NBA Summer Forecast 2025-26: Who could cross, lack a prediction?

ESPN has posted its NBA Summer forecast This week, breaking everything that could happen via the league, from the polls of the awards, until the championship, to jump and turn over the league.

Our staff voted about where all 30 NBA teams could land on the table of the final season, the recording of how the Eastern and Western conference can be shaken. However, the consensus view is not necessarily correct One. (Case in point, Our prognosons for 2024-25 have crossed 0-for-6.)

With that in mind, here are 5 teams that could cross their forecast in the amount of this season, as well as five who could fall for the next spring.

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Five to cross expectations

Oklahoma City Thunder
Forecast: 64-18

Last season, Oklahoma City became only 22. Team in the history of the league to win at least 65 games. Of them, only two franchises arose to match or have surpassed it in total next season: 1995-96 and 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (72 and 69 wins, ie) and 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 Golden State Warriors (67, 73 and 67 wins, respectively).

Other teams for conquering at least 65 games in the season have seen their conquest of the overall fall on average more than seven games next year. Only one (warriors in 2015 years) gave the team or encountered or improved at their victory in the amount of the season earlier.

Why could defensive Champs reach this trend? It is a combination of even weaker eastern conferences after the stars in Indiana and Boston (Thunder last season in Boston) last season completely returned completely returns that should improve more time in court Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein After the Duo missed a combined 75 games last season. When any big man was available, OKC had a stunning 59-10 records – of 70-win pace.

Will OKC become the third team to win 70 matches? Don’t bet on that, but thunder could easily have the best record of leagues and becomes the third team to win at least 65 in the back to back. There is a reason for coaches, scouts and managers of ESPN talking to this flight do not bet against Thunder reps.

Sliders
Forecast: 50-32

The bars surprised last season with 50 wins after they designed as a boundary parlomic team. Paul George signed with Philadelphia 76ers and Kavhi Leonard He only played 37 games, emphasizing that Tronn Lue work coach did with Roster throughout the year.

This summer, the sliders turned Norman PowellAmir Coffee, Ben Simmons and Patti Mills in Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, John Collins and Brook LopezMaking one of the deepest teams of the NBA and earns praise of rival scouts and managers for their maneuvere manees.

This list is almost polar opponents to what OKC has compiled: only three players of slider rotation are under 30, and none are under 27, but the pistons can fight the age and risk of injury and injury. This should be allowed to push and cross last year’s victory in progress.

Golden State Warriors
Forecast: 48-34

Like the clipos, warriors are projected right to their victory in the last season and have older Roster (although we project a roster that is currently incomplete, because the gold state is waiting for a resolution Jonathan Kuminga Limited Free Showdown Agency).

This choice is a bet on evolution Stephen Curri–Jimmy Butler III Partnership. In the midst of all the buttle drama from last season, the golden state went 22-5 in 27 games Curri and Butler played together. Yes, there are a lot of risk of age and injuries (including possible addition to Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton IIEveryone who makes set to join the golden state after the situation with the cumin is sorted).

But as long as Curry, butler and Draimond Green are relatively healthy, it feels like a good bet to cross.

Miami heat
Forecast: 39-43

When we talk about Butler, it could be a surprise to see his former team here sitting here. ADID Butler Drama, Miami had unconscious 37-45 season last year, making tournament appearing as at 10. seeds before it eliminated Cleveland Cavaliers In the first round.

But Miami added Powell – a 21.8 point-per-game shooter last season with sliders – which should help misdemeanor about heat 21. place. The heat was also 14-28 in the clutch in the game, last season, the third worst winning percentage in the NBA. That, plus weakened East, Miami leaves as a strong bet to cross his forecast.

Toronto Raptors
Forecast: 33-49

Toronto went last season to go to 30-52 while he did everything that could improve his draft positioning and with Brandon Ingram not play a second with this group after middle means trade New Orleans Pelicans.

It is difficult to see the script in this type of zone from conquest stands – especially in the east – ban a huge rash of writer injury.

When Raptors began to decompose this Roster a few years ago, under then by the executive government Masai Ujiri, it was supposed to turn to the Privir. The moves team has since made – including trading and extension, I play – all plays in that belief. The teams do not enter the luxury tax season, such as Toronto, is expected to miss the show.

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Five to fall short

Minnesota Timbervolves
Forecast: 51-31

Minnesota surpassed 51 victories in the history of franchise: 2004. and 2024. years. In the last season, he reached his second right of the Western final in the last season, but he won 49 games and finished sixth in the table.

This is Timberwolves team who lost Nickeil Aleksandar-Walker in a free agency this summer requires young people like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jailen Clark to pick up a much higher load while still strongly leans Mike Conlei and Rudi Gobert. If anytime, whenever misses veteran, wooden, do not have a clear answer to replace them. Naz ReidWho received a five-year, 125 million dollars to return as a free agent this summer, not strong enough for the Gaptian absence and last year’s 8, and last year no. Rob DillinghamIt remains a huge question mark in its ability to take Conlei eventually.

Minnesota, behind Anthony Edwards, Julius RandleThe flexible list and coaching Chris Finch, will still be difficult next spring. But until then, given the strength of the West and the questions in the list, improvement from last year’s total total could be shown difficult.

Detroit klipovi
Forecast: 47-35

It was a magical season last year for clips, which went from 14 to 44 victories, video Cade Cunningham Become an All-NBA player, first made a playoff from 2019. year and first won a playing game since 2008. years.

Such seasons followed consolidation years, and Detroit approached the summer like the organization prepared for this possibility. Duncan Robinson replaced Tim Hardway Jr., Caris delivers was replaced by Malik Beasley and now healthy Jaden Ivei should take Dennis Schroderplace of rotation after he went to Sacramento Kings in a free agency. But this is a group that will rely on young players like Ivei, Ron Holland II, Jal and Ausar Thompson to continue to expand their roles around Cunningham.

Detroit should easily cause the top-6 playoffs. And given it in the east, the pistons may not need a forecast three-win jump to get there.

Dallas Mavericks
Forecast: 44-38

Dallas will be one of the most interesting teams of the NBA this season, between the introduction Cooper Flagg For a living in the NBA, playing some really massive lines throughout the board, running out Luka Doncic Trade and Kirie IrvingPotential return with the torn ACL has been suffocated in March. As it stands now, the only reliable ball operator is on the list is D’Angelo RussellFine player rotation in place, but one that is more appropriate for a spare role.

That, along with Anthony Davis“Health questions – missed six weeks after his Dellas debut, then she had surgery to fix a detached retina in July – it seems to cross the season 44-winning seasons in the brutal west.

San Antonio Spurs
Forecast: 44-38

Victor Vembaniama He has already established as a dominant defense force of league in the second season.

But for the big century and Vembania, this Spurs Roster still feels like it is formed, not the finished product. That starts with the rear triom De’aaron fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle.

Spurs must understand how to all three (they are all very talented, but IFFI shooters) are adapted to the Court and learn to play with Vembania. It’s one of the biggest questions of people around the league, but also for any team, considering that it could mean how Spurs will shape the roster moving forward.

That’s a lot to get rid of the first time the main coach Mitch Johnson. Vembaniama could of course surpass this number based on its own glow, but there are enough questions in San Antonio, which is held entitled as safe as a safe choice.

Portland Trail Blazers
Forecast: 39-43

Portland has ended with 36 victories after strong pressing down the extreme that saw Blazers to escape against teams resting for playoffs or positioned to position themselves to position the position.

Portland turned Anfernee Simons in Jrue Holiday This summer, but it is unclear where extra victory will come from. Blazer are trying to mesh veterans mix such as holiday and Straw with a young core Scoot Henderson, Sharpe Sharpe and Donovan Clingan. Blazer also banks that the defense that appeared during the second half of the season – Blazers related to the fourth best in the NBA from 15. January – is more real than 25. ranked defenses from the first half of 2024-25.

Portland has some interesting players in Danny Avdi, Toumani Camara And Clingen will build that defense and replacement Simon with a real stopper in the holiday will not hurt painfully. But in an illegal conference, the bet is that Portland cannot be improved in the last season.