NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
In this edition, we're taking an early look at how the teams stack up hot on the heels of the 2025 NBA Draft and free agency period.
Rankings are based on a combination of last season, injury concerns for key players, and offseason activities.
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ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The champs accomplished exactly what they needed this offseason. Inking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a super-max extension was the priority, but securing five-year rookie max deals for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams keeps the Thunder's young core intact through the rest of the decade.
2. Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant immediately catapults any team into contention, and the Rockets acquired the 15-time All-Star without gutting their young talent - bad news for the Western Conference. Prying perimeter defensive specialist Dorian Finney-Smith away from the Lakers is the cherry on top of a sublime summer in Houston.
3. Denver Nuggets
Cameron Johnson isn't the isolation scorer that Michael Porter Jr. is, but he should be a nice fit thanks to his better distribution and more consistent defensive effort. Jonas Valanciunas is the best backup Nikola Jokic's had in years, finally addressing a persistent Nuggets weak point.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers return much of the same core that earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, with Ty Jerome and Isaac Okoro the only departures. Cleveland traded Okoro for Lonzo Ball, who's expected to supplant Jerome in Kenny Atkinson's deep backcourt. Darius Garland is on track to return in time for training camp following toe surgery.
5. New York Knicks
The Knicks appear to have learned from Tom Thibodeau's transgressions and blessed his successor, Mike Brown, with a bolstered bench in the form of Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are still defensive liabilities, but the sky's the limit in a feeble East.
6. Los Angeles Clippers
Miami-bound Norman Powell leaves a scoring void in L.A., but incorporating newcomers John Collins and Brook Lopez should help offset some of the Clippers' lost offense while improving their defense. The window for this aging squad shrinks with each missed opportunity.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
The T-Wolves are hoping that retaining Julius Randle and Naz Reid will be enough to keep pace out West, especially after losing key role player Nickeil Alexander-Walker. First-round pick Joan Beringer has impressed in Summer League, but he's unlikely to make significant contributions immediately.
8. Orlando Magic
Orlando's in prime position for a huge jump in a wide-open conference. The Magic effectively turned Cory Joseph and Gary Harris into Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones, boosting their backcourt rotation and addressing their 3-point shooting after finishing last in the league from deep in 2024-25.
9. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are a team to watch in the injury-depleted East. The additions of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, paired with Jalen Johnson's planned return from a season-ending injury and Dyson Daniels' emergence as an elite defensive ace, give Atlanta significant upside heading into the campaign.
10. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have been quiet as they await a decision from Jonathan Kuminga. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Golden State was one of the NBA's hottest teams after adding Jimmy Butler midseason. Stephen Curry's untimely hamstring injury seemed to be the only thing that could slow the club down.
11. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers' 2025-26 outlook hinges on whether LeBron James has confidence in their offseason moves. Despite his faults, Deandre Ayton is a major upgrade at center. However, the defensive drop-off caused by Dorian Finney-Smith's exit may be too steep for even James and Luka Doncic.
12. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies offset the loss of Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard by adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cam Jerome. Staying healthy will be key for the Grizzlies in the West, so Jaren Jackson Jr.'s toe injury, suffered a day after signing a five-year, $240-million extension, isn't a great omen.
13. Detroit Pistons
Fresh off their first playoff appearance since the 2018-19 season, the expectation is that a young core, boosted by the return of Jaden Ivey, plus the additions of Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson, can compensate for the departures of a veteran backcourt duo and the looming gambling investigation involving free agent Malik Beasley.
14. Philadelphia 76ers
The scary truth for 76ers fans is that Joel Embiid's troublesome left knee will dictate their fate next season. If the 31-year-old is healthy enough, Philly will be a nightmare to handle with an electric backcourt contingent that perfectly complements Embiid's influence down low.
15. Miami Heat
The Heat resisted the urge to blow it up after Jimmy Butler's messy divorce, instead bolstering the backcourt with the Norman Powell acquisition and the Kasparas Jakucionis pick. Miami also bid adieu to veterans Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson, which has little effect on the on-court product.
16. Boston Celtics
Even with Jayson Tatum out long term, the Celtics understandably dealt Jrue Holiday due to the team's tax concerns and Derrick White's two-way play. However, trading Kristaps Porzingis for little and losing Luke Kornet has left Boston's frontcourt worryingly bare, even if the club does bring back Al Horford.
17. Milwaukee Bucks
Refusing to waste a year of Giannis Antetokounmpo's peak, Milwaukee sacrificed financial flexibility by waiving Damian Lillard and stretching his contract to sign Myles Turner. Antetokounmpo reportedly wasn't happy about Lillard's release, and the Bucks' backcourt remains questionable.
18. Dallas Mavericks
The 2025-26 Mavericks are an enigma. In a vacuum, drafting Cooper Flagg and signing D'Angelo Russell as a low-cost Kyrie Irving fill-in is smart business. But how will Flagg develop in a win-now environment? What kind of player will Dallas get when Irving eventually returns from his ACL tear?
19. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs were always going to select Dylan Harper, but optimizing the No. 2 pick's role alongside De'Aaron Fox and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle will require tinkering. Additionally, Victor Wembanyama now has plenty of veteran frontcourt support thanks to savvy pickups in Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk.
20. Indiana Pacers
If Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear in Game 7 wasn't devastating enough, Pacers fans then had to stomach Myles Turner, their longest-tenured player, bolting for the rival Bucks. Indiana will still feature a competitive squad led by Pascal Siakam, but another deep playoff run seems highly unlikely.
21. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix remains in purgatory following Kevin Durant's exit. Jalen Green has a chance to flourish alongside the NBA's new highest-paid player, Devin Booker, and general manager Brian Gregory could finalize a Bradley Beal buyout. Still, a play-in spot is the ceiling for this iteration of the Suns.
22. Toronto Raptors
Brandon Ingram has recovered from an ankle sprain, and Collin Murray-Boyles looks like another talented long-term option alongside Scottie Barnes. However, a logjam is forming with RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Jamison Battle, suggesting more moves are coming.
23. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans drew criticism for sacrificing an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to trade up for center Derik Queen. But drafting Jeremiah Fears at No. 7 and adding veteran shooters in Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey could be underrated pickups for a young squad ravaged by injuries last season.
24. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have become a symbol of mediocrity over the last decade. This undesirable trend shows no signs of change amid another offseason of relative inaction. Noa Essengue could blossom into a star, though that hardly helps Billy Donovan and Co. in the interim.
25. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers ridded themselves of Deandre Ayton's contract while furnishing minutes for second-year center Donovan Clingan in the process. Portland also flipped Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday and drafted Hansen Yang, who could get playing time behind Clingan when Robert Williams inevitably gets hurt.
26. Sacramento Kings
What better way to toast the establishment of a new front-office regime following the dismissal of general manager Monte McNair than with offseason moves for Dennis Schroder and Dario Saric? The rudderless Kings continue sailing upstream in a stacked West.
27. Charlotte Hornets
There's nowhere to go but up for an organization that acquired Collin Sexton, Pat Connaughton, Mason Plumlee, Tre Mann, and Spencer Dinwiddie while also scooping up Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the draft. Not the most glamorous additions, but beggars can't be choosers.
28. Utah Jazz
The Jazz remain focused on a youth-oriented rebuild, as evidenced by the departures of Jordan Clarkson and John Collins. Trading Collin Sexton for Jusuf Nurkic makes less sense, though the allure of 2026 draftees AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer could motivate Utah's ambitions in this case.
29. Washington Wizards
The Wizards tied a bow on the mercurial Jordan Poole era and welcomed another heat-check savant in Cam Whitmore. A young and at times entertaining team got younger and more engaging by adding Whitmore and No. 6 pick Tre Jones.
30. Brooklyn Nets
It's been a busy offseason for the Nets, who used five first-round picks to select three European playmaking guards with shooting concerns. Brooklyn also said goodbye to starters D'Angelo Russell and Cam Johnson, acquiring Michael Porter Jr. in exchange for Johnson.
