The Atlanta Hawks made a significant leap from 23rd to 12th, thanks to strategic offseason moves, control over valuable draft picks, and a solid roster including Trae Young.

The Dallas Mavericks fell from 5th to 16th, impacted by roster instability, injuries, and surprising draft lottery results after a Finals appearance.

ESPN’s NBA Future Power Rankings project the success of all 30 teams over the next three seasons, based on expert analysis across five categories, including management, draft assets, and financial health.

Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors maintained a high ranking despite concerns about their aging roster, showcasing their playoff resilience.

The New York Knicks remain at 3rd place after reaching their first conference finals in over two decades, supported by strong player quality, market, and management.

The Cleveland Cavaliers surged from 13th to 4th, driven by a successful recent season and their potential as Eastern Conference contenders, despite financial constraints.

The Charlotte Hornets rose from 26th to 23rd, focusing on developing rookie contracts and maintaining financial flexibility.

The Houston Rockets made a remarkable jump from near the bottom to 2nd place, fueled by a young core, new coach Ime Udoka, and the addition of Kevin Durant, signaling rapid development.

The Washington Wizards moved up from 28th to 26th, largely because of draft assets and cap flexibility, though their reliance on rookie contracts keeps them lower.

The Los Angeles Lakers improved dramatically from 21st to 8th, largely due to acquiring Luka Doncic and extending his contract, positioning them strongly in the Luka era.

The Golden State Warriors dropped from 9th to 6th, mainly due to roster aging concerns, but remain a playoff threat with stars like Stephen Curry.

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to top the rankings as the highest-rated team for the second year in a row, thanks to a young, championship-caliber core and valuable draft assets.