NBA Eastern Conference power rankings: LeBron moves Sixers behind Knicks in East race

LeBron James is headed to Philadelphia, and as a result, realistic title expectations are going with him. The Knicks claiming the 2026 NBA championship in an emphatic 4-1 gentleman’s sweep of the San Antonio Spurs sent the Eastern Conference into a frenzy. Teams feverishly shifted their rosters for a chance at the next title run, a shot at the Knicks’ throne.

And LeBron’s decision was the last order of business for multiple teams setting their rosters mid-summer. Here’s how his move to Philly impacts the East power rankings.

15. MILWAUKEE BUCKS

— Key Losses: F Giannis Antetokounmpo, F Bobby Portis

— Key Additions: G Tyler Herro, C Kel’el Ware, F Jaime Jaquez Jr., G Kasparas Jakucionis, F Nate Ament, 2031 and 2033 first-round picks

The Bucks will be a scrappy team. Tyler Herro will score tons of points. And Milwaukee will be hunting for top draft status for years to come, with the goal of finding the next Giannis Antetokounmpo.

14. BROOKLYN NETS

— Key Losses: C Nic Claxton (via CHI)

— Key Additions: F Julius Randle (via MIN), G Mikel Brown (No. 6), F Joshua Jefferson (No. 28 via MIN), F Moritz Wagner (via ORL), G Keon Ellis (via CLE), F Tyler Bilodeau (No. 43 via LAC)

The Nets got better. The problem is the rest of the East did, too. As a result, almost every team in the conference, Brooklyn included, will be chasing 30 wins, minimum. The Nets, who’ve paired Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. while finding a hit in the draft with Mikel Brown at No. 6, have the pieces to reach the mark.

13. INDIANA PACERS

— Key Additions: Tyrese Haliburton (IR)

A calendar year can change so much. So can an Achilles injury. The Pacers were one win away from an NBA title two seasons ago. Now, they’ll be lucky to make the play-in in an Eastern Conference suddenly more stacked than the West, even if Haliburton is back in action.

THE PLAY-IN CLUSTER

12. CHICAGO BULLS

— Key Additions: F Caleb Wilson (No. 4), G Norman Powell, C Nic Claxton (via BKN)

The Bulls could end up near the top of the play-in cluster. They play fast, free and fun, and Caleb Wilson could end up the best player in the stacked 2026 draft class.

11. ORLANDO MAGIC

— Key Losses: F Mo Wagner

— Key Additions: C Nikola Vucevic

The Magic season ends the same way every year: in the infirmary, plagued by poor guard play. Orlando can’t generate consistent offense in the back court. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner can’t stay on the floor more than seven games at a time. And they just fired Jamahl Mosley, a quality head coach, for Sean Sweeney, a first-time head coach.

10. WASHINGTON WIZARDS

— Key Additions: F A.J. Dybantsa (No. 1), C Deandre Ayton (via LAL), F Khris Middleton, C Anthony Davis (IR), G Trae Young (IR)

The Wizards will be fun. They’ll be good. But will they be a serious threat to an Eastern Conference playoff spot? That hinges on Anthony Davis, who is hardly ever healthy, and whether or not Trae Young can unlock the hidden potential of one of the NBA’s more talent-rich pools of young players.

9. TORONTO RAPTORS

— Key Additions: F Kyle Anderson

The Raptors were title contenders for about seven minutes. Right up until the NBA paused the Kawhi Leonard trade as it continues its investigation into the allegations he circumvented the salary cap to collect even more money from the L.A. Clippers. That deal isn’t getting done any time soon, if ever. Which means there’s some relationship-mending to do with Brandon Ingram, who was on the first plane out in the deal for the former Raptors star.

8. ATLANTA HAWKS

— Key Losses: G Zaccharie Risacher

— Key Additions: G Lu Dort (via OKC), G Aaron Wiggins (via OKC), G Ryan Nembhard (via DAL), G Devin Carter (via SAC), G Kingston Flemings (No. 8), F Zuby Ejiofor (No. 23), C Henri Veesar (No. 52)

The Hawks gave the Knicks problems in the first round of the playoffs. They’ve added significant depth, but the starting lineup firepower after the Trae Young trade remains in question for a team that relied heavily on soon-to-be 37-year-old C.J. McCollum for offense last season.

7. CHARLOTTE HORNETS

— Key Losses: G LaMelo Ball, F Miles Bridges

— Key Additions: F Naz Reid, G Grayson Allen, F Dorian Finney-Smith, F Royce O’Neale (via PHX), C Hannes Steinbech (No. 14), G Christian Anderson Jr. (No. 18)

What a gamble: Trade the former face of the franchise and one of NBA history’s most polarizing personalities to go all-in on a first-year sharpshooter and a PR overhaul. The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges for role players and draft picks. Charlotte will promote Coby White to starting point guard. And the captain title? It belongs to Kon Kneuppel, who can now call the Hornets his team — along with its win-loss record at the end of the year.

THE TOP SIX

6. DETROIT PISTONS

— Key Losses: F Tobias Harris

— Key Additions: G Isaiah Joe (via OKC), F John Collins (via LAC), G Ebuka Okorie (No. 17), G Gary Harris

Sixty wins and nothing to show for it. The Pistons had some shaking up to do this summer. Out went Tobias Harris. In came a fleet of role players tasked with alleviating the burden Cade Cunningham has carried to generate all of Detroit’s offense. There’s still unfinished business: The Pistons have to either re-sign Jalen Duren or find a trade for him that makes sense. They’re dire in need of a second star on offense, however, and John Collins is not the solution.

5. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

— Key Losses: G Keon Ellis, F Dean Wade

— Key Additions: G Meleek Thomas (No. 34)

LeBron might’ve chosen the Cavaliers had they never traded Darius Garland for James Harden. But they did, and in doing so, they got significantly older and less dynamic at the point guard spot. The Cavaliers did not make many meaningful roster additions this offseason. They still need to agree to terms on a deal to re-sign Harden. And once they do, they’ll have the duo of Harden and Donovan Mitchell attempting, once again, to lead the Cavs to unfamiliar territory: back to the Finals for the first time since LeBron left them for the Lakers.

4. MIAMI HEAT

— Key Losses: G Tyler Herro, C Kel’el Ware, F Jaime Jaquez Jr., G Kasparas Jakucionis, F Nate Ament, 2031 and 2033 first-round picks

— Key Additions: F Giannis Antetokounmpo, F Bobby Portis

Sorry, South Beach, the plane landed elsewhere. Maybe the intern cost Miami big-time after all. Or maybe LeBron saw a better opportunity to compete for a title elsewhere. He will still have to go through his old stomping grounds, the place Giannis Antetokounmpo now calls home. Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins make for a tough out, but there are at least three teams that could be better in the East given Miami’s need for perimeter shooting and guard play.

3. BOSTON CELTICS

— Key Losses: G Jaylen Brown

— Key Additions: C Mitchell Robinson, F Paul George

Healthy Jaylen Brown, injured Jayson Tatum? The Celtics ended up the East’s No. 2 seed. Healthy Jayson Tatum, no Jaylen Brown? Boston’s about to find out what its franchise cornerstone is made of. The Celtics traded away their Finals MVP. This is the Tatum Show — in Tatum’s city. And now, all of the pressure in Beantown rests on the shoulders of one player, not two. It is the decision set to make or break Brad Stevens’ legacy. The Celtics are still dangerous, but it’s unclear whether adding Mitchell Robinson and Paul George make them true title contenders again.

2. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

— Key Losses: F Paul George (via BOS)

— Key Additions: G Jaylen Brown (via BOS), F LeBron James, F Dean Wade

The Knicks ended a 53-year title drought. Can the 76ers end one that’s lasted 43 years? If anyone can do it, it’s LeBron James (right?), who’s won an NBA title at every stop of his Hall of Fame career. James and Jaylen Brown join a Sixers team the Knicks swept in a hostile takeover of Philly’s Xfinity Mobile Arena in the second round.

1. NEW YORK KNICKS

— Key Losses: C Mitchell Robinson (via BOS), C Ariel Hukporti (via PHI)

— Key Additions: C Andre Drummond; re-signed G Landry Shamet, G Jose Alvarado, G Jordan Clarkson and F Mohamed Diawara

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best — and it’s been a long time since anyone’s beaten the Knicks. They are your reigning NBA champions, winners of 13 straight playoff games, enders of a 53-year championship drought.

The Knicks are, until further notice, the best team in the NBA. They are the team to beat, no matter where LeBron signed this summer.