The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.
East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards
West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
2025-26 finish
Record: 53-29 (4th in the West; lost 4-0 in West semifinals to Thunder)
Offseason moves
Draft: Cameron Carr (No. 24)
Signings:Austin Reaves (re-signed for 4 years, $180 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (4 year, $52 million), Quentin Grimes (4 years, $60 million), Collin Sexton (2 years, $19 million), Kevon Looney (1 year, $3.9 million), Ziaire Williams (1 year, $3 million), Matisse Thybulle (1 year, $3.3 million)
Trades: Walker Kessler (from Jazz), Jaden Hardy (from Wizards)
Key departures:LeBron James (signed with 76ers), Luke Kennard (signed with Suns), Marcus Smart (signed with Rockets), Jaxson Hayes (signed with Jazz), Deandre Ayton (traded to Wizards), Rui Hachimura (signed with Clippers)
Preseason Power Rankings: No. 6
What's exciting: Kessler could be the best center that Luka has ever played with. Kessler sets hard screens, rolls hard, and can make quick decisions as a passer. Last season, he also began to show off a spot-up 3-pointer. Kessler is at his best on defense, though. In his career, opponents shoot only 50.6% on shots within six feet of the rim, which is 13.3% worse than their average in those situations. So he's an elite rim protector who also brings the precise offensive traits that a center for Luka would ideally have. With Kessler, more shooters on the team, and Luka in the best shape of his career, this could end up Luka's first MVP season.
What's concerning: We're gonna find out how much perimeter defenders actually matter. Dončić and Reaves obviously aren't stoppers. But neither is Mamu, Grimes, Sexton, or Jake LaRavia. Maybe Kessler will clean up everything in the paint, but what happens when he's off the floor? Can the Lakers hold up? There is no doubt about what they can become offensively, but winning a title typically requires more success on defense than what the Lakers project to offer. — Kevin O'Connor
Preseason Power Rankings: How all 30 teams stack up ahead of 2026-27
Fantasy watch
Quentin Grimes seems locked in as a starter; he's started all three preseason games and is trending toward a rotation lock on the wing. Jake LaRavia has the early edge at PF. Walker Kessler (finger) hasn't debuted, but it's not concerning. Not much to say about Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves — elite guards no matter the format. — Dan Titus
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season
2026-27 schedule
Opening week: 10/21 vs. Warriors, 10/23 vs. Clippers
Betting perspective
46.5 — win total
-145 to win division
+3500 to win NBA Finals
Best case, worst case
Best case: No. 1 seed
This could earnestly — some may argue "finally" — be the MVP year for Dončić. There's best-offense-in-the-league potential with this group with him and Reaves at the helm, plus a higher volume of quality role players that could slot in alongside them. If the defense is better than expected, there's a pathway to churning out a ton of wins.
Worst case: Play-In Tournament
Because of how vital Dončić and Reaves are to their offense, the Lakers can't really afford to lose either of them for an extended period.
You could make a similar argument for Kessler and the defense. Anything short of an elite offense and serviceable defense could leave them vulnerable to the play-in picture. — Nekias Duncan