2026 NBA Power Rankings

Chris Ransom Last Updated: August 24, 2026.

1. Memphis Grizzlies 0-0
   
   
   Memphis traded their best player Ja Morant away. Unless Cameron Boozer wins Offensive Rookie Of The Year and carries the Memphis Grizzlies on his back this season, this will probably be the NBA's worst franchise in 2026.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Charlotte Hornets 0-0
   
   
   Charlotte may be good enough to avoid the bottom two despite trading away their best player Lonzo Ball. Kon Knueppel has to become the primary scorer and leader of this team after doing a brilliant job complimenting Ball as a rookie.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Milwaukee Bucks 0-0
   
   
   The Milwaukee Bucks traded Giannis. Not only are they back in a rebuild, the New Orleans Pelicans own their 2027 first round pick. Lots of people are saying the 2027 NBA Draft is the weakest it has been in years, but this first round is much better than advertised after watching film on numerous prospects.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. New Orleans Pelicans 0-0
   
   
   The New Orleans Pelicans need to either start Derik Queen at center or replace Herbert Jones with another center in the 2027 NBA Draft. As long as Herbert Jones is the starting center, this will not be a playoff team with the starting five to go on a deep run. Zion cannot stay healthy for a full season. Whenever he does stay healthy this is a playoff team though. Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, and Saddiq Bey are good complimentary players to Zion Williamson. Jeremiah Fears isa good third guard for depth too. New Orleans has multiple first round picks in 2027 and with a strong draft and the former Orlando Magic head coach who turned them around, I think the Pelicans could be back in the playoff conversation by 2028 if Zion stays healthy and they don't blow this team up.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Brooklyn Nets 0-0
   
   
   Brooklyn is finally gonna have Mikel Brown Jr. in their starting five at point guard with their 2026 first round pick complimenting last years point guard Egor Demin moving over to the 2 at shooting guard this year. Michael Porter Jr. is at smal forward and Julius Randle is at power forward. I got zero confidence in Day'Ron Sharpe at center. Brooklyn has their best guards and forwards since they had Kyrie and Durant, but not having a big at center is what is holding them back from taking that leap. Brooklyn might fail to make the playoffs in the next two years with the Houston Rockets owning their 2027 first round pick. At the same time, Brooklyn is a lot closer to exiting this rebuild than most realize.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Dallas Mavericks 0-0
   
   
   Kyrie Irving still isn't back from last years injury that kept him out all of last season at point guard. If Kyrie Irving cannot go Marcus Sasser, Cade Cunningham's backup point guard for the last three years might get one opportunity to show he can be a viable full-time starter at point guard. Max Christie was a pleasant surpise supplanting Klay Thompson as the starting shooting guard. Cooper Flagg won NBA Rookie Of The Year. Zaccharie Risacher, the first pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the draft before the Cooper Flagg draft is now the backup to Cooper Flagg. P.J. Washington enters a contract year at power forward with Morez Johnson Jr. this years 2026 first round pick set to take over for Washington in 2027. Dereck Lively II only averaged more than 10 points per game once in the last four years and that was during his rookie season when the Mavericks made the 2024 NBA Finals as Lively still went in the lottery of the 2023 NBA Draft after only averaging 9.7 PPG at Duke. Dereck Lively II is a top 15 defensive center, but he's also arguably a bottom five scorer on offense at center wit his PPG decreasing from just over 10 as a rookie to 7.4 to 4.7 this past season. To make matters worse, the Charlotte Hornets own the Dallas Mavericks 2027 first round pick while the Detroit Pistons own the Mavericks second round pick. Without Kyrie Irving, Dallas knows they have two holes in this starting five that they didn't flll while using the 2026 NBA Draft to obtain long-term stability at both forward spots. Dallas has already came out and said they are open to moving PJ Washington for a first round pick this year in the 2027 NBA Draft.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Boston Celtics 0-0
   
   
   Boston traded their NBA Finals MVP Jayson Tatum away. A shooting guard and center that scores consistently to round out this starting five is needed before we can have a playoff discussion involving the Boston Celtics.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Miami Heat 0-0
   
   
   Miami may have traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Boby Portis also went to Miami in that trade as a big for depth behind both Giannis and center Bam Adebayo. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Andrew Wiggins are good complimentary starters at shooting guard and small forward. Miami needs to upgrade at point guard before we can have a serious conversation about the Heat being a contender in the Eastern Conference. Miami added Klay Thompson as a backup shooting guard.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Los Angeles Lakers 0-0
   
   
   Without LeBron James the Lakers might fall into the bottom ten. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves become the leaders of this team at point guard and shooting guard. Quentin Grimes is the starting small forward. Walker Kessler is at center, but LeBron James left and they don't have a good starting power forward on the roster to replace him. The Lakers also do not have draft capital in 2027. Lakers will probably have a late first in 2028, Dallas owns their 2029 first round pick, and Utah has a pick swap option in 2030. The Lakers do not own their own first round pick until 2032. They are interested in P.J. Washington, but I don't see the Mavericks having much interest in any of their current draft picks when the Mavericks don't have a 2027 first round pick.
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Los Angeles Clippers 0-0
    
    
    Los Angeles has Darius Garland at point guard, Keaton Wagler at shooting guard, Brandon Ingram at small forward, Derrick Jones Jr. at power forward, and Brook Lopez at center. The Clippers have depth pieces like Bradley Beal as the backup shooting guard, Bennedict Mathurin as the backup small forward, Max Strus as a third backup small forward, and Rui Hachimura as the backup power forward. I don't think this team will play with the same intensity without Kawhi Leonard and Brook Lopez will probably retire after this season after only posting 8.5 points per game last year. There's about twenty NBA teams with good starting fives and the Clippers are probably the last team that lacks that right now.
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Phoenix Suns 0-0
    
    
    Phoenix has Devin Booker at point guard, Jalen Green at shooting guard, Dillon Brooks at small forward, Miles Bridges at power forward, and Mark Williams at center. This is the best starting five the Suns have made since they played in the 2021 NBA Finals. However their bench is awful with them having the worst bench of any of the Western Conference Teams with good starting fives meaning they get to the play in tournament and lose there as a 10 seed.
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Toronto Raptors 0-0
    
    
    The Toronto Raptors have Immanuel Quickly back from an injury at point guard, RJ Barrett at shooting guard, Kawhi Leonard at small forward, Scottie Barnes at power forward, and Jakob Poeltl at center. Rookie Allen Graves, might be Toronto's only decent bench player. Toronto has the starting five to get back to this years NBA Playoffs, but they lack the bench they had last year to push a first round opponent to seven games. They are the team I have losing as the 10 seed in the play in tournament.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Atlanta Hawks 0-0
    
    
    Atlanta has a good starting five with CJ McCollum at point guard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker at shooting guard, Dyson Daniels at small forward, Jalen Johnson at small forward, Jalen Johnson at power forward, and Onyeka Okongwu at center. Rookie point guard Kingston Flemmings who is not only a better fit at point guard than McCollum, but a terrific passer and defender is the only asset on the bench and may end up supplanting McCollum as Atlanta's starting point guard this season. CJ McCollum could be a trade deadline piece for a contender if Atlanta is below the 7-11 range of the Eastern Conference by the 2027 NBA Trade Deadline especially if Flemmings emerges early and develops ahead of schedule. Atlanta's bench is good enough to get them to the play in round in an 8 vs 9 game, but they would probably lose that contest.
    
    
    
    
    
    
14. Denver Nuggets 0-0
    
    
    Denver has a good starting five with Jamal Murray at point guard, Christian Braun at shooting guard, Cameron Johnson at small forward, Aaron Gordon at power forward, and Nikola Jokic at center. Marvin Bagley III, the backup power forward and backup center is the only good bench player the Denver Nuggets have heading into the season. I feel like things have slowly gone downhill for the Nuggets since firing head coach Mike Malone. Do not be surprised if Denver loses in the NBA Play In Tournament if the regression on offense and defense from last season during the 2026 NBA Playoffs continues into this season.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
15. Detroit Pistons 0-0
    
    
    The Detroit Pistons had the best record in the Eastern Conference in the regular season last year at 60-22. Detroit has a strong starting five with Cade Cunningham at point guard, Duncan Robinson at shooting guard after trading Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls to get Robinson, Ausar Thompson at small forward, John Collins at power forward, and Jalen Duren at center. Detroit's only good bech players are shooting guards Isaiah Joe and Kevi Huerter. Detroit still has enough talent to get a top eight seed, but I'm expecting a regression with upstart teams like Washington and Chicago have much stronger benches. I got Detroit getting the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference of the Play In Tourament. Detroit probably loses to the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
    
    
    
    
    
    
16. Sacramento Kings 0-0
    
    
    The Sacramento Kings have Darius Acuff Jr. at point guard with the 2026 first round pick being a day 1 starter at point guard, Zach LaVine at shooting guard, De'Andre Hunter at small forward, Keegan Murray at power forward, Domatas Sabonis at center. Sacramento has Malik Monk as a backup at both point guard and shooting guard as the defacto sixth man. Nique Clifford is the backup small forward and third string shooting guard as the number seven. Precious Achiuwa is the backup power forward and the eighth man on Sacramento. Maxime Raynaud is the backup center. Alex Karaban is the number ten on this twelve man roster afer being Sacramento's second 2026 first round pick behind Acuff Jr. If Sacramento and Denver are in a play in game for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, I actually like Sacramento if they are healthier due to their bench in a close game.
    
    
    
    
    
    
17. Orlando Magic 0-0
    
    
    The Orlando Magic have Jalen Suggs at point guard, Desmond Bane at shooting guard, Franz Wagner at small forward, Paolo Banchero at power forward, and Wendell Carter Jr. at center. Anthony Black is the sixth man as well as the backup point guard and shooting guard. Nikola Vucevic is the seventh man as well as the backup center. Orlando might get their revenge on Detroit in a 7 vs 8 play in game. I don't think Orlando has the depth or experience to beat a team like New York or Philadelphia with a first year head coach.
    
    
    
    
    
    
18. Houston Rockets 0-0
    
    
    The Houston Rockets have Fred VanVleet at point guard, Amen Thompson at shooting guard, Kevin Durant at small forward, Jabari Smith Jr. at power forward, and Alperen Sengun at center. Tari Eason is the sixth man as the backup small forward and power forward. Reed Sheppard is the backup shooting guard. Houston is my seven seed in the Western Conference.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
19. Cleveland Cavaliers 0-0
    
    
    The Cleveland Cavaliers have James Harden at point guard, Donovan Mitchell at shooting guard, Peyton Watson at small forward, Evan Mobley at power forward, and Jarett Allen at center. Sam Merrill is the backup shooting guard and Jaylon Tyson is the backup small forward. Cleveland does not have anymore backups outside of Merrill and Tyson that score consistently. I got Cleveland as my 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
    
    
    
    
    
    
20. Portland Trail Blazers 0-0
    
    
    The Portland Trail Blazers have Ja Morant at point guard, Damian Lillard at shooting guard, Toumani Camara at small forward, Deni Avdija at power forward, and Donovan Clingan at center. Scoot Henderson is the backup point guard. Jrue Holliday is the backup shooting guard, Shaedon Sharpe is the backup small forward. Portland has a decent enough bench to get the six seed in the 2027 NBA Playoffs, but I don't expect them do much if they make this years NBA Playoffs.
    
    
    
    
    
    
21. Utah Jazz 0-0
    
    
    The Utah Jazz have Keyonte George at point guard, Darryn Peterson at shooting guard, LauriMarkkanen at small forward, Jaren Jackson Jr. at power forward, and Jusuf Nurkic at center giving the Jazz a great starting five. Isaiah Collier is the backup point guard. Ace Bailey is the backup shooting guard and sixth man. Brice Sensabaugh is the backup small forward. Kyle Filipowski the Jazz 2024 second round pick really stepped up last year off of the bench. Unless Nurkic gets injured at center, the Utah Jazz are more than likely making the playoffs. Even if Nurkic goes down, they can move Jaren Jackson Jr. to center and start Kyle Filipowski. Utah is my five seed in the Western Conference at the moment.
    
    
    
    
    
    
22. Washington Wizards 0-0
    
    
    The Washington Wizards have Trae Young at point guard, Kyshaw George at shooting guard, AJ Dybantsa atsmall forward, Anthony Davis at power forward, and Alex Sarr at center. Washington has Bub Carrington as a backup point guard. Tre Johnson is the backup shooting guard. Bilal Coulibaly is the backup small forward. Khris Middleton is the backup power forward. DeAndre Ayton is the backup center. This team doesn't just have a good starting five, they have good quality backups at each position for depth giving them the flexibility to play more aggressively than most NBA teams. Washington is my five seed in the Eastern Conference at the moment entering this years NBA Season.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
23. Chicago Bulls 0-0-0
    
    
    The Chicago Bulls have Josh Giddey at point guard, Norman Powell at shooting guard, Matas Buzelis at small forward, Caleb Wilson at power forward, and Nic Claxton at center in their starting five. The Chicago Bulls have Tre Jones as their backup poitn guard, Isaac Okoro as their backup shooting guard, Daily Swain their second first round pick as their backup small forward, Patrick Williams as their backup power forward, and Jalen Smith as their backup center. Like the Washington Wizards they got ten quality players on the first and second team that can average 10 points per game. The Chicago Bulls are my four seed in the Eastern Conference for this season and I think they can win a round if they draw the Washington Wizards or another Eastern Conference team with home court.
    
    
    
    
    
    
24. San Antonio Spurs 0-0
    
    
    The San Antonio Spurs have De'Aaron Fox at at point guard, Stephon Castle at shooting guard, Devin Vassell at small forward, Tobias Harris at power forward, and Victor Wembanyama at center giving them one of the NBA's best starting fives. Dylan Harper is the defacto sixth man as the backup point guard as well as the backup shooting guard. Carter Bryant is the backup small forward. Julian Champagine is the backup power forward. Keldon Johnson is the third string small forward as well as the third string power forward making him the eleventh player on this roster. Harrison Barnes is also the fourth string small forward and power forward. That is ten roster spots filled up. If you account backup center Luke Kornet who averaged under 10 points per game and 2026 first round pick Tarris Reed Jr. the third string center to this final 12 man roster that gives you the entire 12 man roster on last years Western Conference Champions for this season. San Antonio is my four seed in the Western Conference this year, but they are deep enough to return to the NBA Finals in 2027 after losing the 2026 NBA Finals to the New York Knicks.
    
    
    
    
    
    
25. Indiana Pacers 0-0
    
    
    The Indiana Pacers have Tyrese Haliburon at point guard, Andrew embhard at shooting guard, Aaron Nesmith at small forward, Pascal Siakam at power forward, and Ivica Zubac at center. T.J. McConnell is the backup point guard. Kelly Oubre Jr. is the backup shooting guard. Jarace Walker is the backup small forward. Obi Toppin is the backup power forward. Larry Nance Jr. is the backup center. Indiana might have their deepest team that is capable of making the 2027 NBA Finals and is my three seed in the Eastern Conference if Tyrese Haliburton comes back this season.
    
    
    
    
    
    
26. Oklahoma City Thunder 0-0
    
    
    The Oklahoma City Thunder have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at point guard, Jared McCain at shooting guard, Jalen Williams at small forward, Chet Holmgren at power forward, and Isaiah Hartenstein at center. Cason Wallace is the sixth man at both shooting guard and small forward playing a backup role at both of those positions. Ajay Mitchell is the backup point guard. Alex Caruso is listed as the backup power forward, but I think Thomas Sorber will get that role once the Thunder's 2025 first round pick returns from an injury. Aday Mara, Oklahoma's 2026 first round pick should be the backup center. If neither McCain or Wallace steps up at shooting guard, Oklahoma City might move one of their two 2027 first round picks for a trade deadline piece at shooting guard such as Jordan Poole, Tyler Herro, R.J. Barrett, or C.J. McCollum on a rental to make one more push at another NBA Finals appearance. Oklahoma City could get back to the Western Conference Finals or even the NBA Finals, but the lack of depth and uncertainty at shooting guard for now makes them my three seed in the Western Conference heading into this season.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
27. Minnesota Timberwolves 0-0
    
    
    The Minesota Timberwolves have LaMelo Ball at point guard, Anthony Edwards at shooting guard, Ayo Dosunmu at small forward, Jaden McDaniels at power forward, and Rudy Gobert at center. Minnesota has arguably one of the top two starting fives in the Western Conference to the point where they could get to the Western Conference Finals or possibly even the 2027 NBA Finals if they stay healthy. Their bench is weak. Isaiah Evans was a small forward at Duke, but he's listed as the backup point guard to LaMelo Ball if his injury history in Charlotte carries over to Minnesota this season. Minesota is my two seed in the Western Conference, but they will rely heavily on their starting five this season. The Timberwolves are my two seed in the Western Conference and they could make the 2027 NBA Finals, but I think they break out next season in 2027-2028.
    
    
    
    
    
    
28. New York Knicks 0-0
    
    
    The New York Knicks have Jalen Brunson at point guard, Josh Hart at shootingguard,Mikal Bridgesat small forward, OGAnunoby at power forward, and Karl-Anthony Towns at center. Miles McBride is the backup point guard he averaged 12 points er game behind Jalen Brunson. If backup shooting guard Landry Shamet, backup small forward Jordan Clarkson, and backup center Andre Drummond pull their weight off the bench the New York Knicks can repeat. I got the New York Knicks losing in the Eastern Conference Finals as a 2 seed this year, but they could win another NBA Finals in 2028.
    
    
    
    
    
    
29. Golden State Warriors 0-0
    
    
    The Golden State Warriors have Steph Curry at point guard, Brandin Podziemski at shooting guard, Draymond Green at power forward, and Kristaps Porzingis at center. If Golden State is in contention by the 2027 NBA Trade Deadline expect them to send their 2027 first round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for small forward Michael Porter Jr. whose in the final year of his contract and is a 2027 UFA. Brooklyn would have three first round picks in the 18-30 range and could use that draft capital to move into the lottery range to get a small forward or center they love and then draft the other position with the first round pick they don't trade while Golden State could use Michael Porter Jr. to make one last run at an NBA Finals run with Steph Curry before the Golden State Warriors have to go into a rebuild. If Brooklyn doesn't take a first for Porter Jr., they would definitely take Gui Santos and a first for him at the very worst. De'Anthony Melton is the current sixth man at both point guard and shooting guard on Golden State. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is the seventh man at both small forward and power forward. Al Horford is the backup center to Kristaps Porzingis. Will Richard is a ninth man listed as the third string shooting guard and third string small forward. Gary Payton II is the fourth string point guard, shooting guard, and small forward as their tenth man off the bench. Golden State is currently my top seed in the Western Conference and my preseason pick to win the 2027 Western Conference Finals.
    
    
    
    
    
    
30. Philaelphia 76ers 0-0
    
    
    The Philadelphia 76ers have Tyrese Maxey their 2020 first round pick at point guard, VJ Edgecombe a 2025 first round pick at shooting guard, Jayeln Brown at small forward, LeBron James at power forward, and Joel Embiid at center. Labaron Philon Jr. is the starting point guard, Anfernee Simons is the backup shooting guard. Philadelphia's bench is not great outside of their backup guards, but they got five starters that average 10 points per game, two NBA Finals MVP's and two regular season MVP's in their starting five if we count Embiid's one MVP regular season. Philadelphia is my pick to win the 2027 NBA Finals and I believe they got the best chance of any team to keep the New York Knicks from repeating.