The Heat still need more perimeter shooting to maximize their championship potential, and they will need to hunt the free agent and buyout market to make that happen. Tim Hardaway Jr was a nice pickup, but the team needs to be surrounded with marksmen for their frontcourt to truly demolish teams.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
2025-26 Record: 49-33, 6th Western Conference
Incoming Players: LaMelo Ball (trade), Josh Green (trade), Isaiah Evans (draft)
Outgoing Players: Julius Randle (trade), Naz Reid (trade), Kyle Anderson (free agency), Mike Conley (free agency)
No team embraced volatility quite like Minnesota. Trading for LaMelo Ball creates one of basketball’s most entertaining backcourts alongside Anthony Edwards, while Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels continue anchoring the defense. The ceiling is enormous, but so is the risk.
If we had to predict, we think the Timberwolves will be nothing more than an entertaining regular season that has 50+ wins with major weaknesses. Gobert is 34 years old, and expecting him to anchor the middle completely is too much to ask. Edwards and Ball can defeat teams on their own, but against the elite opposition, they could get exposed.
10. Houston Rockets
2025-26 Record: 52-30, 5th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Marcus Smart (free agency), Bogdan Bogdanovic (free agency), Bruce Thornton (draft)
Outgoing Players: Dorian Finney-Smith (trade), Josh Okogie (free agency)
Kevin Durant enters Year 2 in Houston with an even deeper supporting cast. Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic strengthen the rotation, while Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun continue ascending. Anything short of a deep playoff run would be disappointing, but we can’t ignore how badly the team performed in their first-round series against the Lakers.
The Rockets are relying on their 32-year-old point guard, Fred VanVleet, to make the difference and fill in the playmaking gaps. The issue is that VanVleet is coming off a nasty ACL tear, and we don’t know if Kevin Durant truly wants to be the man in Houston. If Thompson and Sengun elevate into All-NBA status, the Rockets can climb the rankings, so it mainly depends on them.
9. Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26 Record: 53-29, 4th Western Conference
Incoming Players: Walker Kessler (trade), Quentin Grimes (free agency), Collin Sexton (free agency), Sandro Mamukelashvili (free agency), Cameron Carr (draft)
Outgoing Players: LeBron James (free agency), Marcus Smart (free agency), Deandre Ayton (trade), Luke Kennard (free agency), Jaxson Hayes (free agency)
The LeBron James era is over, making this Luka Doncic‘s franchise for the foreseeable future. Walker Kessler gives the Los Angeles Lakers the defensive anchor it desperately lacked, while Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton improve the supporting cast. Add in Mamukelashvili, and there is enough shooting on this team to cause damage in the West.
The Lakers are clearly dangerous, but they’re entering unfamiliar territory. Even if LeBron seemingly got in the way of Luka and Austin Reaves last season, he brought an aura. Building around two non-defensive stoppers is still a bit concerning, and we don’t know if they can get enough stops when it matters most.
8. Boston Celtics
2025-26 Record: 56-26, 2nd Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Paul George (trade), Mitchell Robinson (free agency), Mike Conley (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Jaylen Brown (trade), Nikola Vucevic (free agency)
Trading Jaylen Brown shocked the league, but the Celtics refused to take a step backward. Paul George replaces much of Brown’s versatility, Mitchell Robinson solves rebounding concerns, Mike Conley Jr. adds championship-caliber leadership, and Jayson Tatum is expected to return healthy.
The Celtics may look different, but they’re still firmly in the championship conversation. We cannot deny how well-run the Celtics are on both ends of the court, and their point guard situation (Derrick White and Payton Pritchard) is championship-level. Will the Celtics win it all? Probably not, but they are still a darn good team.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
2025-26 Record: 52-30, 4th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Meleek Thomas (draft)
Outgoing Players: Dean Wade (free agency)
Cleveland stood pat while hoping continuity becomes its biggest advantage. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and James Harden are one of the league’s strongest veteran cores. Missing out on LeBron James hurts, but this is still a dangerous playoff team.
The key for the Cavaliers is to start the season strong and get the big wins against elite-tier opponents for them to convince many they can truly contend. The team has enough to do that, especially with Meleek Thomas shooting the ball as well as he did in Summer League.
6. Detroit Pistons
2025-26 Record: 60-22, 1st Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: John Collins (free agency), Isaiah Joe (trade)
Outgoing Players: Tobias Harris (free agency), Caris LeVert (trade), Isaiah Stewart (trade)
The Detroit Pistons proved last season wasn’t a fluke after finishing near the top of the East and making the second round of the playoffs. Cade Cunningham is a legitimate superstar, John Collins replaces Tobias Harris, and Isaiah Joe provides valuable floor spacing.
Another leap from Ausar Thompson or Jalen Duren could make this team even scarier. We threw in Duren’s name because we are assuming he signs a long-term deal or at least takes a one-year rental before proving his worth of a bigger contract down the line. At this point, keeping Duren is the only way forward for the Pistons.
5. Denver Nuggets
2025-26 Record: 54-28, 3rd Western Conference
Incoming Players: Tyus Jones (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Tim Hardaway Jr. (free agency), Jonas Valanciunas (free agency)
As long as Nikola Jokic wears a Nuggets uniform, Denver belongs among the league’s elite. Tyus Jones is a smart addition, but the front office’s lack of urgency is puzzling after several seasons of regression. Betting against Jokic has never been wise, though.
Losing Hardaway and Valanciunas makes the team worse, for sure, but we think Jokic and Jamal Murray will bounce back after a terrible first-round exit last season. Out of all the teams in the third spot in the West, we think Denver has the best chance to challenge for the championship because of their star power.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 Record: 45-37, 7th Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Jaylen Brown (trade), LeBron James (free agency), Anfernee Simons (free agency), Dean Wade (free agency), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (free agency), Labaron Philon Jr. (draft)
Outgoing Players: Paul George (trade), Andre Drummond (free agency)
No team made a bigger splash this summer, and probably since the Miami Heatles days. Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joined Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to form one of the NBA’s most talented starting lineups, while Anfernee Simons adds another scoring threat.
The challenge won’t be talent; it’ll be making sure everyone gets enough touches while keeping Embiid healthy. We think the stars will figure it out because they are in the perfect situation possible in the Eastern Conference. The reigning champion Knicks won’t be an easy opponent, but there is nothing the Sixers are missing other than continuity.
3. New York Knicks
2025-26 Record: 53-29, 3rd Eastern Conference
Incoming Players: Andre Drummond (free agency)
Outgoing Players: Mitchell Robinson (free agency)
The defending champions are staying put. Andre Drummond replaces Mitchell Robinson, while retaining Jordan Clarkson, Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet preserved valuable depth. New York is still one of the NBA’s deepest, toughest and most complete teams on both ends of the floor.
Of course, they have the stars in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way. The only reason we cannot place the Knicks at number one is that the two teams ahead of them have a little more to prove and might be hungrier than ever to capture the 2027 NBA championship. Either way, the top three in the league are on a higher tier than the teams below them.
2. San Antonio Spurs
2025-26 Record: 62-20, 2nd Western Conference
Incoming Players: Tobias Harris (free agency)
Outgoing Players: None
The Spurs‘ magical Finals run no longer feels like a surprise, and we have high expectations for the team next season. Victor Wembanyama continues redefining what a franchise superstar looks like, and Tobias Harris adds veteran stability without disrupting chemistry. There have been no losses on the team, but a key piece is added.
San Antonio is young, fearless, and only getting better. Wemby went through baptism by fire in the playoffs last season and is ready to show the world who the best player is. We sincerely believe Wemby will win MVP, DPOY, and lead the league in blocks and rebounds next season. Get ready NBA; the true “Alien” is coming.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2025-26 Record: 64-18, 1st Western Conference
Incoming Players: Aday Mara (draft)
Outgoing Players: Luguentz Dort (trade), Isaiah Joe (trade), Aaron Wiggins (trade)
The OKC Thunder is still the team everyone else is trying to catch. Even after moving several key role players to ease future financial pressure, Oklahoma City still boasts the NBA’s deepest young core, led by MVP-caliber star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and All-Stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. The team also re-signed Isaiah Hartenstein, and we expect Alex Caruso to slide into the two-guard spot.
Can anyone name a more complete starting lineup? Add elite coaching, unmatched roster flexibility and a mountain of draft capital, and the defending Western Conference powerhouse deserves to open the season exactly where it finished: at No. 1. Sure, the Spurs can usurp them, but we are giving the 2025 NBA champs the slight edge.
