Cooper Flagg was the 2025 No. 1 draft pick for the Dallas Mavericks.
Atlanta Hawks | Key Addition: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kristaps Porziņģis
Yes, we’re sneaking in two names off the jump – but both bring elements that could elevate Atlanta’s defense to another level. Alexander-Walker pairs with 2024-25 steals leader Dyson Daniels to form a perimeter duo built on length and disruption, while Porziņģis adds rim protection inside. On offense, his pick-and-roll threat with Trae Young could add another dimension, leaving Atlanta better equipped on both ends.
Boston Celtics | Key Addition: Anfernee Simons
With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the foreseeable future with an Achilles injury, Boston needed another shot-creator — and Simons brings exactly that. The former Blazer averaged 20.7 ppg over his last three seasons and can heat up in a hurry, giving the Celtics a reliable secondary scoring option alongside Jaylen Brown.
Brooklyn Nets | Key Addition: Michael Porter Jr.
Only two players have hit 185+ triples at 39% or better in each of the past three seasons – Steph Curry and Michael Porter Jr. That shooting prowess gives Brooklyn an established floor-spacer and off-ball threat who, alongside Egor Demin (No. 8 overall) and four other 2025 first-round picks, should help lift an offense that finished tied for last in scoring last season (105.1 ppg).
Charlotte Hornets | Key Addition: Kon Knueppel
Fans’ first look at Knueppel saw the No. 4 overall pick lead Charlotte to an NBA 2K26 Summer League title while earning championship game MVP honors. Now, he’ll look to help the Hornets end a nine-year playoff drought by complementing LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in a young backcourt brimming with shooters.
Chicago Bulls | Key Addition: Noa Essengue
This year’s No. 12 overall pick pairs length, athleticism and defensive instincts with a developing offensive game. At 18 years old, Essengue — as well as newly-acquired Isaac Okoro — gives Chicago additional two-way versatility, adding upside and depth to a rebuilding roster.
Cleveland Cavaliers | Key Addition: Lonzo Ball
The player Chicago swapped Okoro for? Ball, who brings playmaking and pace to a Cleveland offense that scored an NBA-best 121.9 ppg last season. The Cavs also added Larry Nance Jr., though they lost Ty Jerome in free agency. With their All-Star core returning following an East-best 64-18 record, Ball and Nance will look to give Cleveland additional firepower for a deeper playoff push.
Dallas Mavericks | Key Addition: Cooper Flagg
After leading Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in his lone collegiate season, Flagg flashed his versatility in his limited Summer League action. This year’s No. 1 pick gives Dallas a 6-foot-8, multi-positional option who can defend various positions and contribute on both ends from Day 1.
Denver Nuggets | Key Addition: Jonas Valančiūnas
No Western Conference team has more regular-season wins over the last four years than Denver. In that same span, it’s been outscored by 9.2 points per 100 possessions when Nikola Jokić sits. Valančiūnas joins the Nuggets to help close that gap, entering alongside Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown — who won the 2023 NBA title with Denver — to add depth and veteran experience to a perennial contender.
Detroit Pistons | Key Addition: Duncan Robinson
A third-year leap from Cade Cunningham resulted in Detroit tripling its win total last season, leading to its first playoff appearance since 2019. One of only two players (alongside Nikola Jokić) to average 25+ points and 9+ assists last season, Cunningham now has Robinson – a career 39.7% 3-point shooter – to space the floor. Caris LeVert also joined Detroit via free agency, while Jaden Ivey is set to return from injury to boost its backcourt.
Golden State Warriors | Key Addition: N/A
The Warriors have yet to make any major trades or free-agent signings this summer but added Alex Toohey (No. 52) and Will Richard (No. 56) in the second round of the draft. Richard averaged 10.3 ppg in the NBA 2K26 Summer League after helping lead Florida to the 2025 NCAA national title.
Houston Rockets | Key Addition: Kevin Durant
Houston made the splash of the summer, acquiring Durant in a historic seven-team, 13-player trade that also brought Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Rockets.
A four-time scoring champ and two-time Finals MVP, Durant — who’s averaged 25+ ppg on over 50% shooting in each of his last 12 seasons — joins last year’s No. 2 seed out West as they eye a Finals run.
Indiana Pacers | Key Addition: Jay Huff
After losing Myles Turner in free agency, the 2025 Eastern Conference champs added stretch-5 Jay Huff from Memphis. One of five centers to shoot over 40% from 3 on 200+ attempts last season, Huff averaged 6.9 ppg while providing rim protection for the Grizz.
LA Clippers | Key Addition: Bradley Beal, Chris Paul
CP3 is back in LA – along with more veteran experience. The Clips added proven playmaking and scoring through Paul and Beal, as well as frontcourt depth in John Collins and Brook Lopez. The two stretch bigs can help space the floor while the veteran guards ease playmaking pressure from James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, giving LA more flexibility for a deep playoff push.
Los Angeles Lakers | Key Addition: Deandre Ayton
Ayton joins the Lakers after a buyout from Portland, filling a glaring need in the middle for Los Angeles. The former No. 1 overall pick gives LeBron James and Luka Dončić a reliable lob threat and interior size the team lacked after trading Anthony Davis. The Lakers also added veteran guard Marcus Smart, who strengthens the perimeter defense and adds playoff experience to a roster aiming for a deep postseason run.
Memphis Grizzlies | Key Addition: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ty Jerome
Both dangerous from downtown, Caldwell-Pope and Jerome join the Grizzlies to offset the departures of Desmond Bane (Orlando) and Luke Kennard (Atlanta). With Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the charge, Memphis hopes the new additions can sustain an offense that ranked second in scoring last season (121.7 ppg), while KCP also provides an edge defensively.
Miami Heat | Key Addition: Norman Powell
Miami added Powell in a three-team trade with the Clippers and Jazz, sending Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson to Utah. Coming off a career-high 21.8 ppg last season, Powell bolsters a Heat offense that ranked 24th (110.6 ppg), joining Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins as Miami looks to reestablish itself as an East contender.
Milwaukee Bucks | Key Addition: Myles Turner
One of the biggest names of the 2025 free agent class, the former Pacers mainstay joins the Bucks on a four-year deal. Indiana’s all-time leading shot blocker provides rim protection alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo while replacing Brook Lopez as a stretch-5 offensively. Cole Anthony also signed with Milwaukee, adding backcourt depth following Damian Lillard’s departure.
Minnesota Timberwolves | Key Addition: Joan Beringer
The Wolves allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NBA last season (109.3 ppg), and their lone offseason addition was 2025 first-round pick Joan Beringer (No. 17), who adds depth to a defensive frontcourt anchored by fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert. At 6-foot-11, Beringer flashed his rim-protecting upside with seven – yes, seven – blocks in his Summer League debut.
New Orleans Pelicans | Key Addition: Jordan Poole
With the departure of CJ McCollum, New Orleans brought in Poole to spark an offense that finished 25th in scoring last season (109.8 ppg). The Pels also added a pair of lottery picks in guard Jeremiah Fears (No. 7) and big Derik Queen (No. 13), who both looked sharp in Summer League, though Queen will miss the start of the season with a torn ligament in his left wrist.
New York Knicks | Key Addition: Jordan Clarkson
New York was two wins shy of its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 last season, yet finished last in the league in bench points. Insert Jordan Clarkson, a former Kia Sixth Man of the Year who turned in 16.2 ppg for Utah in 2024-25. The Knicks also added Guerschon Yabusele, who recorded 11.0 ppg on 50.1% shooting with the Sixers last season. Meanwhile, two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown takes over as head coach.
Oklahoma City Thunder | Key Addition: Nikola Topić
Even without making any moves in free agency, OKC added to its championship roster. The Thunder will debut two first-round picks this season – this year’s No. 15 overall pick Thomas Sorber and 2024 lottery selection Nikola Topić (No. 12 overall), who missed all of last season with an ACL injury but flashed his playmaking in Summer League with a Vegas-best 7.3 assists per game along with 11.0 points.
Orlando Magic | Key Addition: Desmond Bane
The Magic swung a blockbuster trade to land Bane, sending Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and multiple first-round picks to Memphis. A career 41.0% 3-point shooter, Bane averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists last season, giving Orlando a proven scoring guard alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Philadelphia 76ers | Key Addition: VJ Edgecombe
Philly injected a jolt of athleticism through the draft in Edgecombe, who dazzled in his Summer League debut with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one high-flying hammer. This year’s No. 3 pick, Edgecombe broke Baylor’s freshman steals record last season, bringing a spark to a Sixers squad that finished 26th in defensive rating.
Phoenix Suns | Key Addition: Jalen Green
A new season, and a new-look Suns squad. On the other side of the seven-team swap that sent Kevin Durant to Houston, Phoenix landed Green, Dillon Brooks and a trio of draft picks — including 7-foot-2 center Khaman Maluach (No. 10 overall). At 23, Green brings scoring, athleticism and upside, ready to ignite the Suns’ offense alongside Devin Booker.
Portland Trail Blazers | Key Addition: Jrue Holiday
The Blazers added a defensive stalwart in Holiday, pairing the veteran with their young backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Damian Lillard also returns to Portland but will be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a torn Achilles. Regardless, Lillard’s leadership, combined with Holiday’s versatility and championship experience, gives the Blazers a strong foundation to develop their promising duo.
Sacramento Kings | Key Addition: Nique Clifford
Powered by Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings finished last season with a top-10 offense and a 27-24 record under Doug Christie. They’ll now add rookie sharpshooter Nique Clifford to the mix – the No. 24 pick who earned First Team 2K26 Summer League honors, averaging 15.2 ppg while shooting 45.8% from 3. Dennis Schröder will also step in at point guard, helping fill the void left by De’Aaron Fox.
San Antonio Spurs | Key Addition: Dylan Harper
Fresh off drafting back-to-back Kia Rookies of the Year in Victor Wembanyama (2023-24) and Stephon Castle (2024-25), the Spurs hope Harper, this year’s No. 2 overall pick, can make it three straight. The do-it-all guard joins Castle and De’Aaron Fox in the backcourt, where his offensive instincts and playmaking could flourish in San Antonio’s free-flowing system.
Toronto Raptors | Key Addition: Collin Murray-Boyles
Toronto’s defense took a major leap after the All-Star break last season, jumping from 26th to 2nd in defensive rating. The Raptors hope Murray-Boyles can help maintain that momentum. Known for his relentless motor, the No. 9 overall pick showed off his defensive intensity in the NBA 2K26 Summer League, averaging 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks with 10.5 points across four games.
Utah Jazz | Key Addition: Ace Bailey
A pure shooter who can hit from anywhere, this year’s No. 5 overall pick brings size, length and a versatile offensive game to Utah, capable of attacking the rim, splashing step-back jumpers and spacing the floor. The Jazz also added veterans Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson and Jusuf Nurkić to provide experience around their young nucleus.
Washington Wizards | Key Addition: CJ McCollum, Tre Johnson
After getting an NBA-high 35% of their minutes from rookies last season, the Wizards added another high-upside prospect in this year’s No. 6 overall pick, Tre Johnson. The Texas guard led the SEC in scoring as a freshman (19.9 ppg) while shooting 39.7% from deep, joining a young core now anchored by CJ McCollum, who offers a veteran scoring presence.