Jun 13, 2026, 11:00 PM ET

The New York Knicks captured the 2025-26 NBA crown after besting the San Antonio Spurs in five contests to secure the franchise's initial championship in 53 years.

Following the hoisting of the Larry O'Brien Trophy the season concludes after a season packed with storylines. The Spurs ousted their emerging foe the prior champion Oklahoma City Thunder before meeting the Knicks in the title series Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned his second consecutive MVP honor and Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo opted it could be wise to explore options elsewhere during the offseason.

Attention now turns toward the 2026-27 campaign and the possibilities ahead. Our NBA Insiders forecasted the placement of every NBA franchise entering the upcoming year and examine if their outlooks appear promising limited or simply unremarkable.

Note: Club placements reflect where our panel members (ESPN's Tim Bontemps Jamal Collier Michael C. Wright Tim MacMahon Dave McMenamin Ohm Youngmisuk Vincent Goodwill Anthony Slater Ben Golliver and Zach Kram) believe teams fit following the 2026-27 NBA season.

Jump to a team:
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 | UTAH | WAS

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2025-26 record: 64-18
Previous ranking: 1
Result: Ousted in the Western Conference finals
2026 draft picks: No. 12 (via LAC) No. 17 (via PHI) No. 37 (via DAL)

This group faces even higher costs in the coming year.

Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren enter extensions that elevate the club's total salary cap figure from $186.7 million just under the luxury tax into the $250 million zone well into the second apron.

Minor adjustments exist to trim expenses yet Thunder general manager Sam Presti has anticipated and prepared this consistent contender for this phase of luxury tax realities.

Anticipate retention of most of the core that secured 64 victories and pushed the Spurs to the limit in the conference finals even without Williams their second-best player for much of the year and that San Antonio matchup. - Anthony Slater

2. San Antonio Spurs

2025-26 record: 62-20
Previous ranking: 2
Result: Fell in the NBA Finals
2026 draft picks: No. 20 (via ATL) No. 35 (via UTAH) No. 42 (via POR) No. 44 (via MIA)

The squad expected to vie for a play-in spot in 2025-26 accelerated its rise to title contention and figures to improve further after gaining key lessons from a challenging Finals appearance.

The youthful foundation featuring Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper will keep developing alongside veterans De'Aaron Fox Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell. Wembanyama can now discuss a five-year $251 million rookie extension the biggest in club history.

San Antonio will also pursue frontcourt depth via the draft and free agency. Rookie Carter Bryant shone in his debut year and stands ready for expanded duties next season. - Michael C. Wright

3. New York Knicks

2025-26 record: 53-29
Previous ranking: 6
Result: NBA Finals champions
2026 draft picks: No. 24 No. 31 (via WAS) No. 55

A costly roster will grow pricier and the Knicks face choices regarding bench free agents.

Mitchell Robinson will attract attention after demonstrating he could appear in a solid number of contests (60). He may command beyond the $12 million earned this season along with Miles McBride whose projection could prove trickier. Post core surgery he appeared in just 41 games yet connected at a career-best rate from beyond the arc.

The Knicks already sat near the harsh luxury tax line merely $200000 short limiting their options for roster changes beyond adding Jose Alvarado at the deadline. Will the Knicks extend OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns? How will they handle minimal cap room at the start? - Vincent Goodwill

4. Boston Celtics

2025-26 record: 56-26
Previous ranking: 4
Result: Ousted in first round
2026 draft picks: No. 27 No. 40 (via MIL)

After performing notable salary maneuvers to exit the luxury tax last season Boston approaches the summer aiming to bolster its group.

During his postseason media session president of basketball operations Brad Stevens pointed to Boston's weaker showings versus elite NBA clubs as evidence the Celtics require upgrades.

They must first address starting center Neemias Queta who holds a team option for next year and proved vital after a notable improvement this past season. - Tim Bontemps

5. Detroit Pistons

2025-26 record: 60-22
Previous ranking: 3
Result: Ousted in second round
2026 draft picks: No. 21 (via MIN)

Expecting another 60-win season from the Pistons next year appears unlikely absent a major move this summer on the trade front.

The East continues to strengthen so dominating weaker conference sides will grow tougher and securing Cade Cunningham a capable scoring partner ranks as their top goal.

Yet next year's emphasis likely centers on playoff readiness after enduring two seven-game series.

Securing restricted free agent center Jalen Duren and extending Defensive Player of the Year candidate Ausar Thompson will dominate their efforts though reports suggest the Pistons eye established veterans to elevate their standing. - Goodwill

6. Denver Nuggets

2025-26 record: 54-28
Previous ranking: 5
Result: Ousted first round
2026 draft picks: No. 26 No. 49 (via ATL)

Following a first-round exit the sole guarantee for the Nuggets roster remains three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

Denver occupies a tough spot needing roster improvements to challenge San Antonio and Oklahoma City yet possesses few avenues after dealing multiple future first-round selections including a pair owed to the Thunder.

Should Denver retain restricted free agent Peyton Watson the outlook suggests either Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun could be moved to ease their luxury tax load. - Tim MacMahon

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

2025-26 record: 52-30
Previous ranking: 8
Result: Ousted in the Eastern Conference finals
2026 draft picks: No. 29 (via SAS)

Advancing to the Eastern Conference finals marked clear progress for Cleveland as they exceeded their deepest run since 2018 despite significant roster shifts at the trade deadline.

Still the manner of the Cavs' conclusion a decisive sweep by the Knicks has prompted questions regarding how near this group stands to genuine contention.

Cavs president Koby Altman noted at his postseason press conference that a full roster rebuild was unnecessary yet the Cavs remain a team to monitor this offseason as they pursue a player perhaps another star to advance the crucial next step. - Jamal Collier

8. Minnesota Timberwolves

2025-26 record: 49-33
Previous ranking: 11
Result: Ousted in second round
2026 draft picks: No. 28 (via DET) No. 59 (via SAS)

Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly stated clearly after Minnesota's second-round exit that the club must improve.

"We must face facts about our situation" he remarked "which holds far more positives than negatives yet we recognize we fall short at present."

Given the task of pursuing both the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs anticipate Connelly again pursuing upgrades aggressively this summer. - Bontemps

9. Los Angeles Lakers

2025-26 record: 53-29
Previous ranking: 10
Result: Ousted second round
2026 draft picks: No. 25

The Lakers have secured just one playoff victory alongside Luka Doncic since acquiring him a season and a half ago.

With some fortune and ongoing focus on conditioning the expectation is that Doncic will feature when it matters most after sitting out the entire 2026 postseason due to a hamstring issue.

His presence when healthy alone provides L.A. an opportunity for greater achievement next season though it remains unclear how strong the Lakers can become until LeBron James and Austin Reaves contracts are resolved and how the supporting cast can be shaped around Doncic's elite skills. - Dave McMenamin

10. Houston Rockets

2025-26 record: 52-30
Previous ranking: 8
Result: Ousted first round
2026 draft picks: No. 39 (via CHI) No. 53

Young guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard acquired important minutes last season after stepping into bigger parts and veteran point guard Fred VanVleet returns from his torn ACL to facilitate a Rockets side that faced challenges in closing contests.

Add the likelihood that center Steven Adams will be fit to boost Houston's rebounding and especially its second-chance points and the Rockets' path to true contention remains wide open.

One could argue it may expand further now with future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant fully integrated with his new teammates. - Wright

11. Indiana Pacers

2025-26 record: 19-63
Previous ranking: 28
Result: Missed postseason
2026 draft picks: None

Indiana's rebuilding pause has ended and the Pacers stand ready to surge back among the Eastern Conference elite.

With (ideally) complete seasons from Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac plus Andrew Nembhard Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam back on the perimeter Indiana should feature one of the league's strongest starting units next year.

In 2026-27 Indiana stands more likely to claim the East than repeat a 60-plus loss campaign. - Zach Kram

12. Philadelphia 76ers

2025-26 record: 45-37
Previous ranking: 14
Result: Ousted second round
2026 draft picks: No. 22 (via HOU)

New president of basketball operations Mike Gansey faces a busy task in Philadelphia where the 76ers emerge from a second-round loss to the Knicks.

With three max deals in place the 76ers possess limited maneuverability and will almost certainly exceed the luxury tax should they merely keep Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes both unrestricted free agents this summer. - Bontemps

13. Atlanta Hawks

2025-26 record: 46-36
Previous ranking: 9
Result: Ousted first round
2026 draft picks: No. 8 (via NO) No. 23 (via CLE) No. 57 (via BOS)

Atlanta has secured its front office and coaching staff with extensions for president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh and head coach Quin Snyder.

The Hawks now aim to build on a group that showed potential after the Trae Young deal winning 18 of 20 during a strong late-season stretch before grabbing a 2-1 edge over the Knicks in the opening round.

Jalen Johnson appears poised for stardom and Saleh holds assets should he seek to add another contributor this offseason or keep developing a youthful roster by selecting the eighth and 23rd overall picks.

The Hawks must decide on unrestricted free agent CJ McCollum who delivered key shots for that first-round advantage over the Knicks and Jonathan Kuminga whose deal carries a $24.3 million team option. - Ohm Youngmisuk

14. Toronto Raptors

2025-26 record: 46-36
Previous ranking: 13
Result: Ousted first round
2026 draft picks: No. 19 No. 50

Among the 15 Raptors who logged at least 100 minutes this season Jakob Poeltl ranked as the oldest at just 30.

This offers an encouraging outlook for the Raptors' prospects next season as they aim to continue rising in the Eastern Conference standings.

Specifically the combination of Scottie Barnes and ascending sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles presents exciting potential. Toronto posted a 104.5 defensive rating with that pair on the floor this season surpassing Oklahoma City's top league mark. - Kram

15. Orlando Magic

2025-26 record: 45-37
Previous ranking: 17
Result: Ousted first round
2026 draft picks: