The 2025 NBA Finals start on Thursday. For the rest of the league, it’s time to start thinking about 2025-26.
Here are five NBA teams with the best chances to reach the playoffs after missing out this season:
Dallas Mavericks (39-43)
The Mavericks defied the odds to finish first in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.
The Dallas Mavericks win the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery/the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes!
This will certainly get a whole lot of reaction in the sports world. #NBA #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/ytvF7y7hAg
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 12, 2025
As winners of the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, they stand to gain the most, especially after the trade of Luka Dončić. It’s a perfect scenario. Flagg goes to a big market, and he’ll be playing alongside established All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. The 6-foot-9 forward should be able to grow into his role as the face of the franchise without the early pressure. A lot will depend on the health of Irving and Davis. Irving hasn’t played more than 60 games in seven years. Davis has played over 60 games just once over the past six years. Assuming both are in the lineup regularly, Dallas should be a playoff team.
San Antonio Spurs (34-48)
The Spurs were the other big winner from the draft lottery. Although they didn’t get the top overall pick, getting No. 2 is a welcome consolation prize. The question is: what will they do with it? Keep the pick or trade it for veteran help?
Dylan Harper is the consensus second-best player in the draft, but San Antonio already has De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. This won’t necessarily prevent the Spurs from taking Harper, especially in the era of positionless basketball. However, it would make for a crowded backcourt. Whatever San Antonio does, having the last two Rookie of the Year winners in Castle and Victor Wembanyama (assuming he comes back after being sidelined due to a blood clot) puts the Spurs in a great position in the post-Gregg Popovich era.
Philadelphia 76ers (24-58)
Things can’t get any worse for the 76ers. What an epic disaster. Two years ago, Joel Embiid was the MVP for a team that went 54-28. Now, Embiid’s body is broken again, and there are serious questions about his long-term health and future with the franchise. If Philadelphia sticks with the status quo, an intact Embiid makes this a 50-win team. However, he has played a total of 58 games over the past two seasons. A divorce might be best for all parties.
The 76ers own the third overall pick, which could mean they take Ace Bailey to pair with Tyrese Maxey. There’s so much uncertainty here because Paul George, Maxey, and Embiid are coming back from injuries. But on paper, this could be a good team.
Phoenix Suns (36-46)
The Suns’ chances will depend on what happens with Kevin Durant. It seems likely that the future Hall of Famer will be traded this offseason. How quickly the Suns return to the playoffs could hinge on what they get in return (Domantas Sabonis?). The Bradley Beal acquisition hasn’t worked out either, but he appears unmovable due to his contract and his no-trade clause.
Phoenix will try to make it work with Devin Booker and Beal carrying the load, but this team still seems a long way from championship contention. Perhaps new coach Jordan Ott can provide a spark that this franchise badly needs.
Sacramento Kings (40-42)
The Kings are in the NBA’s no man’s land. Because they reached the play-in tournament, their first-round draft pick went to the Atlanta Hawks due to the 2022 Kevin Huerter trade. Their roster is decent, so they might not be bad enough to have a lottery pick in 2026. A new general manager (Scott Perry) and a new permanent coach (Doug Christie) will try to reverse their fortunes. After Christie took over on an interim basis for the fired Mike Brown, Sacramento did play better (27-24).
Priority No. 1 will be figuring out what to do with center Domantas Sabonis, who could be traded. He’s the one asset who could bring back an infusion of new talent.