In the NBA, fortunes can shift rapidly, as evidenced by the two teams that reached the 2025 Finals. Back in the 2021-2022 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder ended with a record of 24-58, while the Indiana Pacers were marginally better at 25-57. Fast forward three years, and they were squaring off in Game 7 of the Championship. Such a turnaround serves as motivation for teams currently at the bottom of the standings.
Both the Pacers and Thunder secured franchise players during the offseason of 2022. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his way to Oklahoma City from the Clippers, while Tyrese Haliburton came to Indiana from the Kings. Both teams enhanced their rosters with key trades and notable free-agent signings, building effective supporting casts around these stars.
This analysis highlights teams facing tough long-term scenarios. While the current roster will be a significant factor in these rankings, future draft capital and financial flexibility also play important roles. It’s always interesting to revisit these rankings years later to see which teams have managed to rise from difficult positions. Is it possible that some of these franchises could leap ahead, much like the Thunder and Pacers did? It’s certainly within the realm of possibility.
I need a hero
10. Toronto Raptors
9. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls, Raptors, and Blazers present a mixture of decent current prospects and future possibilities. Each of these teams looks poised to contend for playoff spots this season, all while holding onto future draft picks. Chicago, however, has a lottery ticket affecting their next three drafts. Toronto possesses solid foundational pieces, like Scottie Barnes, but there’s potential for some younger names—Matas Buzelis, Scoot Henderson, or others—to emerge even stronger. The Bulls have the cleanest financial sheet of the three, though that could change quickly if they overcommit to players like Josh Giddey and Coby White. The Blazers may boast the best roster, but they’re locked into lengthy contracts with multiple players. While it seems all three teams will hover near a .500 record this year, each could look much better with a top-three pick in 2026—a possibility that isn’t likely. The Miami Heat are also part of this conversation, but they seem a bit stronger than these three. If being in the middle is the worst place to be in the NBA, these teams certainly have arguments to climb higher in these rankings.
Giannis and prayer
The Bucks find themselves in a unique position. They have some of the best star power in the league, particularly with Giannis Antetokounmpo, so you might wonder why they’re even on this list. Giannis can hold his own, but there’s speculation about how long it will be before he gets restless if the team doesn’t show signs of improvement. Milwaukee has a major financial commitment ahead after taking on Damien Lillard. Additionally, they won’t have a first-round pick until 2031. The situation with rising young players is uncertain, and the Bucks may need to take some real chances to enhance their long-term strategy. The guard situation looks woeful aside from a few exceptions, and Giannis’ trade value could yield a windfall of assets, but the timeline is worrisome. Overall, the Bucks appear to be in a precarious situation; it seems nearly miraculous for them to build another contender around Giannis.
Awful presents have more hope for the future
7. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets and Nets share a similar predicament. They both may end up missing the Eastern Play-In Tournament but have a number of draft assets to help rebuild. For Charlotte, players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller hold promise, but health remains a significant concern for LaMelo. The Hornets have struggled with consistency since their last reboot two decades ago, and it’s not looking any brighter now. The Nets, on the other hand, have potential in young coach Jordi Fernandez and salary cap flexibility to attract talent in the future. They have some draft capital that isn’t entirely uninspiring either. Both franchises hold additional picks, giving them multiple avenues for improvement. If you lean toward optimism, you might find reasons for hope in both situations, especially compared to Portland or Chicago. While the road ahead may be long for both teams, they still have several options for success ahead.
They run organizations that are far from competition well
4. Utah Jazz
Wizards and Jazz have many parallels. Both have undergone significant reorganization but have yet to showcase any improvement on the court. Utah has made some high picks in recent drafts while Washington secured a top pick in 2024, yet they still need a breakthrough. Washington has a decent collection of young players, indicating some potential, but they need one or two of them to truly emerge. Utah has a more extensive prospect pool, but their best young talents are still a work in progress. Both franchises seem to be rebuilding correctly, yet short-term losses loom large. While it might make sense to believe these teams could develop quicker than the Bulls or Raptors, the most valuable assets for both right now might just be those upcoming draft picks.
What are they doing?
3. Sacramento Kings
It seems like only yesterday that Tyrese Haliburton was lighting it up in his rookie year with the Kings. In reality, it’s been two seasons since they last made the playoffs, which was way back in 2006. A seemingly solid foundation was emerging around De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, along with Coach Mike Brown earning accolades. But everything unraveled quickly—Fox raised concerns, Brown was let go, and Sacramento fell back into its familiar dysfunction. Their attempt to replicate the Chicago Bulls’ 2021 model has shown to be flawed and, frankly, unrealistic. Sacramento needed big leaps from players like Keegan Murray, but it seems unlikely with other stars consuming most scoring opportunities. If the Kings underperform again, Sabonis may become a piece they look to trade, but after so many rebuilds, can this franchise endure another overhaul? They have picks lined up until 2031, but mismanagement continues to plague the roster. Mistakes have emerged, like opting to pick up Keon Ellis’ option instead of negotiating a longer deal, and spending on Dennis Schröder feels like another misstep. The Western Conference doesn’t offer mercy, and it seems only a matter of time before the Kings find themselves in the tanking conversation again.
2. Phoenix Suns
The Suns could have set themselves up well for the future, but decisions made this summer have made that uncertain. They seemed hesitant to fully commit to reshaping their roster. While trading Kevin Durant seemed possible, it didn’t happen, and they missed opportunities. The Suns opted not to trade Devin Booker in exchange for some first-round picks. Instead, he signed an extension that could cost a staggering $75 million in 2028-29. Phoenix also moved on from Bradley Beal, extending his contract’s financial implications. Reports suggest they bypassed a solid 10th pick from the Pelicans. While I liked the pick of Kaman Mallach, he is now on the roster, which makes future plans murkier. It’s tough to lose homegrown talent, and it’s understandable to see why the Suns would want to retain Booker. Not having a first-round pick until 2032 makes building a competitive roster in such a tough conference seem daunting. Ideally, they could flip Booker for prospects, but achieving a successful rebuild seems a heavy lift given their current situation.
1. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans could still trade unprotected first-round picks for Derrick Queen, which might not turn into a disaster if he develops well. Yet, the whole process leading to this possibility raises doubts about the front office’s future under Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver. Concerns swirl around how well Queen and Zion Williamson can coexist on the court, especially given their shooting and defensive styles. I also wonder how the two fit together with Jeremiah, the 7th overall pick. There’s potential for Jones and Murphy to shine as essential pieces alongside Williamson, but he continues to remain a shadow of his former self. When healthy, he could be a superstar, but injuries have hindered his career. The Pelicans seem to carry a curse; their top players suffer injuries, and just as they seem to make progress, they are set back. Williamson hasn’t become the star they once envisioned, leaving little room for optimism unless a miracle occurs.
