July NBA Power Rankings
Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
No. 30
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets traded Cam Johnson for a more expensive version of himself. They’re also having trouble reaching an agreement with Cam Thomas. Additionally, they drafted five rookies in the first round this past draft and have the most cap space in the league. It’s clear where Brooklyn is headed this season.
No. 29
Utah Jazz
The Jazz are young, young, young, young, young. They were eager to move off of Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton, though I don’t fully understand the urgency behind that. Regardless, it doesn’t change their season outlook. Ace Bailey, bring Utah to the promised land!
No. 28
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets acquired Collin Sexton, which is a solid move, especially since they traded him for cheap. However, they still have major gaps in their roster, and the "LaMelo Ball, will they or won't they trade him" question continues to linger. The Hornets have dealt with plenty of injuries over the last couple of seasons, and whether healthy or not, they’re likely going to be a struggling team next season.
No. 27
Washington Wizards
This is definitely not something to overreact to, but I was watching Summer League and, obviously, the Wizards are so young that their Summer League roster is basically their NBA roster. However, they were losing to the Suns, who are supposed to be lacking in young talent, which I thought was crazy. The young Washington core only played two games in Summer League, but I thought a near-NBA team losing to a Summer League team should raise some concern. At the end of the day, though, it’s unrelated. The Wizards will not be good this year nor do they want to be.
No. 26
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are currently struggling to re-sign their restricted free agent, Josh Giddey. Giddey is likely their most valuable asset, alongside Coby White, Matas Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic—who, at 35, I’m surprised they haven’t moved yet. The Bulls are on the verge of losing Vucevic for nothing next offseason. Aside from those three players, the Bulls have mostly acquired players with bad contracts, seemingly aiming for a rebuild, though they’re not exactly succeeding at it. They did move off of Lavine, DeRozan, and Ball, but received ZERO first-round picks in return. Regardless, this roster isn’t good, with or without Giddey.
No. 25
Toronto Raptors
Brandon Ingram just guaranteed that the Raptors will make the playoffs this season. Do I believe it? No. But that would be really cool. Canada deserves playoff basketball again—it’s long overdue. Like Miami, the Raptors have a decent core with Ingram, Barnes, and Barrett, but are they too similar as players to efficiently coexist? I think so. While they have solid talent, I don’t think it’s enough to compete in April and beyond.
No. 24
Phoenix Suns
The Suns are finally rid of the Booker-Durant-Beal experiment and managed to receive quite the haul for Durant. However, the Beal buyout doesn’t look great. I understand that it was probably the only way they could move him off the roster, but it’s still a tough look. In Booker, they still trust, but they won’t be sniffing competitive basketball until at least after this season.
No. 23
Boston Celtics
Much like the Pacers, the Celtics will be without their best player, Jayson Tatum, for part of this season. They also traded two of their top five players, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, for cap reasons. It’s not expected that Boston will go far this year, nor do they likely want to. They still have talent, no doubt—Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, and Payton Pritchard—but it’s definitely not enough to contend. My guess is that their plan is to tank for a top pick, or at least a lottery spot, and focus on retooling the roster next offseason.
No. 22
Milwaukee Bucks
Trading one of the most important players from your championship team for two unsuccessful seasons with Damian Lillard, only to lose him for practically nothing, is definitely a decision—one that I’d argue not many people would’ve made. If you’re ever curious why your favorite team doesn’t just go all-in on a star player, this is why: because it can go terribly wrong. Aside from the Lillard fiasco, the Bucks have had a decent offseason, retaining Portis and signing Gary Harris, Cole Anthony, and Myles Turner. Unfortunately, losing Dame for nothing has put them so deep in a hole that, while the supporting cast is solid, the Bucks’ roster is still missing a second, maybe even third, option. Trading Giannis might be the only way out.
No. 21
Indiana Pacers
It’s clear that with Tyrese out, the Pacers simply won’t be as strong this year, and it’s safe to say they won’t be returning to the NBA Finals next season. On top of that, they lost Myles Turner to Milwaukee, leaving the center position feeling underwhelming, to say the least. However, I’m genuinely excited to see Andrew Nembhard unlock his potential and step into the role of lead guard for this team. I’m also curious to see who on the roster takes advantage of the opportunity and makes the most of their increased role.
No. 20
Portland Trailblazers
Portland had quite the rollercoaster season last year, with multiple 4+ game winning and losing streaks. If they can find any sliver of consistency, the Trail Blazers could arrive sooner than expected. However, until I see it, I still have them missing the playoffs and the play-in entirely. At best, they might sneak into a play-in spot, as they were only three games back from that position last season. Portland fans probably don’t have high expectations for this upcoming season anyway. The addition of Jrue Holiday looks good on paper, but he doesn’t even want to be there. It’s hard to say how he feels now that the prodigal son of Portland has returned. At the end of the day, all anyone really cares about is that Dame Time is back—and for good reason. Buy stock in Deni Avdija. 🤫
N0. 19
Philadelphia 76ers
I placed the Clippers and Mavericks as high as I did because, at their full potential and health, they can be that good. With Philadelphia, health is also a concern, much like the other teams. Unfortunately, I’m convinced the Sixers won’t have a healthy season. There’s no "if" in Philly. Even if they manage to stay relatively healthy, I think the injuries have already taken their toll, and players simply won’t be as effective as they once were. I do hope I’m wrong, though. On the bright side, VJ Edgecombe looks good, and Philly has been hitting on their young talent recently.
No. 18
Sacramento Kings
The Kings signed Dennis Schröder to fill the biggest hole in their roster: the point guard position. Since trading De’Aaron Fox, the Kings had Malik Monk handling point guard duties. While Monk wasn’t bad, he’s not a natural point guard. Schröder helps, but he’s not the type of player who will elevate the Kings from a Play-In team to a legitimate playoff contender. The Kings will likely hover around the 8-10 spot in the West, if not worse.
No.17
Miami Heat
Pat Riley and the Miami Heat made their move by trading for Norman Powell, acquiring him for almost nothing. The addition of Powell is a low-risk, high-reward move that will only help the team. While Miami has firmly adhered to its "never tank" philosophy, they’re simply not good enough to contend at the highest level. Still, you have to respect the culture.
No. 16
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans got younger with the Jordan Poole trade, which suggests they’re building for the future. However, they also signed Kevon Looney, who isn’t old (29) but brings valuable veteran experience. It feels like the Pelicans are in a bit of a middle ground—not fully committing to contending or rebuilding, and honestly, they don’t have to. The team chose to keep their draft picks, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, both of whom likely won’t make a significant impact or contribute to meaningful basketball for another couple of seasons. As it’s said every year, this team will only go as far as Zion’s health will allow.
No. 15
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis is subtly buying into their youth movement, all while continuing to build around Jaren Jackson Jr. (JJJ) and Ja Morant. They traded Desmond Bane to Orlando for KCP, Cole Anthony (who they bought out and then signed with Milwaukee), four first-round picks, and a pick swap. Acquiring that much draft capital definitely signals that Memphis is looking toward the future, even if it’s just by a season or two. Ty Jerome is also a fun pickup, though.
No. 14
Orlando Magic
The Magic finally got their third-scorer behind Paolo and Franz! PLAY THE SONG TO CELEBRATE! The best part is, Desmond Bane can knock down threes, something no one in Orlando has been able to consistently do. On the surface, it might look like Orlando overpaid for Bane, but only time will tell. It’s clear the Magic have their eyes set on playoff success. Oh, and they also signed Tyus Jones. Not bad at all.
No. 13
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons had quite the season turnaround last year. Expect to stay in the middle of the pack in the East. Their young core of Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, Cade Cunningham, and company will continue to improve no doubt. JB Bickerstaff has done a fantastic job. However, they did lose Dennis Schroder, Malik Beasley, and Tim Hardaway Jr.
No. 12
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have had an interesting offseason. While they’ve been mostly inactive, they did manage to “solve” their center problem by signing Deandre Ayton. However, Ayton doesn’t move the needle for me, as the Lakers likely needed an athletic, hard-rolling big man who can offer more than Jaxson Hayes. While Ayton is an upgrade over Hayes, he isn’t the physical, rim-running center that would fit the role. Ayton likes to play in the mid-post or just above the free throw line. Traditionally, Luka has had more success with athletic, paint-oriented centers (like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively), but perhaps Ayton can adjust to that style. The Lakers also improved their perimeter defense with the addition of Marcus Smart. Unfortunately, they’re still stuck with the contracts of Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent. These are not bad players by any stretch, but they are slightly overpaid. II feel like the Lakers are in a position where this season could either go very well or very poorly—no in-between.
No. 11
Golden State Warriors
Even with a lackluster offseason, the Warriors’ core of Curry, Butler, and Green remains intact, and that has proven to be enough to carry them to the second round. While the Warriors haven’t made any offseason trades or signings, that was never the expectation. Mike Dunleavy outlined his priorities heading into the offseason: finding a big and retooling the middle of the roster. Meanwhile, social media was littered with rumors about the Warriors trying to acquire every available player. While the expectations weren’t high to begin with, it’s undoubtedly frustrating watching the Warriors stand still to the point where it feels like they’re not even trying. As of this writing, it has been reported that Kuminga has told the Warriors he no longer wants to return, which is holding up verbal agreements with free agents like Horford and De’Anthony Melton. If the Warriors are able to either keep or move Kuminga, and then add Melton and Horford, then yes, the Warriors would have improved this offseason—and they should still not be underestimated.
No. 10
Atlanta Hawks
Except for maybe the Clippers, no one had a better offseason than Atlanta. Since their lone Conference Finals appearance in 2021, it’s been unclear which direction the Hawks wanted to go, finishing between 8th and 10th in the conference over the past four seasons. Now, after acquiring Kristaps Porzingis for free and signing Luke Kennard and NAW, the Hawks look like a legitimate threat in the East. Adding Porzingis brings a whole new dynamic to Atlanta, finally giving Trae Young an established all-star caliber player who doesn’t play the same position as him. The two-man game between Young and Porzingis could benefit both players tremendously. Hopefully, Risacher makes a leap in his second year, and Jalen Johnson can stay healthy.
No. 9
San Antonio Spurs
It might be high for a young team, but I’m high on this young team. I expect San Antonio to have a season similar to what the Rockets experienced last year. No one anticipated Houston being a two-seed this early in their timeline. De’Aaron Fox and Wemby had little to no time together before both went down with injuries, but I’m excited to see how Fox changes the dynamic of the offense alongside Wemby. With most of the players close in age, San Antonio is just two years away from becoming a powerhouse in the NBA once again. Even Mitch Johnson as their head coach fits perfectly with their timeline.
No. 8
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves didn’t necessarily improve, but they’re still a solid team, no doubt. Losing NAW does hurt their perimeter defense a bit, but it was either him or Naz Reid, and I think Minnesota made the right choice. Expect Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. to take on much more expanded roles going into this season.
No. 7
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas will obviously be without Kyrie Irving until about the midpoint of the regular season, but D’Angelo Russell should be more than serviceable while Irving is rehabbing. This is a team that dealt with the injury bug last season, but if they stay healthy, they could very well be the best team in the West. Cooper Flagg is undoubtedly a pure talent, but most prospects in his position get the chance to play through mistakes on a rebuilding team. In Dallas, however, there’s less room for error, and mistakes will carry more weight, especially on a team that’s aiming to compete for a championship. It will be interesting to see. It’s common knowledge not to fall for summer workout videos, but Klay Thompson is looking like his 2016 self again. Maybe it’s the hair?
No. 6
Los Angeles Clippers
I have the Clippers ranked this high WHEN HEALTHY. Later, I’ll probably write about why I’m not fully sold on this iteration of the Clippers, but when you look at the names on the roster, it’s hard to ignore the talent and potential of this team. As an NBA fan, I’m hoping this squad can finally make that deep playoff push that everyone has been waiting for since Kawhi joined the Clippers in 2019. The only questions with the Clippers now is who will take the backseat offensively and how does the staff manage players considering the age? Clippers average age is 30.8 without the two-way contracts…
N0. 5
Cleveland Cavaliers
It was almost inevitable that Cleveland was going to lose Ty Jerome this offseason. Jerome was a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year and provided a much-needed offensive spark off the bench. However, Cleveland minimized the damage of losing Jerome by acquiring Lonzo Ball. While Jerome had a better season than Ball in 2025, a healthy Lonzo Ball has the potential to bring more to the table with his defense and playmaking ability. Cleveland should remain near the top of the wide-open Eastern Conference.
No. 4
New York Knicks
The Knicks still boast one of the most talented rosters in the league. This offseason, they made a concerted effort to improve their depth, and with a coaching change from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown, they’re poised to see the benefits. Brown is more inclined to utilize his bench, so the enhanced depth should provide a well-rounded boost across the team. Can Mike Brown streamline the fit between Towns and Brunson to be more effective?
No. 3
Denver Nuggets
It’s truly a new front office in Denver and you can feel it. The Nuggets were very proactive this offseason. They identified their biggest issue and solved it. The additions of Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, Cam Johnson, and return of Bruce Brown should fix Denver’s depth problem and then some. After taking the eventual champs to seven, the Nuggets have structured a roster that can push them over the hump, should the opportunity present itself again.
No. 2
Houston Rockets
The addition of Kevin Durant effectively eradicates any offensive issues the Rockets may have been exposed for during last season’s playoffs. Amen Thompson is fast tracking his way to stardom and the Rockets are loaded with defenders with long wingspans. On paper, this is their best roster since 2018.
No. 1
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have essentially retained their entire championship and made sure J-Dub and Chet Holmgren will be under contract long-term. Until proven otherwise, the Thunder are the best team in the NBA.
