Aug 11, 2026 - 14:51
By espn.com

2026-27 NBA season: Under-the-radar concerns for title contenders - ESPN

The NBA preseason is still more than seven weeks away, but it's never too early to examine underreported issues that could derail the league's top title contenders.

The New York Knicks ran through the East playoffs on their way to their first championship in 53 years, but what's their biggest hole heading into next season? Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs made the Finals ahead of schedule, but what could stop them from making a return trip in 2027? And what will the Oklahoma City Thunder need to overcome to claim the franchise's second title in three seasons?

Our ESPN insiders broke down these questions and others, revealing the biggest under-the-radar concerns for the 10 teams with the best chances of winning the 2026-27 NBA championship.

Odds provided by DraftKings at time of publication.

NBA championship odds: +270

Coming off its first NBA Finals appearance since 2014, San Antonio smartly added around the edges in free agency, bringing aboard Tobias Harris with a two-year deal worth $31 million in addition to re-signing Julian Champagnie to a three-year, $45 million contract. But Harris and Champagnie play the same position, which naturally leads to questions about how coach Mitch Johnson might deploy lineups next season.

A similar situation exists in the backcourt with veteran De'Aaron Fox and rising second-year man Dylan Harper.

Harris, 33, averaged 13.3 points last season, shooting 46.9% from the field and 36.8% from 3, and produced eight postseason outings for Detroit with 20 points or more. Champagnie, meanwhile, averaged 11.1 points per game last season with two 20-point