NBA’s 3 most overrated and underrated groups, starring Celtics, Spurs, Nuggets, and extra

The canine days of the NBA offseason have set in. Nearly the one factor hanging over the league proper now could be the frozen restricted free agent market holding 4 younger gamers from agreeing to new offers. It’s introduced the remainder of the NBA’s summer season exercise to a halt with it. There’s nonetheless loads of time left for a giant commerce or two earlier than coaching camps open league-wide on Oct. 1, however for now it seems like we’ve a reasonably good deal with on the hierarchy of the league heading into subsequent season.

ESPN dropped a way-too-early energy rankings for the 2025-26 season this week. A nine-person panel of writers got here up with consensus rankings coming into the season, and it does an ideal job outlining what the championship race, tank race, and middle-class of the league all appear like. In fact, cheap minds can disagree over the precise placement of those groups.

We’ll have our personal rankings nearer to the beginning of the brand new season. For now, listed below are the groups we expect are overrated and underrated heading into the season, based mostly on ESPN’s rankings.

Underrated: No. 3 Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets test in behind the Thunder and Rockets in these rankings. OKC deserves to be the favourite coming into the season, however to me the Nuggets are their greatest competitors. Denver nailed the offseason by including Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas. A crew that was so reliant on under-developed younger gamers lastly has the veteran depth it all the time wanted. The improve from Michael Porter Jr. to Johnson can be a considerable one: if Johnson was one of many league’s best scorers with Cam Thomas passing him the ball in Brooklyn, simply think about how he’ll be taking part in off Nikola Jokic’s gravity. In fact, this all comes again to Jokic, who has been the most effective participant within the league for 5 years operating and is displaying no indicators of slowing down. The Nuggets have an actual likelihood to win the championship with a greater supporting forged round their mega-star, and to me it makes them the league’s second-most-likely champion coming into the season.

Overrated: No. 13 Dallas Mavericks

Kyrie Irving may be very possible out of the yr as he rehabs a torn ACL. In his absence, Dallas has a notable lack of ball dealing with, with free agent addition D’Angelo Russell and holdover Dante Exum being the one issues resembling a degree guard on this roster. ESPN has the Mavericks because the eighth finest crew within the West, forward of the Grizzlies, Spurs, and Path Blazers. My guess is 2 of these three groups end with a greater document than Dallas, and the Mavs shall be again within the lottery this season. Cooper Flagg goes to be superior as a rookie, nevertheless it’s necessary to recollect he’ll be the youngest participant within the NBA this season. The Anthony Davis-Dereck Full of life II entrance line is tremendous intriguing, however I’m a bit nervous in regards to the spacing, in addition to AD’s constantly inconsistent availability. That is possible going to be among the many worst three-point capturing groups within the league, and I’m not assured that the protection could make up for it. I laid out my most well-liked highway map for the Mavs after they gained the lottery for Flagg, and I nonetheless consider Dallas ought to take extra of a long-term view of their construct round their new star.

Picture by Justin Casterline/Getty Photos

Overrated: No. 14 Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks’ try to hold Giannis Antetokounmpo glad this summer season was equal elements determined and inventive. Waiving Damian Lillard (and stretching his cap hit over 5 years) to signal Myles Turner was a transfer nobody noticed coming. Turner is a pure alternative for Brook Lopez (now a Clipper) as a stretch-five subsequent to Giannis, and at age-29, he ought to have loads of good years left. I’m simply unsure if it’s actually transferring the needle sufficient to make the Bucks the No. 6 crew within the East, as ESPN predicts. Milwaukee has nothing resembling a place to begin guard on this roster: Cole Anthony, Ryan Rollins, and Kevin Porter Jr. every present a distinct talent set, nevertheless it’s not making up the lack of a wholesome Lillard. The wing room right here is fairly horrible too barring a significant bounce-back season from Kyle Kuzma, who was terrible final yr. Depth is extra necessary than ever within the NBA today, and except Giannis provides the Bucks 82 video games of super-human play, I don’t see how this crew will get a protected playoff seed within the East.

Underrated: No. 16 San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are able to make a push up the Western Convention standings. Victor Wembanyama is reportedly able to go after a blood clot in his shoulder ended his season early final yr, and he’s poised to certify himself as a top-10 participant on this planet in Yr 3. Wemby solely performed 5 video games with De’Aaron Fox earlier than the harm final yr, and a full season of Fox needs to be extremely helpful for San Antonio. Stephon Citadel needs to be higher in Yr 2 — can he enhance as a shooter even slightly bit? — and Dylan Harper is an immediate influence rookie in my eyes. Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk give San Antonio extra entrance court docket depth and lineup flexibility than they’ve ever had within the Wemby period, and for as soon as it seems like this crew can dangle robust when its 7’5 French superhuman goes to the bench. This rating has the Spurs at No. 10 within the West, and I feel they may simply be higher than that.

Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photos

Overrated: No. 17 Boston Celtics

The Celtics gained’t simply be lacking Jayson Tatum as he recovers from a torn Achilles this season, they are going to be lacking Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Vacation, Al Horford, and Kornet, too. This must be the worst entrance court docket within the league with Neemias Queta and Sam Hauser slated to begin, and Luka Garza in all probability taking part in huge minutes as a backup heart. The Celtics are already mendacity the groundwork for a stealth tank that may get them a premium draft choose whereas Tatum recovers. Don’t be stunned when Jaylen Brown and/or Derrick White get shutdown early, Boston bombs the second half, and crosses its fingers for some good luck on lottery evening. I don’t assume the Celtics are making the playoffs.

Underrated: No. 27 Charlotte Hornets

Oh no, I’m speaking myself into the Hornets once more. I used to be excessive on the Hornets final season, and that completely blew up in my face. For Charlotte to take a leap up the standings this yr, LaMelo Ball has to remain accessible and play rather less selfishly, Brandon Miller must take a leap, and Kon Knueppel must be an immediate influence rookie. I can see all of these issues taking place, and in a down yr for the East, I feel the Hornets can win extra video games than it seems like coming into the yr. Including Collin Sexton for nothing for a pleasant transfer for the bench, and final yr’s top-10 choose Tidjane Salaun can’t be any worse than he was as a rookie. The massive rotation scares me, however I may see Charlotte being slightly extra aggressive than this with a stable younger head coach in Charles Lee, and sufficient shot-creation and capturing to construct an honest offense.