​The NBA offseason still has plenty of time ahead, but the top and bottom of the league are already starting to take shape for the 2026-2027 season. It feels like the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks have carved out a distinct elite tier, a class of contenders that stands apart from the rest. As for the fourth-best team in the league right now, that’s anyone’s guess.
This season introduces new anti-tanking rules designed to eliminate the convenience of free wins on the schedule. Still, it’s easy to expect some teams to endure significant struggles, with the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls among those that could fall short. The draft lottery has a new “relegation zone” that reduces the odds of a top pick for the three worst teams, but it also ensures that no team will fall below the No. 12 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, while every other club could land as far down as No. 16.
A second wave of offseason moves seems likely once LeBron James makes his free-agent decision, but until then there’s plenty to discuss. Here’s an early, mid-July snapshot of the power rankings for the 2026-2027 season.
30. Sacramento Kings
The No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff will get a long leash to run the show in Sacramento, but the supporting cast isn’t strong enough yet. It remains uncertain whether Domantas Sabonis or Zach LaVine will still be in the mix for opening night. The Kings do have a budding group of young talents—Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, and Alex Karaban—that could grow alongside Acuff, with development the primary goal for this season.
29. Milwaukee Bucks
The Giannis era has changed, and Milwaukee faces a roster that could struggle. Will Tyler Herro indeed be in Milwaukee’s plans this season or could he be moved ahead of training camp? Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. showed potential last year, and Kel’el Ware provides an intriguing young piece after his big-trade arrival. The spotlight will largely fall on how the two lottery picks, Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, progress.
28. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls should be entertaining but still project as an Eastern Conference underdog. Expect meaningful minutes from Chicago’s two first-round rookies, Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain, and it’ll be interesting to see if last year’s lottery pick Noa Essengue can emerge after an injury-plagued rookie season. A leap from A. Matas Buzelis in year three would be a big boost to the Bulls’ long-term outlook.
27. Washington Wizards
A.J. Dybantsa is the centerpiece after going No. 1 overall, but the roster around him is unconventional. Trae Young is on a new max contract for reasons unclear, Anthony Davis is around for the moment, but maybe not long-term. With Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson as two former top-10 picks who need to develop around Dybantsa, Washington’s future hinges on how those pieces cohere.