NBA Contenders Highlight Salary and Roster Challenges in ESPN’s Early 2026-27 Rankings
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ESPN’s way-too-early power rankings for the 2026-27 NBA season place the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons among the league’s top five, but each organization enters the summer with significant roster and salary decisions.
Thunder sit atop the list
Despite falling short of a repeat championship and missing the 2027 Finals, the Thunder landed at No. 1. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, upcoming contract extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will push Oklahoma City’s payroll from $186.7 million to roughly $250 million, deep into the second luxury-tax apron. General manager Sam Presti is expected to keep most of the 64-win roster intact while exploring “subtle ways” to trim costs.
Celtics ranked fourth
Boston appears at No. 4 in the rankings. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens wants improvements after the team’s “subpar record” against elite opponents. A primary decision involves starting center Neemias Queta, whose team option for next season follows a breakout campaign. The Celtics maneuvered out of the tax last year but aim to bolster the roster this offseason.
Pistons round out the top five
Detroit, No. 5 on ESPN’s list, won 60 games and secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference before falling to Cleveland in a seven-game second-round series. ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill wrote that finding a “shot-creating running mate” for Cade Cunningham is the club’s top priority. The Pistons also intend to re-sign restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren and negotiate an extension with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Ausar Thompson while monitoring the trade market for veteran upgrades.
Source: Hoops Wire
