The 2026 NBA offseason has already been vastly consequential, with superstars corresponding to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown parting methods with their long-term franchises and LeBron James making the stunning move to signal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Summer league can be now behind us, and teams and followers received a primary look at how the top rookies are shaping up in knowledgeable surroundings. Top lottery picks corresponding to AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer confirmed they’re prepared for large roles on an enormous stage because the race for Rookie of the Year seems to be an in depth one.
Our NBA insiders recap an already busy offseason for all 30 teams, together with notable additions and departures, plus what teams have addressed or nonetheless want to deal with this summer season in our offseason version of ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Note: Team rankings are primarily based on the place 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) assume teams belong after a flurry of free company strikes. The most up-to-date rankings had been after the NBA Finals. These rankings had been printed earlier than James introduced his resolution to signal with the 76ers.
Jump to a staff:
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
Oklahoma City, which is banking on the return to well being of Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf), will enter the season amongst title favorites once more. The trades of Joe, Wiggins and Dort, who had been key function gamers in the course of the 2025 title run however fell to the fringes of the rotation throughout final season’s playoffs, had been cost-cutting strikes that shed $200 million price of luxurious tax funds.
The Thunder stuffed these roster spots with a pair of first-round picks (Mara and guard Bennett Stirtz) and now have a complete of seven second-round picks. — Tim MacMahon
San Antonio determined to run it again with nearly the identical staff from 2025-26: a squad that shocked the NBA world with a fairytale run to the Finals propelled by a younger roster that hasn’t but reached its full potential. Franchise famous person and reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama improved the entrance workplace’s possibilities of conserving the squad collectively even longer by giving the group an enormous low cost on what should have been a supermax extension.
San Antonio additionally enhanced its roster in free company by acquiring a savvy, reliable veteran in Harris to bolster the staff’s presence inside. — Michael C. Wright
The champions had one huge edict from proprietor James Dolan: stay out of the second apron. That meant Robinson could not return, and the eighth-year veteran defected to the Celtics with a three-year deal. Replacing him with Drummond is a clear transition for the Knicks, though Robinson’s defensive presence will probably be missed. The Knicks will nonetheless scour the marketplace for one other backup huge.
Re-signing Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado to offers that had been beneath market projections was a win for the entrance workplace. — Vincent Goodwill
If the Nuggets had been feeling urgency to craft a brand new championship components round franchise heart Nikola Jokic, they positive did not present it this summer season. Hardaway and Valanciunas cycled out of Denver after one-year stints, and Peyton Watson stays unsigned as a restricted free agent. After three years of backsliding since successful the 2023 title, Denver has finished nothing of consequence to reverse its damaging momentum. What’s the Nuggets’ plan for difficult the rising Thunder and Spurs apart from blind religion in Jokic? — Ben Golliver
The embarrassment of getting swept by the eventual champion Knicks in the second spherical of the playoffs left a nasty impression on the Philadelphia entrance workplace, resulting in vital change this offseason. The 76ers wasted no time making a splash, adding Brown and shedding George’s contract. They additionally landed James on a two-year deal, making a devastating beginning lineup. Now, coach Nick Nurse should combine Brown and James whereas additionally conserving Tyrese Maxey featured, creating promising second-year guard VJ Edgecombe and managing Joel Embiid‘s well being.
The 76ers have loads of offensive expertise and added extra choices with Simons in free company. There are a variety of mouths to feed in Philly. — Goodwill
After main the East in wins final season and making it to the second spherical of the playoffs, the Pistons made solely modest strikes this offseason. They added some shooting in Joe and changed the departing Harris with the versatile Collins. Detroit, nonetheless, continues to be ready to resolve its state of affairs with Jalen Duren, who’s lingering as an unsigned restricted free agent.
Without taking an enormous swing this summer season, Detroit will probably be relying on continued enchancment from its younger core, together with Duren and Ausar Thompson, if it desires to be higher ready for the playoffs subsequent season. — Jamal Collier
In maybe the biggest boom-or-bust deal of the offseason, the Wolves broke up a staff that had made it to 2 convention finals in the previous three years to amass some of the polarizing abilities in the league in Ball. The expertise the 6-foot-7 level guard possesses are plain, with a seemingly limitless 3-point vary and next-level courtroom imaginative and prescient as a passer. But the 24-year-old’s decision-making on and off the courtroom has induced a head scratch or two.
Still, Ball, Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu combining their offensive abilities whereas being supported by Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels on protection ought to preserve Minnesota in the combo close to the highest of the West. — Dave McMenamin
Previous rating: 7
Notable additions: Meleek Thomas (through draft)
Notable departures: Dean Wade (through free company)
The Cavs have had a quiet offseason, however as coach Kenny Atkinson famous throughout a summer season league broadcast, they had been nonetheless ready on a probably huge addition. “That could be our real jump,” Atkinson mentioned, referring to LeBron James’ impending resolution. Ultimately, the Cavs missed out on James, and now their roster will look similar to final season.
Despite James Harden opting out of his current contract, the expectation stays that the Cavs and Harden will attain a brand new settlement. But James’ resolution may nonetheless swing the offseason. — Collier
The Celtics added much-needed inside depth with Robinson and positioned themselves to have higher future wage cap flexibility by moving Brown. Was undertaking these targets price splitting up the embellished duo of Jayson Tatum and Brown? That stays to be seen, however George plugs in as an skilled and versatile substitute for Brown, and Boston is ready to return crucial items from its high quality second unit. — Golliver
After locking up future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant final summer season, Houston stored a low profile in free company, including veterans Smart and Bogdanovic to bolster depth and capturing after accidents final season proved they lacked in each areas. Houston desires to depend on the added depth and development from gamers corresponding to Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun and Tari Eason, in addition to the return of veterans Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams.
Plus, Durant’s improved consolation in Year 2 on the Rockets may lastly push this staff over the hump. Pressure is mounting, contemplating the Rockets have not superior previous the primary spherical in the previous two postseasons. Still, common supervisor Rafael Stone has been steadfast in his perception in the group. — Wright
Eight hours earlier than free company formally opened, James’ agent, Rich Paul, knowledgeable the Lakers that his client would be moving on after eight seasons with the franchise. James’ exit signaled the beginning of retrofitting the roster round famous person Luka Doncic, starting with a sign-and-trade with the Jazz for 7-2 heart Kessler.
L.A. opened its pockets (4 years, $130 million) and all however exhausted its future property (sending two unprotected first-round picks and two future decide swaps to Utah) to shut the deal, which may make or break Doncic’s tenure as a Laker. — McMenamin
Heat president Pat Riley landed his star in trading for Antetokounmpo, and the franchise was attempting to influence LeBron James to return. That did not occur, nonetheless. Now, the Heat have extra strikes to make, corresponding to including extra shooters/scorers and probably one other huge. Adding Portis shouldn’t be missed in the Antetokounmpo deal.
His physicality, capacity to attain and function as a sixth man present the Heat with a pleasant trio of massive males with Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo, however the Heat might want to change Powell’s and Herro’s perimeter capturing to assist house the ground for these two stars. — Ohm Youngmisuk
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 staff reacquires the two-time Finals MVP, then the Raptors will probably be positioned as one of many prime Finals contenders in the East. But if the Leonard deal falls by way of, Toronto will probably be working again most of its 2025-26 roster, simply with the lack of Mamukelashvili’s worthwhile bench contributions however the addition of promising first-round decide Allen Graves. — Zach Kram
The Hawks re-signed CJ McCollum and Jock Landale this offseason. McCollum will get the chance to see what he can do in a full season in Atlanta after being traded from the Wizards final February after which serving to the Hawks take two video games towards the eventual champion Knicks in the primary spherical. Atlanta made two of probably the most underrated strikes of the summer season by buying and selling with the Thunder for Dort and Wiggins.
Atlanta now has elite perimeter defenders in Dyson Daniels and Dort. Wiggins is one other younger wing with potential to obtain a much bigger alternative in Atlanta like Nickeil Alexander-Walker final season. The Hawks declined Kuminga’s $24.3 million staff choice. — Youngmisuk
Indiana’s most notable “additions” are the return of Tyrese Haliburton, who sat out the 2025-26 season due to an Achilles tear, and the complete arrival of Ivica Zubac, who suffered a season-ending damage quickly after he was acquired through commerce final season. With them wholesome, the Pacers ought to boast one of many NBA’s finest beginning lineups. Meanwhile, Oubre will assist bolster the bench of a staff that likes to play a deep rotation. With his capacity to run the ground in transition and swap on protection, the veteran wing looks like a robust match in Indiana. — Kram
The Magic’s largest addition was adding coach Sean Sweeney, who’s tasked with making an already stellar Magic protection into an elite one and bettering the offense by getting Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane taking part in their finest collectively.
The Magic’s addition of Vucevic ought to assist. When Orlando’s offense went dry and the Magic lost a 3-1 lead in the primary spherical vs. Detroit, a few straightforward buckets may have made the distinction and despatched Orlando into the second spherical. Vucevic might be the reply in these moments and likewise house the ground along with his profession 35% 3-point capturing. — Youngmisuk
The Jaren Jackson Jr. commerce earlier than final season’s deadline — when Memphis received a package that included Utah’s 2027 first-round decide — made it clear that the Jazz had been dedicated to creating a aggressive leap this season. Kessler’s departure lowers the Jazz’s ceiling this season, however No. 2 decide Darryn Peterson joins Jackson, Keyonte George and Ace Bailey because the foundation for the franchise‘s foreseeable future. — MacMahon
After watching his value dwindle the previous couple of seasons, the Blazers jumped on the probability to seize Morant and wanted zero draft picks to acquire the former All-Star. They are bringing again the core of a 42-win upstart playoff staff however remaking their backcourt with a pair of high-usage scorers in the method.
Morant and franchise legend Damian Lillard (who missed all of final season recovering from an Achilles tear) are projected to start out collectively, and the younger core of Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan might want to learn to work round that pair of megawatt personalities and the established Deni Avdija on the wing. — Anthony Slater
As July nears an in depth, the Warriors are bringing again primarily the identical core because the 37-win staff that limped to the end line this previous April. Before the market even opened, they labored out contracts with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis to maintain their veteran frontcourt intact. They opted for a reunion with De’Anthony Melton over a pursuit of Anfernee Simons with the biannual exception.
There’s some inner pleasure about the kind of fast impression they will get from No. 11 decide Lendeborg, however it’s troublesome to examine the contributions of a rookie considerably altering the outlook of an older staff buried in the standings a season in the past and with out each of their injured beginning wings (Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody) for the primary few months. — Slater
Phoenix adopted up its stable 45-37 season underneath first-year coach Jordan Ott with a string of transactions that stored the core in place whereas swinging for one major new addition in Bridges. The 28-year-old ahead averaged 17.1 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three.2 assists for Charlotte final season. The Suns, nonetheless, parted with two rotation gamers in Allen and O’Neale to amass Bridges, however the 2-for-1 pact may assist Ott discover minutes for everybody this season, particularly if Jalen Green is again wholesome from his hamstring damage that sabotaged his first season with the staff. — McMenamin Charlotte misplaced two starters, certainly one of them its largest star, however gained depth — and worthwhile draft picks — with its trades this summer season. Even with Ball gone, do not be stunned if the Hornets lead the league in 3-pointers once more subsequent season, as Reid, Allen, O’Neale and a wholesome Finney-Smith can all house the ground. They also re-signed free agent Coby White, who joined the Hornets midway by way of final season. But the most important supply of intrigue for Charlotte is whether or not Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller take extra steps ahead subsequent season, because the staff reoriented its timeline round these two youthful stars in ready. — Kram The Wizards made huge strikes final season, buying and selling for Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Now they’ll add the No. 1 decide, Dybantsa, to a younger core led by Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Will Riley and Bilal Coulibaly. Ayton offers the Wizards some much-needed depth at heart with Sarr getting back from a fractured proper foot. He additionally offers the Wizards one other heart to play alongside Davis if wanted. Middleton is one other veteran the Wizards hope will assist their staff take the next step to playoff contender. — Golliver New team president Masai Ujiri is taking a affected person method because the franchise focuses on constructing round teenage phenom Cooper Flagg, and now the Mavs have added another No. 1 pick in Risacher (2024) after a three-team deal. Three rookies — lottery decide Morez Johnson Jr., first-rounder Sergio de Larrea and EuroLeague veteran Tarik Biberovic — may have a possibility to right away earn a task. Multiple veterans on the roster are identified to be obtainable in the commerce market, however Kyrie Irving shouldn’t be included in that group. — MacMahon The Clippers agreed to commerce franchise ahead Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and vital draft compensation, however the deal is on hold till the NBA lastly releases the outcomes of an (*30*). Assuming the Leonard commerce ultimately goes by way of, the Clippers may have executed a swift pivot to a youth motion after opening final season because the league’s oldest staff. With that mentioned, LA, which hasn’t but re-signed restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, is probably going headed for a short-term step again in the standings. — Golliver No rookie had Las Vegas summer season league buzzing greater than Wilson. In 4 video games, he averaged 23.5 factors on 50% capturing (42% from 3), 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and a pair of.5 blocks. Take his summer league production with a grain of salt, however the No. 4 decide offers the Bulls a way of route the group hasn’t had in years. His improvement alongside fellow younger gamers corresponding to Matas Buzelis, Swain (No. 15 decide) and Noa Essengue, final 12 months’s No. 12 decide who missed almost his complete rookie season due to a left shoulder injury, will probably be key to a profitable Bulls season. — Collier General supervisor Zach Kleiman predicted a speedy rebuild after the commerce deadline, and he used the offseason to execute that imaginative and prescient with a busy summer season highlighted by the number of Boozer with the No. 3 decide. The addition of Boozer enhances the younger core led by Cedric Coward and large man Zach Edey, who performed simply 11 video games final season earlier than ultimately present process season-ending left ankle surgery. The membership additionally lastly jettisoned Morant whereas touchdown a possible starter in Grant. The Morant commerce marked the ultimate piece in the teardown of what was as soon as one of many league’s rising younger cores. But alongside the best way, Kleiman acquired younger expertise and property whereas cleansing up the staff’s cap sheet. — Wright The Pelicans wanted a summer season shake-up as badly as any staff in the league, so it is baffling they’ve punted thus far. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, lottery picks in 2025, enter their second seasons combating with veterans for minutes, and new coach Jamahl Mosley has his palms full making sense of a roster stuffed with mismatched items. Looney’s departure after one injury-plagued season is not an enormous hit, however the actual value of a stagnant offseason is misplaced time. New Orleans, which staggered to 26 wins final season, wanted to spend this summer season attending to work on its subsequent chapter. Will Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson ever be traded? — Youngmisuk The new lottery rules prompted the Nets to speed up their rebuild and trade for Randle, a former Knick who returns to New York after two years in Minneapolis. Brown (the No. 6 decide) was some of the promising level guards in this 12 months’s draft class, exploding onto the scene in his single season at Louisville following his efficiency on the U19 nationwide staff in 2025. He joins a staff that has a plethora of younger level guards. There’s additionally an infusion of veteran expertise, together with Ellis, who the Nets hope will assist lead this younger group after being the odd man out in Cleveland in the course of the playoffs. — Goodwill It’s a brand new period for the Bucks after trading Antetokounmpo, ending a 13-year run of attempting to compete with him on the forefront. Milwaukee has a deep rotation after gaining 4 gamers from Miami in the return so as to add to the combo of Myles Turner, Ryan Rollins, AJ Green and Kevin Porter Jr. — another excuse the Gary Trent Jr. signing baffled many around the league — plus a pair of rookie lottery picks they hope will profit from taking part in alongside so many veterans. The Bucks are rebuilding, however they do not personal their very own draft decide subsequent season and can attempt to be aggressive. — Collier The Kings’ entrance workplace seems to be all-in on a not-so-subtle youth motion, letting their two leaders in whole factors from a season in the past (DeRozan and Westbrook) depart whereas backfilling the roster with three rookies anticipated to step in to fast roles. Acuff, the No. 7 decide and certain place to begin guard, is the high-usage headliner. He simply fired up 100 pictures in 5 summer season league video games. Around him, Acuff nonetheless has Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray — the theoretical shell of a mildly intriguing offensive group (and questionable defensive group) if Acuff can show to be a succesful scorer and facilitator in his age-20 season. — Slater
