With the 2024-25 season in the books, our latest NBA power rankings offer an evaluation of all 30 clubs heading into the summer. Without further ado, let's review how every club is or should approach this offseason to improve their rosters for next season.
Also Read: Ranking the 50 best players in the NBA right now
The Oklahoma City Thunder were the best team throughout the regular season as they posted an impressive 68 wins. But there were doubters if this young team could really overcome the deep veteran contenders in the West. While they met serious resistance in the postseason, OKC's defense and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved not only were they the best team in 2024-25, but they have the makings of the NBA's next dynasty.
The Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the NBA this season. After showing some very nice growth under Ime Udoka in 2023-24, they continued that momentum and evolved into an elite team in the West. This spring, they got the ultimate test in the Warriors . However, they could not overcome the experience gap with their future Hall of Famer foes.
The team responded to the move by making the biggest trade of the year so far by acquiring league legend Kevin Durant . The hope is that the 15-time All-Star is the missing ingredient to a championship team. While he should be, it is a big risk to rely so heavily on a 37-year-old. They also brought back former star Clint Capela to further bolster their frontcourt after re-signing Steven Adams .
The Cleveland Cavaliers were a surprisingly dominant team this past season. New head coach Kenny Atkinson was given one of the league's better defenses and added the offensive efficiency they lacked. Unfortunately, once again, when push came to shove in the playoffs, the Cavs could not get passed the semifinals. The big question this summer will be do they make a big move or go another season with this current roster. Well, that was answered early in the offseason when they further added to their bench depth with former first-round pick Lonzo Ball .
Entering this year's NBA playoffs, the Golden State Warriors were considered a serious dark horse to go all the way. And after storming through the Play-In tourney and beating the two-seeded Rockets, they looked like they could be the team to beat out West. However, Stephen Curry 's first-ever hamstring injury came at the worst possible time.
His absence for much of the series, unsurprisingly, was a massive void the Warriors could not overcome. They lost Games 2 through 5 and were sent home for the summer earlier than many expected. Nevertheless, while their top stars are in the final years of their career, Golden State should be elite in the West next season — if they can stay healthy.
The New York Knicks were tested throughout the postseason. They had a very tough test in the Pistons in Round 1 and were chin-checked during a very tough and physical series. Then they were sizable underdogs against the defending champs and showed the front office was successful in building a team specifically to beat the Celtics . Unfortunately, they couldn't overcome the Pacers for a second straight year, and it likely cost coach Tom Thibodeau his job.
Replacing him will be former Cavs and Kings head coach Mike Brown. He will have an absurd amount of pressure on his shoulders. However, the front office did a solid job of improving the roster in free agency by bolstering their bench with veteran scoring guard Jordan Clarkson and French powerhouse Guerschon Yabusele.
Despite the concerns that the Minnesota Timberwolves would not be able to match what the 2023-24 team did by reaching the West finals, Minny was one of the best teams in the league over the final month of the season. They smashed through popular dark horse choice, the Lakers in Round 1, and got a big break with Stephen Curry suffering a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, the eventual champion Thunder was insurmountable.
In the offseason, they were able to lock both Naz Reid and Julius Randle into new long-term deals. Solidifying their talented frontcourt for a few more seasons. However, Nickeil Alexander-Walker 's departure in NBA free agency will sting.
When you have the best player on the planet, Nikola Jokic , the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. They also impressively were able to circle the wagons following Michael Malone's shocking firing to win a round in the playoffs and push the eventual champion Thunder to their limits in the semis.
After making David Adelman their full-time head coach, they have made several nice moves to improve their overall depth. Fan-favorite Bruce Brown returns, and new additions Tim Hardaway and Jonas Valančiūnas should help the bench. While Cam Johnson will have an opportunity to grow with an elite player next to him.
At the start of the postseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were a popular dark horse pick in the West. And why not? They have an NBA icon in LeBron James , a top-five player in Luka Doncic , and an impressive young coach in JJ Reddick. Yet, the West's dark horse pick got matched up with the conference's sleeper team in the Timberwolves and were ousted in the quarterfinals.
LA should be a force next season with James and Doncic getting a training camp together. That is assuming the NBA icon doesn't get traded this summer . They got the center they needed when they landed Suns and Trail Blazers Deandre Ayton . On paper, Lake Show should be a contender in 2025-26.
The Orlando Magic dealt with notable injuries throughout the season, but battled through using their elite defense. However, just like last season, scoring — especially from behind the arc — bedeviled them during the year. In the playoffs, they were matched up with the Celtics, and to the surprise of no one, Boston became a challenge they could not overcome.
That is why they gave up so much to get Desmond Bane in June. He gives them both the playmaking and three-point shooting they badly lacked. They also added solid veteran point guard Tyus Jones . The Magic can be a sleeper team in the East next season.
The Los Angeles Clippers were an interesting story in the 2024-25 NBA season. To the surprise of no one, Kawhi Leonard began the season in dress clothes due to another injury. However, in his absence, Norman Powell emerged and earned All-Star honors for the first time. Unfortunately, they came up short in a Game 7 against Denver in the playoffs.
They locked up James Harden to a new deal in NBA free agency and made a nice bench addition by signing one-time All-Star Brook Lopez . And in a surprise move, they actually shipped Powell to Miami in a three-team swap that landed them John Collins . A player who still has a lot of upside after a bounceback season in 2024-25.
The Milwaukee Bucks were on a roller-coaster ride all of last season. Late in the campaign, they feared they might be without Damian Lillard in the playoffs. The future Hall of Famer made a miraculous comeback only to tear his Achilles in the opening round. They unsurprisingly were then ousted by the Pacers.
In an attempt to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy, they made one of the boldest moves of the offseason by luring Myles Turner away from Indiana , and waiving Lillard to fit the center on their books. But it is unclear if that will pacify the team great and stop him from asking for a trade.
Some might suggest Jayson Tatum's season-ending injury in Game 5 was why the Boston Celtics were ousted in the semifinals of the NBA playoffs. But New York surprisingly took a clean 3-1 lead with him healthy, and won twice in Boston. It was a frustrating end to a season that will be the final time this memorable group plays together.
The reason is a salary cap reckoning that will force them to make some huge slashes to their payroll. Jrue Holiday was the first domino to fall as he was sent to Portland, then Kristaps Porzingis was sent to Atlanta. Furthermore, Al Horford is likely on his way out as well. Talented young scorer Anfernee Simons should help fill the Tatum void, but reports suggest he is on the trade block and won't be staying in Beantown.
The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA last season. But this season, they were the feel-good story of the year. Heading to the NBA playoffs, many believed they could score a quarterfinals upset over the Knicks. While they didn't advance, pushing New York to six games proved that Detroit needs to be taken seriously going forward.
The Pistons have the core pieces of a very competitive team. While they lost key bench stars Tim Hardaway and Dennis Schroder in free agency, Heat veteran Duncan Robinson should make an impact in 2025-26.
The San Antonio Spurs were much better this year than they were last season. With the help of NBA league legend Chris Paul , the team was around .500 for much of the season. Then they added an All-Star level sidekick for Victor Wembanyama at the deadline in De'Aaron Fox. However, their chances of reaching the postseason were hit with a fatal blow when a blood clot ended Wembanyama's season.
While they failed to land Durant on the trade market, with 2024-25 ROTY Stephon Castle , San Antonio is set up to take another leap forward next season. Especially after adding Rutgers star Dylan Harper and high-upside 3-and-D forward Carter Bryant in the draft.
The Memphis Grizzlies were expected to be far better this season with superstar Ja Morant back. And they were, for the most part. However, a late-season slump had many wondering if their playoff run would be short-lived. Unfortunately for Grizzlies fans, they got the worst matchup in Round 1 against Oklahoma City. An elite squad that smashed its way through Memphis in just four games.
They then began their offseason with the offseason's first blockbuster when they traded guard Desmond Bane to the Magic. They got an impressive haul in the deal that includes Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four first-round picks. Adding Ty Jerome in NBA free agency further rounded out a rock-solid roster around Morant and Jackson.
The Philadelphia 76ers were the biggest disappointment in the NBA this season. Injuries destroyed any plans to be an NBA Finals contender. But the organization and its fanbase can't be surprised. They entered the season hoping their top two players — Joel Embiid and Paul George — could buck their recent trends and stay healthy. They couldn't.
The only positive from this season was that Tyrese Maxey confirmed he is a legitimate star in the league and worth building around. One player that could be part of that long-term rebuild is first-round pick VJ Edgecombe. He is a major project that won't help them win now, but could be a star in three years.
The Atlanta Hawks were a handful for opposing defenses. Led by the face of the franchise, Trae Young , the team has been a force on offense. It is why they have had a far better season than many predicted. However, for as good as they were on offense, they were terrible on defense.
However, there is reason for positivity going forward due to the emergence of Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels . Furthermore, they addressed their defensive issues by adding Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Plus, first-round pick Asa Newell could be a great dirty work addition for next season as well.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra again showed why he is among the best in the sport during the regular season. Despite the dark cloud that Jimmy Butler created over the team with his contract drama, the Heat remained competitive for much of the year.
They tried to land Durant in June but came up short. It seemed like Jonathan Kuminga or DeMar DeRozan would be Miami's Plan B. However, they surprised many by acquiring Norman Powell following a big breakout season. He slots right in as another scoring option between Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
Outside of the 76ers, the Phoenix Suns were the league's biggest letdown in 2024-25. The team embarrassed itself despite having a pair of elite talents on the roster. Is this a perfect team? Not at all. But Kevin Durant , Devin Booker , and head coach Mike Budenholzer should have been far better than a team that missed the playoffs.
That is why trading Durant was a must to begin the offseason. In the deal, they get back talented young scorer Jalen Green and glue-guy Dillon Brooks . Then, in the draft, they used the No. 10 pick they got from Houston to take Khaman Maluach . A player in the mold of Rudy Gobert but with more athleticism. Furthermore, trading for center Mark Williams helps give them the rock-solid frontcourt they lacked last season.
The Dallas Mavericks ' decision to shockingly trade Luka Doncic before this year's deadline led to some serious bad luck for the team. The top player they got back in the deal, Anthony Davis , suffered an ab injury that sidelined him for a couple of months. Then, Kyrie Irving 's season ended early after incurring a torn ACL. It was not the team the front office envisioned when they made the Doncic trade.
However, they are set up to still be competitive next season after landing the No. 1 pick in the draft and selecting generational talent Cooper Flag . Once Irving returns in the second half, Dallas could be a dark horse out West. While they wait, D'Angelo Russell should be a solid placeholder as the starting point guard.
This was a wild season for the Sacramento Kings . There were high hopes when they added DeMar DeRozan in the summer. When they got off to a slow start, the front office took the bold step of firing head coach Mike Brown. Then, they decided De'Aaron Fox was not in their long-term plans and traded him to the Bulls .
In the deal, they landed two-time All-Star Zach LaVine . In adding the former Bulls star, DeRozan seems expendable, is likely to be moved this offseason. In NBA free agency and the trade market, they made a pair of solid veteran additions in Dennis Schroder and Dario Saric.
The Indiana Pacers were one of the best teams in the league in the second half, and they continued that impressive play in the postseason. They needed just five games to send Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks packing. And five more to punch a ticket to the East Finals for the second straight year. They again beat New York in the playoffs and forced an outstanding Thunder team to Game 7 in the Finals.
One can only wonder what might have happened if Tyrese Haliburton were available. Now, a torn Achilles will likely sideline him all of next season. Making matters worse, division rivals the Bucks lured Myles Turner away in NBA free agency. Indiana is sure to take a huge step back in 2025-26.
The New Orleans Pelicans will go down as one of the biggest "what if" stories of last season. On paper, they had a very talented roster that could have been a force in the West. However, injuries absolutely decimated them all year before they eventually traded Brandon Ingram and waved the white flag on the season.
The organization is not going to move on from coach Willie Green, and likely will hold on to Zion Williamson for at least another season. In June, they moved veteran CJ McCollum for a younger but inconsistent version in Jordan Poole . They will hope he can recapture the potential he showed in Golden State three years ago.
On offense, the Chicago Bulls were one of the league's best and a headache for opponents. However, after trading Zach LaVine at the deadline, there was reason to expect a sharp decline. However, youngsters Josh Giddey and Coby White elevated their games in the second half. They must re-sign Giddey this summer. And if they can add another impact player, the Bulls should be a playoff contender in 2025-26. They freed up a bit of cash by moving Lonzo Ball to the Cavs in June.
The Toronto Raptors were a disappointment this season. Sure, injuries hurt them at times, but there was enough talent on the roster to have a better record in what was a very weak Eastern Conference. Yet, there is hope for the future after they added Brandon Ingram in a February trade. On paper, the combination of him and Scottie Barnes could make them a playoff contender next season.
In the draft, they used their top pick on Collin Murray-Boyles , a player with the ceiling of being another Scottie Barnes.
The Portland Trail Blazers had a roster that should have been able to contend for a play-in spot this season. However, Chauncey Billups ' team was inconsistent all season. While they played better in the second half, it was too little, too late in a very good Western Conference. Fortunately for Billups, the improved play saved him from being ousted in the offseason.
In June, they made a notable move by shipping out Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holliday. Then, in the draft, they made the most baffling move of Round 1 by using the 16th pick overall on Chinese center Yang Hansen , a year after using their top pick on fellow center Donovan Clingan . However, they cleared out the center logjam by buying out the final year in Deandre Ayton's contract.
While LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller put up some pretty good scoring numbers this season, it did not help to make the Charlotte Hornets a competitive team. Despite having three 20-point scorers, the Hornets were among the worst-scoring teams in the league this season. It is why there have been surprising rumors about the team potentially trading Ball this summer. With him battling injuries again this season, moving him and his max contract is something Charlotte might seriously consider this summer.
In the draft, they used the fourth overall pick on Duke star Kon Knueppel . Of the various draft prospects, outside of college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knueppel is the most ready to make an impact despite his athletic limitations. They will also hope veteran additions Spencer Dinwiddie , Mason Plumlee , and Collin Sexton can help mature their locker room.
The Brooklyn Nets were the first team this season to punt on the campaign and look ahead to the summer. While this was another losing season for Brooklyn, there is hope for an immediate turnaround next season. They have solid pieces like Cam Thomas and entered the offseason with a lot of salary cap and a boatload of draft picks.
In June's draft, BK had four first-round picks. But opinions on who they took are mixed. However, BYU's Egor Demin has the potential to be an even better version of Ben Simmons at his best, and France's Nolan Traore is an exciting playmaker Nets fans could quickly grow to love. They also moved Cam Johnson for versatile veteran forward Michael Porter Jr..
Despite a head coach change to begin the season, the Washington Wizards were again a laughing stock. They ended up with the second-worst record in the league again this season, but they got bad luck in the draft lottery and will pick sixth in round one of the draft. There was very little to take from this season besides the hope that former lottery picks Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly got the meaningful experience needed to be a part of their potential turnaround.
In June, they shipped out Jordan Poole for aging but still good scorer CJ McCollum. With their top pick in the draft, they added Texas star Tre Johnson . A skilled offensive player who can make an impact in DC right away.
In year three as head coach, Will Hardy and his team took another step back. While they were among the worst teams in the league last season, the Jazz finished dead last in the 2024-25 NBA standings . Making matters worse, they didn't land the top overall pick and the chance to get Cooper Flagg in June.
In the draft, they selected talented but troublesome Rutgers star Ace Bailey with their top pick. Then, with selection 18, they added the best shooter in this year's class, Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. They also added veteran bigs Jusuf Nurkić and Kevin Love . However, sending out John Collins after a big season did not make them better.
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