There’s nonetheless about three months left within the NBA offseason earlier than groups report back to coaching camp for the beginning of the 2025-26 season, however the championship image is already beginning to take form.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder will enter the season because the favorites to repeat, and the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets appear like their two greatest challengers within the West. The East feels fully broad open with Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum each out for the season whereas recovering from Achilles tears. There are a variety of groups who consider they will push the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks because the favorites within the convention coming into the season.
There are in all probability nonetheless a couple of extra notable trades coming this summer season, however right here’s a have a look at the groups who can already say they’ve improved since final season ended. This checklist may have included the Dallas Mavericks for including Cooper Flagg, however shedding Kyrie Irving for the season as he recovers from ACL surgical procedure limits how significantly better they are going to truly be subsequent season. The Knicks’ rotation acquired stronger with Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson becoming a member of the bench, however their head teaching swap from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown stays a query mark. The next groups can definitively say they acquired higher, and we ranked by how significantly better they really acquired.
7. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers gained 50 video games final season and took the Denver Nuggets to a Sport 7 within the first spherical of the playoffs. Los Angeles will in all probability have some age-related regression from stars Kawhi Leonard (34 years outdated) and James Harden (soon-to-be 36 years outdated), however the rotation acquired just a little stronger with one good signing to deal with an issue space. Brook Lopez agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal, and he can nonetheless be efficient at age-37 in a backup function to Ivica Zubac. Zubac emerged as top-of-the-line facilities within the league final season, and now he has an ideal veteran backup in Lopez who can hold the Clippers’ protection buzzing with rim safety whereas additionally including additional spacing as a stretch 5 offensively. The Clippers solely wanted to be just a little bit higher final season to advance within the playoffs, and they are going to be an element within the Western Convention once more as a staff that feels prefer it has one other transfer or two left to make.
6. Portland Path Blazers
The Trial Blazers began to look just a little feisty within the second half of final season, seeming to search out an id as an enormous, defense-first staff with Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, and Deni Avdija manning the entrance courtroom. Portland’s entrance workplace appears able to speed up their rebuild after buying and selling for Jrue Vacation over the offseason. Vacation began to look just a little washed final season in Boston, and taking up the three years, $103 million remaining on his contract is a daring transfer. Vacation can nonetheless assist a staff win at age-35, and he provides the Blazers a lockdown perimeter defender who may also help hold the offense going together with his connective passing, offensive rebounding, and pinch of scoring. Portland hasn’t finished a lot else apart from reduce Deandre Ayton and take Yang Hansen within the NBA draft. This can be a roster that basically wants Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe to take a significant leap, as a result of the shot creation and taking pictures appear like the 2 issues holding this staff again.
5. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are largely going to get higher as a result of Victor Wembanyama will presumably be wholesome after struggling a season-ending blood clot in his shoulder after final season’s All-Star break. Including two rookies taken within the lottery, together with No. 2 general choose Dylan Harper, and filling one other key gap in free company makes San Antonio’s outlook for subsequent season much more attractive. The Spurs signed Luke Kornet away from the Boston Celtics on a four-year deal, and he quietly grew to become one of many higher backup facilities within the league final yr. Kornet is an elite rim protector and extremely environment friendly low-volume scorer who ought to unlock a two-big look with Wemby. I’d count on Harper to be an affect rookie, and No. 14 general choose Carter Bryant may play a small function as a 3-and-D wing off the bench, too. Simply making the playoffs could be a pleasant step ahead for the Spurs.
4. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks saved each their current and their future in a single offseason. They acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Celtics for an inexpensive commerce bundle, signed one of the best free agent to alter groups by prying Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and added some much-needed taking pictures by inking Luke Kennard to a one-year deal. In a large open East, you may discuss your self into Atlanta as a severe contender to win the convention with Jalen Johnson coming again wholesome and Zaccharie Risacher hopefully enhancing in yr two. The Hawks’ greatest transfer of the offseason — stealing the New Orleans Pelicans’ unprotected first-round choose in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft — doesn’t even issue into this train, however might be an unimaginable commerce chip at mid-season. I’m nonetheless being just a little warning on Atlanta’s potential enchancment for this season simply because Porzingis’ availability is so unreliable, however there’s little doubt the Hawks get an A++ for this summer season, and must be arrange effectively to compete within the East this yr and past.
3. Houston Rockets
The Rockets’ Kevin Durant commerce was a no brainer. Jalen Inexperienced was already handicapping Houston on each ends of the ground together with his inefficient scoring and lackluster protection, and Dillion Brooks was strong, however the Rockets have sufficient younger depth at ahead to make up for his loss. The Rockets’ rotation acquired even stronger in free company by including Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. The inner enchancment Houston is anticipated to get from its younger core shouldn’t really matter for this checklist, nevertheless it’s additionally has the potential to take the Rockets to the following degree. Houston already completed with the No. 2 seed within the West final yr, so any enchancment must come within the playoffs after a first-round exit. The strikes the Rockets made this offseason makes them higher, and if Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, or Reed Sheppard takes a bounce, this might be a powerful championship contender.
2. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets took the eventual champion Thunder to seven video games within the second spherical of final yr’s playoffs, and even yet one more succesful rotation participant may have made all of the distinction. New GM Ben Tenzer had even larger concepts: he upgraded at small ahead and saved on payroll together with his daring Michael Porter Jr. (and an unprotected 2032 first-round choose) for Cam Johnson, then he crammed out the rotation in free company with Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas. Johnson will give Denver a knockdown shooter with a way more numerous offensive recreation than MPJ, and it’s scary to consider how his scoring effectivity can degree up subsequent to Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets have 5 excellent starters and a strong bench heading into subsequent yr. Jokic ought to nonetheless be one of the best participant on this planet, and he has a significantly better supporting forged round him. This might be a classy championship choose for subsequent season.
1. Orlando Magic
The Magic went .500 final season regardless of being one of many worst three-point taking pictures groups in league historical past relative to period whereas additionally watching their three greatest gamers miss substantial time with the identical muscle harm. Orlando relied on an elite protection simply to be a mean staff, and their activity this offseason was determining tips on how to enhance the offense with out sacrificing protection. The Desmond Bane deal achieved each, which is why he was value 4 first-round picks to Orlando. Bane is without doubt one of the greatest off-ball scoring guards within the recreation, and he’s additionally a superb perimeter defender. He’s not the standard level guard some have clamored for the Magic to signal, however he’ll type a wonderful backcourt subsequent to Jalen Suggs that can complement star ahead Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner effectively. Olando additionally added two gamers I like within the draft in Jase Richardson and Noah Penda, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see each get rotation minutes as rookies. The Magic in all probability nonetheless want yet one more shooter within the rotation, however this looks like a legit Japanese Convention contender this yr. That’s fairly wild for a staff that was the seventh seed in a disappointing convention final season.
