The post-draft, post-free agency NBA team power rankings

Hope you were not anticipating to see one other crew on this high slot. The reigning champs will enter the 2025-26 season because the heavy championship favorites, and have locked up MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-NBA wing Jalen Williams, and rising star Chet Holmgren to long-term offers, max contracts. This principally ensures that the Thunder have the most effective Massive Three within the NBA for the remainder of the last decade.

After taking the eventual champs to seven video games within the second spherical of the playoffs, the Denver Nuggets went out and addressed their greatest difficulty from the previous few seasons: depth. They shipped Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cameron Johnson, giving them the same shooter and higher defender. In addition they signed two reliable wings in Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. Lastly, they discovered a superb backup massive man in Jonas Valančiūnas. Having the most effective participant on the planet and having an A-plus offseason offers the Nuggets the most effective shot at dethroning the Thunder as NBA champions in 2025-26.

Exterior of the Thunder the Rockets are the franchise that’s finest set as much as compete within the current and much out future. They acquired future Corridor-of-Famer Kevin Durant and signed Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela in free company, and nonetheless have the belongings to make a powerful provide for the following massive famous person to hit the commerce market (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, and so on.). They’re squarely within the reliable contender tier, however, on the identical time, are going to be fairly reliant on an oft-injured Durant for late-game offensive creation. 

Whereas their efficiency within the playoffs will finally decide the legacy of the Cavaliers’ core 4 – Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen – the crew ought to as soon as once more be a Juggernaut within the common season. They’ve primarily returned the very same crew that had an Japanese Convention-best 64-18 document, swapping out Ty Jerome and Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball. Ball, in idea, needs to be a greater playoff participant than these two if he can keep on the courtroom. Cleveland hopes that continuity will set them aside within the East in 2025-26.

Talking of continuity, the Knicks are operating again the identical squad, plus two key bench gamers: the “Dancing Bear” Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson. Talking of the bench, additionally they swapped out the ever-rigid Tom Thibodeau for a extra versatile coach, Mike Brown. Whereas Brown is a little bit of a parallel transfer, he will definitely make the most of his depth greater than Thibs, who, if he had the selection, would play his finest 5 gamers 48 minutes an evening. 

Let’s simply take a giant chill capsule relating to the Lakers. Except LeBron James will get purchased out or traded – each of which appear not possible this offseason – they are going to have two of the most effective 10 gamers within the NBA, plus Austin Reaves and newly signed reclamation venture Deandre Ayton. They are going to win quite a lot of video games, and no person goes to be thrilled to match up with them within the playoffs, particularly now that Luka is supposedly in the most effective form of his life. Heck, I plan on betting a fairly penny that Luka wins his first MVP this season. Lakers overs all day.

The T’Wolves have made back-to-back Western Convention Finals appearances, however have been despatched residence packing in 5 video games every time. They’ve an ascending famous person in Anthony Edwards and a crew of defensive-minded, tough-nosed canines round him. Sadly, they misplaced Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free company and Mike Conley will likely be 38 years previous, so they are going to want a few their younger pups like Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and Rob Dillingham to step up and produce with a purpose to get again to the Convention Finals once more.

Man, the West is LOADED. The Clippers took the Nuggets to seven video games, who then took the Thunder to seven video games, so you may argue that the Clippers had been the third-best crew within the Western Convention and probably even the NBA final season. But, they’re beginning the season eighth in these energy rankings just because they are going to be overly reliant upon Kawhi Leonard‘s well being and James Harden’s (sixteenth season) sustaining his All-NBA manufacturing.

The Magic made the primary massive splash of the offseason, buying stud two-guard Desmond Bane from the Grizzles, which can lastly give them a sharpshooter on the perimeter to house the courtroom for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. This was clearly a “let’s degree up” transfer, they usually paid a fairly penny for it (4 first-round picks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Cole Anthony), and I count on them to be a contender for Japanese Convention supremacy. 

The Warriors are actually the one crew that hasn’t made a transfer this offseason, largely because of the Jonathan Kuminga restricted free company scenario. As soon as that clears up (he’ll nearly definitely be sign-and-traded), most individuals count on the Dubs to make some strikes across the edges like signing Al Horford. Even with Jimmy Butler having a full offseason to construct chemistry with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Golden State, as at present constructed, in all probability has a second-round ceiling.  

Have a look at Nico Harrison and that unearned ear-to-ear grin. Seems to be like a man who made the most important blunder in NBA historical past (buying and selling Luka Doncic) and received the lottery a couple of months later and getting the chance to draft a generational prospect (Cooper Flagg). The Mavericks even have a fairly attention-grabbing crew and superior entrance courtroom, including Flagg to Anthony Davis, Dereck Energetic II and Daniel Gafford. Their weak spot is the purpose guard/playmaker place till Kyrie Irving returns, however they’re taking a swing with D’Angelo Russell. If he could be a affordable facsimile of Irving for the primary half of the season till Kyrie returns, this might be a harmful crew getting into the postseason.  

The Pistons had been among the finest feel-good tales of the 2024-25 season and had the Knicks on the ropes within the first spherical of the playoffs. Cade Cunningham was an All-NBA performer and plenty of of their younger gamers like Jalen Duren confirmed some severe promise transferring ahead. This offseason, they successfully changed Malik Beasley and Dennis Schöder with Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. With some continued enchancment from their core of Cunningham, Duren, Jade Ivey, and Ausar Thompson, they’ll simply be a second-round crew and really powerful out within the playoffs.

Name me loopy, however I may see this 12 months’s 76ers being the “no person believes in us” crew. Accidents crippled them final season. Joel Embiid is abruptly a whole afterthought attributable to his damage historical past regardless of being an MVP frontrunner for almost all of the 2020s. Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes, VJ Edgecombe and Jared McCain ought to make for an electrical backcourt. And Paul George significantly can’t be as dangerous as washed as he seemed final season. Perhaps this season, their damage luck evens out they usually’re extra like the perimeter contender folks anticipated them to be final season.

After touchdown the second choose within the 2025 NBA Draft, the Spurs opted to pick Dylan Harper as an alternative of providing the choose as much as the best bidder in an try and fast-forward their timeline round Victor Wembanyama. It was in all probability the correct transfer from a giant image standpoint as a younger nucleus of Wemby, Harper and Stephon Citadel is about pretty much as good as it may well get. Nevertheless, a part of me wished to see them push their chips to the middle of the desk and speed up getting Wemby some severe postseason expertise. As at present constructed (bear in mind they’ve De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and others), the Spurs ought to at the least be a play-in crew and will outright make the playoffs if Wemby makes one other leap into top-10 participant vary. 

After a surprising the NBA by signing Myles Turner and waiving and stretching Damian Lillard’s contract (over the following 5 seasons), it is secure to say that the Milwaukee Bucks are ALL-IN. It is also secure to say that, except Giannis Antetokounmpo can summon a 2018 LeBron James-type of season-long efficiency subsequent season, this Bucks crew in all probability will not make it out of the primary spherical, not to mention contend for the Japanese Convention Championship. As traditionally nice as Giannis is, 2018 LeBron was the best participant I’ve ever seen play basketball, so Giannis would want to make one other leap to get there.

The Hawks had a superb offseason and needs to be a frisky Japanese Convention playoff crew this 12 months. Along with signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker, they made the most effective commerce of the offseason by profiting from the Pelicans’ ridiculous commerce provide to offer away an unprotected 2026 first-round choose to maneuver up a dozen or so spots within the draft to pick Derik Queen. With the power of the Western Convention, that choose may very properly land within the high 5 of what’s alleged to be a completely loaded draft class. 

Earlier than their sneaky (and primarily free) acquisition of Norman Powell, I used to be prepared to carry a funeral for Warmth Tradition. That they had a roster constructed round Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro with out a lot in the best way of rising stars on their roster. Adebayo and Herro stay underqualified as the 2 finest gamers on a contending crew, however if you add in Powell, and add in Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell, then account for Erik Spoelstra’s wizardry, and abruptly you have got at the least the define of a crew that might be a troublesome matchup for any crew within the East. 

Take into account me bullish on the Celtics this season. They will possible be with out Jayson Tatum your complete season whereas he rehabs his Achilles. They usually needed to commerce away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday for tax functions. They usually let Al Horford and Luke Kornet stroll in free company. However…they nonetheless have two glorious wings of their prime in Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, the reigning Sixth Man of the Yr in Payton Pritchard who may excel with a larger function, and a completely insane head coach hellbent on successful each sport and squeezing each drip out of life in Joe Mazzulla. Assuming good well being, I simply can’t see that core lacking the playoffs on this comparatively weak Japanese Convention subsequent season.

For a minute, it appeared just like the Grizzlies had been about to blow it up after they dealt Desmond Bane for a bunch of draft picks. Nevertheless, held onto Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and after that, they gave Jaren Jackson Jr. an enormous extension and drafted a really intriguing wing in Cedric Coward, whose physique, wingspan, and quick rise within the draft give a little bit of a whiff of Kawhi Leonard. Whereas they will not contend within the West, they are going to be respectable sufficient to be within the play-in vary and probably playoffs (which is definitely one thing to be pleased with this season!)

Life ain’t all the time truthful. The Pacers had a reliable shot at successful the championship earlier than Tyrese Haliburton tore his achilles. They in all probability would have entered the 2025-26 season as the favourite within the Japanese Convention. They usually in all probability would have re-signed Myles Turner as an alternative of letting him stroll after the Bucks outbid them. Now, they will be in the midst of the pack at finest till Haliburton hopefully returns at full power in 2026-27.

The Blazers made a few attention-grabbing strikes this offseason. First, they traded Anfernee Simons for Jrue Vacation. Vacation will present them with some wanted management and elite protection (two abilities Simons lacked). Then, they made a surprising, but intriguing draft night time deal for Yang Hansen – a super-skilled, however vastly unknown heart from China. Lastly, they purchased out malcontent Deandre Ayton, paving the best way for Donovan Clingan and Hansen to extra minutes. If the Blazers can proceed to develop upon what they had been constructing on the finish of final common season, they may simply be within the combine for a play-in spot come subsequent spring.

As described within the Hawks’ slide, the Pelicans made one of many riskiest trades in current NBA historical past, transferring within the draft to pick Derik Queen and giving freely their unprotected first rounder in subsequent 12 months’s draft. Maybe Queen will likely be a stud and can crew up with the crew’s different first-round choose, Jeremiah Fears, to type one of many NBA’s finest pick-and-roll combos. I hope it occurs, however the issue is, these two in all probability will not drive successful for at the least a couple of seasons. That implies that Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones and newly acquired Jordan Poole had higher all keep wholesome and mesh collectively to make sure that New Orleans would not miss the playoffs and probably hand over the choose that turns into AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer as a result of that will be an absolute disaster. 

Suns proprietor Mat Isbia is the strolling definition of “new proprietor syndrome” and has turned a Finals contender right into a weird assortment of gamers that will likely be greedy for a play in place, possible from the skin trying in. This offseason has been a busy one for the Suns. They’ve traded Kevin Durant for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the choose that turned Khaman Maluach. In addition they traded for large man Mark Williams. Lastly, they inked Devin Booker to a max extension. Perhaps Inexperienced makes a leap, or Maluach or Williams is a lot better than anticipated instantly, however these appear extra like pipe desires than actuality for this coming season in Phoenix.

What a clown present of a company. It is like they’re actually attempting to complete within the Play-In each season. Do you notice that over the previous few seasons, they’ve traded away DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball with out receiving any robust draft capital in return? What are they doing? Why did they signal Patrick Williams to a five-year, $90M deal final summer season? Who was providing him even half of that? Why did not they commerce Nikola Vucevic when he had first-round worth? 

As of this writing, they have not signed restricted free agent Josh Giddey to a contract, however are anticipated to take action sooner or later this summer season. Hopefully they at the least study their lesson about leverage and do not overpay Giddey as a result of no person else has cap house proper now.

The NBA has had some actually dangerous homeowners, and, regardless of not having any main organizational or private scandals, Vivek Ranadivé, is etching his face onto the Mount Rushmore of horrible homeowners. He is extremely impatient and has fired legitimately good coaches (Mike Malone, Mike Brown) and common managers (Monte McNair), and traded away two elite level guards (Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox) in change for 2 offense-only gamers who do not drive successful within the playoffs (Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine). Ranadivé must let the folks he hires do their jobs and step manner again if he ever needs to have success. In any other case, I can not see the Kings successful a playoff collection the remainder of the last decade.

For the primary time in a very long time, the Hornets’ arrow as a franchise is pointing up. They drafted a few actually strong gamers in Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley. They moved on from the perpetually injured Mark Williams. They usually acquired Collin Sexton for primarily nothing. Now, they’ll see if their core of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Knueppel and McNeeley has the juice to make a run on the Play-In. If not, they’ll think about flipping Ball and/or Bridges for extra draft capital and proceed the rebuild.

The most effective transfer the Raptors made this offseason was eliminating President/GM Masai Ujiri. After successful the 2019 NBA Championship on the again of an all-time high-risk, high-reward commerce for Kawhi Leonard, Ujiri had completely misplaced his manner and made a collection of perplexing trades and signings that each one however assured that the Raptors would stay on the hamster wheel of mediocrity for the whole lot of the 2020s. 

It is a sluggish rebuild – you may thank John Wall‘s achilles and former GM Tommy Sheppard’s pea-brain determination to offer Bradley Beal a supermax with a no-trade clause for that – however at the least they’re taking steps in the correct path. This offseason, they landed Tre Johnson, a flamethrower taking pictures guard with Ray Allen’s upside, within the draft and purchased CJ McCollum in a deal for Jordan Poole to offer themselves one other grownup to assist mildew a few of their younger expertise. 

Jordie Fernandez was such a superb coach final season that he sort of screwed up the Nets probabilities at getting a choose on the high of the lottery. This offseason, the Nets entrance workplace appears intent on ensuring that that does not occur once more. First, they traded their finest all-around participant in Cameron Johnson in change for Michael Porter Jr. and a 2031 first-rounder. MPJ will present some scoring pop however not a lot else. In addition they let D’Angelo Russell stroll in free company. Subsequent, as an alternative of consolidating their 5 first spherical picks and buying and selling for an additional piece or up within the draft, they turned the primary crew in NBA historical past to pick 5 gamers within the first spherical. And the 5 gamers they chose are all pretty uncooked tasks. The aim this season is to determine whether or not any of those rookies are studs and to complete with one of many worst data within the NBA forward of a loaded 2026 draft class.

A lot for Austin Ainge’s “we’re not tanking” proclamation a couple of weeks in the past at his introductory press convention. Since that assertion, the Jazz have drafted Ace Bailey (a massively proficient, however extraordinarily uncooked 18-year-old), traded Collin Sexton for Jusuf Nurkic (huh?), purchased out Jordan Clarkson, and traded John Collins for primarily nothing. The Jazz will likely be horrendous once more this season and possibly commerce Lauri Markkanen sooner or later by February’s commerce deadline.