The NBA offseason is close to complete. Free agency, minus LeBron James’ next destination, is almost over. The draft has come and gone. A number of elite players, from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Jaylen Brown, have changed teams.
With that said, The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks down the league’s landscape, ranking the teams from 1-30.
True title contenders
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
If healthy, the Thunder are the best team. Remember, top guards Ajay Mitchell and Jalen Williams were either significantly limited or out during the Western Conference finals against the Spurs, and that series still went the distance.
2. New York Knicks
The Knicks are basically running it back following their first title in 53 years — except for replacing Mitchell Robinson with Andre Drummond as Karl-Anthony Towns’ backup. They remain the best team in the Eastern Conference until further notice.
3. San Antonio Spurs
It’s a matter of when — not if — for the Spurs’ next title. The young big three of Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle have dynastic possibilities, and San Antonio made two intriguing first-round picks in Tarris Reed Jr. and Jayden Quaintance to improve its interior depth behind Wembanyama.
4. Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton is back, and so are the Pacers after a nightmarish 19-win campaign. The team that took the Thunder to seven games in the NBA Finals in 2025 will be mostly intact again, aside from Ivica Zubac replacing Myles Turner.
Can play deep into May
5. Toronto Raptors
As long as the Kawhi Leonard trade with the Clippers ultimately goes through, the Raptors have major contending potential. The 35-year-old Leonard is still a star — when healthy — and he joins a quality nucleus featuring Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley.
6. Philadelphia 76ers
It’s easy to see the 76ers having a big year, led by the big four of Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. But there are depth and chemistry questions to be answered for this top-heavy roster.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota had a fascinating offseason headlined by the blockbuster four-team trade that landed the Timberwolves LaMelo Ball and sent Naz Reid to the Hornets. Ball and Anthony Edwards could be terrific together — or a disaster. This is a boom-or-bust roster that no longer includes Julius Randle and will likely feature Jaden McDaniels as a small-ball four.
8. Boston Celtics
The Celtics got better on the interior with the addition of Robinson, but worse on the perimeter after the Brown trade. Jayson Tatum should be able to recapture his superstar form after returning from his torn Achilles tendon last season, but does he have a suitable wingman now that Brown is in Philadelphia?
9. Atlanta Hawks
Nobody gave the Knicks more issues in the playoffs than the Hawks, who returned their entire young core and had a terrific draft, selecting hard-nosed prospects Kingston Flemings of Houston and Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s.
10. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are basically the same team that couldn’t get out of the first round. After Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, there isn’t much there.
11. Houston Rockets
There is enough talent here to finish in the top half of the West: An All-Star forward (Alperen Sengun), quality point guard (Fred VanVleet), still productive future Hall of Fame wing (Kevin Durant) and on-the-rise young two-way star guard (Amen Thompson).
Pretenders
12. Los Angeles Lakers
It is now Luka Doncic’s team, after LeBron James’ departure. The Lakers have spent a lot this offseason already in bringing back Austin Reaves ($180 million) and signing Walker Kessler ($130M), Quentin Grimes ($60M) and Sandro Mamukelashvili ($52M). But those moves aren’t going to scare the Thunder or the Spurs.
13. Miami Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo is now in South Beach, joining Bam Adebayo. That duo doesn’t have much help — Tim Hardaway Jr. and Andrew Wiggins aren’t difference makers — and it would be a stretch for the Heat to be considered a legitimate contender.
14. Detroit Pistons
It wasn’t so long ago the Pistons were favored to reach the NBA Finals. Now, after a playoff flop and an underwhelming offseason so far, Detroit may not even be in the top four of the East.
15. Orlando Magic
The Magic seemed primed to upset the top seed in the first round before Franz Wagner suffered an ill-timed calf injury. Orlando didn’t let that deter them from making a change at coach, hiring highly regarded Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney to replace Jamahl Mosley. That was the big change for the Magic.
16. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland’s offseason is all about bringing back LeBron James. They let valuable forward Dean Wade walk in free agency and haven’t done much to upgrade after they were swept out of the Eastern Conference finals by the Knicks.
Play-in potential
17. Phoenix Suns
The additions of Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard provide offensive oomph, and the Suns also retained center Mark Williams along with guards Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie.
18. Portland Trail Blazers
Ja Morant and Damian Lillard are now part of the same backcourt mix that also includes Shaedon Sharpe. Deni Avdija is coming off a breakout season (24.2 points, 6.7 assists) and Donovan Clingan has shown potential as a rim-protecting court-spacer in the middle. Potentially fun team.
19. Utah Jazz
After four straight losing seasons, Utah may be ready to at least contend for a playoff berth. The second overall pick in the draft, Darryn Peterson, has superstar potential, and Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen could be dynamite together in the frontcourt.
20. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte improved its frontcourt with the addition of Naz Reid, but got worse at point guard in losing LaMelo Ball. The Hornets, coming off their first winning season in four years, are betting big on Coby White to fill that void.
21. Washington Wizards
Say this for the Wizards: They’ll at least be worth checking out. Experienced veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis are joined by the No. 1 overall pick in AJ Dybantsa. Will this result in Washington’s first winning season since 2017-18? It can’t be discounted.
22. Golden State Warriors
Like the Cavaliers, the Warriors’ offseason hinges on LeBron James. Steph Curry and Draymond Green aren’t getting any younger, and Golden State hasn’t done anything so far to add to a 37-win team.
23. Dallas Mavericks
The big moves in Dallas aren’t player-related. They included hiring Masai Ujiri as the new team president and bringing in Michigan’s Dusty May as new head coach.
Enjoy the lottery
24. New Orleans Pelicans
How long do Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson remain in New Orleans? The Pelicans have two trade chips that could land them a ton of draft picks.
25. Chicago Bulls
Top draft pick Caleb Wilson has been one of the stars of the NBA Summer League, an exciting young forward who the Bulls and new coach Tiago Splitter hope to build around.
26. Brooklyn Nets
A starting five of Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Day’Ron Sharpe, Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. is intriguing, and sure beats the tanking rosters general manager Sean Marks has given Nets fans the last two seasons.
27. Sacramento Kings
The Kings have reached the playoffs just once in the last 20 years, and have lost at least 50 games 10 times in that span. Expect the losing to continue next year.
28. Memphis Grizzlies
This is now Cameron Boozer’s team. The third overall draft pick is the face of the franchise after it sent Ja Morant to Portland. Patience will be required.
29. Los Angeles Clippers
After a decade and a half of contention, the Clippers are rebuilding. Hey, at least the Intuit Dome is cool.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are rebuilding after sending Antetokounmpo to Miami, ending what felt like an eternity of rumors involving the two-time MVP’s future. Get used to the lottery, Milwaukee.
