NBA Power Rankings updated after Peyton Watson trade with Cavs up, Nuggets down

The Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers feel like mirror images of each other in opposite conferences entering the 2026-27 season. Both teams are really good, but feel a step below their biggest rivals. Both have huge payrolls built around max superstars without much flexibility to tinker with the roster formula. Both have had frustrating offseasons before they came together to swap Peyton Watson as part of a massive five-team trade this week.

The Cavs will hope Watson can be the fifth starter they’ve long been missing while adding wing defense, transition scoring, and spot-up shooting. The Nuggets feel like they’re taking a step back this season with the deal, but they’re adding a valuable long-term asset by landing Cleveland’s unprotected 2031 first-rounder. The Clippers got involved to add Max Strus, while the Hornets picked up Dennis Schroder as part of the deal.

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This trade shakes up the rotation for contenders in both conferences, so I think it’s worth updating our league power rankings now that it’s complete. I dropped my original way-too-early power rankings for next season on July 10, then updated them after LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. Here’s how I see the league hierarchy entering the season after the Watson deal, with more analysis after the table.

‘Who’s No. 4?’ remains the most interesting question in the NBA

Any dummy can see that the Thunder, Spurs, and Knicks are the best teams in the NBA in some order entering the season. Ask 10 people who should be No. 4 in the power rankings, and you might get seven different answers.

I’m favoring the Timberwolves here because of their playoff upside. I don’t expect them to be the NBA’s fourth-best regular season team this season, but I like their ability to advance in the postseason more than some of the other contenders for that spot. I’m always been a bit LaMelo Ball guy, and he’s quietly turned into a borderline top-20 player when he’s healthy. Obviously LaMelo’s health is a big if, but you can same thing for Aaron Gordon in Denver and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. Ball is at least the youngest of that trio.

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Publish date : 2026-08-21 12:00:00

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