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NBA free agency is winding down, and teams are taking shape with the 2026-27 season approaching.
Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks will look to defend their title, but they're in an Eastern Conference that's filled with teams that have improved. There's LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat.
There's also no shortage of dangerous teams in the West. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are reigning conference champs, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder are looking to reclaim the throne.
There's still time for movement around the NBA. But for now, let's get into league rankings. And we'll continue with Nos. 20-11:
Exclusive: Thunder GM Sam Presti talks about Lu Dort trade, OKC offseason moves
Here are the top remaining NBA free agents:
MUSSATTO: OKC Thunder ownership on watch after salary dumping Lu Dort
Portland wasn't on my list of potential landing spots for Ja Morant. It'll be interesting to see how he fits in a crowded backcourt that also features a now-healthy Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson.
But there's no shortage of talent with these Trail Blazers, who also have versatile wings and great size at the five. If it can all mesh well, this will be a sneaky-good team in the West.
More: How did OKC Thunder rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz grade in 2026 NBA Summer League?
Phoenix surpassed expectations last season, as it made the playoffs despite moving on from Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. It was a tough, gritty team that got contributions across the board.
The Suns then added an athletic forward in Miles Bridges and a lethal shooter in Luke Kennard. It's a solid group that should play every opponent hard again this season.
Cooper Flagg looked impressive as a rookie, especially down the stretch of last season. And he'll benefit from playing alongside a now-healthy Kyrie Irving, who's elite at creating for himself and others.
Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher are also two underrated pickups, and Morez Johnson Jr. is a well-rounded rookie who should immediately contribute to winning. Dallas fans deserve something to be excited about after an abrupt ending to the Luka Doncic era, and this group is worth being optimistic about.
Keyonte George took a huge leap last season for Utah, which also landed Jaren Jackson Jr. And then it used the second overall pick in the 2026 draft to select Darryn Peterson, who has superstar written all over him.
Even without Walker Kessler, this is a deep Jazz team that has talent at every position. It'll be one of the biggest risers in the West this season.
MUSSATTO'S MINUTES: Lu Dort leaves Thunder as best developmental success ever for OKC
It was a bit surprising to see Orlando mostly remain the same this summer, considering the team has had three straight first-round exits. The Nikola Vucevic reunion is cool to see, although he's not a needle mover at age 35.
Health and shooting are still the two biggest concerns for the Magic. And since I can't count on either of those to improve this season, I see this as a Play-In team once again.
Atlanta was one of the more active teams this offseason. It used the No. 8 pick to select Kingston Flemings, a hard-nosed player who could be the team's point guard of the future, and it made a pair of trades.
The Hawks acquired Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, two players with championship experience from their Thunder days. They should both be impactful on an Atlanta team that might be flying under the radar.
Kawhi Leonard has rejoined Toronto, a team he led to a 2019 NBA championship, pending a league investigation and completion of the trade with the Clippers. And while I don't expect the now-35-year-old star to fully repeat that success this time around, the Raptors should be competitive.
The defensive trio of Leonard, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles will be a nightmare for opposing offenses, and Toronto also has enough weapons to be an above-average offense. If it can hit some 3-pointers and get solid center production, it could climb this list even more.
More: OKC Thunder assistant coach Chip Engelland joins Rockets staff, per report
Last year can be scrapped for Indiana, which didn't have superstar guard Tyrese Haliburton due to injury. He'll now rejoin a team that's only two years removed from reaching Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
The Pacers have also found their Myles Turner replacement in Ivica Zubac, making this a pretty complete starting five. And with contributors such as TJ McConnell, Obi Toppin and now Kelly Oubre Jr. coming off the bench, Indiana has all the pieces it needs to return to relevance.
This was already Luka Doncic's team, but he'll have even more responsibilities now that LeBron James is gone. And he'll have some new weapons at his disposal with additions such as Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
I do think the Lakers will be hurting in the wing department, especially after also losing Rui Hachimura. And they'll also miss Marcus Smart, one of their few defensive standouts. But there's still enough talent around Doncic and Austin Reaves for this to be one of the better teams in the West.
Miami finally landed its next superstar by acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, who'll form an elite frontcourt duo with Bam Adebayo. And the Heat should also be elite defensively with players such as Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins still in the mix.
Floor spacing and depth are the two biggest concerns, and that could place a ceiling on this team come playoff time. But I do expect it to be a strong regular-season squad.
More: Lu Dort leaves lasting legacy with OKC Thunder after trade to Atlanta Hawks
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA power rankings after free agency: Can Giannis Antetokounmpo lead Heat to title?
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Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks will look to defend their title, but they're in an Eastern Conference that's filled with teams that have improved. There's LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat.
There's also no shortage of dangerous teams in the West. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are reigning conference champs, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder are looking to reclaim the throne.
There's still time for movement around the NBA. But for now, let's get into league rankings. And we'll continue with Nos. 20-11:
Exclusive: Thunder GM Sam Presti talks about Lu Dort trade, OKC offseason moves
Top available NBA free agents
Here are the top remaining NBA free agents:
- Guards: James Harden, Bennedict Mathurin (RFA), Bruce Brown Jr., Russell Westbrook, Gary Payton II, Brandon Williams and Gabe Vincent
- Forwards: Peyton Watson (RFA), Jonathan Kuminga, DeMar DeRozan, Bradley Beal, Nicolas Batum, Ochai Agbaji and Jeremy Sochan
- Centers: Jalen Duren (RFA), Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks and Kelly Olynyk
MUSSATTO: OKC Thunder ownership on watch after salary dumping Lu Dort
NBA rankings after 2026 offseason: 20-11
No. 20: Portland Trail Blazers
- Added: Branden Carlson, Ja Morant and Micah Potter
- Lost: Matisse Thybulle, Jerami Grant and Kris Murray
- Projected starting lineup: Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan
Portland wasn't on my list of potential landing spots for Ja Morant. It'll be interesting to see how he fits in a crowded backcourt that also features a now-healthy Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson.
But there's no shortage of talent with these Trail Blazers, who also have versatile wings and great size at the five. If it can all mesh well, this will be a sneaky-good team in the West.
More: How did OKC Thunder rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz grade in 2026 NBA Summer League?
No. 19: Phoenix Suns
- Added: Miles Bridges, Luke Kennard and Koa Peat
- Lost: Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale
- Projected starting lineup: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams
Phoenix surpassed expectations last season, as it made the playoffs despite moving on from Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. It was a tough, gritty team that got contributions across the board.
The Suns then added an athletic forward in Miles Bridges and a lethal shooter in Luke Kennard. It's a solid group that should play every opponent hard again this season.
No. 18: Dallas Mavericks
- Added: Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic, Sergio De Larrea, Vsevolod Ishchenko, Morez Johnson Jr., Tobi Lawal, Zaccharie Risacher and Marcus Sasser
- Lost: Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson, Khris Middleton and Ryan Nembhard
- Projected starting lineup: Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford
Cooper Flagg looked impressive as a rookie, especially down the stretch of last season. And he'll benefit from playing alongside a now-healthy Kyrie Irving, who's elite at creating for himself and others.
Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher are also two underrated pickups, and Morez Johnson Jr. is a well-rounded rookie who should immediately contribute to winning. Dallas fans deserve something to be excited about after an abrupt ending to the Luka Doncic era, and this group is worth being optimistic about.
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No. 17: Utah Jazz
- Added: Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie and Darryn Peterson
- Lost: Walker Kessler
- Projected starting lineup: Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic
Keyonte George took a huge leap last season for Utah, which also landed Jaren Jackson Jr. And then it used the second overall pick in the 2026 draft to select Darryn Peterson, who has superstar written all over him.
Even without Walker Kessler, this is a deep Jazz team that has talent at every position. It'll be one of the biggest risers in the West this season.
MUSSATTO'S MINUTES: Lu Dort leaves Thunder as best developmental success ever for OKC
No. 16: Orlando Magic
- Added: Izaiyah Nelson and Nikola Vucevic
- Lost: Moritz Wagner
- Projected starting lineup: Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.
It was a bit surprising to see Orlando mostly remain the same this summer, considering the team has had three straight first-round exits. The Nikola Vucevic reunion is cool to see, although he's not a needle mover at age 35.
Health and shooting are still the two biggest concerns for the Magic. And since I can't count on either of those to improve this season, I see this as a Play-In team once again.
No. 15: Atlanta Hawks
- Added: Devin Carter, Lu Dort, Zuby Ejiofor, Kingston Flemings, Ryan Nembhard, Henri Veesaar and Aaron Wiggins
- Lost: Jonathan Kuminga, Zaccharie Risacher, Gabe Vincent and Keaton Wallace
- Projected starting lineup: CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Lu Dort, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu
Atlanta was one of the more active teams this offseason. It used the No. 8 pick to select Kingston Flemings, a hard-nosed player who could be the team's point guard of the future, and it made a pair of trades.
The Hawks acquired Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, two players with championship experience from their Thunder days. They should both be impactful on an Atlanta team that might be flying under the radar.
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No. 14: Toronto Raptors
- Added: Kyle Anderson, Jaden Bradley, Allen Graves and Kawhi Leonard
- Lost: Gradey Dick, Brandon Ingram and Sandro Mamukelashvili
- Projected starting lineup: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl
Kawhi Leonard has rejoined Toronto, a team he led to a 2019 NBA championship, pending a league investigation and completion of the trade with the Clippers. And while I don't expect the now-35-year-old star to fully repeat that success this time around, the Raptors should be competitive.
The defensive trio of Leonard, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles will be a nightmare for opposing offenses, and Toronto also has enough weapons to be an above-average offense. If it can hit some 3-pointers and get solid center production, it could climb this list even more.
More: OKC Thunder assistant coach Chip Engelland joins Rockets staff, per report
No. 13: Indiana Pacers
- Added: Larry Nance Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr. and Braden Smith
- Lost: Kam Jones and Micah Potter
- Projected starting lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac
Last year can be scrapped for Indiana, which didn't have superstar guard Tyrese Haliburton due to injury. He'll now rejoin a team that's only two years removed from reaching Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
The Pacers have also found their Myles Turner replacement in Ivica Zubac, making this a pretty complete starting five. And with contributors such as TJ McConnell, Obi Toppin and now Kelly Oubre Jr. coming off the bench, Indiana has all the pieces it needs to return to relevance.
No. 12: Los Angeles Lakers
- Added: Cameron Carr, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy, Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams
- Lost: Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, LeBron James, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart
- Projected starting lineup: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Walker Kessler
This was already Luka Doncic's team, but he'll have even more responsibilities now that LeBron James is gone. And he'll have some new weapons at his disposal with additions such as Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
I do think the Lakers will be hurting in the wing department, especially after also losing Rui Hachimura. And they'll also miss Marcus Smart, one of their few defensive standouts. But there's still enough talent around Doncic and Austin Reaves for this to be one of the better teams in the West.
No. 11: Miami Heat
- Added: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ryan Conwell, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis
- Lost: Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Norman Powell and Kel'el Ware
- Projected starting lineup: Davion Mitchell, Tim Hardaway Jr., Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo
Miami finally landed its next superstar by acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, who'll form an elite frontcourt duo with Bam Adebayo. And the Heat should also be elite defensively with players such as Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins still in the mix.
Floor spacing and depth are the two biggest concerns, and that could place a ceiling on this team come playoff time. But I do expect it to be a strong regular-season squad.
More: Lu Dort leaves lasting legacy with OKC Thunder after trade to Atlanta Hawks
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA power rankings after free agency: Can Giannis Antetokounmpo lead Heat to title?
Continue reading...
