NBA teams under most pressure to win now ranked, with some surprises

The Suns haven’t exactly established themselves as an NBA championship favorite. But when it comes to urgency, nobody has more riding on the immediate future.

That’s the conclusion from ESPN’s Zach Kram, who ranked all 30 NBA teams according to their need to win now versus their ability to build for later. And some of the results are interesting, to say the least.

Phoenix landed at No. 1, followed by the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Lakers and defending champion Knicks.

That’s not necessarily a ranking of the NBA’s five best teams. Instead, it’s a look at which organizations have committed the most money and future draft assets to their current rosters.

In other words, which teams have the most to lose if things don’t work out?

Kram calculated the rankings using two categories — future financial commitments and available first-round draft capital. Teams with little flexibility and few remaining picks finished closest to the top.

It’s an interesting exercise, particularly given how difficult the NBA’s salary-cap restrictions have made it to keep an expensive contender together.

Suns, Cavs have little room for error

Phoenix’s position may be the most surprising of all. The Suns went 45-37 last season and were swept in the opening round of the playoffs. Yet they rank ahead of several teams with considerably better championship prospects.

The Suns have continued spending aggressively, most recently surrendering another unprotected first-round pick to acquire Miles Bridges.

Owner Mat Ishbia clearly isn’t interested in rebuilding. The question is whether Phoenix has enough talent to justify its commitment to winning immediately.

Cleveland, meanwhile, checks in at No. 2 after holding the top spot in last year’s rankings.

The Cavs re-signed James Harden and acquired Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade, doubling down on a veteran core led by Donovan Mitchell.

They don’t control their first-round picks in 2027, 2028, 2029 or 2031, and their financial obligations rank among the NBA’s highest for the next several seasons.

That’s quite an investment in a team trying to turn regular-season success into something more substantial.

Minnesota rounds out the top three after trading much of its remaining draft capital to acquire LaMelo Ball. The Timberwolves now feature Ball alongside Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.

The talent is there. But adding significantly to the roster could prove difficult.

Lakers, Knicks and Magic face expectations

The Lakers made one of the biggest jumps in the rankings, climbing from 14th to fourth.

Re-signing Austin Reaves and acquiring Walker Kessler required substantial financial and draft commitments. With Luka Doncic leading the way, Los Angeles is clearly attempting to win a championship rather than gradually build toward one.

The Knicks occupy fifth place, although their circumstances are a little different.

New York already accomplished its primary objective, winning the championship last season. Now comes the difficult business of keeping that roster together.

Mitchell Robinson is gone, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart could face contract decisions after the season.

Orlando ranks sixth, largely because of the enormous financial commitments to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs.

Those four account for more than 90 percent of the salary cap over each of the next three seasons. Yet the Magic haven’t won a playoff series with that group. That’s a pretty significant imbalance between investment and results.

Toronto, Miami, Denver and Philadelphia complete ESPN’s top 10. The Heat jumped from 17th to eighth after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the 76ers moved into the top 10 after adding Jaylen Brown and LeBron James.

Both teams have made it clear that waiting around isn’t the plan.

Thunder, Spurs and Rockets have more options

Perhaps the most interesting contrast involves Oklahoma City. The Thunder rank 12th despite already winning a championship and having one of the league’s most expensive young cores.

The difference is draft capital. Oklahoma City still possesses enough future picks to make additional moves, even as its financial obligations increase.

San Antonio is in an even more appealing position at No. 18. The Spurs have already reached the NBA Finals with Victor Wembanyama, yet still possess considerable flexibility and additional draft assets. They’re positioned to compete immediately without sacrificing nearly as much of their future.

Houston may have the best combination of all. The Rockets rank 24th despite making the playoffs last season. They have Kevin Durant, an impressive collection of young players and valuable future draft picks.

That allows Houston to pursue a championship without facing the same roster-building limitations as Cleveland, Phoenix or Minnesota.

Who can afford to wait?

At the opposite end of ESPN’s rankings are teams whose focus is more on tomorrow than today.

Brooklyn ranks 30th for the third consecutive season, followed by Memphis, Charlotte, Portland and Utah. The Nets possess the most financial flexibility and future draft value in the league. Whether they can turn those advantages into actual wins is another question.

Memphis has embraced a rebuild around younger players, while Charlotte moved further toward the future by trading Ball and Miles Bridges.

Milwaukee also made a dramatic shift, falling from ninth to 21st following the Antetokounmpo trade. For the Bucks, the goal is no longer maximizing the years of a franchise superstar. It’s finding the players who might eventually replace him.

That’s the larger lesson from ESPN’s rankings. Some teams have the resources to recover from a disappointing season. Others have already spent heavily to build what they hope will be a championship roster.

For the Suns, Cavs and several other contenders, the future isn’t necessarily bleak. But after all the money spent and draft picks traded, the time to produce is now.