NBA rebuild rankings - How close are 14 teams to a title? - ESPN

When the first version of the 2025 NBA rebuild rankings launched in March, the expectation was that the NBA's draft lottery would signal a massive shift. With Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper believed to be the consensus top two talents in the class, whichever bottom-dwelling franchises that landed them would undoubtedly skyrocket up the list.

But then came that fateful night in May, when the Dallas Mavericks — their 2024 Finals roster reeling from the shocking Luka Doncic trade in February and Kyrie Irving's torn ACL in March — and the San Antonio Spurs landed the top two selections. Even the third pick in the draft, VJ Edgecombe, went to the Philadelphia 76ers, who entered last season as title contenders before injuries to their stars plummeted their season.

As a result, the latest version of these rankings is as hard to parse as in the spring.

What can last season's bottom four teams — the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets, who failed to get the lottery luck they needed — do to jump start their rebuilds? What's next for teams such as the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers, who missed the playoffs last year but are making moves to sneak into contention?

Here's our examination of where the 14 teams that missed the playoffs last season stand in their rebuilds, specifically how close each is to championship contention.

Note: Our rebuild rankings are not based on where rosters stand right now. Having more present-day talent doesn't automatically mean you're farther along in a rebuild. This list focuses on the combination of current talent and future upside to create the kind of championship alchemy teams are hoping to discover.

Players under 25: 8
Tradeable first-round