The dust has settled on the 2025 NBA Draft, and it comes with a fresh wave of anticipation for the season ahead. The draft serves as a foundational moment as teams address needs, inject youth, and improve their short- and long-term trajectories.
These post-NBA Draft power rankings offer an early glimpse into the 2025 NBA season, taking into account each team’s 2024-25 performance, how well they drafted talent, and overall outlook in the league’s landscape for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.
Here’s how all 30 teams stack up heading into the remainder of the NBA offseason.
1) Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2025 offseason not just as the defending champions but as the NBA’s new standard. Their run to the title, capped by a Finals MVP performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, validated what the numbers had been saying all year: the Thunder were the best team in basketball.
Despite being pushed to seven games by both Denver and Indianapolis, Oklahoma City dominated the regular season. They reasserted their dominance in the West’s landscape with a convincing 4-1 series win over Minnesota.
What makes the Thunder’s rise even scarier for the rest of the league is how sustainable it looks. Gilgeous-Alexander, fresh off winning both regular-season and Finals MVP honors, is just 26 and entering his physical prime.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are already high-impact players with All-NBA ceilings. Add in redshirt rookie Nikola Topić and a treasure chest of future draft picks, and it’s clear that the Thunder’s championship window is just opening. The rich also got richer with the selection of Georgetown’s Thomas Sorber, who could become a centerpiece in the frontcourt for years to come.
With elite defense, rare depth, and unmatched organizational stability, Oklahoma City is built to stay at the top.
2) Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves enter the offseason with both momentum and uncertainty. While they won fewer games in the regular season compared to the 2023-24 season, the Wolves once again proved themselves in the playoffs, reaching the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year.
After rolling through the Lakers and the Warriors, Minnesota hit a wall against the eventual champions, losing in five games and exposing a clear gap between the Western Conference’s top contender and the rest of the field. Still, back-to-back deep playoff runs confirm that the Timberwolves have arrived as a legitimate force.
Anthony Edwards looks every bit like a future MVP, finishing fourth in the league in scoring and first in total 3-pointers made, per Basketball Reference. Staying a contender won’t be simple, as key players like Julius Randle and Naz Reid have player options, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is headed for free agency. No matter who stays, as long as Edwards is leading the charge, Minnesota should remain in the mix out West.
3) Cleveland Cavaliers
The 2024-25 season was a breakthrough year for the Cleveland Cavaliers, at least up until the playoffs. Behind a 64-18 record, the best in the Eastern Conference and the franchise’s top mark since 2008, the Cavs looked like legitimate title contenders. They led the NBA in offensive rating (121.0), posted the best point differential in team history, and saw first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson earn Coach of the Year honors.
Evan Mobley took a major leap, winning Defensive Player of the Year, while the trio of Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and Darius Garland powered a dominant regular-season run. All that momentum came to a screeching halt in the postseason, though. Plagued by injuries, particularly to Garland, Cleveland fell in five games to Indiana.
The disappointing exit has reignited questions about the long-term fit between Mitchell and Garland, as well as the future of the frontcourt pairing of Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Regardless, the Cavaliers will enter next season with a talented core, a proven coach, and unfinished business.
4) Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets took a massive leap forward this past season, winning 52 games and securing the No. 2 seed in the loaded Western Conference. It marked the franchise’s best finish since the James Harden era. Head coach Ime Udoka helped turn one of the league’s youngest rosters into a near-top-10 unit on both ends of the floor (12th in offensive rating; fifth in defensive rating), marking a rapid turnaround.
The Rockets current projected lineup:
Fred VanVleet
Amen Thompson
Jabari Smith Jr.
Kevin Durant
Alperen ŞengünThoughts? 👀 pic.twitter.com/twDbSp6JdS
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 22, 2025
While the Rockets’ postseason run ended early with a Game 7 loss to the battle-tested Warriors, the experience solidified that this young team has arrived. Rather than standing pat, Houston doubled down and acquired Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade, giving them one of the greatest scorers in NBA history.
Despite moving on from Jalen Green, the Rockets retain a strong core of Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr.; Durant’s arrival will provide the late-game scoring punch that Houston lacked in the playoffs. With a balanced mix of rising stars and proven veterans, the Rockets look like legitimate contenders.
5) New York Knicks
The New York Knicks head into the 2025 offseason with the message from leadership that championship expectations are the standard. Despite reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years and posting back-to-back 50-win seasons, the team parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau just days after their playoff exit, signaling that good isn’t good enough.
Knicks president Leon Rose made it clear that the goal is a title, and whoever takes over as head coach will inherit a roster that’s built to compete for one. New York’s starting five is among the league’s best, featuring All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, two-way wings Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, and the ever-versatile Josh Hart.
While the talent at the top is undeniable, the lack of bench production and offensive creativity proved costly in the postseason. Whether or not the front office makes another splashy move this summer, the focus should be on improving depth, maximizing that current core, and unlocking the next level of a team that’s already knocking on the door of a championship run.
6) Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets had a turbulent but ultimately respectable 2024-25 campaign, finishing with a 50-32 record, which was a slight step back from the 57-win season that followed their 2023 championship. Injuries to key players like Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, along with midseason inconsistency, contributed to the dip in performance. But a strong playoff push under new head coach David Adelman helped reshape the narrative.
The Nuggets knocked off a surging Clippers team in the first round and pushed the top-seeded Thunder to seven games in the second, despite battling injuries and the loss of head coach Mike Malone. That resilience reaffirmed that the Nuggets remain a title contender as long as Nikola Jokić is anchoring this team.
The reigning MVP runner-up turned in another historic season, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players to average a triple-double across a full season. The Nuggets didn’t have any picks in this year’s draft, so the core is set heading into free agency.
Still, Denver enters the offseason with questions to answer, including the need for depth and the future of Michael Porter Jr. Even so, with a generational superstar, this team is firmly in the mix in the West.
7) Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors head into the offseason at a pivotal crossroads. Their season ended in the second round of the playoffs at the hands of the Timberwolves, but that outcome looked far from guaranteed earlier in the year. A midseason trade for Jimmy Butler III changed everything, injecting toughness, defense, and playmaking into a team that looked lost post-Klay Thompson.
Led by the veteran core of Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green, the Warriors found new life. However, the playoffs reminded everyone how fragile things can be when your stars are in their mid-to-late 30s. Golden State got contributions from Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, and a breakout postseason from Jonathan Kuminga, but the lack of depth became a problem down the stretch.
With Kuminga set to be a restricted free agent and questions looming about how much longer this aging core can contend, the front office faces major decisions. The Warriors need to add more size, shooting, and depth if they hope to squeeze out another championship run.
8) Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are in a stronger position heading into the offseason than their first-round playoff exit might suggest. Despite losing Paul George and Russell Westbrook last summer, the Clippers defied expectations by winning 50 games and making their 12th postseason appearance in the last 14 years.
Anchored by a top-three defensive rating and a rejuvenated James Harden, who averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds, they became a more balanced team. Norman Powell had a career year as a scorer, and Ivica Zubac emerged as a dominant two-way presence in the paint, posting career highs across the board.
Injuries again played a role, with Kawhi Leonard limited to just 37 games, but the Clippers still pushed the Nuggets to seven games. When Leonard and Harden shared the court, Los Angeles posted a dominant +14.1 net rating, reflecting their high ceiling when healthy. The Clippers remain one of the West’s most dangerous teams.
9) Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers’ identity drastically changed after the blockbuster midseason trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas in exchange for Luka Dončić. The move reshaped the franchise’s trajectory, pairing the perennial MVP candidate with LeBron James in a bold attempt to chase another title.
The Lakers finished the year with a 50-32 record and the No. 3 seed in the West. But under first-year head coach JJ Redick, Los Angeles got bounced in the first round for a second straight season, falling to Minnesota in five games. The need for frontcourt reinforcements was painfully clear as the Lakers struggled to match the Timberwolves’ size and physicality.
With the Mark Williams deal falling through and Jaxson Hayes unable to provide consistent minutes, addressing the center position has become the front office’s top priority. Los Angeles didn’t address it in the draft, but it landed an explosive and physical two-way wing in Adou Thiero.
With James entering his age-41 season and Dončić now in the fold, expect an aggressive offseason from Rob Pelinka as the Lakers aim to build a title-ready roster around their superstar duo.
10) Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2024 NBA season, turning years of struggle into a storybook turnaround. After five consecutive seasons with 23 or fewer wins, Detroit exploded for a 44-38 record, the franchise’s best since the 2015-16 season, and earned a playoff berth.
The front office’s decision to bring in steady veterans like Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris, and Tim Hardaway Jr. paid off, giving the Pistons much-needed shooting and leadership to complement their young core. J.B. Bickerstaff also deserves a ton of credit for stabilizing the rotation in his first season as Detroit’s head coach, bringing defensive grit and establishing a winning culture.
Cade Cunningham enjoyed a breakout, All-NBA season, averaging 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds while shooting career bests from the field and from deep. Jalen Duren emerged as a force inside, Ausar Thompson flashed elite defensive versatility, and Jaden Ivey looked increasingly comfortable as a secondary playmaker before his season was cut short.
The Pistons added to their promising core, adding a prolific shooter in Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier through the draft. Even after a first-round loss to New York, Detroit’s momentum is real.
11) Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are signaling that their rebuilding phase is over, and they’re ready to win now. After making the playoffs for the second straight season but falling to the Celtics in five games, the Magic decided to accelerate their climb by pulling off a blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane. It cost them quite a bit, but it netted them a high-efficiency shooter and playmaker.
Despite finishing with a .500 record and facing significant injuries, the Magic still boasted the NBA’s second-best defensive rating. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner both posted career years, while Jalen Suggs took a leap before a quad injury ended his season.
But the offense lagged behind, finishing near the bottom of the league in both efficiency and shooting. Bane, a career 41% 3-point shooter, immediately boosts Orlando’s scoring and floor spacing without compromising its defensive identity.
The addition of Michigan State’s Jase Richardson in the draft should help Orlando on the offensive end as well. He’s a high-IQ, skilled combo guard who plays with poise, has an NBA pedigree, and can shoot. With one of the most exciting young cores in the league, the Magic look poised to make a serious push in the Eastern Conference next season.
12) Dallas Mavericks
The lottery ball fortunately bounced in the Dallas Mavericks’ favor, giving general manager Nico Harrison new life after the stunning decision to trade Dončić, the franchise cornerstone, to the Lakers for Davis.
Davis got injured in his debut and appeared in only nine games for Dallas, while Kyrie Irving tore his ACL, leaving the Mavs without their two All-NBA talents for most of the season. That resulted in a forgettable year that ended in the play-in and raised serious questions about the team’s trajectory. However, Cooper Flagg’s arrival brings excitement back into the building.
The consensus top prospect gives Dallas a potential future superstar to build around, while the hope remains that Davis and Irving, once healthy, can anchor a championship-contending team. The roster also features a strong supporting cast that includes Thompson, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford.
The West is loaded, but the pieces are in place for the Mavericks to make some noise.
13) Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics entered this past season as the title favorite and looked the part for much of the year, winning over 60 games and finishing with the NBA’s second-best net rating. But their season unraveled in the second round of the playoffs. The Knicks played well, but a devastating Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Tatum’s injury was so unfortunate because he was playing some of the best basketball of his career. His loss not only ended Boston’s title hopes but also casts a long shadow over the team’s immediate future. He’s expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season, which leaves the Celtics with tough decisions this offseason. They’ve already made a few, trading away veterans Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis and adding Anfernee Simons.
In the NBA Draft, Boston found an intriguing international stash with real long-term potential in Spain’s Hugo González. How Brad Stevens continues to navigate this crossroads will determine whether the Celtics can reload around Tatum for another title run in 2026 or if they’ll take a more dramatic step back.
14) Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks entered the 2024-25 season with championship expectations, but reality never quite lived up to them. Despite winning the newly named NBA Cup and posting a respectable 48-34 record, Milwaukee struggled against top competition, going winless in 10 regular-season games against Boston, New York, and Cleveland.
The loss of Damian Lillard to a season-ending Achilles injury only compounded matters, and while Giannis Antetokounmpo elevated his play in Lillard’s absence, the Bucks couldn’t overcome their shortcomings. A first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Pacers marked the third straight year Milwaukee bowed out early.
Now, the franchise faces a critical offseason. Trade speculation around its superstar, Antetokounmpo, is hovering over the franchise, and it will continue to until the Bucks prove they can build a legitimate title contender around him again. Milwaukee is still in the mix in the East because of Antetokounmpo, but that would drastically change if he’s dealt.
15) Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers put together an inspiring and improbable playoff run, pushing the Thunder to seven games in the NBA Finals and exceeding expectations at every turn. Led by the dynamic duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, the Pacers rode their high-powered offense, strong team chemistry, and standout contributions from a deep supporting cast to the franchise’s first Finals appearance in 25 years.
Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, and Andrew Nembhard each had key moments during Indiana’s postseason surge, helping cement the Pacers as one of the league’s most exciting young teams. However, the momentum came to a heartbreaking halt in Game 7 when Haliburton, already playing through a calf strain, went down with a torn Achilles.
Haliburton’s 2025-26 season is almost certainly in jeopardy, casting a shadow over what was a promising sign of things to come. If it’s any consolation, the Pacers added Marquette point guard Kam Jones in the draft, and he comes with valuable experience against top college competition.
The future remains bright in Indiana, but the immediate outlook is clouded with uncertainty.
16) San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are entering an exciting chapter of their rebuild. With Victor Wembanyama poised to become one of the faces of the NBA and a strong young core already in place, the franchise is trending toward contention sooner rather than later.
The arrival of De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline signaled that San Antonio isn’t content with a slow rebuild. The Fox-Wembanyama pairing was limited to just five games together, but the potential is sky-high.
The Spurs added two promising and versatile prospects to the fold in the 2025 NBA Draft in Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant. Harper, in particular, is another high-upside playmaker who joins an intriguing core that also features Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson.
Head coach Mitch Johnson takes the reins from Gregg Popovich, who now shifts to a front office role. San Antonio finished with a 34-48 record, a 12-win improvement over the previous season. Now, the pieces are in place for this team to take the next step in its ascension.
17) Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are entering a pivotal offseason. After another sub-.500 campaign and a quick exit from the play-in tournament, questions about the team’s long-term direction are front and center. There was also trade speculation around four-time All-Star guard Trae Young.
Young remains a dynamic offensive engine, but his defensive limitations and the team’s lack of postseason success have sparked debate about whether he should remain the face of the franchise. There are reasons for optimism, though. Dyson Daniels emerged as a defensive stopper while leading the NBA in steals last season, and Jalen Johnson looked like a budding star before a torn labrum cut his breakout season short.
The front office also took a big swing by acquiring Porziņģis, landing one of the league’s best two-way bigs when healthy. Porziņģis brings much-needed rim protection and pick-and-pop versatility, and his presence could help elevate the Hawks into a more balanced and competitive team. With additional young talent like Zaccharie Risacher and first-round pick Asa Newell, Atlanta has a higher ceiling than it did a week ago.
18) Memphis Grizzlies
After an injury-riddled 2023-24 campaign, the Memphis Grizzlies bounced back with a 48-34 record this season, only to be swept by the Thunder in the first round. Despite flashes of promise, the team struggled with consistency and availability. Morant missed 32 games due to various injuries, and Memphis never quite hit its stride at full strength.
Frustrations led the front office to make significant changes, most notably letting go of head coach Taylor Jenkins late in the season. The Grizzlies also traded a core piece in Bane to Orlando, netting them Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks, and a pick swap.
While Bane was a big part of the team’s success over the past several seasons, Memphis may have found a potential replacement in first-round pick Cedric Coward.
It will be interesting to see if general manager Zach Kleiman retools around its All-Stars, like Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., or enters a more substantial rebuild. Either way, this will be a transformative offseason for the Grizzlies.
19) Miami Heat
The 2024-25 season was a turbulent one for the Miami Heat, who finished with a 37-45 record, marking their third straight trip to the play-in tournament. Their postseason appearance was short-lived, as the Heat got swept by the Cavaliers in the first round. The season was also defined by the trade deadline deal that sent Butler to Golden State, officially closing that dramatic chapter.
Despite Miami’s overall struggles, there were still some bright spots last season. Tyler Herro earned an All-Star nod, with Herro putting up career-best numbers and Bam Adebayo continuing to be an anchor on the defensive end. Still, the duo hasn’t been enough to carry this team into contention. The Heat were also one of the worst teams in the clutch, going just 3-11 in one-possession games.
For this team to take a step forward, the front office must upgrade the roster, either via a trade for another star or rapid development of young pieces like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović, and Kel’el Ware. Miami also landed potentially one of the biggest steals of the first round in Illinois’ Kasparas Jakučionis, who fills the need for a playmaking point guard.
20) Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings seem to have more questions than answers after another underwhelming campaign that ended in a swift play-in tournament exit. Expectations were high after acquiring DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, but the on-court results never matched. A midseason coaching change from Mike Brown to Doug Christie also did little to steady the ship.
Sacramento finished just under .500 (40-42) with a bottom-half defense (115.3 defensive rating) and no clear identity, especially after trading Fox at the deadline. With the Kings’ long-term position looking a bit murky, the future of All-Star Domantas Sabonis could also be up in the air.
On the bright side, Sacramento added a polished, NBA-ready two-way wing in Nique Clifford in the first round of the draft. The team also drafted center Maxime Raynaud, who enjoyed an impressive senior season at Stanford. Unfortunately, they join a roster that lacks overall cohesion.
The Kings’ ceiling doesn’t appear to be very high with the roster as currently constructed, and they could be headed for another season of battling for a play-in spot.
21) Portland Trail Blazers
There’s some optimism surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers heading into the offseason after one of the league’s most unexpected turnarounds. In what was supposed to be another rebuilding year, Chauncey Billups’ squad outperformed expectations, winning 36 games, 15 more than the previous season, and posting a 23-18 record in the second half of the year.
Portland’s progress earned Billups and general manager Joe Cronin contract extensions, a signal that ownership believes in the long-term vision taking shape in the post-Lillard era.
Fueling the Blazers’ late-season surge was the emergence of a promising young core. Deni Avdija blossomed into a legitimate two-way force, averaging 22.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists over his final 22 games. Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Toumani Camara also took encouraging steps forward.
The Blazers made one of the more puzzling picks of the NBA Draft when they took Chinese center Yang Hansen, who was widely considered to be a second-round pick with the 16th overall selection. It’s too early to write him off, but they could’ve gotten better value there. Still, if the young core continues to develop, Portland could find itself in contention for a play-in spot soon.
22) Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls should be cautiously optimistic after a quietly encouraging finish to the 2024 season. Despite another early exit in the play-in tournament, the Bulls showed real signs of growth after moving on from LaVine. The team finished 14-6 over its final 20 games, powered by a retooled starting lineup of Josh Giddey, Coby White, Kevin Huerter, rookie Matas Buzelis, and veteran Nikola Vučević.
Matas Buzelis rookie season pic.twitter.com/R7QOvsr5pN
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) April 30, 2025
Buzelis’ emergence was a major bright spot last season, as he doubled his minutes after the All-Star break and averaged 13 points per game on an efficient 58.5% true shooting. Giddey and White, while not definitive franchise cornerstones yet, have given Chicago a backcourt pairing with upside.
Chicago also added a high-ceiling developmental prospect in French forward Noa Essengue, who is undeniably raw but has elite measurables and special tools. The Bulls are still far from true contention, but with a young, improving core and a clearer sense of direction, they may be getting closer to climbing out of play-in purgatory.
23) Philadelphia 76ers
The 2024 season was a nightmare for the Philadelphia 76ers, one defined by injuries and failed expectations. Joel Embiid played just 19 games, Paul George appeared in 41, and Tyrese Maxey, despite an All-Star caliber season, missed 30 contests himself. Even promising rookie Jared McCain was sidelined before he could finish his debut campaign.
Unsurprisingly, the Sixers sputtered to a 24-win season, their worst in nearly a decade, and were never seriously in the playoff mix. Still, Philadelphia caught a break in the draft lottery, securing the No. 3 overall pick and selecting VJ Edgecombe, a high-motor, defensive-minded wing from Baylor who fits their need for youth, energy, and perimeter toughness. The Sixers also added Johni Broome, who could offer reliable frontcourt depth.
Now, the franchise must decide how to proceed. Do they build around a young core of Maxey, Edgecombe, and McCain, and look toward the future, or do they roll the dice one more time with Embiid and George? That’s a tough decision for Daryl Morey, but a necessary one to move forward.
24) Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are in reset mode after a deeply disappointing season that exposed the flaws of their superstar experiment. Despite having the league’s most expensive squad, the trio of Devin Booker, Durant, and Bradley Beal didn’t work well together, and Phoenix limped to just 36 wins. Defensive issues, a weak supporting cast, and a shaky offensive structure contributed to a campaign that fell far short of championship expectations.
The offseason has already brought major changes. Durant was traded to Houston in a deal that brought in Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick. Jordan Ott replaced Mike Budenholzer as head coach. On draft night, the Suns aggressively addressed their need for reliable frontcourt talent, trading for Hornets big man Mark Williams and selecting Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.
Still, questions remain about the team’s outlook heading into 2025. The Suns now feature three ball-dominant guards in Green, Booker, and Beal, and it will be difficult to add another star without moving Booker. Phoenix’s prospects for next season are murky at best right now.
25) New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans’ 2024 season was derailed by injuries and roster instability. Nearly every key player missed extended time. The team’s new core barely played together in full, and it never will, as the Pelicans traded Brandon Ingram to Toronto. Dejounte Murray is also expected to miss a chunk of the 2025 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles.
Trey Murphy III’s breakout campaign was cut short by injury, and Zion Williamson’s ongoing availability issues (played 70+ games just once in five years) have to have the front office reconsidering whether he’s the long-term face of the franchise.
The Pelicans’ 2025 draft class offers reason for hope, though, as they selected a potential point guard of the future in Jeremiah Fears and a skilled big man in Derik Queen to bolster their young core. This roster has a long list of health questions, but the talent is in place to take at least a slight step forward next season.
26) Toronto Raptors
There are plenty of questions surrounding the Toronto Raptors’ long-term direction. Their 2024 season was riddled with injuries and inconsistency, leading to a disappointing finish outside the play-in tournament. Still, the organization has a clearer picture of its foundation, with a core of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley.
The Raptors did finish the season with a 22-21 record over their final 43 games, offering a glimmer of hope. However, even with their key players healthy, the results were mixed.
The trio of Barnes, Barrett, and Quickley posted a troubling -12.7 net rating when on the floor together, raising concerns about the fit. Ingram could provide a needed offensive boost, but his teams have historically struggled with him on the court, and he’s yet to play a game in Toronto.
The Raptors selected Collin Murray-Boyles in the draft, and the South Carolina product brings toughness, rebounding, and feel on both ends of the floor. There’s a lot of pressure on this young core to make strides, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see this squad near the bottom of the East again in 2025.
27) Charlotte Hornets
Only time will tell if the Charlotte Hornets can ever turn potential into progress. What was billed as a possible breakout year ended in massive disappointment, with Charlotte finishing just 19-63, the franchise’s worst mark since the 2011-12 season. The Hornets’ core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Williams barely shared the floor, logging just 211 possessions together all season.
Ball’s health remains a major concern. This marks the third time in four years he’s failed to appear in 50 games, and his efficiency hit career lows across the board. Miller was a bright spot, averaging 21.0 points per game before a season-ending injury limited him to just 27 games.
Williams is now gone after Charlotte traded the big man to the Suns, but the front office may have found a new anchor in Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is a dominant post defender.
New head coach Charles Lee has yet to find his footing, but there’s no denying that this roster has intriguing individual talent, especially when you factor in Miles Bridges and first-round picks Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley, two of the best shooters in the class. But after years of instability and setbacks, it’s fair to wonder if the vision will ever fully materialize.
28) Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz put up a historically bad campaign in 2024. They finished with a 17-65 record, the worst mark in franchise history, and their first time dropping 60 or more games. After two seasons of overachieving under Will Hardy, Utah veered off course. With a -9.2 net rating (third-worst in the league), Utah’s struggles were glaring, prompting serious questions about the direction of the rebuild.
“If you can see the rim, it’s a good shot.” 😂🔥
Jazz got a tough shot maker in Ace Bailey. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ivyK4k7S3p
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) June 26, 2025
Despite the disappointment, there’s renewed excitement thanks to incoming rookies Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. Bailey offers elite athleticism and two-way potential next to Lauri Markkanen, while Clayton brings instant-offense scoring ability as a microwave guard.
The Jazz believe both can be long-term pieces. Whether Markkanen, who appeared in just 47 games last season and signed a five-year, $238 million extension, remains part of the long-term vision is unclear.
New president of basketball operations, Austin Ainge, has vowed that he wants the Jazz to be a competitive team, but this group still has a long way to go. Utah could still end up with another high lottery pick next year.
29) Brooklyn Nets
While the Brooklyn Nets’ 2024 campaign ended well below .500, the results were largely expected. The front office leaned into a rebuild, prioritizing long-term growth and positioning for the draft. Brooklyn landed the No. 8 pick, the franchise’s first lottery pick since 2010.
First-year head coach Jordi Fernández managed to keep the team competitive despite a rotating cast of young talent and limited availability from leading scorer Cam Thomas (24.0 PPG in just 25 games).
Thomas is now a restricted free agent, and the Nets must decide whether to invest long-term in his elite scoring or shop for a more well-rounded cornerstone. Cam Johnson, the team’s second-leading scorer and a versatile 3-and-D forward, is also expected to draw significant trade interest.
The Nets came away with an intriguing draft haul, with talented players like Egor Demin, Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, and Danny Wolf. As it stands, the new influx of talent joining the core of Thomas, Johnson, and Nic Claxton could be promising, but the vision for the team’s future remains a bit murky.
30) Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are coming off another grueling season, finishing with an 18-64 record, the worst in the Eastern Conference. It marked their season straight year with fewer than 20 wins.
While this rebuilding phase wasn’t expected to yield immediate results, there was hope that rock bottom might at least come with the No. 1 pick. Instead, the Wizards fell to sixth in the lottery, a tough blow for a franchise desperate for a foundational star.
Still, Washington was able to add one of the most polished pure scorers in this class in Tre Johnson, as well as another dynamic offensive wing in Will Riley. Florida State’s Jamir Watkins brings two-way toughness on the perimeter.
Their arrivals offer a glimmer of hope, and they join a pair of youngsters in Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington. Sarr began to blossom late in the year, flashing his upside as a modern big with rim protection and stretch potential, while Carrington made the All-Rookie Second Team.
The Wizards will also have a good mix of veterans with Marcus Smart, Khris Middleton, and the newly acquired C.J. McCollum. General manager Will Dawkins, a product of Oklahoma City’s rebuild blueprint, appears committed to a slow, patient approach. It may be another long year for Washington, but the foundation is starting to take shape.
