NBA Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stack up in 2026 offseason
Let's see where all 30 teams stand after a flurry of free agency and trade moves this offseason.
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The 2026 NBA offseason has already been hugely consequential, with superstars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown parting ways with their long-term franchises and the future of LeBron James keeping everyone in the league on edge.
Summer league is also now behind us, and teams and fans got a first glance at how the top rookies are shaping up in a professional environment. Top lottery picks such as AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer showed they're ready for big roles on a big stage as the race for Rookie of the Year appears to be a close one.
Our NBA insiders recap an already busy offseason for all 30 teams, including notable additions and departures, plus what teams have addressed or still need to address this summer in our offseason edition of ESPN's Power Rankings.
Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Zach Kram, Anthony Slater, Ben Golliver and Vincent Goodwill) think teams belong after a flurry of free agency moves. The most recent rankings were after the NBA Finals.
Jump to a team: ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Previous ranking: 1 Notable additions: Aday Mara (via draft) Notable departures: Isaiah Joe (via trade), Aaron Wiggins (via trade), Luguentz Dort (via trade) Oklahoma City, which is banking on the return to health of Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf), will enter the season among title favorites again. The trades of Joe, Wiggins and Dort, who were key role players during the 2025 title run but fell to the fringes of the rotation during last season's playoffs, were cost-cutting moves that shed $200 million worth of luxury tax payments.
The Thunder filled those roster spots with a pair of first-round picks (Mara and guard Bennett Stirtz) and now have a total of seven second-round picks. -- Tim MacMahon
2. San Antonio Spurs
Previous ranking: 2 Notable additions: Tobias Harris (via free agency) Notable departures: None San Antonio decided to run it back with virtually the same team from 2025-26: a squad that shocked the NBA world with a fairytale run to the Finals propelled by a young roster that hasn't yet reached its full potential. Franchise superstar and reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama improved the front office's chances of keeping the squad together even longer by giving the organization a huge discount on what should have been a supermax extension.
San Antonio also enhanced its roster in free agency by acquiring a savvy, reliable veteran in Harris to bolster the team's presence inside. -- Michael C. Wright
3. New York Knicks
Previous ranking: 3 Notable additions: Andre Drummond (via free agency) Notable departures: Mitchell Robinson (via free agency) The champions had one big edict from owner James Dolan: stay out of the second apron. That meant Robinson couldn't return, and the eighth-year veteran defected to the Celtics with a three-year deal. Replacing him with Drummond is a clean transition for the Knicks, although Robinson's defensive presence will be missed. The Knicks will still scour the market for another backup big.
Re-signing Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado to deals that were below market projections was a win for the front office. -- Vincent Goodwill
4. Denver Nuggets
Previous ranking: 6 Notable additions: Tyus Jones (via free agency) Notable departures: Tim Hardaway Jr. (via free agency), Jonas Valanciunas (via free agency) If the Nuggets were feeling urgency to craft a new championship formula around franchise center Nikola Jokic, they sure didn't show it this summer. Hardaway and Valanciunas cycled out of Denver after one-year stints, and Peyton Watson remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. After three years of backsliding since winning the 2023 title, Denver has done nothing of consequence to reverse its negative momentum. What's the Nuggets' plan for challenging the rising Thunder and Spurs other than blind faith in Jokic? -- Ben Golliver
5. Philadelphia 76ers
Previous ranking: 12 Notable additions: Jaylen Brown (via trade), Anfernee Simons (via free agency), Dean Wade (via free agency), Labaron Philon Jr. (via draft) Notable departures: Paul George (via trade), Andre Drummond (via free agency) The embarrassment of getting swept by the eventual champion Knicks in the second round of the playoffs left a bad impression on the Philadelphia front office, leading to significant change this offseason. The 76ers wasted no time making a splash, adding Brown and shedding George's contract. Coach Nick Nurse will have to integrate Brown while also keeping Tyrese Maxey featured, developing promising second-year guard VJ Edgecombe and managing Joel Embiid's health.
The 76ers have plenty of offensive talent and added more options with Simons in free agency. There are a lot of mouths to feed in Philly. -- Goodwill
The 76ers sent Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, 2031) and two second-round selections (2028, 2030) to the Celtics to complete the deal for Jaylen Brown. Illustration by ESPN
6. Detroit Pistons
Previous ranking: 5 Notable additions: John Collins (via free agency), Isaiah Joe (via trade) Notable departures: Tobias Harris (via free agency), Caris LeVert (via trade), Isaiah Stewart (via trade) After leading the East in wins last season and making it to the second round of the playoffs, the Pistons made only modest moves this offseason. They added some shooting in Joe and replaced the departing Harris with the versatile Collins. Detroit, however, is still waiting to resolve its situation with Jalen Duren, who is lingering as an unsigned restricted free agent.
Without taking a big swing this summer, Detroit will be counting on continued improvement from its young core, including Duren and Ausar Thompson, if it wants to be better prepared for the playoffs next season. -- Jamal Collier
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Previous ranking: 8 Notable additions: LaMelo Ball (via trade), Josh Green (via trade), Isaiah Evans (via draft) Notable departures: Julius Randle (via trade), Naz Reid (via trade), Kyle Anderson (via free agency), Mike Conley (via free agency) In perhaps the biggest boom-or-bust deal of the offseason, the Wolves broke up a team that had made it to two conference finals in the past three years to acquire one of the most polarizing talents in the league in Ball. The skills the 6-foot-7 point guard possesses are undeniable, with a seemingly unlimited 3-point range and next-level court vision as a passer. But the 24-year-old's decision-making on and off the court has caused a head scratch or two.
Still, Ball, Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu combining their offensive talents while being supported by Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels on defense should keep Minnesota in the mix near the top of the West. -- Dave McMenamin
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
Previous ranking: 7 Notable additions: Meleek Thomas (via draft) Notable departures: Dean Wade (via free agency) The Cavs have had a quiet offseason, but as coach Kenny Atkinson noted during a summer league broadcast, they are still waiting on a potentially big addition. "That could be our real jump," Atkinson said, referring to LeBron James' impending decision. Cleveland currently has its roster mostly intact from last season.
Despite James Harden opting out of his current contract, the expectation remains that the Cavs and Harden will reach a new agreement. But James' decision could still swing the offseason. -- Collier
9. Boston Celtics
Previous ranking: 4 Notable additions: Paul George (via trade), Mitchell Robinson (via free agency), Mike Conley (via free agency) Notable departures: Jaylen Brown (via trade), Nikola Vucevic (via free agency) The Celtics added much-needed interior depth with Robinson and positioned themselves to have greater future salary cap flexibility by moving Brown. Was accomplishing those goals worth splitting up the decorated duo of Jayson Tatum and Brown? That remains to be seen, but George plugs in as an experienced and versatile replacement for Brown, and Boston is set to return the most important pieces from its quality second unit. -- Golliver
NBA team-by-team offseason guides
As the league turns from the Finals to the summer, it's time for franchises around the league to upgrade their rosters.
ESPN Front Office Insider Bobby Marks has you covered with offseason guides for all 30 teams' top draft, trade and free agency priorities.
10. Houston Rockets
Previous ranking: 10 Notable additions: Marcus Smart (via free agency), Bogdan Bogdanovic (via free agency), Bruce Thornton (via draft) Notable departures: Dorian Finney-Smith (via trade) After locking up future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant last summer, Houston kept a low profile in free agency, adding veterans Smart and Bogdanovic to bolster depth and shooting after injuries last season proved they lacked in both areas. Houston wants to rely on the added depth and growth from players such as Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun and Tari Eason, as well as the return of veterans Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams.
Plus, Durant's improved comfort in Year 2 on the Rockets could finally push this team over the hump. Pressure is mounting, considering the Rockets haven't advanced past the first round in the past two postseasons. Still, general manager Rafael Stone has been steadfast in his belief in the group. -- Wright
11. Los Angeles Lakers
Previous ranking: 9 Notable additions: Walker Kessler (via trade), Quentin Grimes (via free agency), Sandro Mamukelashvili (via free agency), Collin Sexton (via free agency) Notable departures: LeBron James (via free agency), Marcus Smart (via free agency), Deandre Ayton (via trade), Luke Kennard (via free agency), Jaxson Hayes (via free agency) Eight hours before free agency officially opened, James' agent, Rich Paul, informed the Lakers that his client would be moving on after eight seasons with the franchise. James' exit signaled the start of retrofitting the roster around superstar Luka Doncic, beginning with a sign-and-trade with the Jazz for 7-2 center Kessler.
L.A. opened its wallet (four years, $130 million) and all but exhausted its future assets (sending two unprotected first-round picks and two future pick swaps to Utah) to close the deal, which could make or break Doncic's tenure as a Laker. -- McMenamin
12. Miami Heat
Previous ranking: 20 Notable additions: Giannis Antetokounmpo (via trade), Bobby Portis (via trade), Tim Hardaway Jr. (via free agency) Notable departures: Tyler Herro (via trade), Norman Powell (free agency), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (via trade), Kel'el Ware (via trade), Kasparas Jakucionis (via trade) Heat president Pat Riley landed his star in trading for Antetokounmpo, but it remains to be seen whether the Heat can persuade LeBron James to return. Until James decides, the Heat have more moves to make that are on hold, such as adding more shooters/scorers and potentially another big. Adding Portis should not be overlooked in the Antetokounmpo deal.
His physicality, ability to score and role as a sixth man provide the Heat with a nice trio of big men with Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo, but the Heat will need to replace Powell's and Herro's perimeter shooting to help space the floor for those two stars. -- Ohm Youngmisuk
13. Toronto Raptors
Previous ranking: 14 Notable additions: None Notable departures: Sandro Mamukelashvili (via free agency) The Raptors' offseason is in a holding pattern as they await the conclusion of the Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration investigation. If all goes as Toronto intends and the team reacquires the two-time Finals MVP, then the Raptors will be positioned as one of the top Finals contenders in the East. But if the Leonard deal falls through, Toronto will be running back most of its 2025-26 roster, just with the loss of Mamukelashvili's valuable bench contributions but the addition of promising first-round pick Allen Graves. -- Zach Kram
14. Atlanta Hawks
Previous ranking: 13 Notable additions: Luguentz Dort (via trade), Aaron Wiggins (via trade), Kingston Flemings (via draft), Devin Carter (via trade), Ryan Nembhard (via trade), Zuby Ejiofor (via draft) Notable departures: Jonathan Kuminga (via free agency), Zaccharie Risacher (via trade), Gabe Vincent (via free agency), Keaton Wallace (via free agency) The Hawks re-signed CJ McCollum and Jock Landale this offseason. McCollum will get the opportunity to see what he can do in a full season in Atlanta after being traded from the Wizards last February and then helping the Hawks take two games against the eventual champion Knicks in the first round. Atlanta made two of the most underrated moves of the summer by trading with the Thunder for Dort and Wiggins.
Atlanta now has elite perimeter defenders in Dyson Daniels and Dort. Wiggins is another young wing with potential to receive a bigger opportunity in Atlanta like Nickeil Alexander-Walker last season. The Hawks declined Kuminga's $24.3 million team option. -- Youngmisuk
