7 NBA groups who will likely be method higher than final yr

Nearly each crew within the NBA really believes it has an opportunity to win with the correct offseason strikes proper now. The times of Steph Curry vs. LeBron James groups within the NBA Finals yearly are lengthy gone, and so they’ve been changed by an unprecedented period of parity that has resulted in eight completely different champions the final eight years. Add within the NBA’s new anti-tanking guidelines, and that is shaping as much as be probably the most aggressive seasons in latest reminiscence. Placing collectively preseason energy rankings is actually laborious proper now.

This has been a wild summer season of offseason exercise. Giannis Antetokounmpo is now on the Miami Warmth, LaMelo Ball is on the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James are on the Philadelphia 76ers, and Kawhi Leonard is perhaps, presumably going again to the Toronto Raptors. That’s simply the beginning of it.

With the summer season motion slowing down for now, it’s time to start out previewing the 2026-27 season. Listed below are the groups that needs to be higher than final yr as they head into the brand new season.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers gained 45 video games final yr to earn the No. 7 seed within the East, and had been knocked out of the playoffs within the second spherical after upsetting the Boston Celtics in spherical one. The expectations are going to be method, method increased for Philly this season after an excellent summer season that noticed the crew commerce for Jaylen Brown and land LeBron James as a free agent. I’m a bit skeptical that the Sixers are going to be an amazing common season crew, however there’s little question they’ve a particularly excessive playoff ceiling if a number of issues go proper. That after all begins with Joel Embiid and James each being wholesome on the proper time, which is all the time a giant if. The protection will likely be a query mark, and I’m undecided how Brown will regulate to a lower-usage position the place he may be the fourth possibility on some nights. It virtually doesn’t even matter what seed Philly will get this yr. If this crew can get to the playoffs in a single piece, I like how they might match up with nearly anybody within the East, together with the New York Knicks. The Sixers haven’t even reached the convention finals since 2001. That should change this yr with arguably the league’s greatest beginning 5. There are many swing elements for this crew to achieve its true potential, however with LeBron’s management and a ton of offensive firepower, they’ll have a great likelihood to get there.

Indiana Pacers

This one is apparent. The Pacers reached the 2025 NBA Finals solely to see celebrity guard Tyrese Haliburton tear his Achilles in Sport 7. Haliburton missed all of final season, and Indiana solely gained 19 video games. Now he’s again and already doing between-the-legs dunks, giving the Pacers hope that they’ll regain their spot on the high of the East. Indiana made a daring commerce for Ivica Zubac on the deadline final season, which ended up costing them the No. 5 general decide within the 2026 NBA Draft. For as a lot ache because the lottery induced, Zubac is a wonderful defensive heart who suits this crew to a tee. The remainder of the supporting solid from the 2025 Finals run continues to be in place, with Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith rounding out the lineup round Haliburton. The East feels so a lot better proper now than it did the final time Haliburton was wholesome, however he’s confirmed to have such a big effect on successful you could’t depend out Indiana growing right into a contender but once more.

Miami Warmth

The Warmth have been within the play-in match 4 years in a row, and final season was the primary time they didn’t make it out, lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2019. Miami wanted a giant swing this summer season, and so they landed one of the best participant obtainable in the marketplace by buying and selling for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis joins Bam Adebayo for what needs to be the NBA’s greatest frontcourt, however the remainder of the roster has loads of questions. Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell needs to be starters, and perhaps Tim Hardaway Jr. fills the fifth starter spot. The bench appears like a serious downside, nevertheless it’s essential to do not forget that the Warmth are higher than anybody at growing diamonds within the tough. Pelle Larsson and Dru Smith may each take an actual leap enjoying off Giannis, and realizing Miami, Myron Gardner and Ryan Conwell will likely be strong rotation items come playoff time, too. Final season, the Warmth gained 43 video games and had been the No. 10 seed heading into the postseason. They need to clear that simply this yr so long as Giannis’ physique doesn’t crumble.

Toronto Raptors*

Are the Raptors really getting Kawhi Leonard this summer season? The commerce was introduced on June thirtieth solely to be held up 10 days later as a result of the NBA’s ongoing investigation into the Clippers’ cap circumvention. It’s completely ridiculous that the legislation agency employed to do the investigation hasn’t completed its work but, and it leaves each Toronto and the Clippers in a particularly robust place for the remainder of the offseason. I are inclined to consider Kawhi will nonetheless find yourself in Toronto, and if that occurs, I actually like their playoff ceiling. The Raptors have two nice younger pillars in place with Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles, and Leonard was primarily enjoying at a top-5 stage within the league final yr with LA. That’s the system for a greater crew than final yr, when the Raptors gained 46 video games earlier than getting knocked out within the first spherical in Sport 7 towards the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Kawhi, I can truthfully see Toronto successful the East if every little thing breaks proper — which begins with Leonard staying wholesome, and consists of bounce-back seasons from Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley. The Raptors’ 2019 season proved all issues are doable by way of Kawhi. They only have to hope they get him.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies had been decimated by accidents final season, then tanked laborious to provide themselves an opportunity at discovering a future franchise participant within the draft. Memphis obtained the luck it wanted by transferring as much as the No. 3 decide, and touchdown one of the best participant within the class in Cameron Boozer. Boozer would be the youngest participant within the NBA this season, however he’s so good that I count on him to right away be a top-100 participant at minimal. With Boozer driving the offense together with his good passing, bully-ball scoring, and candy three-point stroke, the Grizzlies have the potential to push for a play-in spot within the West if every little thing goes proper. I like the pairing of Boozer and Zach Edey within the frontcourt if Edey can lastly keep wholesome. He’s a punishing inside scorer and a monster offensive rebounder who can even assist repair a few of Boozer’s rim safety points. Add in a strong assortment of guards led by Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Cam Spencer, plus a possible leap from Cedric Coward in yr two, and I feel the Grizzlies are going to shock lots of people this yr earlier than finally growing into one of many West’s higher groups in due time.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards lastly obtained the lottery luck they wanted after years of tanking. Washington landed A.J. Dybantsa with the No. 1 general decide, and now it’s time to start out successful. Washington traded for Anthony Davis and Trae Younger halfway by way of final season to assist complement a younger core that already consists of Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, and Will Riley. The Wizards handed out a ridiculously dangerous max extension to Younger already, and Davis may be subsequent, however for the purpose of this train each gamers will assist Washington enhance this season. It will truthfully be laborious to get any worse after solely successful 17 video games final yr. I’m wondering how Dybantsa and Younger will mesh since neither performs properly off the ball, and Davis’ well being is all the time a serious concern. Both method, the Wizards could have a great likelihood to double their win whole and push for a play-in berth this season.

Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn is projected to be the worst crew within the NBA heading into the season with an over/beneath win whole of 21.5. I’m pounding the over so long as they don’t commerce Michael Porter Jr. earlier than the tip of the summer season. Jordi Fernandez is likely one of the greatest head coaches within the league, and he obtained Porter enjoying one of the best ball of his profession final season. The Nets picked up Julius Randle free of charge this summer season, and he’s nonetheless a strong participant even when he’s now not an All-NBA caliber expertise. I additionally suppose dropping Nic Claxton will likely be addition by subtraction, as a result of backup Day’Ron Sharpe, who now strikes right into a beginning position, has been a greater participant the final couple years. I’m additionally loving what I noticed out of Egor Demin at summer season league. The Nets won’t be really good, however they’re going to clear final season’s 20 wins with ease.