2026-27 NBA season preview: Rankings, predictions, odds - ESPN

Welcome back to the NBA. Just in case you didn't hear:

Giannis Antetokounmpo is (finally) in Miami; Jaylen Brown (stunningly) is in Philadelphia; Ja Morant (somewhat stunningly) is in Portland; Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto (it took a bit); LaMelo Ball is joining forces with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota's backcourt (it might take a bit); and the Lakers got a new lob threat for Luka Doncic (it worked last time): those major moves, plus the addition of a deep 2026 rookie class.

Oh. And a 41-year-old legend defying Father Time changed coasts, setting up the league's newest superteam, a major conference shift and potentially one of the most exciting seasons in recent history. Got all that?

On the eve of opening night, ESPN's NBA insiders and analysts are breaking down the stars and storylines that will shape 2026-27 and the run through the postseason.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Brian Windhorst, Ben Golliver, Ramona Shelburne, Kris Rhim, Baxter Holmes and Anthony Slater) think teams belong heading into this season.

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GS
HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM
MIA | MIL | MIN | NO | NY
OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR
SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason recap
Chances to make the playoffs: 99.9%
Projected wins: 60.7

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: The Thunder still have arguably the NBA's deepest roster despite the departures of a trio of championship-winning role players (Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins) via a series of salary-shedding summer trades. Back-to-back MVP Shai