By NBA insiders, 2026-07-24 23:50:00
2026年NBA休赛期已经产生了深远的影响，扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 和杰伦·布朗 (Jaylen Brown) 等超级巨星与效力多年的母队分道扬镳，而勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 则做出了加盟费城76人的惊人决定。
夏季联赛也已落下帷幕，球队和球迷们得以初次窥见顶级新秀们在职业赛场上的表现。AJ·迪班萨 (AJ Dybantsa) 和卡梅隆·布泽尔 (Cameron Boozer) 等高顺位乐透秀展现出了在更大舞台上担当重任的实力，年度最佳新秀的争夺似乎将异常激烈。
在本期ESPN休赛期实力榜中，我们的NBA内幕专家将为您盘点30支球队已经历的繁忙休赛期，包括重要的人员引进与流失，以及各队在今年夏天已经解决或仍需解决的问题。
注：球队排名基于我们的专家团成员——ESPN的蒂姆·麦克马洪 (Tim MacMahon)、贾马尔·科利尔 (Jamal Collier)、迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright)、戴夫·麦克梅纳明 (Dave McMenamin)、奥姆·永米苏克 (Ohm Youngmisuk)、扎克·克拉姆 (Zach Kram)、安东尼·斯莱特 (Anthony Slater)、本·戈利弗 (Ben Golliver) 和文森特·古德威尔 (Vincent Goodwill)——在一连串自由市场签约后对各队实力的评估。上期实力榜发布于总决赛结束后。本次排名在詹姆斯宣布加盟76人之前便已完成，但相关球队的评述文本已根据该交易进行了更新。
跳转至球队：
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | [DET]([ESPN] NBA实力榜：2026年休赛期30支球队前景展望 #det) | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | [PHX]([ESPN] NBA实力榜：2026年休赛期30支球队前景展望 #phx)
POR | [SAC]([ESPN] NBA实力榜：2026年休赛期30支球队前景展望 #sac) | [SA]([ESPN] NBA实力榜：2026年休赛期30支球队前景展望 #sa) | TOR | [UTA]([ESPN] NBA实力榜：2026年休赛期30支球队前景展望 #utah) | WAS
1. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆
- 上期排名： 1
- 重要引进： 阿戴·马拉 (Aday Mara)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 以赛亚·乔 (Isaiah Joe)（交易）、亚伦·维金斯 (Aaron Wiggins)（交易）、卢根茨·多尔特 (Luguentz Dort)（交易）
俄克拉荷马城寄希望于杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams)（腿筋）和阿杰·米切尔 (Ajay Mitchell)（小腿）的伤愈复出，他们在新赛季将再次成为夺冠热门。乔、维金斯和多尔特的交易属于腾出薪资空间的举措，这为球队省去了高达2亿美元的奢侈税。这三人曾是2025年夺冠征程中的关键角色球员，但在上赛季季后赛中已边缘化。
雷霆用两名首轮秀（马拉和后卫贝内特·斯蒂尔茨 (Bennett Stirtz)）填补了这些阵容空缺，目前他们手握总共七个次轮签。 – 蒂姆·麦克马洪
2. 圣安东尼奥马刺
- 上期排名： 2
- 重要引进： 托拜厄斯·哈里斯 (Tobias Harris)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 无
圣安东尼奥决定保留2025-26赛季的原班人马：这支凭借尚未完全兑现潜力的年轻阵容，以童话般的总决赛之旅震惊了整个NBA世界。球队超级巨星、现役NBA年度最佳防守球员维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 在本应是超级顶薪的提前续约中做出了巨大让步，为管理层长期保留这套阵容创造了更好的条件。
此外，马刺还在自由市场上签下了经验丰富且稳健的老将哈里斯，以增强球队的内线实力。 – 迈克尔·C·莱特
3. 纽约尼克斯
- 上期排名： 3
- 重要引进： 安德烈·德拉蒙德 (Andre Drummond)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 米切尔·罗宾逊 (Mitchell Robinson)（自由市场）
卫冕冠军收到了老板詹姆斯·多兰 (James Dolan) 的一条硬性命令：不要触发第二土豪线。这意味着罗宾逊无法回归，这位效力了八年的老将最终以一份三年合同转投凯尔特人。用德拉蒙德替代他是尼克斯一次平稳的过渡，尽管罗宾逊在防守端的威慑力仍会让人怀念。尼克斯仍将在市场上寻找另一位替补内线。
以低于市场预期的价格续约兰德里·沙梅特 (Landry Shamet)、乔丹·克拉克森 (Jordan Clarkson) 和豪塞·阿尔瓦拉多 (Jose Alvarado)，对管理层来说是一次胜利。 – 文森特·古德威尔
4. 丹佛掘金
- 上期排名： 6
- 重要引进： 泰斯·琼斯 (Tyus Jones)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 小蒂姆·哈达威 (Tim Hardaway Jr.)（自由市场）、尤纳斯·瓦兰丘纳斯 (Jonas Valanciunas)（自由市场）
如果掘金感到有紧迫感去围绕当家球星尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokic) 打造新的夺冠方程式，他们在这个夏天显然没有表现出来。哈达威和瓦兰丘纳斯在效力一年后相继离开丹佛，而受限制自由球员佩顿·沃森 (Peyton Watson) 仍未签约。自2023年夺冠以来，丹佛已经连续三年退步，但他们没有采取任何实质性行动来扭转这一颓势。除了对约基奇的盲目信任，掘金挑战强势崛起的雷霆和马刺的计划究竟是什么？ – 本·戈利弗
5. 费城76人
- 上期排名： 12
- 重要引进： 杰伦·布朗 (Jaylen Brown)（交易）、勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James)（自由市场）、安芬尼·西蒙斯 (Anfernee Simons)（自由市场）、迪恩·韦德 (Dean Wade)（自由市场）、小拉巴伦·菲隆 (Labaron Philon Jr.)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 保罗·乔治 (Paul George)（交易）、安德烈·德拉蒙德 (Andre Drummond)（自由市场）
在季后赛次轮被最终夺冠的尼克斯横扫，这一尴尬战绩给费城管理层留下了糟糕的印象，也促成了今年休赛期的重大变革。76人毫不犹豫地制造了轰动，引进了布朗并送走了乔治的合同。他们还以一份两年合同签下了詹姆斯，打造了一套极具毁灭性的首发阵容。现在，主教练尼克·纳斯 (Nick Nurse) 必须在融入布朗和詹姆斯的同时，确保泰瑞斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey) 的核心地位，培养前途无量的二年级后卫VJ·艾奇库姆 (VJ Edgecombe)，并管理好乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 的健康。
76人拥有充足的进攻天赋，并在自由市场上通过签下西蒙斯增加了更多选择。费城现在需要分配的球权实在太多了。 – 文森特·古德威尔
76人将保罗·乔治、两个首轮签（2028年、2031年）和两个次轮签（2028年、2030年）送至凯尔特人，以完成关于杰伦·布朗的交易。 插图/ESPN
6. 底特律活塞
- 上期排名： 5
- 重要引进： 约翰·科林斯 (John Collins)（自由市场）、以赛亚·乔 (Isaiah Joe)（交易）
- 重要流失： 托拜厄斯·哈里斯 (Tobias Harris)（自由市场）、卡里斯·勒维尔 (Caris LeVert)（交易）、以赛亚·斯图尔特 (Isaiah Stewart)（交易）
在上赛季常规赛斩获东部第一并闯入季后赛次轮后，活塞在今年休赛期仅做出了温和的调整。他们通过交易乔补充了投射能力，并用技术全面的科林斯替代了离队的哈里斯。然而，底特律仍在等待解决杰伦·杜伦 (Jalen Duren) 的续约问题，后者目前仍是未签约的受限制自由球员。
由于今年夏天没有进行重磅交易，如果底特律想在下赛季的季后赛中走得更远，他们将不得不寄希望于包括杜伦和奥萨尔·汤普森 (Ausar Thompson) 在内的年轻核心阵容的持续成长。 – 贾马尔·科利尔
7. 明尼苏达森林狼
- 上期排名： 8
- 重要引进： 拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball)（交易）、乔什·格林 (Josh Green)（交易）、以赛亚·埃文斯 (Isaiah Evans)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 朱利叶斯·兰德尔 (Julius Randle)（交易）、纳兹·里德 (Naz Reid)（交易）、凯·安德森 (Kyle Anderson)（自由市场）、迈克·康利 (Mike Conley)（自由市场）
在今年休赛期或许是最具豪赌性质的交易中，森林狼拆散了一支在过去三年中两次闯入分区决赛的球队，引进了联盟中最具争议的天才球员之一——鲍尔。这位身高6英尺7英寸的控卫所拥有的天赋毋庸置疑，他拥有近乎无限的射程和顶级传球视野。但这位24岁球员在场内外的决策能力确实让人有些摸不着头脑。
尽管如此，鲍尔、安东尼·爱德华兹 (Anthony Edwards) 和阿约·多苏穆 (Ayo Dosunmu) 的进攻天赋，加上鲁迪·戈贝尔 (Rudy Gobert) 和杰登·麦克丹尼尔斯 (Jaden McDaniels) 在防守端的保驾护航，应该能让明尼苏达继续保持在西部顶尖行列。 – 戴夫·麦克梅纳明
8. 克利夫兰骑士
- 上期排名： 7
- 重要引进： 米里克·托马斯 (Meleek Thomas)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 迪恩·韦德 (Dean Wade)（自由市场）
骑士经历了一个安静的休赛期，但正如主教练肯尼·阿特金森 (Kenny Atkinson) 在夏季联赛直播中所说，他们当时仍在等待一个潜在的重磅引援。“那可能会让我们实现真正的飞跃，”阿特金森在谈到詹姆斯即将做出的决定时说道。最终，骑士错失了詹姆斯，现在他们的阵容看起来将与上赛季非常相似。
尽管詹姆斯·哈登 (James Harden) 选择跳出他现有的合同，但外界普遍预计骑士和哈登将达成一份新协议。不过，詹姆斯的决定依然左右了他们的休赛期走向。 – 贾马尔·科利尔
9. 波士顿凯尔特人
- 上期排名： 4
- 重要引进： 保罗·乔治 (Paul George)（交易）、米切尔·罗宾逊 (Mitchell Robinson)（自由市场）、迈克·康利 (Mike Conley)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 杰伦·布朗 (Jaylen Brown)（交易）、尼古拉·武切维奇 (Nikola Vucevic)（自由市场）
凯尔特人通过签下罗宾逊补充了急需的内线深度，并通过送走布朗为未来的薪资空间争取了更大的灵活性。为了实现这些目标而拆散杰森·塔图姆 (Jayson Tatum) 和布朗这对荣誉满载的双子星组合是否值得？这还有待观察，但乔治作为一名经验丰富且技术全面的替代者，能够很好地填补布朗留下的空缺，而且波士顿保留了其优质第二阵容中最核心的成员。 – 本·戈利弗
10. 休斯顿火箭
- 上期排名： 10
- 重要引进： 马库斯·斯马特 (Marcus Smart)（自由市场）、博格丹·博格达诺维奇 (Bogdan Bogdanovic)（自由市场）、布鲁斯·桑顿 (Bruce Thornton)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 多里安·芬尼-史密斯 (Dorian Finney-Smith)（交易）
在去年夏天锁定未来名人堂成员凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 后，休斯顿在自由市场上保持了低调，签下了老将斯马特和博格达诺维奇，以增强阵容深度和外线投射——上赛季的伤病潮暴露出他们在这些方面的短板。休斯顿希望依靠更深厚的阵容，以及阿门·汤普森 (Amen Thompson)、里德·谢泼德 (Reed Sheppard)、阿尔佩伦·申京 (Alperen Sengun) 和塔里·伊森 (Tari Eason) 等年轻球员的成长，再加上老将弗雷德·范弗利特 (Fred VanVleet) 和史蒂文·亚当斯 (Steven Adams) 的回归。
此外，杜兰特在火箭第二年的适应度提升，可能会最终推动这支球队跨过难关。考虑到火箭在过去两个季后赛中都未能突破首轮，压力正在不断增加。尽管如此，总经理拉斐尔·斯通 (Rafael Stone) 对这支队伍的信念依然坚定不移。 – 迈克尔·C·莱特
11. 洛杉矶湖人
- 上期排名： 9
- 重要引进： 沃克·凯斯勒 (Walker Kessler)（交易）、昆汀·格莱姆斯 (Quentin Grimes)（自由市场）、桑德罗·马穆凯拉什维利 (Sandro Mamukelashvili)（自由市场）、科林·塞克斯顿 (Collin Sexton)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James)（自由市场）、马库斯·斯马特 (Marcus Smart)（自由市场）、德安德烈·艾顿 (Deandre Ayton)（交易）、卢克·肯纳德 (Luke Kennard)（自由市场）、贾克森·海斯 (Jaxson Hayes)（自由市场）
在自由市场正式开启前8小时，詹姆斯的经纪人里奇·保罗 (Rich Paul) 告知湖人，他的客户将在效力八个赛季后选择离开。詹姆斯的离去标志着球队开始围绕超级巨星卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 重组阵容，第一步便是通过先签后换从爵士交易来身高7英尺2英寸的中锋凯斯勒。
洛杉矶为此敞开钱包（4年1.3亿美元），并几乎掏空了未来的资产（向犹他送出了两个无保护首轮签和两个未来的选秀权互换权）来达成这笔交易，这可能会决定东契奇湖人生涯的成败。 – 戴夫·麦克梅纳明
12. 迈阿密热火
- 上期排名： 20
- 重要引进： 扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo)（交易）、鲍比·波蒂斯 (Bobby Portis)（交易）、小蒂姆·哈达威 (Tim Hardaway Jr.)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 泰勒·希罗 (Tyler Herro)（交易）、诺曼·鲍威尔 (Norman Powell)（自由市场）、小哈梅·哈克斯 (Jaime Jaquez Jr.)（交易）、凯莱尔·韦尔 (Kel’el Ware)（交易）、卡斯帕拉斯·雅库乔尼斯 (Kasparas Jakucionis)（交易）
热火总裁帕特·莱利 (Pat Riley) 通过交易得到阿德托昆博收获了他的超级巨星，球队此前还试图说服詹姆斯回归，但未能成功。现在，热火还有更多工作要做，比如引进更多射手/得分手，以及可能再补充一名内线。在阿德托昆博的交易中，得到波蒂斯是不容忽视的一环。
他的强硬作风、得分能力以及作为第六人的角色，让热火在拥有巴姆·阿德巴约 (Bam Adebayo) 和阿德托昆博的基础上，组建了出色的内线三人组。但热火需要填补鲍威尔和希罗离队留下的外线火力空缺，从而为这两位超级巨星拉开空间。 – 奥姆·永米苏克
13. 多伦多猛龙
- 上期排名： 14
- 重要引进： 无
- 重要流失： 桑德罗·马穆凯拉什维利 (Sandro Mamukelashvili)（自由市场）
猛龙的休赛期目前处于停滞状态，他们正在等待关于科怀·莱昂纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 与Aspiration公司调查的最终结论。如果一切如多伦多所愿，球队重新得到这位两届总决赛MVP，那么猛龙将成为东部最具竞争力的总决赛争夺者之一。但如果莱昂纳德的交易泡汤，多伦多将不得不保留2025-26赛季的大部分阵容，虽然失去了马穆凯拉什维利宝贵的替补贡献，但迎来了前途无量的首轮秀艾伦·格雷夫斯 (Allen Graves)（选秀）。 – 扎克·克拉姆
14. 亚特兰大老鹰
- 上期排名： 13
- 重要引进： 卢根茨·多尔特 (Luguentz Dort)（交易）、亚伦·维金斯 (Aaron Wiggins)（交易）、金斯顿·弗莱明斯 (Kingston Flemings)（选秀）、德文·卡特 (Devin Carter)（交易）、莱恩·内姆哈德 (Ryan Nembhard)（交易）、祖比·埃希奥福 (Zuby Ejiofor)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 乔纳森·库明加 (Jonathan Kuminga)（自由市场）、扎卡里·里萨谢 (Zaccharie Risacher)（交易）、盖布·文森特 (Gabe Vincent)（自由市场）、基顿·华莱士 (Keaton Wallace)（自由市场）
老鹰在今年休赛期续约了CJ·麦科勒姆 (CJ McCollum) 和乔克·兰代尔 (Jock Landale)。麦科勒姆在去年二月从奇才被交易至老鹰，并帮助球队在季后赛首轮从最终夺冠的尼克斯手中抢下两场胜利，如今他将有机会在亚特兰大展现自己在一个完整赛季中的实力。老鹰通过与雷霆交易得到多尔特和维金斯，完成了今年夏天最被低估的两笔运作。
老鹰现在拥有戴森·丹尼尔斯 (Dyson Daniels) 和多尔特这两位精英级外线防守者。维金斯则是另一位年轻侧翼，他有望在亚特兰大获得更大的施展空间，就像上赛季的尼基尔·亚历山大-沃克 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker) 一样。此外，老鹰拒绝执行库明加价值2430万美元的球队选项。 – 奥姆·永米苏克
15. 印第安纳步行者
- 上期排名： 11
- 重要引进： 小凯利·乌布雷 (Kelly Oubre Jr.)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 无
印第安纳最显著的“强援”是因阿喀琉斯腱撕裂缺席了整个2025-26赛季的泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton) 的伤愈复出，以及上赛季交易加盟后不久便遭遇赛季报销伤病的伊维察·祖巴茨 (Ivica Zubac) 的满血归来。在他们保持健康的情况下，步行者应该能拥有一套全联盟顶尖的首发阵容。与此同时，乌布雷将帮助这支喜欢深厚轮换的球队增强替补席深度。凭借在转换进攻中的奔跑能力和防守端的无限换防能力，这位老将侧翼看起来非常适合印第安纳。 – 扎克·克拉姆
16. 奥兰多魔术
- 上期排名： 15
- 重要引进： 尼古拉·武切维奇 (Nikola Vucevic)（自由市场）、伊扎亚·尼尔森 (Izaiyah Nelson)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 莫里茨·瓦格纳 (Moritz Wagner)（自由市场）
魔术最大的引援是聘请了主教练肖恩·斯威尼，他的任务是将魔术本就出色的防守提升到精英级别，并通过让保罗·班切罗 (Paolo Banchero)、弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 和德斯蒙德·贝恩 (Desmond Bane) 产生更好的化学反应来改善进攻。
魔术签下武切维奇应该会有所帮助。当奥兰多的进攻陷入停滞，并在首轮对阵底特律时痛失3-1的领先优势时，几次轻松的得分本可以改变局势并送奥兰多晋级次轮。武切维奇可能会成为这些关键时刻的解药，同时他职业生涯35%的三分命中率也能帮助球队拉开空间。 – 奥姆·永米苏克
17. 犹他爵士
- 上期排名： 22
- 重要引进： 达林·彼得森 (Darryn Peterson)（选秀）、贾克森·海斯 (Jaxson Hayes)（自由市场）、乔什·奥科吉 (Josh Okogie)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 沃克·凯斯勒 (Walker Kessler)（先签后换）
在上赛季交易截止日前关于小贾伦·杰克逊 (Jaren Jackson Jr.) 的交易中——当时灰熊得到的筹码包括犹他2027年的首轮签——已经表明爵士致力于在下赛季实现竞争力的飞跃。凯斯勒的离队降低了爵士本赛季的上限，但榜眼秀达林·彼得森 (Darryn Peterson) 将与杰克逊、基扬特·乔治 (Keyonte George) 以及埃斯·贝利 (Ace Bailey) 一起，构成球队未来的基石。 – 蒂姆·麦克马洪
18. 波特兰开拓者
- 上期排名： 19
- 重要引进： 贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant)（交易）、布兰登·卡尔森 (Branden Carlson)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 杰拉米·格兰特 (Jerami Grant)（交易）、克里斯·默里 (Kris Murray)（交易）
在目睹了莫兰特身价在过去几个赛季缩水后，开拓者抓住机会拿下了他，并且在得到这位前全明星的过程中没有消耗任何选秀权。他们保留了一支取得42胜的季后赛新贵的核心阵容，但在此过程中用两位高使用率的得分手重塑了他们的后场。
莫兰特和球队传奇达米安·利拉德 (Damian Lillard)（上赛季因阿喀琉斯腱撕裂恢复缺席了整季）预计将搭档首发，而斯库特·亨德森 (Scoot Henderson)、谢顿·夏普 (Shaedon Sharpe)、图马尼·卡马拉 (Toumani Camara) 和多诺万·克林根 (Donovan Clingan) 组成的年轻核心，将需要学会如何围绕这两位光芒四射的明星以及侧翼上已证明自己的德尼·阿夫迪亚 (Deni Avdija) 来展开配合。 – 安东尼·斯莱特
19. 金州勇士
- 上期排名： 16
- 重要引进： 雅克塞尔·兰德伯格 (Yaxel Lendeborg)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 昆汀·波斯特 (Quinten Post)（受限制自由市场）、帕特·斯宾塞 (Pat Spencer)（自由市场）
随着七月临近尾声，勇士队保留的阵容核心与今年四月步履蹒跚结束赛季的那支37胜球队基本一致。在自由市场开启前，他们便与阿尔·霍福德 (Al Horford) 和克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porzingis) 达成了合同，以保持他们经验丰富的内线阵容完整。他们选择用双年特例签回德安东尼·梅尔顿 (De’Anthony Melton)，而不是去追求西蒙斯。
球队内部对11号秀兰德伯格能带来的即战力感到有些兴奋，但很难想象一个新秀的贡献能显著改变这支老迈球队的前景——他们上赛季在排名中苦苦挣扎，而且在赛季前几个月还将缺少两位受伤的首发侧翼（吉米·巴特勒三世 (Jimmy Butler III) 和摩西·穆迪 (Moses Moody)）。 – 安东尼·斯莱特
19. 凤凰城太阳
- 上期排名： 21
- 重要引进： 迈尔斯·布里奇斯 (Miles Bridges)（交易）、科阿·皮特 (Koa Peat)（选秀）、卢克·肯纳德 (Luke Kennard)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 格雷森·阿伦 (Grayson Allen)（交易）、罗伊斯·奥尼尔 (Royce O’Neale)（交易）
凤凰城在首年执教的主教练乔丹·奥特 (Jordan Ott) 带领下取得45胜37负的稳健战绩后，通过一系列交易保留了核心阵容，同时全力引进了一位重磅新援——布里奇斯。这位28名前锋上赛季在夏洛特场均可以贡献17.1分、5.8个篮板和3.2次助攻。
然而，太阳为了得到布里奇斯送出了阿伦和奥尼尔两名轮换球员，但这种“二换一”的交易或许能帮助奥特在本赛季更好地分配出场时间，特别是如果杰伦·格林 (Jalen Green) 能从毁掉他首个赛季的腿筋伤势中完全康复。 – 戴夫·麦克梅纳明
21. 夏洛特黄蜂
- 上期排名： 17
- 重要引进： 纳兹·里德 (Naz Reid)（交易）、格雷森·阿伦 (Grayson Allen)（交易）、罗伊斯·奥尼尔 (Royce O’Neale)（交易）、多里安·芬尼-史密斯 (Dorian Finney-Smith)（交易）
- 重要流失： 拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball)（交易）、迈尔斯·布里奇斯 (Miles Bridges)（交易）
夏洛特失去了两名首发球员，其中一人还是他们最大的明星，但通过今年夏天的交易，他们收获了阵容深度和宝贵的选秀权。即使鲍尔离队，如果黄蜂下赛季再次在三分球命中数上领跑联盟也不要感到惊讶，因为里德、阿伦、奥尼尔和健康的芬尼-史密斯都能拉开空间。他们还续约了在上赛季中期加盟黄蜂的自由球员科比·怀特 (Coby White)。
但夏洛特最大的看点在于康·克努佩尔 (Kon Knueppel) 和布兰登·米勒 (Brandon Miller) 下赛季能否取得更大的进步，因为球队已经围绕这两位未来的年轻核心重新调整了重建时间线。 – 扎克·克拉姆
22. 华盛顿奇才
- 上期排名： 28
- 重要引进： AJ·迪班萨 (AJ Dybantsa)（选秀）、德安德烈·艾顿 (Deandre Ayton)（交易）、克里斯·米德尔顿 (Khris Middleton)（交易）、菲利克斯·奥克帕拉 (Felix Okpara)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 德安吉洛·拉塞尔 (D’Angelo Russell)（交易）、杰登·哈迪 (Jaden Hardy)（交易）
奇才在上赛季动作频频，通过交易得到了特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 和安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis)。如今，他们将把状元秀迪班萨加入到由亚历克斯·萨尔 (Alex Sarr)、凯肖恩·乔治 (Kyshawn George)、特雷·约翰逊 (Tre Johnson)、布布·卡林顿 (Bub Carrington)、威尔·莱利 (Will Riley) 和比拉尔·库利巴利 (Bilal Coulibaly) 组成的年轻核心中。随着萨尔从右脚骨折中恢复，艾顿为奇才提供了急需的中锋深度。如果需要，他还能作为另一名中锋与戴维斯搭档。米德尔顿则是奇才希望能够帮助球队更进一步、成为季后赛争夺者的另一位老将。 – 本·戈利弗
23. 达拉斯独行侠
- 上期排名： 23
- 重要引进： 小莫雷兹·约翰逊 (Morez Johnson Jr.)（选秀）、桑蒂·阿尔达马 (Santi Aldama)（交易）、马库斯·萨瑟 (Marcus Sasser)（交易）、扎卡里·里萨谢 (Zaccharie Risacher)（交易）
- 重要流失： 克里斯·米德尔顿 (Khris Middleton)（交易）、马文·巴格利三世 (Marvin Bagley III)（自由市场）
新任球队总裁马赛·乌杰里 (Masai Ujiri) 正在采取一种耐心的建队方式，因为球队正专注于围绕天才少年库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 进行重建。如今，在一笔三方交易后，独行侠又得到了另一位状元秀——2024年的里萨谢。三名新秀——乐透秀小莫雷兹·约翰逊、首轮秀塞尔吉奥·德·拉雷亚 (Sergio de Larrea) 以及欧洲联赛老将塔里克·比贝罗维奇 (Tarik Biberovic)——将有机会立即争取到出场时间。
阵容中的多位老将据传在交易市场上是可被交易的，但凯里·欧文 (Kyrie Irving) 并不在其中。 – 蒂姆·麦克马洪
24. 洛杉矶快船
- 上期排名： 18
- 重要引进： 基顿·瓦格勒 (Keaton Wagler)（选秀）、八村垒 (Rui Hachimura)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 约翰·科林斯 (John Collins)（交易）、博格丹·博格达诺维奇 (Bogdan Bogdanovic)（自由市场）
快船同意将当家前锋科怀·莱昂纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 交易至猛龙，换回布兰登·英格拉姆 (Brandon Ingram)、格雷迪·迪克 (Gradey Dick) 以及丰厚的选秀权补偿，但这笔交易目前处于搁置状态，直到NBA最终公布对莱昂纳德的调查结果。假设莱昂纳德的交易最终通过，快船将在上赛季以联盟最老球队身份开局后，迅速完成向年轻化路线的转型。
话虽如此，尚未续约受限制自由球员贝内迪克特·马瑟林 (Bennedict Mathurin) 的洛杉矶快船，在排名上可能会面临短期的下滑。 – 本·戈利弗
25. 芝加哥公牛
- 上期排名： 25
- 重要引进： 加莱布·威尔逊 (Caleb Wilson)（选秀）、诺曼·鲍威尔 (Norman Powell)（自由市场）、尼克·克拉克斯顿 (Nic Claxton)（交易）、戴林·斯温 (Dailyn Swain)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 安芬尼·西蒙斯 (Anfernee Simons)（自由市场）、科林·塞克斯顿 (Collin Sexton)（自由市场）
没有哪位新秀能像威尔逊那样让拉斯维加斯夏季联赛如此轰动。在四场比赛中，他场均贡献23.5分，投篮命中率达50%（三分命中率42%），另有7.3个篮板、1.3次抢断和2.5次盖帽。虽然他在夏季联赛的数据不能完全等同于常规赛，但这位4号秀给公牛队带来了多年未曾有过的明确方向。
他与马塔斯·布泽利斯 (Matas Buzelis)、斯温（15号秀）以及去年的12号秀诺阿·埃森格 (Noa Essengue) 等年轻球员的共同成长，将是公牛赛季成功的关键。埃森格去年因左肩伤势几乎缺席了整个新秀赛季。 – 贾马尔·科利尔
26. 孟菲斯灰熊
- 上期排名： 26
- 重要引进： 以赛亚·斯图尔特 (Isaiah Stewart)（交易）、杰拉米·格兰特 (Jerami Grant)（交易）、昆汀·波斯特 (Quinten Post)（自由市场）、卡梅隆·布泽尔 (Cameron Boozer)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant)（交易）、桑蒂·阿尔达马 (Santi Aldama)（交易）
总经理扎克·克莱曼 (Zach Kleiman) 在交易截止日后曾预测球队将快速重建，而他利用这个休赛期践行了这一愿景。在这个忙碌的夏天，最瞩目的举措莫过于用探花签选中了布泽尔。布泽尔的加入增强了由塞德里克·考沃德 (Cedric Coward) 和大个子扎克·伊迪 (Zach Edey) 领衔的年轻核心阵容，后者上赛季仅打了11场比赛，随后便接受了赛季报销的左踝手术。
此外，球队终于送走了莫兰特，同时得到了有望出任首发的格兰特。莫兰特的交易标志着这支曾是联盟最具朝气的年轻核心阵容彻底完成拆解。但在此过程中，克莱曼在清理球队薪资空间的同时，也收获了年轻天赋和资产。 – 迈克尔·C·莱特
27. 新奥尔良鹈鹕
- 上期排名： 24
- 重要引进： 无
- 重要流失： 凯文·卢尼 (Kevon Looney)（自由市场）
鹈鹕比联盟中任何球队都更需要一次夏季大洗牌，因此他们至今仍按兵不动实在令人费解。2025年的乐透秀杰里迈亚·费尔斯 (Jeremiah Fears) 和德里克·奎因 (Derik Queen) 将进入他们的第二个赛季，并不得不与老将争夺出场时间，而新任主教练贾马尔·莫斯利在理顺这套充满不兼容拼图的阵容时也将面临巨大挑战。卢尼在经历了一个饱受伤病困扰的赛季后离队并不是什么重大损失，但停滞不前的休赛期带来的真正代价是时间的流逝。
上赛季仅取得26胜、步履维艰的新奥尔良，本需要利用今年夏天开启他们的新篇章。特雷·墨菲三世 (Trey Murphy III) 和蔡恩·威廉森 (Zion Williamson) 最终会被交易吗？ – 奥姆·永米苏克
28. 布鲁克林篮网
- 上期排名： 29
- 重要引进： 朱利叶斯·兰德尔 (Julius Randle)（交易）、小米克尔·布朗 (Mikel Brown Jr.)（选秀）、莫里茨·瓦格纳 (Moritz Wagner)（自由市场）、基恩·埃利斯 (Keon Ellis)（自由市场）
- 重要流失： 尼克·克拉克斯顿 (Nic Claxton)（交易）、扎伊尔·威廉姆斯 (Ziaire Williams)（自由市场）
新的乐透抽签规则促使篮网加快了重建步伐，并交易得到了兰德尔。这位前尼克斯球员在明尼阿波利斯效力两年后重返纽约。6号秀布朗是今年选秀大会中最具前景的控卫之一，在2025年U19国家队大放异彩后，他在路易斯维尔大学的单赛季表现同样令人惊艳。他加入了一支拥有众多年轻控卫的球队。
此外，球队还注入了老将天赋，包括埃利斯，篮网希望他在季后赛期间成为克利夫兰的边缘人后，能够帮助引领这支年轻的队伍。 – 文森特·古德威尔
29. 密尔沃基雄鹿
- 上期排名： 27
- 重要引进： 泰勒·希罗 (Tyler Herro)（交易）、凯莱尔·韦尔 (Kel’el Ware)（交易）、小哈梅·哈克斯 (Jaime Jaquez Jr.)（交易）、卡斯帕拉斯·雅库乔尼斯 (Kasparas Jakucionis)（交易）、布雷登·伯里斯 (Brayden Burries)（选秀）、内特·阿门特 (Nate Ament)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo)（交易）、鲍比·波蒂斯 (Bobby Portis)（交易）
在交易走阿德托昆博后，雄鹿迎来了全新的时代，结束了以他为核心竞争了13年的辉煌历程。在从迈阿密换回四名球员后，密尔沃基拥有了深厚的轮换阵容，他们将与迈尔斯·特纳 (Myles Turner)、莱恩·罗林斯 (Ryan Rollins)、AJ·格林 (AJ Green) 以及小凯文·波特 (Kevin Porter Jr.) 共同搭档——这也是为什么签下小加里·特伦特 (Gary Trent Jr.) 让联盟中许多人感到困惑的另一个原因。此外，他们还拥有两位乐透区新秀，球队希望他们能从与众多老将并肩作战中获益。
雄鹿正在重建，但由于他们下赛季并不拥有自己的选秀权，因此他们仍会努力保持竞争力。 – 贾马尔·科利尔
30. 萨克拉门托国王
- 上期排名： 30
- 重要引进： 小达里乌斯·阿库夫 (Darius Acuff Jr.)（选秀）、亚历克斯·卡拉班 (Alex Karaban)（选秀）、埃马纽埃尔·夏普 (Emanuel Sharp)（选秀）
- 重要流失： 德马尔·德罗赞 (DeMar DeRozan)（裁掉）、拉塞尔·威斯布鲁克 (Russell Westbrook)（自由市场）、德文·卡特 (Devin Carter)（交易）
国王管理层似乎在全力推行一项毫不掩饰的年轻化运动，他们放走了上赛季总得分排名前两位的领袖（德罗赞和威斯布鲁克），同时用三名有望立即扮演重要角色的新秀填补了阵容空缺。7号秀、极有可能出任首发控卫的阿库夫是高使用率的焦点人物，他刚刚在五场夏季联赛中疯狂出手了100次。
在阿库夫身边，国王依然拥有多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯 (Domantas Sabonis)、扎克·拉文 (Zach LaVine)、马利克·蒙克 (Malik Monk) 和基根·默里 (Keegan Murray)——如果阿库夫能在其20岁的赛季中证明自己是一个合格的得分手和组织者，这套阵容在理论上将构成一个颇具看点的进攻组合（尽管防守端存在疑问）。 – 安东尼·斯莱特
由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
查看原文：NBA Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stack up in 2026 offseason
NBA Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stack up in 2026 offseason
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 LeBron James making the stunning move to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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. These rankings were published before James announced his decision to sign with the 76ers, but the text for the relevant teams has been updated to reflect that move.
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | [DET](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49359567/free-agency-nba-power-rankings-2026-offseason-all-30-teams #det) | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | [PHX](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49359567/free-agency-nba-power-rankings-2026-offseason-all-30-teams #phx)
POR | [SAC](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49359567/free-agency-nba-power-rankings-2026-offseason-all-30-teams #sac) | [SA](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49359567/free-agency-nba-power-rankings-2026-offseason-all-30-teams #sa) | TOR | [UTA](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49359567/free-agency-nba-power-rankings-2026-offseason-all-30-teams #utah) | 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), LeBron James (via free agency), 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. They also landed James on a two-year deal, creating a devastating starting lineup. Now, coach Nick Nurse will have to integrate Brown and James 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 were still waiting on a potentially big addition. “That could be our real jump,” Atkinson said, referring to LeBron James’ impending decision. Ultimately, the Cavs missed out on James, and now their roster will look very similar to 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
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, and the franchise was trying to persuade LeBron James to return. That didn’t happen, however. Now, the Heat have more moves to make, 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
15. Indiana Pacers
- Previous ranking: 11
- Notable additions: Kelly Oubre Jr. (via free agency)
- Notable departures: None
Indiana’s most notable “additions” are the return of Tyrese Haliburton, who sat out the 2025-26 season because of an Achilles tear, and the full arrival of Ivica Zubac, who suffered a season-ending injury soon after he was acquired via trade last season. With them healthy, the Pacers should boast one of the NBA’s best starting lineups. Meanwhile, Oubre will help bolster the bench of a team that likes to play a deep rotation. With his ability to run the floor in transition and switch on defense, the veteran wing seems like a strong fit in Indiana. – Kram
16. Orlando Magic
- Previous ranking: 15
- Notable additions: Nikola Vucevic (via free agency), Izaiyah Nelson (via draft)
- Notable departures: Moritz Wagner (via free agency)
The Magic’s biggest addition was adding coach Sean Sweeney, who is tasked with making an already stellar Magic defense into an elite one and improving the offense by getting Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane playing their best together.
The Magic’s addition of Vucevic should help. When Orlando’s offense went dry and the Magic lost a 3-1 lead in the first round vs. Detroit, a couple of easy buckets could have made the difference and sent Orlando into the second round. Vucevic could be the answer in those moments and also space the floor with his career 35% 3-point shooting. – Youngmisuk
17. Utah Jazz
- Previous ranking: 22
- Notable additions: Darryn Peterson (via draft), Jaxson Hayes (via free agency), Josh Okogie (via free agency)
- Notable departures: Walker Kessler (via sign-and-trade)
The Jaren Jackson Jr. trade before last season’s deadline – when Memphis received a package that included Utah’s 2027 first-round pick – made it clear that the Jazz were committed to making a competitive leap this season. Kessler’s departure lowers the Jazz’s ceiling this season, but No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson joins Jackson, Keyonte George and Ace Bailey as the foundation for the franchise’s foreseeable future. – MacMahon
18. Portland Trail Blazers
- Previous ranking: 19
- Notable additions: Ja Morant (via trade), Branden Carlson (via free agency)
- Notable departures: Jerami Grant (via trade), Kris Murray (via trade)
After watching his value dwindle the past couple of seasons, the Blazers jumped at the chance to grab Morant and needed zero draft picks to acquire the former All-Star. They are bringing back the core of a 42-win upstart playoff team but remaking their backcourt with a pair of high-usage scorers in the process.
Morant and franchise legend Damian Lillard (who missed all of last season recovering from an Achilles tear) are projected to start together, and the young core of Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan will need to learn how to work around that pair of megawatt personalities and the established Deni Avdija on the wing. – Anthony Slater
19. Golden State Warriors
- Previous ranking: 16
- Notable additions: Yaxel Lendeborg (via draft)
- Notable departures: Quinten Post (via restricted free agency), Pat Spencer (via free agency)
As July nears a close, the Warriors are bringing back essentially the same core as the 37-win team that limped to the finish line this past April. Before the market even opened, they worked out contracts with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis to keep 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 internal excitement about the type of immediate impact they can get from No. 11 pick Lendeborg, but it’s difficult to envision the contributions of a rookie significantly changing the outlook of an older team buried in the standings a season ago and without both of their injured starting wings (Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody) for the first few months. – Slater
19. Phoenix Suns
- Previous ranking: 21
- Notable additions: Miles Bridges (via trade), Koa Peat (via draft), Luke Kennard (via free agency)
- Notable departures: Grayson Allen (via trade), Royce O’Neale (via trade)
Phoenix followed up its solid 45-37 season under first-year coach Jordan Ott with a string of transactions that kept the core in place while swinging for one major new addition in Bridges. The 28-year-old forward averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists for Charlotte last season.
The Suns, however, parted with two rotation players in Allen and O’Neale to acquire Bridges, but the 2-for-1 pact could help Ott find minutes for everyone this season, especially if Jalen Green is back healthy from his hamstring injury that sabotaged his first season with the team. – McMenamin
21. Charlotte Hornets
- Previous ranking: 17
- Notable additions: Naz Reid (via trade), Grayson Allen (via trade), Royce O’Neale (via trade), Dorian Finney-Smith (via trade
- Notable departures: LaMelo Ball (via trade), Miles Bridges (via trade)
Charlotte lost two starters, one of them its biggest star, but gained depth – and valuable draft picks – with its trades this summer. Even with Ball gone, don’t be surprised if the Hornets lead the league in 3-pointers again next season, as Reid, Allen, O’Neale and a healthy Finney-Smith can all space the floor. They also re-signed free agent Coby White, who joined the Hornets halfway through last season.
But the biggest source of intrigue for Charlotte is whether Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller take more steps forward next season, as the team reoriented its timeline around those two younger stars in waiting. – Kram
22. Washington Wizards
- Previous ranking: 28
- Notable additions: AJ Dybantsa (via draft), Deandre Ayton (via trade), Khris Middleton (via trade), Felix Okpara (via draft)
- Notable departures: D’Angelo Russell (via trade), Jaden Hardy (via trade)
The Wizards made big moves last season, trading for Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Now they will add the No. 1 pick, Dybantsa, to a young core led by Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Will Riley and Bilal Coulibaly. Ayton gives the Wizards some much-needed depth at center with Sarr returning from a fractured right foot. He also gives the Wizards another center to play alongside Davis if needed. Middleton is another veteran the Wizards hope will help their team take the next step to playoff contender. – Golliver
23. Dallas Mavericks
- Previous ranking: 23
- Notable additions: Morez Johnson Jr. (via draft), Santi Aldama (via trade), Marcus Sasser (via trade), Zaccharie Risacher (via trade)
- Notable departures: Khris Middleton (via trade), Marvin Bagley III (via free agency)
New team president Masai Ujiri is taking a patient approach as the franchise focuses on building around 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 pick Morez Johnson Jr., first-rounder Sergio de Larrea and EuroLeague veteran Tarik Biberovic – will have an opportunity to immediately earn a role.
Multiple veterans on the roster are known to be available in the trade market, but Kyrie Irving is not included in that group. – MacMahon
24. LA Clippers
- Previous ranking: 18
- Notable additions: Keaton Wagler (via draft), Rui Hachimura (via free agency)
- Notable departures: John Collins (via trade), Bogdan Bogdanovic (via free agency)
The Clippers agreed to trade franchise forward Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and significant draft compensation, but the deal is on hold until the NBA finally releases the results of an investigation into Leonard. Assuming the Leonard trade eventually goes through, the Clippers will have executed a swift pivot to a youth movement after opening last season as the league’s oldest team.
With that said, LA, which hasn’t yet re-signed restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, is likely headed for a short-term step back in the standings. – Golliver
25. Chicago Bulls
- Previous ranking: 25
- Notable additions: Caleb Wilson (via draft), Norman Powell (via free agency), Nic Claxton (via trade), Dailyn Swain (via draft)
- Notable departures: Anfernee Simons (via free agency), Collin Sexton (via free agency)
No rookie had Las Vegas summer league buzzing more than Wilson. In four games, he averaged 23.5 points on 50% shooting (42% from 3), 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.5 blocks. Take his summer league production with a grain of salt, but the No. 4 pick gives the Bulls a sense of direction the organization hasn’t had in years.
His development alongside fellow young players such as Matas Buzelis, Swain (No. 15 pick) and Noa Essengue, last year’s No. 12 pick who missed nearly his entire rookie season because of a left shoulder injury, will be key to a successful Bulls season. – Collier
26. Memphis Grizzlies
- Previous ranking: 26
- Notable additions: Isaiah Stewart (via trade), Jerami Grant (via trade), Quinten Post (via free agency), Cameron Boozer (via draft)
- Notable departures: Ja Morant (via trade), Santi Aldama (via trade)
General manager Zach Kleiman predicted a speedy rebuild after the trade deadline, and he used the offseason to execute that vision with a busy summer highlighted by the selection of Boozer with the No. 3 pick. The addition of Boozer enhances the young core led by Cedric Coward and big man Zach Edey, who played just 11 games last season before eventually undergoing season-ending left ankle surgery.
The club also finally jettisoned Morant while landing a potential starter in Grant. The Morant trade marked the final piece in the teardown of what was once one of the league’s rising young cores. But along the way, Kleiman acquired young talent and assets while cleaning up the team’s cap sheet. – Wright
27. New Orleans Pelicans
- Previous ranking: 24
- Notable additions: None
- Notable departures: Kevon Looney (via free agency)
The Pelicans needed a summer shake-up as badly as any team in the league, so it’s baffling they have punted to this point. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, lottery picks in 2025, enter their second seasons fighting with veterans for minutes, and new coach Jamahl Mosley has his hands full making sense of a roster filled with mismatched pieces. Looney’s departure after one injury-plagued season isn’t a big hit, but the real cost of a stagnant offseason is lost time.
New Orleans, which staggered to 26 wins last season, needed to spend this summer getting to work on its next chapter. Will Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson ever be traded? – Youngmisuk
28. Brooklyn Nets
- Previous ranking: 29
- Notable additions: Julius Randle (via trade), Mikel Brown Jr. (via draft), Moritz Wagner (via free agency), Keon Ellis (via free agency)
- Notable departures: Nic Claxton (via trade), Ziaire Williams (via free agency)
The new lottery rules prompted the Nets to accelerate their rebuild and trade for Randle, a former Knick who returns to New York after two years in Minneapolis. Brown (the No. 6 pick) was one of the most promising point guards in this year’s draft class, exploding onto the scene in his single season at Louisville following his performance on the U19 national team in 2025. He joins a team that has a plethora of young point guards.
There’s also an infusion of veteran talent, including Ellis, who the Nets hope will help lead this young group after being the odd man out in Cleveland during the playoffs. – Goodwill
29. Milwaukee Bucks
- Previous ranking: 27
- Notable additions: Tyler Herro (via trade), Kel’el Ware (via trade), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (via trade), Kasparas Jakucionis (via trade), Brayden Burries (via draft), Nate Ament (via draft)
- Notable departures: Giannis Antetokounmpo (via trade), Bobby Portis (via trade)
It’s a new era for the Bucks after trading Antetokounmpo, ending a 13-year run of trying to compete with him at the forefront. Milwaukee has a deep rotation after gaining four players from Miami in the return to add to the mix of Myles Turner, Ryan Rollins, AJ Green and Kevin Porter Jr. – another reason the Gary Trent Jr. signing baffled many around the league – plus a pair of rookie lottery picks they hope will benefit from playing alongside so many veterans.
The Bucks are rebuilding, but they don’t own their own draft pick next season and will try to be competitive. – Collier
30. Sacramento Kings
- Previous ranking: 30
- Notable additions: Darius Acuff Jr. (via draft), Alex Karaban (via draft), Emanuel Sharp (via draft)
- Notable departures: DeMar DeRozan (via waive), Russell Westbrook (via free agency), Devin Carter (via trade)
The Kings’ front office appears to be all-in on a not-so-subtle youth movement, letting their two leaders in total points from a season ago (DeRozan and Westbrook) depart while backfilling the roster with three rookies expected to step in to immediate roles. Acuff, the No. 7 pick and likely starting point guard, is the high-usage headliner. He just fired up 100 shots in five summer league games.
Around him, Acuff still 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 prove to be a capable scorer and facilitator in his age-20 season. – Slater
By NBA insiders, via ESPN