NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
In this edition, we're highlighting each team's top offseason addition and looking at how each club stacks following the 2026 NBA Draft and a busy free-agency period.
Rankings are based on a combination of last season and offseason activities. Click here to view theScore's NBA transaction tracker for a recap of what's happened so far.
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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. New York Knicks
Andre Drummond: Losing Mitchell Robinson hurts, but James Dolan's refusal to cross into the second apron means Drummond will have to do. If you're seeking a silver lining, Drummond shot a career-best 63.1% from the charity stripe last season, a stark improvement on hack-a-Mitch's 40.8% clip.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Tobias Harris: San Antonio is running it back with a core that fell short in the Finals in June, but prying Harris away from the Pistons gives the Spurs another respected veteran in the frontcourt - and pertinently, one with nine seasons worth of playoff experience.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Aday Mara: Letting a technically proficient 7-footer fall to the Thunder worked so well in 2022 that the NBA did it again this year. At 7-foot-3, Mara is one of the league's tallest players and should immediately strengthen Oklahoma City's depth with his championship pedigree from Michigan.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Jaylen Brown: Brown's addition vaults the Sixers into the title discussion. The five-time All-Star will slot in alongside fellow newcomer Dean Wade in a star-studded starting five that includes Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. All this, plus the team shed Paul George's astronomical contract.
5. Detroit Pistons
John Collins: Expect Collins to step into the starting role vacated by Harris. Collins, though, is five years younger and a much better shooter from deep, an essential trait for the Pistons. They finished tied for the second-fewest 3-pointers per game last season (11).
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
Meleek Thomas: Cleveland's offseason has been conspicuously quiet as a certain former player and hometown hero remains undecided. The Cavaliers reportedly had to trade out of the first round due to salary constraints, but they still secured SEC All-Freshman guard Thomas at No. 34.
7. Boston Celtics
Mitchell Robinson: Getting Robinson on a three-year, $47-million deal in a summer when fellow bigs Jock Landale and Walker Kessler commanded huge money is a small victory for the Celtics. Despite Robinson's limited tools, his offensive rebounding and rim protection address areas of need.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
LaMelo Ball: You can either endure several years of close-but-not-quite, or you can agree to let the chips fall where they may and electrify your team with the unpredictable excitement of a LaMelo Ball-Anthony Edwards backcourt. Spoiler: Minnesota's probably sitting high on our watchability rankings.
9. Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard: Leonard is heading back to Toronto in the most shocking reunion of the offseason. While the two-time Finals MVP's injury history carries some risk, he's coming off one of his best seasons. The Raptors' training staff also knows just how to manage his health.
10. Denver Nuggets
Marvin Bagley III: This might sound insane, but signing Bagley to a one-year, $3.5-million deal as a low-risk, high-reward replacement for Jonas Valanciunas could be one of the better low-key moves of the offseason. Bagley is more athletic and a better rim-protector than his predecessor.
11. Miami Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Pat Riley finally reeled in another star. Antetokounmpo remains one of the game's top two-way players and immediately elevates Miami into contenders. The two-time MVP, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins give the Heat a formidable frontcourt defensive trio.
12. Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton: We're bending the rules here with Haliburton, who returns from an Achilles tear that cost him the entire 2025-26 campaign. However, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. are both solid pick-ups and the only real Pacers reinforcements in a summer with no first-rounder for the club.
13. Los Angeles Lakers
Walker Kessler: Kessler provides a defensive anchor alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. However, his availability (he's met the NBA's 65-game requirement for awards only once) and steep cost (two first-rounders, two first-round swaps, and a hefty four-year, $130-million contract) raise some eyebrows.
14. Houston Rockets
Marcus Smart: The Rockets didn't have a first-round pick, and Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic are the team's key additions. Not exactly flashy moves, but Smart is a perfect fit, should improve Houston's defense, and gives Ime Udoka more options for closing lineups in the playoffs.
15. Atlanta Hawks
Aaron Wiggins: Wiggins will get more playing time in Atlanta after being buried on the Thunder's depth chart. A career 38% 3-point shooter and a versatile defender, the 6-foot-5 guard has three more seasons left on an affordable contract that could age well.
16. Phoenix Suns
Luke Kennard: While Miles Bridges provides more frontcourt scoring than Royce O'Neale, the Suns' move to swap Grayson Allen for Kennard feels like the finishing touch on a deep and dynamic guard rotation around Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Collin Gillespie.
17. Charlotte Hornets
Naz Reid: Reid has been among the top reserves for the past three seasons and will finally get a chance to start in Charlotte. The 6-foot-9 big has the flexibility to play power forward or center and the 3-point stroke to space the floor alongside Moussa Diabate.
18. Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg: Golden State needed somebody in the draft who could contribute right away. With his physical driving ability, pick-and-roll ball-handling, floor spacing, and defensive versatility, Lendeborg is set to make an immediate impact for the Warriors.
19. Portland Trail Blazers
Ja Morant: At the peak of his powers, Morant torched opposing defenses with his jaw-dropping athleticism and ability to get to the rim. Although he's shown signs of decline, it's certainly worth the risk for the Blazers to see if Morant can recapture his All-Star form.
20. Orlando Magic
Nikola Vucevic: Orlando's reunion with the 35-year-old isn't the splashiest move. However, Vucevic gives the Magic a dependable backup center behind Wendell Carter Jr. and some scoring punch for a second unit that ranked 26th in bench points last season.
21. Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson: It might only be Summer League and a small sample size, but Peterson has exceeded expectations in all facets of the game and doled out 12 assists in his second outing - eight more than his best output at Kansas. The Jazz might be good.
22. Dallas Mavericks
Santi Aldama: Dallas capitalized on a frontcourt logjam in Memphis to add Aldama to its young core. The 7-footer might have untapped potential after averaging a career-high 14 points last season. He gives the Mavs much-needed floor spacing after they finished 29th in threes made in 2025-26.
23. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa: Anthony Davis' eligibility aside, Dybantsa is the Wizards' best summer addition. Visions of the No. 1 pick running the open floor alongside former No. 2 selection Alex Sarr, with Trae Young at the point, could overwrite memories of eight straight losing seasons.
24. Los Angeles Clippers
Brandon Ingram: Ingram isn't Leonard, but he's a lethal mid-range scorer who can create his own shot in isolation. If Ingram can build on a resurgent All-Star campaign, the Clippers could sell high on him at the trade deadline and set themselves up for the long haul.
25. Chicago Bulls
Norman Powell: Powell and Nic Claxton should help raise Chicago's floor alongside Josh Giddey, with Powell giving the Bulls a focal point on offense. Meanwhile, Tiago Splitter will look to apply his proven player development skills to Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis.
26. Milwaukee Bucks
Tyler Herro: The Bucks aren't going to win many games, and while Brayden Burries and Nate Ament's acclimation to the NBA should be a focus, somebody has to get buckets. Herro can do that and could be among the league leaders in field-goal attempts.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Julius Randle: The ex-T-Wolves forward brings plenty of playoff experience to a roster that looked out of place throughout last season. Having another vet around should also help ensure rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. has a better first year than last year's Nets rookies.
28. Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer: Memphis presents the perfect opportunity for Boozer. The 6-foot-8 big man's intelligent play all around the perimeter, combined with his agility and impressive 250-pound frame, is perfect for a franchise still chasing its Grit and Grind peaks.
29. New Orleans Pelicans
Jamahl Mosley: Hiring Mosley as head coach is New Orleans' top offseason addition, as defense was his bread and butter during his five-year run with the Magic. The Pelicans should improve on last season's 25th-place finish in defensive efficiency.
30. Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr.: The seventh overall pick needs to be afforded some time to develop into a potential cornerstone of the Kings' future. Sacramento should prioritize Acuff's growth and continue the roster teardown by finding exits for Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, even if the window to secure a top-end return has closed.
