6. Detroit Pistons
Ever since bringing in J.B. Bickerstaff as their head coach, the fortunes of the Pistons have absolutely reversed. The 2025 offseason saw Detroit get their first playoff victory since 2008. They followed that up in 2026 by winning their first series since 2008 and making it to the second round.
Unfortunately, that was as far as they got, which was a bit of a surprise. The Pistons were the number one team in the Eastern Conference in 2026. A big part of the problem was the folly of youth, as the team was not locked in and pushed their luck a little too far.
So far, they've lost Tobias Harris to free agency, traded Isaiah Stewart away, and are right on the edge of losing Jalen Duren. The Pistons will stay in the upper ranks of the East this season, but they won't make it further in the playoffs unless something big changes. Losing Duren could be catastrophic.
5. Miami Heat
What a difference Giannis Antetokounpo makes. The Heat have been a Play-In team for years. Losing Jimmy Butler just made that worse. Miami needed someone to take them to the next level, and they got him in Giannis. It was an inevitable trade everyone in the league has been waiting for.
In addition to Giannis, the Heat acquired Bobby Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr. while hanging onto Simone Fontecchio and Andrew Wiggins. Miami is banking heavily on the pairing of Giannis and Bam Adebayo delivering in a big way. They have to, because the Heat have gutted their depth.
As part of the Giannis deal, Miami traded Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and the 2026 draft pick that became Nate Ament. On top of that, they lost Norman Powell to free agency. The Heat have improved their odds, but it remains to be seen by how much.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Without question, the 76ers just pulled off the trade of the year. Getting Jaylen Brown while simultaneously getting rid of Paul George has immediately turned Philly into a basketball powerhouse. It's something every team in the league should be concerned about.
Next season's starting lineup will feature Brown, Joel Embiid, V.J. Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey. And Embiid was actually healthy for a sizable part of last season. If he's around even more in 2026-2027, that might make the 76ers the team to beat in the East.
On top of that, they drafted Labaron Philon Jr., an absolute steal at 22, and signed Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons. Not only are their starters dangerous, but the 76ers have managed to improve their depth along the way. Just looking at the roster proves them to be a top-five team.
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