NBA Offseason Was Pure Chaos: LeBron Heads East, Ja Gets Dealt, Wemby Takes Less — And 30 Previews Are Dropping
The 2026 NBA offseason hit different. We're talking LeBron James bolting for the East on a deal that made the whole league do a double take, Ja Morant getting traded like yesterday's news, and Victor Wembanyama leaving money on the table just to keep the Spurs' core together. And now that the schedule is officially out, it's time to gear up for the 2026-27 ride.
ESPN's squad of insiders has been grinding through every roster, every transaction and every looming question with team-by-team recaps and early season previews rolling out all summer. Here's where things stand as the league gets ready to run it back.
Northwest Division
Portland Trail Blazers (Aug. 17) — The Blazers finally made the playoffs last season, but the headlines got hijacked by off-court drama. New owner Tom Dundon's cost-cutting spree and arena financing fight stole the show. Still, Portland's rotation got a serious injection: franchise icon Damian Lillard returns from a torn Achilles that cost him all of 2025-26, and two-time All-Star Ja Morant arrives in a trade that sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis.
Utah Jazz (Aug. 18), Minnesota Timberwolves (Aug. 19), Denver Nuggets (Aug. 20), Oklahoma City Thunder (Aug. 21) — Previews dropping daily.
Southwest Division
Memphis Grizzlies (Aug. 14) — Memphis finally turned the page on the Ja Morant era, and the new face of the franchise is already in the building: No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer. GM Zach Kleiman has been stacking young talent like Zach Edey, Cedric Coward and Boozer, with GG Jackson now the longest-tenured guy on the roster. Full youth movement activated.
New Orleans Pelicans (Aug. 13) — Quiet summer in NOLA. They kept 14 of 15 players from last season's squad, hired Jamahl Mosley as head coach, and are betting everything on internal growth.
Dallas Mavericks (Aug. 12) — Big changes in the front office: Masai Ujiri takes over basketball ops, Dusty May comes in as head coach after winning a title at Michigan, and the Mavs added Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick plus a handful of vets in a six-team trade.
Houston Rockets (Aug. 11) — The Rockets stayed patient despite another first-round exit. They locked up Tari Eason on a five-year, $81.5 million extension, added Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic off the bench, and brought in legendary shooting coach Chip Engelland.
San Antonio Spurs (Aug. 10) — Wemby just became the ultimate team guy: he signed a $252 million max extension instead of pushing for the $303 million supermax to keep San Antonio's core together. Tobias Harris came aboard on a two-year, $31 million deal to add veteran muscle.
More previews dropping
Pacific Division: Lakers (Aug. 24), Clippers (Aug. 25), Warriors (Aug. 26), Suns (Aug. 27), Kings (Aug. 28).
Southeast Division: Heat (Aug. 31), Wizards (Sept. 1), Hornets (Sept. 2), Hawks (Sept. 3), Magic (Sept. 4).
Central Division: Bucks (Sept. 7), Bulls (Sept. 8), Cavaliers (Sept. 9), Pacers (Sept. 10), Pistons (Sept. 11).
Atlantic Division: 76ers (Sept. 14), Celtics (Sept. 15), Nets (Sept. 16), Raptors (Sept. 17), Knicks (Sept. 18).
Bookmark this page, because the full 30-team rollout is coming hot and heavy. Free agency grades, trade grades, transactions, the complete schedule — everything you need to get ready for tip-off is right here. Buckle up.