Here's where all 30 NBA teams stand ahead of the 2026-27 season, based on votes from our insiders. Who's No. 1? And who's No. 30?
With the Larry O'Brien Trophy officially hoisted, the end of the campaign is here after a drama-filled season. The Spurs knocked out their budding rival, the defending championIt's now time to look ahead to the 2026-27 season and what could be in store.
Our NBA Insiders projected where all 30 NBA teams rank heading into next season and discuss whether their futures are bright, dim or ultimately forgettable. Team rankings are based on where members of our panel . He could stand to make more than the $12 million he's earning this year, along with, who could be a little trickier to peg. Following core surgery, he only played 41 games but shot a career high from 3-point range.
The Knicks were already right up against the punitive luxury tax threshold, just $200,000 away, so they were limited in their ability to make personnel moves aside from picking upAfter doing some considerable salary gymnastics to get out of the luxury tax this past season, Boston enters this summer looking to improve its roster. At his end-of-season availability, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens referred to Boston's subpar record against the top teams in the NBA as a sign the Celtics need to upgrade.
, who has a team option for next season and is a key player after making a significant leap this past season. It's hard to expect another 60-win campaign from the Pistons next season unless they make a huge splash this summer in the trade market.
The East is getting better, which means feasting off the bottom of the conference won't be so easy, and gettingBut it's likely that next year's focus will be more about preparing themselves for the playoffs after the struggle of two seven-game series.will take up most of their activity, but there are already whispers that the Pistons are looking at proven veterans who could take them to the next level. Denver is in the difficult position of needing to upgrade the roster to contend with San Antonio and Oklahoma City, but with little paths with which to do so, having already traded multiple future first-round picks, including a pair owed to the Thunder.
On one hand, reaching the Eastern Conference finals was undoubtedly a success for Cleveland, as it advanced further than it has since 2018, despite a major roster shake-up at the trade deadline. But on the other, the way the Cavs' season ended, with an embarrassing sweep by the Knicks, has raised questions about how close this roster is to true contention.
Cavs president Koby Altman said at his end-of-the-season news conference that a major roster overhaul wasn't necessary, but the Cavs are still a team to watch this offseason as they look for a player -- perhaps another star -- to take the most crucial step forward. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly made it clear after Minnesota lost in the second round that the team has to get better.
"We have to be realistic about what we have," he said, "which is way more good than bad, but we know that we're not good enough right now. "With some semblance of luck and continued dedication to his body, the hope is that Doncic will be available when it counts after missing the entire 2026 postseason with a hamstring injury.
His healthy presence alone gives L.A. a chance at more success next season, but it's too early to tell just how good the Lakers can be until the contracts ofare figured out -- and how the rest of the roster can be filled out to complement Doncic's tremendous talents.should be healthy to ramp up Houston's rebounding and, most importantly, its second-chance scoring, and the Rockets' window for real contention hasn't closed at all. Indiana's gap year is complete, and the Pacers are prepared to race back to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
New president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has his hands full in Philadelphia, where the 76ers are coming off a second-round exit at the hands of the Knicks.
With three max contracts on the books, the 76ers only have so much flexibility and will all but certainly be into the luxury tax if they just retain Kelly Oubre andAtlanta has locked up its leadership with extensions for president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh and head coach Quin Snyder.trade, winning 18 of 20 games during one torrid late season stretch before taking a 2-1 lead over the Knicks in the first round.is primed to be a star and Saleh has assets if he wants to add another contributor this offseason or continue to build and develop a young roster by adding the eighth and 23rd overall picks in the draft.
That's a promising sign for the Raptors' chances next season as they seek to keep climbing the Eastern Conference standings.offers tantalizing upside. Toronto had a 104.5 defensive rating with that duo on the floor this season, which was better than Oklahoma City's league-best mark. Sean Sweeney finally gets his shot as head coach and takes over a team that could be tailored for him.
Sweeney, too, will have to upgrade a stagnant offense that struggled badly, especially after Wagner got hurt in the playoffs, and collapsed in blowing a 3-1 lead against Detroit in the first round. about his numerous meetings with controlling owner Joe Lacob as he contemplated whether to return as head coach: "We had to come to a much more reality-based shared vision on what success looks like for us. What are we trying to accomplish?
Because for the first time since our injury-plagued year , we aren't sitting here saying, 'Hey, we can win a championship.
'"They will sniff around the trade market, but so far they aren't signaling an aggressive tone about swinging a blockbuster that mortgages the future. Signs continue to point to them using the 11th overall pick in the draft to inject some youth into an aging roster as they slowly ride the Steph Curry era to the finish line.led a strong late-season push that suggests Charlotte can reach the playoffs next season for the first time since 2016 after a late play-in push this season.
A potent offense and clean cap sheet are leading causes for optimism: The Hornets' exciting young core posted the NBA's second-best offensive rating after the All-Star break, and the front office should be able to fortify the frontcourt this summer.endorsement deal with Aspiration is closed and any potential penalties are levied, it's impossible to predict what next season will look like for LA. The only certainty is that no matter who is in uniform, coach Tyronn Lue will do everything he can to find a winning formula for the group.
And 26-year-oldwill be a big part of the team's season and future after he was acquired from Cleveland in theThe Blazers are one of this summer's biggest wild cards thanks to new owner Tom Dundon, who executed sweeping layoffs in May, was embroiled in PR mess after PR mess after reports surfaced about his cost-cutting measures, and has yet to name a coach. The good news: The Blazers, who just snapped a four-year playoff drought, have their most important players under contract for 2026-27 and will welcome back franchise icon While a return trip to the playoffs will be the goal, Portland still needs more shooting to compete with the West's best.
-to-Miami chatter. Riley made it clear in his season-ending presser that he is not deviating from his usual title-or-bust mandate. He also said the only Heat player he won't consider trading, unless it's a whopper of a deal, is In any case, Miami will be in the middle of some of the most landscape-shifting conversations across the league. If the Heat ultimately land their next superstar, it could change the present and future of the franchise.
Those are the stakes this summer. After going 45-37 in Jordan Ott's maiden voyage on the sideline, the Suns are primed to build on that success next season.and Royce O'Neale are all under contract, and there should be room for Green to grow after hamstring issues persisted all season. , both of whom had career years in part because of the need to fill in for the injured Green.
While the West will still be as tough as ever, the Suns figure to be a factor again. After a painful teardown and rebuild, there's an excitement in Salt Lake City about the Jazz becoming competitive again. After a 22-60 record last season, the Jazz could come close to doubling their win total and competing for a spot in the West's play-in bracket.
, but there's also motivation to win as soon as possible -- Dallas doesn't have control of its first-round pick after this draft again until 2031.. New president Masai Ujiri said that he has a great "curiosity" about how nine-time All-Star guard can fit alongside the 19-year-old Flagg. The Mavs could move multiple veterans in the trade market this summer as Ujiri builds the kind of roster he believes best suits Flagg.
For now, Irving, 34, remains a significant part of the Mavs' immediate plans. Can new coach Jamahl Mosley squeeze better results out of an underwhelming roster, or is it time for a real shake-up?
That's the primary question the Pelicans must address.are all under contract for the 2026-27 season, but that's not enough talent to keep pace in the West.should show progress as they enter their second seasons, the Pelicans' lack of a 2026 first-round pick dampens the excitement around a possible youth movement. Graham signaled at his introductory news conference that the team is in for a rebuild and "not one or two steps away" from competing in the Eastern Conference.
To start, Chicago is armed with the No. 4 pick in this year's draft and will have a new head coach at the helm, but next year will almost certainly be the start of a lengthy journey to bring the Bulls back to real contention.. But that's the expectation in Memphis, with the club undergoing another personnel reset while looking to trade the 26-year-old.
Armed with the third and 16th picks in the first round, the Grizzlies are hoping to grab at least one future All-Star to team with promising youngsters General manager Zach Kleiman has conducted two resets since April 2025 and deserves credit for recognizing that they were needed. What will the Bucks get in a potential trade return? Will the team attempt to keep him and retool around him if he signals that he is willing to sign an extension?
Should the team prioritize draft assets over proven players? The Bucks do have the No. 10 pick in this year's draft and hired new coach Taylor Jenkins to run the show, but the rest of the roster is a major question mark that will determine how quickly Milwaukee will move forward.
Washington hasn't won more than 18 games in a season since 2022-23, but that benchmark should be easy to surpass next season.didn't play at all; add them plus the first overall pick, and the Wizards' floor should be much higher than the 18-win range moving forward. -- as well as Davis' health -- could dictate whether the 2026-27 Wizards are a playoff contender or merely an improved lottery team.
Lottery reform will be in place next season, so the Nets are highly incentivized to do something other than the tankathon exercise they've deployed for the past three seasons. Considering they'll have the No. 6 pick in this upcoming strong draft and more than $80 million in salary cap space according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Nets will at least make an attempt at putting out a competent product on the floor in the 2026-2027 season.
As general manager Scott Perry's tenure stretches into its second season, the most pivotal decision to date arrives later this month. The Kings have the seventh pick -- a disappointing lottery night outcome -- and a group of intriguing guard prospects expected to land in their range. It's an open secret in the NBA that Perry is impressed and interested in Darius Acuff, the Arkansas point guard with scoring upside.
They've also done plenty of predraft background work on Houston's Kingston Flemings. Whomever the Kings land will immediately become the most important player in the early stages of a deep rebuild. Patience will be needed to dig out of their current situation, but it'll become a whole lot easier for the fanbase and ownership to stomach if Perry nails this pick. Crews respond to massive warehouse fire in Tracy; public asked to avoid the area
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