When the primary model of the 2025 NBA rebuild rankings launched in March, the expectation was that the NBA’s draft lottery would sign a large shift. With Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper believed to be the consensus high two skills within the class, whichever bottom-dwelling franchises that landed them would undoubtedly skyrocket up the checklist.
However then got here that fateful night time in Might, when the Dallas Mavericks — their 2024 Finals roster reeling from the surprising Luka Doncic commerce in February and Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL in March — and the San Antonio Spurs landed the highest two choices. Even the third decide within the draft, VJ Edgecombe, went to the Philadelphia 76ers, who entered final season as title contenders earlier than accidents to their stars plummeted their season.
Consequently, the newest model of those rankings is as arduous to parse as within the spring.
What can final season’s backside 4 groups — the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets, who didn’t get the lottery luck they wanted — do to leap begin their rebuilds? What’s subsequent for groups such because the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks and Portland Path Blazers, who missed the playoffs final 12 months however are making strikes to sneak into competition?
This is our examination of the place the 14 groups that missed the playoffs final season stand of their rebuilds, particularly how shut every is to championship competition.
Observe: Our rebuild rankings should not primarily based on the place rosters stand proper now. Having extra present-day expertise does not robotically imply you are farther alongside in a rebuild. This checklist focuses on the mixture of present expertise and future upside to create the form of championship alchemy groups are hoping to find.
1. San Antonio Spurs
Gamers beneath 25: 8
Tradeable first-round picks: 3
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 5
The technique: The Spurs and Mavs are the reminders that fortunes generally come all the way down to one thing utterly out of a franchise’s management: luck.
San Antonio landed the No. 1 (Victor Wembanyama), No. 4 (Stephon Fortress) and No. 2 (Harper) choices in three consecutive drafts. That trio is the envy of each crew besides the champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder when it comes to younger expertise.
Add All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox, who arrived by way of a commerce from the Sacramento Kings, and Devin Vassell, who signed a five-year extension in October 2023, and the Spurs have each purpose to imagine their rise within the tough West will proceed.
Is it working? Assuming Wembanyama has a clear invoice of well being after his deep vein thrombosis analysis in February — the Spurs formally cleared him to return earlier this month — his presence alone is sufficient for the Spurs to steer this checklist. The addition of Harper, particularly, provides a doable excellent long-term match as his pick-and-roll companion.
Estimated return to relevance: San Antonio will anticipate to compete for a top-six playoff spot this season with Wembanyama wholesome and has the mixture of younger gamers and draft picks to amass one other premium participant within the coming months — if one comes obtainable and if San Antonio chooses to go all-in.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Gamers beneath 25: 6
Tradeable first-round picks: 3
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 2
The technique: You thought San Antonio acquired fortunate? Though Dallas basic supervisor Nico Harrison declared that followers can “see the imaginative and prescient” after the franchise beat 1.8% odds to land the No. 1 decide and Flagg, the Mavericks winding up right here after buying and selling away franchise cornerstone Doncic in February is the form of outlandish plot twist that will get laughed out of a film script.
Now, Dallas has an elite prospect, veteran expertise, a decent competition window — and loads of danger. The Mavs have few ball handlers, with their most dependable one (Irving) set to overlook a minimum of many of the common season with a torn ACL. However there’s a probability that this group finally coalesces into one of many larger threats within the West.
Is it working? We’ve not had an opportunity to see this roster come collectively in the best way Dallas envisioned when it made the Doncic commerce. Anthony Davis and Irving performed lower than a full sport collectively because of accidents, and it will be a prolonged wait earlier than they share the court docket once more because of Irving’s left knee. However it is a deep, lengthy, athletic and doubtlessly glorious defensive group that would trigger matchup issues when wholesome.
Estimated return to relevance: If Irving returns and contributes in early 2026, it is going to be an enormous increase for Dallas within the second half of subsequent season. With Flagg, Davis and Irving on the roster, anticipate Dallas to be totally within the combine for the West playoffs in 2026-27. One query for the not-to-distant future: At what level do the Mavs give the keys to Flagg?
3. Atlanta Hawks
3. Atlanta HawksGamers beneath 25: 9
Tradeable first-round picks: 4
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 4
The technique: What a distinction a 12 months makes. Coming into the 2024 draft lottery, Atlanta was adrift. The Hawks could not construct on their shock run to the 2021 convention finals. The franchise’s massive swing — buying and selling for Dejounte Murray within the 2022 offseason to hitch Trae Younger within the backcourt — was a disappointment.
However then Atlanta received the lottery, chosen Zaccharie Risacher on draft night time and despatched Murray to New Orleans for a package deal that included Dyson Daniels, the 2025 Most Improved Participant. Below new lead government Onsi Saleh, the Hawks made splashes this offseason by signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker, buying and selling for Kristaps Porzingis and pulling off a shocking draft night time take care of the Pelicans to amass a priceless 2026 decide (the extra favorable of the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks’ first-rounders).
The previously moribund Hawks have an opportunity to be a major risk as quickly as subsequent season within the weakened East. Nevertheless, Younger’s future — the purpose guard can change into a free agent subsequent summer season — is one thing to watch.
Is it working? True long-term success for Atlanta may hinge on that 2026 Pelicans/Bucks decide. If it lands within the high 5 — ESPN’s first 2026 mock draft initiatives that decide to land at No. 8 — the Hawks may add one other strong prospect subsequent to Younger, Daniels, Risacher and Jalen Johnson. If not, Atlanta has the muse of an intriguing, lengthy, athletic roster beneath coach Quin Snyder.
Estimated return to relevance: The Hawks are already a risk for a top-four seed subsequent season, with the potential to continue to grow in the event that they land a premium participant within the draft subsequent 12 months. However in contrast to many groups additional down these rankings, Atlanta has pretty much as good a younger core as any within the convention.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Gamers beneath 25: 12
Tradeable first-round picks: 3
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 2
The technique: With the All-Star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey sharing the ground in simply 15 video games (294 minutes) final season, Philadelphia went from an awesome offseason winner to the league’s fifth-worst file. The misplaced season got here with a comfort prize: It put the 76ers in place to maintain their top-six protected first-round decide, which Philadelphia did when it jumped to No. 3 within the draft, permitting the 76ers to pick Baylor guard Edgecombe.
The offseason has been comparatively quiet in Philadelphia in any other case, with many of the roster returning — though reserve massive man Guerschon Yabusele signed with the New York Knicks — and a few attention-grabbing end-of-roster gamers equivalent to Trendon Watford, Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow.
Is it working? It relies upon: Will Embiid be wholesome? That is the most important query in Philadelphia. It is also the principle one that may decide whether or not Philadelphia’s technique works. With Embiid on the court docket, the 76ers imagine they will compete with anybody within the East. But when the previous MVP has a repeat of final season — he performed simply 19 video games and was shut down in February with knee points — this crew may once more be within the draft lottery. Some franchise-altering selections may comply with.
Estimated return to relevance: Once more, this goes again to Embiid’s well being. With him on the court docket, Philadelphia will probably be a power this season. But when he is once more sidelined for the overwhelming majority of the season, given he is beneath contract for an additional three years for greater than $180 million, it may set off a series response that may have Philadelphia within the wilderness for fairly a while. The 76ers additionally nonetheless owe a top-4 protected decide within the 2026 draft to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder after holding their decide this previous season.
Gamers beneath 25: 7
Tradeable first-round picks: 6
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 2
The technique: It has been an eventful few months in Memphis. The Grizzlies fired coach Taylor Jenkins two weeks earlier than the top of the common season, together with chunk of his teaching employees, after which traded franchise cornerstone Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for a haul of draft picks final month.
The Grizzlies, who insisted they weren’t rebuilding within the wake of the Bane deal, aggressively moved up within the draft to pick wing Cedric Coward and agreed to a long-term extension with massive man Jaren Jackson Jr.
Is it working? Possibly? Normal supervisor Zack Kleiman, in a refreshing second of candor, mentioned in Might that there’s not a manner to take a look at this group and suppose it has an opportunity to be a contender within the West as constituted. Kleiman adopted up that reply by buying and selling Bane for these picks, together with a possible top-10 choice from Phoenix subsequent 12 months, and he has continued to function with a crew round Jackson and Ja Morant that may nonetheless be a playoff crew.
Estimated return to relevance: This all goes again to 1 query: What’s Morant’s future? Can he return to being the participant who regarded like he can be one of many faces of the NBA and a budding famous person? Or will he stay an excellent participant who by no means reaches that degree once more? The reply will decide whether or not this Memphis group, as constituted, has an opportunity to be one thing greater than a play-in sort of crew within the West.
6. Washington Wizards
Gamers beneath 25: 12
Tradeable first-round picks: 6
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 10
The technique: The Wizards have spent the previous couple of seasons tearing down their roster. Consequently, they’ve a crew that includes seven gamers taken within the first spherical of the previous three drafts and one that would have essentially the most cap area within the 2026 offseason.
This group is lacking a high-end participant wanted to flee the depths of a rebuild. That is why the heavy expectation is the Wizards could have one other season treading close to the underside of the standings and letting these younger gamers study by expertise whereas making an attempt to land a high decide in one other loaded 2026 draft. (Washington’s decide is top-eight protected, and it is arduous to see any manner the Wizards permit it to convey.)
Is it working? The Wizards want lottery luck. They acquired none this spring, falling from second to sixth on lottery night time. In addition they want their lottery picks to hit. Up to now, there have been flashes from their latest picks — Bilal Coulibaly two years in the past, and Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington this previous season — however there is not an apparent franchise centerpiece in place.
Estimated return to relevance: Not anytime quickly. Washington is probably going nonetheless a two- to three-year timeline, even with lottery luck subsequent spring, to stand up the East standings.
7. Charlotte Hornets
Gamers beneath 25: 12
Tradeable first-round picks: 8
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 7
The technique: The Hornets, coming off their first full season with the brand new regime of government vp of basketball operations Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee, really feel caught between timelines.
Charlotte has a gaggle of gamers it drafted the previous three years beneath the brand new possession group — Brandon Miller, Tidjane Salaun and Kon Knueppel — and the remnants of the previous regime’s drafts led by LaMelo Ball (coming into his sixth NBA season) and Miles Bridges. Had the Hornets landed Flagg, maybe we might be speaking a couple of crew able to hit the gasoline pedal. As an alternative, they traded Mark Williams on the draft and will doubtlessly begin second-round choice Ryan Kalkbrenner at middle, signaling one other season headed for a excessive draft decide.
Is it working? The Hornets have accomplished issues proper over the previous few years, however touchdown a franchise participant additionally requires some luck. Up to now, Charlotte hasn’t had it. Primarily based on how this offseason performs out, the Hornets will probably be taking one other swing at it subsequent summer season, too.
Estimated return to relevance: Charlotte has the potential to jump-start its rebuild in 2026-27 if it lands a high choice. Or, the Hornets may go the exact opposite manner if a blockbuster haul materializes for Ball. That may push again this group’s timeline even additional, however with extra cracks at touchdown a franchise cornerstone within the draft.
8. Utah Jazz
Gamers beneath 25: 12
Tradeable first-round picks: 7
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 8
The technique: Utah had the league’s worst file final season, however it didn’t land Flagg or Harper. As an alternative, Utah fell to No. 5 and chosen Rutgers ahead Ace Bailey.
New president of basketball operations Austin Ainge, in his introductory information convention final month, declared that the Jazz will probably be leaning into its youth motion. He backed that up by transferring on from veterans Collin Sexton and John Collins by way of commerce and Jordan Clarkson by way of buyout over the previous few weeks.
Is it working? Utah’s entrance workplace is in place. Ainge and Justin Zanik kind a high quality tandem together with the crew’s CEO, Danny Ainge, and not too long ago prolonged head coach Will Hardy. However the Jazz have but to search out the luck it takes to get the form of expertise that strikes groups up this checklist. Till they do, it is arduous to see issues dramatically progressing in a brutal Western Convention race. Nonetheless, the Jazz have a variety of future draft picks and the potential for his or her younger gamers to develop. Bailey, a gifted wing scorer, could possibly be the foundational participant Utah desperately wants.
Estimated return to relevance: Between the state of Utah’s roster and the aggressive West, it’ll be a particularly lengthy highway for the Jazz to return to competitiveness. The group is well-positioned to navigate that path, however it does not make it any simpler.
9. Brooklyn Nets
Gamers beneath 25: 12
Tradeable first-round picks: 9
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 7
The technique: A 12 months in the past, the Nets pulled off a blockbuster commerce with their crosstown rival Knicks. The primary deal between the groups in many years despatched Mikal Bridges to Manhattan for 5 first-round choices, at the side of a separate take care of the Houston Rockets to regain management of their draft picks in 2025 and 2026. They’ll undergo a correct rebuilding interval after placing out on the Kevin Durant-James Harden-Irving period in Brooklyn.
This previous season, the Nets — beneath first-year coach Jordi Fernandez — impressed at completely different factors however finally had unhealthy lottery luck and landed the eighth decide, which it used to pick BYU guard Egor Demin with what was the crew’s first lottery choice because the franchise moved to Brooklyn in 2012. Demin was one among a file 5 first-round picks that the Nets used within the 2025 draft. The franchise additional signaled its intent to chase one other excessive decide in 2026 by sending Cameron Johnson to Denver for Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round choice.
Is it working? When the Nets acquired again their draft picks for 2025 and 2026, the plan was to not wind up with the No. 8 decide. From that standpoint, the reply is not any. But when Brooklyn can come out of subsequent 12 months with a high-end decide, then the Nets can a minimum of start to maneuver ahead. The Porter acquisition took an enormous chunk out of subsequent summer season’s cap area, however the Nets will nonetheless have tens of hundreds of thousands to spend.
Estimated return to relevance: The earliest timeline is after subsequent season ought to the Nets resolve to hurry issues up after these two drafts. However Brooklyn, which has a ton of future draft picks, possible has a protracted highway earlier than returning to practical championship competition.
10. Toronto Raptors
Gamers beneath 25: 11
Tradeable first-round picks: 4
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 6
The technique: Toronto spent the previous two seasons making an attempt to shortly flip its roster from a core of Fred VanVleet (left in free company), Pascal Siakam (traded) and OG Anunoby (traded) into one constructed round younger ahead Scottie Barnes. Barnes, Brandon Ingram — who has but to play for Toronto since touchdown by way of commerce and lengthening in February — Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl make up the crew’s new core. The Raptors drafted South Carolina ahead Collin Murray-Boyles ninth final month.
The aim is to return to the playoffs subsequent season in what’s a wide-open Japanese Convention after the Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton Achilles tears through the playoffs.
Is it working? The Raptors have accomplished a variety of work over the previous two years to seemingly wind up with an identical — or decrease — ceiling than the one it had earlier than transferring on from the remaining core members of the 2019 NBA champions. Issues had been thrown into one other degree of uncertainty when the Raptors introduced that Masai Ujiri, the architect of the franchise’s solely title, was out the day after final month’s draft, with a search underway for his successor.
Estimated return to relevance: If Toronto does not return to the playoffs this season, it is going to be seen as an enormous disappointment. Whether or not this crew can really change into a contender once more within the East, nonetheless, will depend upon a variety of elements, together with particular person progress and enchancment from Barnes, Ingram, Quickley and others.
11. Portland Path Blazers
Gamers beneath 25: 9
Tradeable first-round picks: 3
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 4
The technique: For a couple of years now, the Blazers have felt like a crew making an attempt to execute a number of methods directly beneath basic supervisor Joe Cronin. The crew has drafted a collection of younger gamers excessive within the lottery — Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan — and but has had all of them repeatedly blocked by older veterans for taking part in time. This offseason, Portland traded for Jrue Vacation — now in his mid-30s — and for the second straight 12 months, used a first-round decide on a middle, Yang Hansen, an intriguing participant who will want time to develop his sport.
That is additionally a roster brushing up in opposition to the posh tax. And, whereas it plans on constructing on final season’s robust second half — Portland was over .500 and had one of many league’s higher defenses — time will inform if that was strong play in opposition to a smooth schedule or indicators of true progress.
Is it working? Portland welcomed again franchise icon Damian Lillard on Thursday, signing him to a three-year, $42 million contract. His return offers the Blazers a management presence that their subsequent era is creating. Sharpe and Henderson are intriguing skills who require extra consistency to take that form of leap. Clingan could be a menace defensively however deciding on Hansen this 12 months results in questions on his future, too. Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija, who’ve been fairly good on below-market offers, may earn massive offers within the coming seasons, eradicating a few of their surplus worth.
Estimated return to relevance: Portland is clearly working like a crew that believes it will possibly get into the highest 10 within the Western Convention this season, as evidenced by the Vacation deal. The trail to chasing a top-four seed, nonetheless, is years away.
Gamers beneath 25: 10
Tradeable first-round picks: 5
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 2
The technique: The Bulls, a perpetual play-in crew, once more landed there final season, dropping within the first sport to the Miami Warmth. Chicago landed the twelfth decide in final month’s draft and used it to draft French ahead Noa Essengue.
The anticipated enchancment from Miami, Philadelphia and Toronto — all groups that completed behind Chicago final season — may permit the Bulls to land a game-changing expertise in subsequent 12 months’s draft regardless of not doing a lot to place themselves there. Chicago can be on tempo to have max cap area subsequent summer season even after an anticipated re-signing of restricted free agent Josh Giddey this offseason.
Is it working? The Bulls have missed eight of the previous 10 playoffs, they usually have little to point out for it. This roster is devoid of true high-end gamers, although Coby White has developed right into a key contributor (he’s on an expiring deal and may be very unlikely to increase with the Bulls due to the restrictions on how a lot of a increase he can get off of his $12.9 million wage for subsequent season). Matas Buzelis, final 12 months’s first-round decide, and Essengue have longer-term potential. This can be a crew desperately in want of a excessive decide to hit it massive — one thing this regime didn’t do when deciding on Patrick Williams with the No. 4 decide in 2020.
Estimated return to relevance: The Bulls, with little high-end expertise and decrease probabilities of getting a high decide than a number of of the groups under them on this checklist due to having extra general depth, are one among a number of groups removed from relevancy within the Japanese Convention. It will take some important adjustments in strategy, luck, or each to vary that.
Gamers beneath 25: 10
Tradeable first-round picks: 3
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 4
The technique: The Pelicans made a significant course change this offseason, firing president of basketball operations David Griffin and changing him with former Pistons boss and Corridor of Famer Joe Dumars. He employed one other former Pistons government, Troy Weaver, earlier than the 2 labored on a flurry of strikes. They traded CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk for Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey and signed former Golden State Warriors middle Kevon Looney as a free agent.
Probably the most impactful strikes, nonetheless, got here on draft night time, when the Pelicans took Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears No. 7 earlier than — in essentially the most beautiful transfer of the night time — sending the higher of Milwaukee’s and New Orleans’ unprotected picks in 2026, plus the twenty third choice, to the Hawks for the thirteenth decide to take Maryland middle Derik Queen.
Is it working? The larger query for the Pelicans is what’s the technique? The Poole and Looney strikes would appear to point making an attempt to be aggressive, however the Fears and Queen picks clearly level towards the longer term. In the meantime, Dejounte Murray stays sidelined with a torn Achilles, and Zion Williamson’s well being continues to be a large query.
Estimated return to relevance: A lot hinges on the well being of Williamson and his capability to play a full season. However even when he does, it is arduous to see this crew changing into a real contender within the West quickly, particularly after giving up a possible excessive lottery decide to the Hawks within the Queen commerce final month.
Gamers beneath 25: 8
Tradeable first-round picks: 0
Gamers on rookie-scale contracts: 3
The technique: After two years of breakneck spending and a relentless pursuit to instantly contend beneath Mat Ishbia, the Suns have retrenched. The Durant commerce — sending him to the Rockets for Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks and the decide that grew to become Khaman Maluach at No. 10 — was step one in recognizing that. The upcoming buyout, waiving and stretching of almost $100 million remaining on Bradley Beal’s contract is an admission that Ishbia is not prepared to repeat that file spending for a crew that possible will not contend.
The Suns having a extra practical strategy beneath Ishbia could possibly be a sign of higher days forward. For a crew $22 million in useless cash for the remainder of the last decade, no draft capital with any upside and restricted expertise on the roster, it is about as bleak of a state of affairs within the league.
Is it working? Many of the franchises on this checklist a minimum of have some optimism. The Suns, nonetheless, have none. Their draft capital is tied up by the remainder of the last decade. So, too, is their capability to generate any actual cap area between useless cash on the books and Devin Booker’s gigantic extension. And the gauntlet that’s in the present day’s Western Convention ratchets up the problem degree going through Phoenix’s rebuild.
Estimated return to relevance: Not anytime quickly, which, for rival groups in possession of the Suns’ future first-round picks, is a captivating growth. Maybe, in a few years, Ishbia and the franchise can start to transform the roster round Booker as among the present cash comes off Phoenix’s books.