2026-27 NBA Season Preview: Teams You Need to Pay Watch Closely

The 2026-27 NBA season is just around the corner, with training camps opening up less than three weeks from today. So, let's take a look at what the season holds following a chaotic offseason that saw several superstars switch squads via free agency and trades, with a few clubs making big swings while others have decided to take a step back and build for the future.

The New York Knicks enter the NBA as defending champions for the first time since 1973-74. The Knicks, who became the Association's eighth straight different champion, have decided to do what most recent champions have done: run things back.

The Knicks return all five of their starters and 12 players overall. They did lose Mitchell Robinson to the Boston Celtics in free agency, though Andre Drummond is a suitable replacement. However, as with last season, frontcourt depth remains a concern for the Knicks, who also lost Ariel Hukporti to the Philadelphia 76ers. They do have an open roster spot, and all three of their two-way spots need to be filled.

Oklahoma City and San Antonio: Favorites To Lift the 2026-27 Larry O'Brien Trophy

Despite the Western Conference being considered the superior conference for better than a decade, New York's victory over San Antonio gave the East their fourth title in the last eight years. Still, Oklahoma City and San Antonio are considered the favorites in 2026-27, for a look at more basketball betting odds.

OKC have become the darlings of the NBA as the Thunder have gone from reclamation project to NBA champions. The Thunder have won 64+ games in the last two seasons and finished with the NBA's best record both seasons, marking the first time in franchise history they have won at least 60 contests. However, the Thunder's bid to become back-to-back champions was spoiled by the upstart Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.

OKC, which ran things back after winning the 2025 NBA title, will have a different look this upcoming campaign. The Thunder, facing major financial limitations, had to make tough decisions this summer, and it cost them some of their depth as they traded away Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe. They did re-sign starting center Isaiah Hartenstein and return 12 players from last year.

Meanwhile, San Antonio doesn't appear to be going anywhere as long as “The Alien” Victor Wembanyama remains healthy. The Spurs ended their six-year playoff drought and won 62 games, finishing just two games behind the Thunder. The Spurs return 11 players from last year and brought in Tobias Harris to help fortify their forward positions.

While OKC and San Antonio have maintained continuity, the rest of the West has undergone major changes. LeBron James won't be donning a Los Angeles Lakers uniform for the first time since the 2017-18 season, and they lost key veterans Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura in free agency. Granted, Luka Doncic is still in LA, and the Lakers gave Austin Reaves a massive contract, and they brought in Walker Kessler to anchor the middle.

Denver, led by Nikola Jokic, has won 50 games in each of the last four seasons. However, the biggest issue for the Nuggets has been their lack of depth, as they have seen Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, and Jalen Pickett depart. The Nuggets did bring in pure bucket-getter DeMar DeRozan.

Minnesota has made the playoffs in five straight years, reaching the Western Conference semifinals in 2025-26 after making the conference finals the two previous campaigns. The Timberwolves completely overhauled their roster, trading for LaMelo Ball and signing Jonathan Kuminga while sending out two valuable big men in Julius Randle and Naz Reid.

Phoenix returned to the playoffs this past season after missing the postseason in 2024-25 and then traded for Miles Bridges this offseason. But the Suns received terrible news as starting Mark Williams is expected to be out for several months after suffering an injury during a recent workout. The Los Angeles Clippers are a mess after their Kawhi Leonard scandal, and the Golden State Warriors are not expected to have Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody for the start of the season.

The East Has Gotten A Lot Better This Offseason

New York heads into the season as slight favorites to represent the Eastern Conference, but the East has gotten much tougher this offseason. The Knicks have their work cut out not only to be the first repeat NBA champion in nine seasons but to get out of the East.

Philadelphia is one of the teams that chose to chase a chip this year. The 76ers probably earned this year's championship-or-bust moniker. While general manager Mike Gansey did a phenomenal job constructing the roster – bringing in a lot of veterans, led by, of course, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, and quality role players – there is a chance that injuries could derail their title hopes. Also, there are questions surrounding Brown's fit with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Chemistry is also a question with seven newcomers.

Philadelphia isn't the only East team that overhauled its roster. The Miami Heat went “all-out” in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, sending out a lot of their depth from last year and future first-round picks. The Heat also brought in Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis, but they still lack depth, particularly in the backcourt, and are $2.6 million below the first apron, where they are hardcapped.

It took a while for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2017-18, to make noise this offseason. But when the Cavs did decide to make a move, they picked up highly coveted two-way wing Peyton Watson and re-signed James Harden after the 37-year-old opted out to give the Cavaliers some flexibility. With Watson, the Cavs' starting lineup is one of the best in the NBA. However, depth is a concern, particularly up front behind Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, as Max Strus, Dean Wade, and Dennis Schroder are elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers will look to bounce back from an injury-riddled season. The Pacers will once again be led by two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who returns after missing all of last season with an Achilles injury. While the Pacers ran things back after getting to the NBA Finals in 2025, they will look a little different since Haliburton last hit the floor, as they added Ivica Zubac (via a February trade deadline deal), Kelly Oubre Jr., and Larry Nance this offseason.

Detroit won an Eastern Conference-best 60 games last season and replaced Tobias Harris with John Collins while also adding Isaiah Joe and Taurean Prince. The biggest question will be how Jalen Duren plays after going through a long, drawn-out restricted free agency. Note: Duren is still on the open market, but is expected to return to MoTown.

Boston, which has won 50 games in each of the past five seasons, projects to take a step back this year. The Celtics still have Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, and they brought in Paul George along with Mitchell Robinson. The Celtics' success this season hinges on the health of Tatum, George, and Robinson, as well as the development of Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh.

Orlando made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, but the Magic failed to get past the first round each time. As a result, the Magic fired Jamahl Mosley after five years and turned to first-time head coach Sean Sweeney. Still, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are among the best forward duos in the league. Meanwhile, Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. are solid role players.

Toronto reached the playoffs for the first time since 2021-22 this past season, falling to Cleveland in seven games in the opening round. The problem for the Raptors –while they have several “buckets” on the roster–is that they didn't have a true “go-to-scorer,” but that apparently won't be the case this year as Kawhi Leonard is expected to land back in Toronto once the trade officially is completed. Leonard is coming off his best season this decade.

The Atlanta Hawks have increased their win total in each of the last two seasons. The Hawks, who snapped a two-year playoff drought, kept their core together and added defensive stalwart Lu Dort. The Hawks are also much deeper than a season ago with the additions of Aaron Wiggins along with first-round choices Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor.

East Has 3 Of The Youngest Teams in the NBA

The Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets rebuild is entering its fourth year. The Wizards and the Nets have two of the lowest win totals over the last three seasons with 50 and 78, respectively. The Nets (24.1 average age) and Wizards (24.4 average age) are two of the youngest teams in the Association. Still, both organizations made major roster additions over the last six months and have designs on competing for at least a Play-In spot.

Washington brought in Trae Young and Anthony Davis at February's trade deadline, though Young appeared in five games and Davis didn't suit up once for the Wizards. The Wizards also won the NBA draft lottery, selecting AJ Dybantsa, who was the consensus top prospect in the draft. The Wizards also traded for Deandre Ayton and brought back Khris Middleton this summer. They last made the playoffs in 2021.

Brooklyn's playoff drought extended to three seasons this past season. But the Nets have gone through the rebuild the right way by tearing things down and piling up assets. While the Nets have the most future draft picks, including 13 first-round selections, they went out and brought in Julius Randle to pair with Michael Porter Jr., whose first season in New York was cut short by injuries. They have seven first-round picks over the last two years on their 2026-27 roster, and 12 of the players on the 18-man roster have four or fewer years of experience.

Surprisingly, Chicago, coming off its worst campaign since 2020-21 with a 31-51 record, decided not to go full-on rebuild or spend heavily this summer despite having the third-most cap space and retooling its basketball department. Instead, Bulls general manager Bryson Graham and head coach Tiago Splitter went young-ish with the selection of Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain in the first round of the NBA draft, pairing them with Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. The Bulls, who also added Nic Claxton and Norman Powell, are the third-youngest team at an average age of 24.5.

Three Teams Looking To Take Next Step

In addition to the Nets and Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz are looking to take the next step. Portland made the playoffs and won 40 games for the first time since 2020-21, and the Trail Blazers will have a healthy Damian Lillard and have brought in Ja Morant to complement him. The Blazers still have Jrue Holiday, Deni Avdija, Robert Williams, Donovan Clingan and Scoot Henderson, but Shaedon Sharpe will miss six months of action.

While Charlotte saw their playoff drought extend to 10 years, the Hornets are coming off their best season in a decade and have some young talent led by Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. Instead of continuing with the same guard, the Hornets shook things up by bringing in seven newcomers, including Grayson Allen, Dennis Schroder, and Royce O'Neale (Via trades) while also re-signing Coby White.

Utah has missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season, but the Jazz made a big splash at the trade deadline with the acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. Keyonte George took a major step last season, and Ace Bailey stepped up his production after the All-Star break. The Jazz still have Lauri Markkanen, and they drafted Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick.

Two Teams Going Through A Reset