As the calendar is about to flip to August, we're entering the driest part of the NBA's year-round calendar. The offseason homework is mostly done. Now, we'll just scour through the content desert for a couple of months before the 2026-27 season starts.
As usual, some big names switched NBA teams. The biggest being arguably LeBron James, as he concluded his free agency tour by going to the Philadelphia 76ers. Other big moves include Giannis Antetokounmpo finally going to the Miami Heat; Jaylen Brown heading to the rival Sixers; and potentially Kawhi Leonard going back to the Toronto Raptors.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder spent the summer losing financial weight. They made three cost-cutting moves to get below the second apron. Even with
that, they remain the top NBA title favorite with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Alongside the San Antonio Spurs.
Now that the dust is mostly settled, Thunder Wire conducted an offseason NBA Power Rankings. Here's how things stand right now:
30. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets remain in rebuild mode. They added Mikel Brown Jr. as their top draft pick. He'll be exciting to watch as Brooklyn starts from the ground up. Also, Egor Demin killed it in the Summer League. It seems like his outside jumper is a real weapon. In terms of other moves, they added Julius Randle in a salary dump. Maybe they can eventually flip him for more assets down the road. For now, though, expect them to remain in the basement.
29. New Orleans Pelicans
How do you respond from being one of the worst teams in the previous season? By doing absolutely nothing. Sans handing out DeAndre Jordan another contract. The Pelicans' lack of movement has puzzled everybody in the NBA. Surely they'd rip the Band-Aid off and start fresh. New Orleans has plenty of interesting pieces, such as Trey Murphy III. Nope. He remains there. As well as the rest of the roster. Don't really understand why, but looks like they're rolling things back.
28. Sacramento Kings
The Kings took a page out of the same playbook. They were one of the worst teams in the league last year. But at least they're saying goodbye to some guys. DeMar DeRozan won't return. Same with Russell Westbrook. And at least Sacramento added Darius Acuff Jr. with its top draft pick. He showed in the Summer League he's not scared to put up shot attempts. Mostly the same roster remains intact. So expect some weird dynamics. Let's see if their front office is smart enough to move on from some of their cornerstones as they likely enter a rebuild.
27. Milwaukee Bucks
Well, it finally happened. Antetokounmpo is no longer on the Bucks. Arguably the biggest move of the offseason happened early. In return, Milwaukee got back most of Miami's core. Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware are the most exciting pieces they added from their blockbuster deal. And the draft haul isn't half-bad. Of course, when you move on from a two-time MVP, you're going to take a step back. They're officially in a rebuild, so tons of losses are on the way. At least Brayden Burries and Nate Ament are some intriguing prospects to keep an eye on.
26. Memphis Grizzlies
It took a little longer than anticipated, but the Grizzlies have hit the reset button. They finally moved on from Ja Morant in a trade with the Trail Blazers. The best way to describe it is a glorified salary dump. Such a sad way to see Memphis' once-exciting era end. Now, they've flipped the page. Cameron Boozer is expected to be the first big piece of their next contender. He was awesome in Summer League. The 19-year-old plays like the modern-day version of his dad. That's exciting to see. Expect Memphis to remain in the bottom of the standings, but it sneakily has some real talent on the squad already.
25. Chicago Bulls
Taking over the Summer League, Caleb Wilson balled out. He was always viewed as the fourth-best prospect in the predraft process. But showed why that wasn't a slight at him. He was superb and showed off his scoring prowess. For the first time in forever, Chicago has a young player to get excited about. Let's see how things shake out, but he could be the next face of their franchise. It also added Norman Powell in free agency. He's a steady veteran presence. The Bulls will finally attract eyeballs for the first time in years after being stuck in play-in purgatory.
24. Washington Wizards
I'm buying all of the Wizards stock. I really think they could surprise a lot of folks in the NBA. Just forget about how bad they were last season. Might as well flush that tape in the toilet. We're about to see a completely different team out there. For starters, Trae Young should be a mainstay. Especially after he signed a hefty contract extension recently. Same with Anthony Davis as his future is up in the air. But the biggest addition is No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa. He's been a household name for years now. And he lived up to the hype at BYU. He won't be scared to put up scoring numbers and is extremely confident. As he should be. Washington has its first chance in years to add a real franchise centerpiece.
23. Utah Jazz
Of all the tanking teams in recent years, the Jazz might be the most affected by the new lottery odds. At this point, there's zero incentive to bottom out. In fact, it's the opposite. Still beneficial to be bad, but not in the bottom three. After years of full-blown tanking, the Jazz have every reason to play things out. They added Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick. Even with a rocky year at Kansas, his scoring talent is one-for-one. Now, Utah hopes he could be its next franchise face. Alongside him, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. beef up one of the more talented frontcourts. I really like Utah's roster on paper. It has the heavy hitters and offense to be a postseason squad.
22. Golden State Warriors
Well, the Warriors are in the same spot as before. Looks like they're content with riding things out with Stephen Curry in the twilight stage of his career. They brought back Draymond Green on a one-year deal. It was another swing and miss for Golden State as it went big-fish hunting with James. They really don't have any other option or assets to shake up their play-in roster. Expect them to have a similar season this upcoming year. Even if Jimmy Butler returns from a torn ACL midway through the year. Just an old roster overall.
21. Indiana Pacers
After a gap year, the Pacers hope to be a competitive team once again. Tyrese Haliburton will return after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon. Indiana is banking on him to play like an All-NBA-caliber guy from the jump. Considering the risky Ivica Zubac trade backfired on them, all Indiana can do at this point is put all its hopes on Haliburton. Maybe it can spark some magic like before.
20. Portland Trail Blazers
Just bad vibes all around for the Trail Blazers. You kinda feel bad for them. Portland's new ownership group is putting a scare in its fanbase with possible relocation. Don't think I can fully write out what's going on there, but it's something that has clouded over them all summer. And even the roster moves have been questionable. They added Morant in a risky trade. We'll see if he can bounce back with a change of scenery. They also made the head-scratching move of signing new head coach Micah Nori to just a one-year guaranteed deal. Huh? Never seen that happen before in the NBA. Feels like they're setting him up for failure before he even has a chance to coach a game. Just a weird summer for the Trail Blazers that has been on the cusp of apocalyptic for reasons beyond the team.
19. LA Clippers
Let's just pretend that the NBA gives the green light to the Kawhi Leonard trade. At least some version of it. Sure, tweaks might be forced. But the meat and potatoes of the blockbuster should be the same. In that case, the Clippers have officially hit the reset button. Brandon Ingram should help them stay competitive, but not to the point that LA is in the postseason picture. And frankly, winning doesn't feel like that's a priority. This upcoming season will be about Keaton Wagler. He's their first top draft pick since Gilgeous-Alexander. Low expectations are in LA for the first time in a while. Still got plenty of interesting names, though.
18. Phoenix Suns
After a competitive year, the Suns are doubling down on it. They added Miles Bridges from the Hornets. He's another scorer who should complement Devin Booker. Phoenix seems to believe in this group. At least in terms of delivering a fun team. Dillon Brooks had a career year. Some teams are just content with being a postseason team, feels like we're at that point with the Suns. I don't really see any sustainable growth chances on their roster. It's littered with role players.
17. Charlotte Hornets
Meanwhile, the Hornets took the opposite approach. After being one of the NBA's best teams following New Year's, Charlotte rode that momentum by dismantling its roster and selling a couple of players at peak value. We know about Bridges. But the biggest departure is LaMelo Ball. Injuries have limited him throughout his career, but he enjoyed being part of a winner for the first time. That was enough for the Hornets to pull the trigger on one of the early blockbuster deals by sending him to the Timberwolves. We'll see if the move pays off. But it's certainly one of the gutsier decisions made this summer. Especially from an NBA franchise that has been stuck as a loser for most of its existence.
16. Orlando Magic
After blowing a 3-1 series lead in their Round 1 matchup to the Pistons, the Magic are rolling it back with the same group. Sans Sean Sweeney taking over as head coach. This is about as uninspiring as it gets in the offseason. Cool to see Nikola Vucevic return, but that's mostly a nostalgia move for ticket sales. Feels like Orlando is stuck with this misfitting and expensive roster. Something has got to give eventually. Maybe a new voice in the locker room helps them on the margins, but Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner remain an awkward fit together.
15. Dallas Mavericks
Finally moving on from Luka Doncic, I really like what the Mavericks did this offseason. They got a new GM and head coach duo. Dallas can finally wipe its hands clean of the disastrous NBA superstar trade that happened less than two years ago. Now, it's about building around Cooper Flagg. It's a good start to that. Kyrie Irving will be back after he missed all of last season with a torn ACL. And then they grabbed Morez Johnson Jr. in the lottery. The rebuilding team is also making the type of shrewd moves you expect from a savvy front office. Let's see if they can rehabilitate the 2024 No. 1 pick. If not, it was worth a try.
14. Atlanta Hawks
After being one of the hottest second-half teams, the Hawks are doubling down. They moved on from the Young era without any real fireworks. He was an in-season salary dump. Now, Atlanta is all about Jalen Johnson. To help him, it surrounded the roster with complementary role players. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was awesome. He turned into a 20-point scorer and won Most Improved Player. To add to that, they added a handful of quality role players. Such as Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins. They also got Kingston Flemings in the NBA draft. No real NBA superstar per se, but a really solid squad that's deep.
13. Houston Rockets
The Rockets are banking on health. A variable that usually isn't friendly to an old squad. They chalked up last year's Round 1 exit to injuries. Kevin Durant missed most of the playoff series. And Fred VanVleet was out all year. Houston likes its group. For better or worse. The only notable offseason addition was Marcus Smart. I guess we'll see how things shake out with a second try. But I'm not too sure things will be any different. They'll be a competitive team, but they simply don't have the All-NBA talent to push themselves into the serious contender conversation.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
Well, the Cavaliers have barely made any moves. It looks like they put all of their eggs in one basket. It was James or bust in terms of splashy moves. Now that they missed out, expect them to sign James Harden. Cleveland is basically rolling it back with the same group that went to the Eastern Conference Finals. Donovan Mitchell was signed to a hefty contract extension. I think they're basically in the same spot as before. Sure, they could make a run. But they're more of a wildcard team out East at this point.
11. Los Angeles Lakers
Welcome to the Doncic era. The Lakers finally pivoted to building around the perennial MVP contender. They moved on from James. And with money to spend, Los Angeles went on a splurge. It added Walker Kessler in a polarizing move that saw it mortgage its future. It also added other known names such as Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes. All offense, barely any defense as they move onto a new era. We'll see how it plays out. But this summer has been forecasted as the one they go through major roster changes to accommodate the NBA superstar.
10. Miami Heat
One of the biggest offseason winners. The Heat finally landed a big fish. They acquired Antetokounmpo in one of the summer's headlining moves. All it took was basically their entire depth chart. But at least they now have a two-time MVP winner on their roster. Alongside Bam Adebayo, they should form one of the best defensive frontcourts in the NBA. Now, Miami has to spend the rest of this window filling out the complementary pieces. It tried to do that this summer, but fell short. Going to be interesting to see how this group looks together. There's a lot of skepticism about their immediate chances to contend. But I like what the Heat have done this offseason. You always need an NBA superstar to be taken seriously. Now, they have one.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
Another team that completely changed their dynamics this summer. The Timberwolves acquired Ball in a blockbuster deal. His pairing with Anthony Edwards will be one of the more fun storylines to keep an eye on next season. Minnesota is going all out. It finally gave its franchise player another All-Star ball-handler. We'll see if it works out. There's an equal amount of things to like and dislike with Ball. But you've got to respect the massive swing they're taking with this move. Can't just sit idly by and be content with being a good team.
8. Denver Nuggets
It's difficult to truly grade out the Nuggets' offseason. We're still waiting on one big piece to play out. Peyton Watson remains a restricted free agent. And both sides look like they're far apart from a contract extension. To the point that other suitors have stepped up. You can't lose him if you're Denver. That's why it has room to make a big-time trade that opens up salary to keep the breakout player. Either way, this has been a pretty cynical summer for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic has yet to sign a contract extension. And ownership is a little frugal with keeping a contender around the three-time MVP winner. Feels like a bubble is about to burst at any moment now.
7. Detroit Pistons
By any measurement, the Pistons were arguably the biggest success story last year. They surprised the rest of the NBA by being the first seed. Cade Cunningham broke out as an All-NBA guy. Even with their early playoff exit, they had momentum heading into the summer. How did they leverage it? By not doing much. They're in an old-school contract negotiation with Jalen Duren. That could take a while to figure out. Doesn't help that he disappointed in the postseason. Besides that, not a whole lot else. Some of the complementary pieces change. But Detroit is basically stuck with the same problems it had before. Not really an inspiring offseason that makes you think they're ready to take that next step.
6. Toronto Raptors
A summer of reunions for the Raptors. Barring an NBA investigation. They made their big splash by welcoming back Leonard. Of course, the trade is yet to be finalized. Both sides are putting it on hold as they await the results of the Aspiration scandal. Let's just assume the All-NBA forward eventually joins Toronto. He resurrected his career with arguably his best campaign last year. He averaged career highs across the board. Amazing for a 35-year-old who has been plagued by injuries. The Raptors are banking on him leading them into the contention conversation. They've jumped up the totem pole among East contenders for a lot of folks.
5. Boston Celtics
Probably the biggest loser of the offseason, if we're being frank. Whether it was for money savings or hurt egos, the Celtics' decision to move on from Brown was a controversial one. The return didn't help, either. Paul George and draft capital. Basically a salary dump for someone who campaigned for himself to be part of the MVP discussion last year. To an archrival as well. Wow. Boston's morale is at an all-time low. It has slowly chipped away from the group that won an NBA championship in 2024. Now, everything will lie on Jayson Tatum's shoulders as they enter a new era without his co-star. Think they should be relatively fine in the short-term, but not doubt the polarizing move will knock them down a couple of tiers among the league's best teams.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
The Summer of the Sixers. No other team has gone through bigger seismic changes than them. When it looked like they were stuck with an old and expensive roster, their new front office found space to pivot. They shocked the NBA world when they acquired Brown from the rival Celtics. All it took was George and some draft picks. A couple of weeks later, they once again shocked the NBA world when they landed James in an upset move. Wow. That's quite the starting lineup. Two former MVP winners, another MVP candidate, a 30-point scorer and a recent Rookie of the Year candidate. Philadelphia is now must-watch TV. But just because it has several famous names on its roster doesn't guarantee basketball success. It'll be interesting to see how long they take to jell together. If at all. Expect lots of fireworks this upcoming year. Whether they're good or bad remains to be seen.
3. New York Knicks
The reigning NBA champions. The Knicks went from a meh regular-season team to one of the most dominating NBA playoff runs ever. They went a historic 16-3 in the postseason with most of their wins by double-digit points. Still trying to wrap my head around what New York did. It's truly unprecedented as it bucked the 40-wins-before-20-losses trend. Now, let's see how they handle being on the NBA throne. They're running it back with mostly the same group. Sans Mitchell Robinson. Even if you're cynical about the hot run they went on, they're the team to beat. You earn the benefit of the doubt when you hoist a Larry O'Brien trophy.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The top two teams remain the same. The Spurs went to the NBA Finals. Victor Wembanyama had a breakout year as an MVP candidate. Expect him to be the favorite to win the prestigious award. Even though they were embarrassed in the NBA Finals, that shouldn't scare you off of their long-term future. San Antonio will be smack-dab in the title conversation for the foreseeable future. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper should continue to get better. And I really like how they've filled out their depth chart this summer. As long as Wembanyama stays healthy, they should sleepwalk their way to 60-plus wins.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Even after their playoff exit, the Thunder should hold their head high. It'll be another year where they'll be a top-two title favorite. Gilgeous-Alexander remains the NBA's best player. He's a two-time MVP. All OKC needs is better health luck. Jalen Williams basically missed all of last season. Even with that, they were a win away from another NBA Finals trip. They had a busy summer with cost-cutting trades that saw them get rid of three longtime role players. But the core remains intact. As long as Gilgeous-Alexander is on the floor, they'll remain a 60-win machine. Even with new complementary pieces added.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: NBA Power Rankings: Where do Thunder, rest of NBA stand after offseason moves?
