ClutchPoints’ 2026-27 NBA Power Rankings Week 1: Thunder, Knicks, Spurs open season at top of league appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Remember when the New York Knicks won the NBA Finals, ending the franchise’s 53-year title drought and putting the final stamp on the 2025-26 season? That moment is nothing more than a piece of NBA history now, as it’s officially time for the 2026-27 season, a year that could just go down as one of the best.
LeBron James still hasn’t retired, and he is now teaming up with Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid on the Philadelphia 76ers. Is this the best team in the Eastern Conference, one that can dethrone the defending champions?
What about Giannis Antetokounmpo finally getting his wish and being traded to the Miami Heat? Can Kawhi Leonard defy all odds again by winning a championship in the same year he was traded to the Toronto Raptors?
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Over in the Western Conference, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves usher in a new era of Los Angeles Lakers basketball, while LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards create one of the most dynamic backcourt duos in the entire NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to make it three straight years with the best record in the NBA, and Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs are on a mission to redeem themselves from their Finals loss to the Knicks.
The NBA is back, and on the eve of Opening Night, ClutchPoints is here to bring you the first installment of the 2026-27 power rankings. Here is where all 30 teams stand as they enter the new season.
Previous 2026-27 NBA Power Rankings: Preseason
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (-)
2025-26 Record: 64-18 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #1
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at SAS (10/20), vs. DEN (10/22), vs. LAC (10/25)
Even after trading Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe this offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2026-27 season with one of the deepest rosters around two-time defending MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Aday Mara make up an elite three-man frontcourt rotation, Jalen Williams is finally healthy again, and the Thunder have plenty of ball-handling guards in Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and Jared McCain behind SGA.
The Thunder are clearly still the best team in the league, and unlike last year, they do not have that added weight of trying to defend their championship. After falling in the Western Conference Finals, this championship-proven team has extra motivation with the new regular season finally here.
That is scary to think about.
2. New York Knicks (-)
2025-26 Record: 53-29 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #2
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. PHI (10/20), at BOS (10/23), vs. ORL (10/25)
The big question we always ask about teams coming off championship runs is how well they will handle the pressure of going from the hunters to the hunted. This is what the Knicks will face entering the 2026-27 season, as this is a whole new pressure they have never experienced before.
What the Knicks did last year in the playoffs was historic, and it should be celebrated. However, to think they can sustain that level of play is impossible to fathom. This is a new year with new expectations, and the East as a whole is much different than what they went through to win their title.
Not to mention, failed contract talks with Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart will loom large all year until a final decision is made. It will also be interesting to see how the Knicks’ frontcourt looks after replacing Mitchell Robinson with Andre Drummond and rewarding former No. 2 pick James Wiseman with the No. 3 center spot.
3. San Antonio Spurs (-)
2025-26 Record: 62-20 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #3
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. OKC (10/20), vs. HOU (10/23), at DAL (10/24)
The biggest talking point for the Spurs entering the 2026-27 season is what Mitch Johnson ultimately decides to do with his trio of guards: De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle.
Will all three be in the starting lineup alongside Wemby, or will Harper again be relegated to the bench?
So much talent and depth exists on this Spurs’ roster that they could actually get away with playing three guards early in the season and experimenting with their lineups around Wembanyama. After all, the Spurs’ second unit of Tobias Harris, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Luke Kornet, and Harrison Barnes could put up a fight against almost any team in the league as well.
This team has everything it needs to not only get back to the NBA Finals but also potentially finish the regular season with the best record in the NBA.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (-)
2025-26 Record: 45-37 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #4
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at NYK (10/20), vs. CLE (10/22), vs. MIL (10/24), vs. DET (10/25)
All eyes will be on the 76ers this season. From LeBron’s helicopter rides to Joel Embiid’s health to who sacrifices scoring possessions between Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown late in games, the 76ers are the biggest superstar-driven story of the 2026-27 campaign.
New Sixers executive Mike Gansey has done an incredible job of assembling what many around the NBA are calling the most talented roster. Still, we need to actually see this team play meaningful games before we can conclude that they have what it takes to win it all.
After all, chemistry takes time to build, and the 76ers are at a disadvantage in the East compared to teams that have gone on a Finals run together like the Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers.
It will be very interesting to see how Nick Nurse manages his new group, especially since it’s inevitable that James and Embiid won’t play in back-to-backs and various injury concerns will pop up throughout the year. For this group to be successful, Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons will need to hold integral roles off the bench.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (+2)
2025-26 Record: 52-30 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #7
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at PHI (10/22), vs. BKN (10/24)
Are we sleeping on the Cleveland Cavaliers? Losing 4-0 to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals was not a good look for this team, but the Cavs didn’t play their best basketball, and it’s not like they were different than any other team that ran into the red-hot Knicks in the postseason.
James Harden has had a full offseason to work on his craft with his new teammates, the Cavaliers are fully healthy, and they also added Peyton Watson as a dynamic, athletic wing Cleveland has been in need of. This will be a pick-and-roll-heavy team that looks to punish their opponents in transition, especially now that Watson is in the mix.
The only issue with the Cavs is that they may have the weakest bench unit in the NBA, with Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson being their only proven, dependable options.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (-)
2025-26 Record: 53-29 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #6
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. GSW (10/21), vs. LAC (10/23), at UTA (10/25)
A new era has begun for the Los Angeles Lakers. This is now fully Luka Doncic’s team after LeBron left in the offseason, and the good news is that they retained Austin Reaves in the summer. The better news is that the Lakers finally added a key two-way big man in Walker Kessler, who may just emerge as one of the league’s most improved players.
On one hand, the Lakers should be one of the league’s best offensive teams. Doncic led the league in scoring last year, and with plenty of secondary scorers in Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and others, Los Angeles can finally spread the ball and feel confident.
At the same time, what the Lakers are getting on offense isn’t the same as what they’ll get on defense. Kessler will hold his own in the paint, and Matisse Thybulle is a very strong perimeter defender on the wing, but Doncic and Reaves are easily two of the worst backcourt defenders in isolation situations.
This is definitely the best complete team JJ Redick has had since he took over as the head coach of the team in 2024, so expectations are high to be a title contender in the West.
7. Detroit Pistons (-2)
2025-26 Record: 60-22 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #5
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. BOS (10/20), at MIA (10/23), at PHI (10/25)
All of the Jalen Duren contract drama is behind the Detroit Pistons after the center agreed to a new five-year, $200 million contract. But has the damage been done, and will Duren be the same impactful player he was during the 2025-26 season?
One thing we do know about the Pistons is that Cade Cunningham is only going to continue getting better, and he enters the new year as a dark-horse MVP candidate. Now that he has John Collins and Isaiah Joe next to him, Cunningham has more weapons to dish out assists to.
For the Pistons to be real title contenders coming off their historic 60-22 season, not only will Duren need to continue to grow, but Ausar Thompson will need to be more than just a factor defensively.
8. Denver Nuggets (+1)
2025-26 Record: 54-28 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #9
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at OKC (10/22), vs. NOP (10/24)
Nikola Jokic is now 31 years old, and Jamal Murray is 29. Time is running out for the Denver Nuggets to capitalize on a championship window everyone around the league believed to be open when this team won it all in 2023.
Since then, the Nuggets have been defined by a lack of depth and key injuries around Jokic that have limited their postseason potential. Although questions about Denver’s overall depth still exist, the Nuggets have kept their entire starting five. DeMar DeRozan also joined the team on a minimum contract, making for an intriguing fit as a sixth man off the bench.
We will wait and see what the Nuggets look like over the first few weeks of the regular season before locking in what they could be for the entire 2026-27 season. Even so, Aaron Gordon’s health looms large.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (-1)
2025-26 Record: 49-33 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #8
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at MIA (10/21), at ORL (10/23), vs. TOR (10/25)
Aside from what they can do on the court, what LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards do off the court will define the 2026-27 season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. These two create the NBA’s must-see reality show this year, making the T-Wolves must-see on NBA League Pass every night they’re playing.
By trading for Ball, the Timberwolves have gone all-in with Edwards leading the charge, making it clear that now is the time for them to finally break through and take down both the Thunder and Spurs.
Whether or not the Wolves have enough size behind Rudy Gobert is the big question surrounding this group. Jonathan Kuminga could be good, but we’ve been saying this for years. Joan Beringer could wind up being the X-factor for this team, but we just haven’t seen him play.
The only givens on this team outside of Ball and Edwards are that Jaden McDaniels will emerge as one of the better two-way players in the league and Ayo Dosunmu will continue to be one of the better secondary guard scorers.
10. Houston Rockets (-)
2025-26 Record: 52-30 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #10
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. DAL (10/21), at SAS (10/23), at ATL (10/24)
Everything that could’ve gone wrong for the Houston Rockets last season went wrong, especially in terms of internal drama surrounding Kevin Durant and the rest of the team. Now that Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams are back, a lot of tension has eased both on and off the court.
The biggest difference for this team is getting VanVleet back on the floor. Aside from being able to shoot and make plays for others, VanVleet simply gives the Rockets a lead ball-handler, which takes an enormous amount of pressure off Durant to have to do everything.
If there is any year for the Rockets to finally break through and go on a run, it’s this season.
11. Boston Celtics (+1)
2025-26 Record: 56-26 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #12
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at DET (10/20), vs. NYK (10/23)
Paul George can’t replace Jaylen Brown, but he can play his role and fit into Joe Mazzulla’s convoluted puzzle next to Jayson Tatum. Whether or not the Boston Celtics take a step back is solely dependent on Derrick White’s ability to have a bounce-back season.
White would be the first to tell you that he did not play well during the 2025-26 season, shooting less than 40 percent from the floor and roughly 33 percent from 3-point range. Those averages must increase in order for the Celtics to have any chance of winning the East.
Three-point shooting will once again be the bread and butter of the Celtics’ identity, especially with the space they will create off pick-and-roll sets with Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson. Boston is still in the top half of the NBA power rankings for the time being, but they are as unpredictable as any team entering the new year.
12. Toronto Raptors (-1)
2025-26 Record: 46-36 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #11
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. CHI (10/21), at WAS (10/23), at MIN (10/25)
Last time the Toronto Raptors traded for Kawhi Leonard in the offseason, they went on to win a championship, the only title in franchise history. Will the same thing happen again seven or eight years later?
As crazy as it sounds, Kawhi is back with the Raptors, and he is not facing any penalties from the salary cap circumvention case that happened with the LA Clippers. Leonard is locked in to competing for another title in Toronto, and he will look to do so alongside Scottie Barnes and a young, dynamic team with plenty of versatile athletes.
Last season, the Raptors took a step forward defensively, ranking fifth in defensive rating and giving the Cavs a run for their money in a first-round playoff series that went seven games. Unfortunately for them, Toronto didn’t have a closer it could lean on for offensive production.
They now have that with Kawhi, and the Raptors should see growth from young options like Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobi Walter, and Collin Murray-Boyles this season. If there is one team nobody is talking about in the championship mix who could shock many and finish near the top of the standings, it has to be Toronto.
13. Miami Heat (+1)
2025-26 Record: 43-39 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #14
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. MIN (10/21), vs. DET (10/23), at CHA (10/24)
Defense will not be a problem for the Miami Heat with Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading things in the frontcourt. Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell are also elite defensive options returning this season for a Heat team that ranked 13th in defensive rating.
Whether or not the Heat can actually take a step forward on offense is their biggest question entering the new year.
As good as Giannis is, he alone can’t carry a team, which was evident in Milwaukee with all the problems he faced. Hero ball won’t work in South Beach, which puts pressure on Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to be factors as shooters off the bench.
Without Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, who will step up to score for the Heat around Antetokounmpo and Adebayo? This is what we will be looking for an answer to over the first few weeks of the 2026-27 season.
14. Indiana Pacers (+2)
2025-26 Record: 19-63 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #16
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at NOP (10/21), vs. DAL (10/23), at BKN (10/25)
Do not look at the Indiana Pacers’ 19-63 record from last season too much. This team was not good last year, but the bottom line is that their entire core was hurt and the Pacers weren’t trying to win any games after December.
Basically, take the 2025-26 season, curl it up into a ball, and throw it away without ever thinking about it again because the Pacers are essentially starting this 2026-27 season where they left off in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Tyrese Haliburton is back from his Achilles injury, Pascal Siakam is rejuvenated and highly motivated, Ivica Zubac is ready to make a huge impact at the center position, and all of the Pacers’ secondary players are good to go. Out of all the teams in the East, the Pacers have the most options and offensive depth.
15. Atlanta Hawks (-2)
2025-26 Record: 46-36 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #13
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at ORL (10/21), at CHA (10/23), vs. HOU (10/24)
It really seems like No. 15 in the power rankings is a fair rating for the Atlanta Hawks entering the 2026-27 season because they realistically could go down the good or bad path. While this is true with any team theoretically, the Hawks are truly at a crossroads in terms of finding something in themselves or needing to reset again.
Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have taken the Most Improved Player awards in back-to-back seasons for Atlanta, and Jalen Johnson emerged as a top player in the league after his All-Star and All-NBA campaign. Now that the Hawks added Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, two key two-way wings with championship pedigree, this team should be able to take another big step forward.
Then again, compared to other teams in the East, the Hawks aren’t being looked at the same because they don’t have that one go-to superstar on their roster. Honestly, the Hawks are built in a very similar way to that of the Pacers, which is why nobody should be surprised if they do go on a run and emerge as one of the better teams in the East.
While this team certainly has the potential to be viewed as such, they could also easily find their way into the play-in tournament with how good their competition will be this season.
16. Orlando Magic (-1)
2025-26 Record: 45-37 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #15
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. ATL (10/21), vs. MIN (10/23), at NYK (10/25)
Sean Sweeney is taking over as the head coach of the Orlando Magic after playing a key role in the development of several San Antonio Spurs players. He inherits a team built to compete right now, and this may just be the Magic’s last chance to win before making major trade decisions with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane.
Unlike other teams in the East, who will rely on their depth and guard play, the Magic have been built to score in the paint and beat their opponents with size. Banchero, Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., and Nikola Vucevic give Orlando a height advantage over other teams, and Anthony Black will again hold a key scoring role off the bench in the backcourt.
If this team can stay healthy, and that has been a major if in recent years, then the Magic could surprise a lot of people.
17. Dallas Mavericks (+1)
2025-26 Record: 26-56 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #18
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at HOU (10/21), at IND (10/23), vs. SAS (10/24)
Cooper Flagg is not only about to become a first-time All-Star, but he could wind up being in the MVP mix if the Dallas Mavericks step up this season under first-time NBA coach Dusty May. Overall, this is a lot to like about this group.
Kyrie Irving is back from his ACL injury, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II (when healthy) create a strong one-two punch in the frontcourt, and the Mavs have arguably the most size out of any team in the league through secondary talent like Santi Aldama, PJ Washington, Naji Marshall, and Zaccharie Risacher.
Figuring things out on offense will be key for the Mavs to find success this year. While Kyrie’s return definitely helps, he alone will not evolve the Mavs from ranking 27th in offensive rating to becoming a top-10 offensive team in the league. This is where Dallas needs to get to in order to be a playoff threat.
18. Phoenix Suns (-1)
2025-26 Record: 45-37 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #17
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at POR (10/21), vs. GSW (10/24)
Due to all the injuries the Phoenix Suns dealt with last year, we weren’t able to get a valid sample size of Jalen Green playing alongside Devin Booker. Whether or not this duo can actually win together is the Suns’ big question entering the 2026-27 season, and it will define the future of this organization since they sense some pressure to win with Booker.
The addition of Miles Bridges should help solve some secondary scoring issues that exist, primarily at the forward positions, but losing Mark Williams really hurts this group. It’s hard to look at the Suns and think they can be successful this year without Williams in the frontcourt unless Khaman Maluach emerges.
19. Golden State Warriors (-)
2025-26 Record: 37-45 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #19
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at LAL (10/21), vs. MEM (10/23), at PHX (10/24)
It seems like we’ve been calling the Golden State Warriors the ultimate wild cards for years. Once again, this team is the ultimate wild card simply because of Stephen Curry and his greatness.
In a perfect world for Golden State, everyone can actually be healthy and return for this team to go on a run during the second half of the year. The only problem is that it’s been as far from a perfect world as it could be for the Warriors, and it doesn’t seem like Jimmy Butler or Moses Moody will be back before 2027.
To make matters worse, Kristaps Porzingis is still without a timetable for his return from his mysterious health problems, and Stephen Curry twisted his ankle during a live practice on Sunday. Maybe the Warriors will shock everyone like they did during the 2021-22 season, but right now, this seems extremely far-fetched with all of their injury concerns.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (+1)
2025-26 Record: 42-40 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #21
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. PHX (10/21), at SAC (10/23)
Even with the headlines of Damian Lillard’s return and Ja Morant’s debut, the Portland Trail Blazers are engulfed in a shroud of mystery because of owner Tom Dundon, who continues to use the threat of relocation to try and get a deal done with the city of Portland for ongoing arena issues.
It is quite sad that this has spiraled out of hand and the Blazers’ owner continues to make questionable decisions since taking over the franchise last year. The city of Portland deserves better, and hopefully the players on the court can mask the distractions their owner has created.
21. Washington Wizards (-1)
2025-26 Record: 17-65 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #20
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. MIL (10/21), vs. TOR (10/23), at CHI (10/24)
Many will believe it when they see it, but the Washington Wizards are going to be a good basketball team during the 2026-27 season.
Anthony Davis and Trae Young are one of the league’s more underrated All-Star duos, and when you add AJ Dybantsa to the mix with all the youthful depth on Washington’s roster, all of a sudden you have a team that is capable of making the playoffs in the East.
With Davis healthy in the frontcourt next to Alex Sarr, the Wizards have the size, depth, and scoring potential to compete with a lot of teams deemed automatic playoff contenders.
22. Utah Jazz (+2)
2025-26 Record: 22-60 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #24
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at MEM (10/21), vs. NOP (10/23), vs. LAL (10/25)
Losing Walker Kessler in free agency and then seeing Jusuf Nurkic go down with a foot injury in the preseason leaves the Utah Jazz shorthanded in the frontcourt next to Jaren Jackson Jr. However, the Jazz will be an exciting team because of the scoring potential that exists among Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and rookie Darryn Peterson.
This team definitely has the offensive potential to be a threat in the Western Conference, yet the holes in their frontcourt will need to be addressed. After all, the West is dominated by frontcourt talents like Wembanyama, Holmgren, Jokic, and others, so Will Hardy will have his work cut out for him to solve Utah’s center problems.
23. Charlotte Hornets (-1)
2025-26 Record: 42-40 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #22
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at BKN (10/21), vs. ATL (10/23), vs. MIA (10/24)
As fun as it was to watch the Charlotte Hornets as the team everyone was rooting for last year, they will likely take a slight step back for the better during the 2026-27 season. Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are clear pinnacles of this franchise moving forward, one that has plenty of future draft picks and a lot of financial flexibility to continue building the roster how they see fit.
Charlotte has a lot of depth at every position except in the frontcourt, where Ryan Kalkbrenner, Moussa Diabate, and rookie Hannes Steinbach will take charge alongside newly added Naz Reid.
Unfortunately for the Hornets, Knueppel and Coby White are expected to miss the start of the year due to injury, which will delay this new-look roster from building chemistry on the court.
24. LA Clippers (-1)
2025-26 Record: 42-40 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #23
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. SAC (10/21), at LAL (10/23), at OKC (10/25)
All of the drama that surrounded the Clippers is now behind them. Leonard is with the Raptors, and owner Steve Ballmer and executive Lawrence Frank will be serving their suspensions away from the team.
In the meantime, Tyronn Lue is tasked with navigating a roster already missing 33 percent of its players due to injury.
Brandon Ingram, Max Strus, Bradley Beal, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser are all out to begin the year, which will put the ball in the hands of Darius Garland and newly added Rui Hachimura to try and get the job done for LA. Overall, this group looks like a fringe playoff team on paper that could spring some upsets during the 2026-27 season.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (+2)
2025-26 Record: 26-56 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #27
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. IND (10/21), at UTA (10/23), at DEN (10/24)
The same group is returning for the New Orleans Pelicans, and the team added Bennedict Mathurin in the offseason, who will add a scoring punch off the bench on the wing.
In terms of pure talent, the Pelicans definitely have a team many are sleeping on. Dejounte Murray and Jeremiah Fears are two talented guards, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones are terrific wing talents, and Zion Williamson is an All-NBA-caliber player when healthy.
There is definitely room to improve in New Orleans, and this group understands this. The front office continues to believe in this roster and has not given up on them yet, so maybe… just maybe, there is a chance the Pels can make a little bit of noise and flirt with the play-in tournament.
26. Memphis Grizzlies (-1)
2025-26 Record: 25-57 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #25
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. UTA (10/21), at GSW (10/23), at SAC (10/25)
Could Cam Boozer actually help make the Memphis Grizzlies better than many expect? It is certainly possible since the Grizzlies have multiple young, high-potential players in Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, and Jaylen Wells — all of whom are capable of emerging as long-term starters for this team.
This is nothing more than a rebuilding team looking to avoid the bottom of the standings, and the Grizzlies should be able to do so with veterans like Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart, and Ty Jerome leading the charge.
27. Chicago Bulls (-1)
2025-26 Record: 22-60 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #26
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at TOR (10/21), at MIL (10/23), vs. WAS (10/24)
If we know anything about the Chicago Bulls, it’s that they will play fast and look to get out in transition with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and rookie Caleb Wilson, who could mess around and win the Rookie of the Year award since he will have plenty of opportunities down the stretch to be the No. 1 option in Chicago.
Last season in Portland, Tiago Splitter coached the Blazers, who ranked 10th in pace and 16th in points per game. Expect to see much of the same with the Bulls this year, where they crash the glass defensively and look to create mismatches in 4-on-3 and 3-on-2 opportunities.
28. Milwaukee Bucks (+1)
2025-26 Record: 32-50 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #29
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at WAS (10/21), vs. CHI (10/23), at PHI (10/24)
At some point this season, probably at multiple points, the Milwaukee Bucks will be making trades. It is not a given that Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware remain on this roster through the 2026-27 season, and the Bucks have been attempting to trade their veterans for months.
This is a rebuilding team looking to stash young talent and draft picks in the post-Giannis era, which is why the Bucks will be one of the worst teams in the league this year.
29. Brooklyn Nets (+1)
2025-26 Record: 20-62 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #30
2026-27 Opening week schedule: vs. CHA (10/21), at CLE (10/24), vs. IND (10/25)
Unlike their in-city rivals in the Knicks, who will be celebrating their recent championship and looking to do it again, the Brooklyn Nets are still trying to figure out the direction in which they move since getting rid of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2023.
With five first-round picks in 2025, the Nets were expected to finally have the tools to build a long-term, sustainable core, yet Egor Demin looks like the only draft pick from last year’s class who has a chance to make a huge impact.
Maybe Demin and rookie Mikel Brown Jr. can provide some promise next to veterans Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr., but this is a team that isn’t set up to win, no matter how you look at them.
30. Sacramento Kings (-2)
2025-26 Record: 22-60 | ClutchPoints Preseason ranking: #28
2026-27 Opening week schedule: at LAC (10/21), vs. POR (10/23), vs. MEM (10/25)
Expect to see a lot of Darius Acuff Jr. this season for the Sacramento Kings, especially after Ben Simmons suffered a torn Achilles days before the 2026-27 season. Executive Scott Perry and the Kings have instilled a lot of confidence in Acuff to be the young leader of this team, and he could see extra opportunities if the team moves Zach LaVine and/or Domantas Sabonis.
Although the Kings have some solid-looking young pieces, headlined by Acuff, Sacramento still needs a lot in order to be what they were a few years ago. It is still crazy to think that the Kings were the 3-seed in the Western Conference in 2023.