Ranking Every NBA Starting Lineup After LeBron James Signs with Philadelphia 76ers
A number of NBA teams are going to roll out some wildly different starting lineups in 2026-27.
The Philadelphia 76ers will have two new All-Star starters at the forward positions with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but are they truly the best five in all of basketball? How much does trading Lu Dort affect the Oklahoma City Thunder? Where does a Ja Morant-Damian Lillard backcourt fit in the rankings?
It's time to predict and rank the starting lineup for all 30 NBA teams now that James has finally made his latest decision.
Note: New members of the team will be italicized. Free agents who are expected to re-sign will be given an asterisk.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
1 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Ryan Rollins
- SG: Tyler Herro
- SF: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- PF: Kyle Kuzma
- C: Myles Turner
Starting jobs are up for grabs with the Milwaukee Bucks in the post Giannis Antetokounmpo-era.
Rollins, 24, had a breakout season in 2025-26, averaging 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and shooting 41.1 percent from three in 67 starts. Herro will almost certainly join him in the backcourt.
Turner is the starter for now, although the Bucks should be shopping him to make more room for Kel'el Ware, the best return piece in the trade for Antetokounmpo. The 22-year-old, 7-footer put up 12.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and made 40.9 percent of his threes in 34 starts for Miami as a sophomore.
Jaquez and Kuzma should be the favorites to start at the forwards, although the Bucks also have Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Ousmane Dieng as well as lottery picks Brayden Burries and Nate Ament who will all be fighting for minutes.
29. Brooklyn Nets
2 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Mikel Brown Jr.
- SG: Egor Dёmin
- SF: Michael Porter Jr.
- PF: Julius Randle
- C: Day'Ron Sharpe
The three-team trade that saw Nic Claxton go to the Chicago Bulls and Randle come over from the Minnesota Timberwolves will guarantee we see a new starting five in Brooklyn to begin the season.
Randle and Porter are the veterans of this team and have their spots guaranteed, unless either are traded before the season begins. Sharpe should take over the starting center duties for Claxton and averaged 11.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks on 59.3 percent shooting in his seven starts last year.
Dёmin (6'8") and Brown (6'5") are both technically point guards, but have the size necessary to play next to each other. As Brooklyn's only top-10 picks during this rebuild, they both need to be on the floor.
28. Sacramento Kings
3 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Darius Acuff Jr.
- SG: Zach LaVine
- SF: De'Andre Hunter
- PF: Keegan Murray
- C: Domantas Sabonis
It could be another long year for Sacramento Kings fans, although there's a least a bright spot now at the point guard position.
Acuff, the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, has All-Star potential and we've already seen Sabonis and LaVine reach a few games each. Hunter only played in two contests following a trade to Sacramento due to eye surgery but brings a lot of size to the wing.
Murray will be 26 next month and battled injuries last season, but there's still plenty of upside here for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 draft. The Kings will need his defense and a return to the three-point shooting Murray showcased as a rookie (41.1 percent).
There's a lot of injury and defensive concerns for this starting five, a weird blend of young players and veterans who don't necessarily fit.
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27. Memphis Grizzlies
4 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Ty Jerome
- SG: Jaylen Wells
- SF: Cedric Coward
- PF: Cameron Boozer
- C: Zach Edey
The Memphis Grizzlies aren't going to win a lot of games next year, but they could lowkey be a really fun team to watch.
Boozer should be the rookie of the year favorite and is going to have a premier offensive role immediately in Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama have both been traded, meaning the former Duke star will have all the minutes he can handle at power forward.
Jerome averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 assists, 1.1 steals and shot 42.0 percent from three in his 15 starts (in only 22.6 minutes) at point guard for the Grizzlies last year and should be the favorite to take over Ja Morant's old role.
26. Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Josh Giddey
- SG: Norman Powell
- SF: Matas Buzelis
- PF: Caleb Wilson
- C: Nic Claxton
The Chicago Bulls will see three new starters this fall, a welcome change for a franchise that won just 31 games a season ago.
Giddey and Buzelis are the only returning members, joined by Claxton (trade), Wilson (draft) and Powell (free agency).
Powell could become the team's leading scorer after putting up 21.7 points per game as an All-Star with the Miami Heat in 2025-26. Wilson was the No. 4 overall pick in the draft and may be the most valuable player in the organization moving forward and Claxton can be the defensive anchor the Bulls needed.
25. Charlotte Hornets
6 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Coby White
- SG: Kon Knueppel
- SF: Brandon Miller
- PF: Naz Reid
- C: Moussa Diabaté
The Charlotte Hornets broke up one of the most dominant high‑usage lineups in the NBA last season after trading away LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.
When combined with Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Moussa Diabaté, Ball and Bridges formed a five‑man unit that posted an elite net rating—roughly in the top five percent of high‑minute lineups—per Cleaning the Glass.
White and Reid are now projected to slide into these open point guard and power forward roles. It's a tall ask for White to replicate the kind of offensive pop that Ball brought with his outstanding passing and three-point shooting, although he did average 29.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists per 36 minutes following a trade to Charlotte last season.
We should also see monster seasons loading for Knueppel and Miller, two former top-4 picks who will see their usage skyrocket with Ball and Bridges gone.
24. Los Angeles Clippers
7 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Darius Garland
- SG: Kris Dunn
- SF: Brandon Ingram
- PF: Rui Hachimura
- C: Brook Lopez
There's a strong chance the Los Angeles Clippers will be the only NBA team to have a completely different starting lineup than the one that began the 2025-26 season.
Garland was acquired in a February trade for James Harden, Ingram takes over on the wing for Kawhi Leonard (eventually), Hachimura was just signed to a two-year, $28 million deal and Lopez began last year as the backup to Ivica Zubac. Even Dunn, who ended up starting 68 of his 82 games, originally came off the bench behind Bradley Beal.
Unless Derrick Jones Jr. wins the job over Hachimura, we could see a complete reset in LA.
Lopez, 38, will be the league's oldest starting center unless Al Horford (40) gets the nod in Golden State. The Clippers have an intriguing starting five but should be exploring the center market after trading Zubac.
23. Dallas Mavericks
8 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Kyrie Irving
- SG: Max Christie
- SF: Cooper Flagg
- PF: P.J. Washington
- C: Dereck Lively II
This starting five could look very different by the 2027 trade deadline, or even the start of the 2026-27 season.
A 34-year-old Irving coming off a torn ACL doesn't fit a franchise now built around the 19-year-old Flagg. Washington, 27, is on the borderline as well and could be shopped to a contender to create more opportunities for No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr.
For now, this is the Mavs' most likely outcome as they hope the 22-year-old Lively can return from foot surgery after playing just seven games last season.
22. Washington Wizards
9 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Trae Young
- SG: Kyshawn George
- SF: AJ Dybantsa
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: Alex Sarr
The Washington Wizards' starting five finally looks like a real NBA team for the first time in years.
Davis and Young have 14 All-Star trips between them and Dybantsa was the No. 1 overall pick this summer. That's a nice starting point before filling in two more members of the Wizards' young core.
Sarr should be safe at center, ensuring Davis can slide over to the four. We could see a battle between George, Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington for the starting shooting guard spot next to Young.
21. New Orleans Pelicans
10 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Dejounte Murray
- SG: Trey Murphy III
- SF: Herb Jones
- PF: Zion Williamson
- C: Derik Queen
The New Orleans Pelicans are loaded with talent, although there's real concern about how all these players fit together.
Williamson needs a floor-spacing center beside him, although Queen (26.1 percent from three as a rookie) is too talented to leave on the bench. Murray started all 14 of his games after returning from a torn Achilles last year, yet Jeremiah Fears looks like the future at point guard after being selected No. 7 overall in 2025.
The wing talent with Murphy and Jones will be hot names on the trade market this summer or if the Pelicans struggle to begin the season. Overall, this roster is screaming for some sort of shakeup.
20. Phoenix Suns
11 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Devin Booker
- SG: Jalen Green
- SF: Dillon Brooks
- PF: Miles Bridges
- C: Mark Williams
The Phoenix Suns will look slightly different this season, headlined by the addition of Bridges who was acquired via trade from the Charlotte Hornets.
Bridges and Brooks are fairly interchangeable at the forward positions and Williams is back at center following a three-year, $38 million deal.
The Suns have one All-Star in Booker and a lot of high-level starters and role players filling out their starting five. Is that enough to make any real noise in the West?
19. Golden State Warriors
12 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Stephen Curry
- SG: Brandin Podziemski
- SF: Yaxel Lendeborg
- PF: Draymond Green*
- C: Kristaps Porziņģis
Recovery from a torn ACL for Jimmy Butler and knee surgery for Moses Moody could mean a starting job for the rookie Lendeborg, who's probably best suited to play power forward in the NBA with his 6'9", 241-pound frame.
Green turned down a $27.7 million player option but is still expected to re-sign at some point, likely on a multi-year deal. His opting out was strictly to give the Warriors more financial flexibility for a run at LeBron James.
This will mark the 18th-straight year that Curry has started a season for the Warriors, moving him closer to Dirk Nowitzki's NBA record 21 straight seasons with one franchise.
18. Orlando Magic
13 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Jalen Suggs
- SG: Desmond Bane
- SF: Franz Wagner
- PF: Paolo Banchero
- C: Wendell Carter Jr.
The Orlando Magic have (surprisingly) avoided any big roster shakeups to this point despite losing in the first round once again.
Nikola Vučević could theoretically push Carter for the starting center job, although the former Magic star will turn 36 this fall and doesn't hold up nearly as well on the defensive end.
Anthony Black had a breakout year, is eligible for an extension and may soon desire a starting job. We'll see if Orlando opens one up for him here or puts the 6'7" point guard on the trade block.
17. Portland Trail Blazers
14 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Ja Morant
- SG: Damian Lillard
- SF: Toumani Camara
- PF: Deni Avdija
- C: Donovan Clingan
There are going to be some hurt feelings in Portland this fall, barring a trade. The addition of Morant at point guard means a bench role for Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, all of whom likely feel they deserve a starting role.
Morant and Lillard essentially have to start, given their pedigree in the league. Benching a two-time All-Star in Morant right after trading for him isn't a good start to the relationship.
Avdija was an All-Star last year, Clingan is the best center on the roster and Camara's defense is going to be sorely needed given this backcourt. He has to start.
This is another roster that could use a trade before the season begins.
16. Los Angeles Lakers
15 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Luka Dončić
- SG: Austin Reaves
- SF: Quentin Grimes
- PF: Sandro Mamukelashvili
- C: Walker Kessler
The Los Angeles Lakers could be looking at an entirely new frontcourt to begin 2026-27.
Kessler better be the starting center after the Lakers gave up two unprotected first-round picks, two first-round pick swaps and $130 million over the next four years to sign the restricted free agent. If healthy, he's the perfect rim protector for this backcourt.
Mamukelashvili could be the backup center, although $13 million a year over the next four seasons makes for an expensive reserve. The Lakers should at least try him as the starting power forward.
At 6'4", Grimes is undersized to play a traditional three, although he works here since Dončić is better suited to defend forwards. Unless Jonathan Kuminga is acquired, Grimes is the best option over Jake LaRavia here.
15. Utah Jazz
16 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Keyonte George
- SG: Darryn Peterson
- SF: Lauri Markkanen
- PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
- C: Jusuf Nurkić
The lineup the Utah Jazz begin games with may differ from how they end. We'll likely see Nurkić lining up as the starting center, although going small with Jackson at the five would get Ace Bailey more time on the court.
Markkanen has to start after averaging 26.7 points per game last year. Keyonte George had a breakout season (23.6 points, 6.1 assists) and Jackson was brought in to be the franchise power forward.
Peterson is the focal point of the Jazz moving forward, however, as he's a future All-Star who's ceiling is higher than that of Bailey, who may not be happy moving into a sixth man role now.
14. Miami Heat
17 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Davion Mitchell
- SG: Tim Hardaway Jr.
- SF: Andrew Wiggins
- PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- C: Bam Adebayo
No offense to Mitchell and Hardaway, but the two don't scream championship backcourt for a franchise that's in title-or-bust mode after trading for Antetokounmpo.
Miami lost its two leading three-point shooters in Tyler Herro and Norman Powell and has to hope the 34-year-old Hardaway's career-high 40.7 percent mark from three last year wasn't because of the Nikola Jokić bump.
Antetokounmpo and Adebayo are arguably the best big-man combo in the entire NBA and Wiggins is fine as a starter on the wing. Hardaway is a backup at this stage of his career, however, which will have the Heat looking for an upgrade all season.
13. Detroit Pistons
18 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Cade Cunningham
- SG: Ausar Thomspon
- SF: Duncan Robinson
- PF: John Collins
- C: Jalen Duren*
Duren is a restricted free agent this summer after the Pistons tendered him a qualifying offer, keeping him under team control.
NBA insider Jake Fischer told a Bleacher Report live stream that he expects the All‑Star center to re‑sign with Detroit.
"I heard yesterday they've made some significant progress toward figuring out a new contract that will keep their restricted free-agent All-Star center in Detroit for the foreseeable future," he said. "I really don't see any other outcome for Jalen Duren and the Pistons other than them sticking together and making that happen, because all those other options haven't really materialized."
Collins was part of a sign-and-trade deal and takes over the starting power forward job for Tobias Harris, who later signed with the San Antonio Spurs.
Cunningham and Thompson are locked in as starters, although Robinson is an underwhelming option on the wing if the Pistons want to compete with the elite teams in the East.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves
19 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: LaMelo Ball
- SG: Anthony Edwards
- SF: Ayo Dosunmu
- PF: Jaden McDaniels
- C: Rudy Gobert
There's perhaps no greater positional need from any team than the Minnesota Timberwolves have for a starting power forward right now.
After trading away both Julius Randle and Naz Reid, the Wolves are looking at a small lineup with the 185-pound McDaniels playing the four unless further roster moves are made.
Ball takes over the starting point guard duties in Minnesota and Dosunmu, though undersized, has played his share of small forward in the past for a guard-heavy Chicago Bulls team. The Wolves still need a real power forward who won't be blown over by a stiff breeze before the season begins.
11. Boston Celtics
20 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Payton Pritchard
- SG: Derrick White
- SF: Paul George
- PF: Jayson Tatum
- C: Mitchell Robinson
This Boston Celtics' starting five could look wildly different from the one that began the 2025-26 season.
George has been swapped in for Jaylen Brown. A healthy Tatum is back at power forward and center will be a battle between newly-signed Mitchell Robinson and last year's starter Neemias Queta, who just inked his own four-year, $56 million extension.
Unless the Celtics want to go with some more size and swap Sam Hauser in for Pritchard and let White run point guard, this will be Boston's new lineup with an eye on the center position.
10. Toronto Raptors
21 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Immanuel Quickley
- SG: RJ Barrett
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- PF: Scottie Barnes
- C: Jakob Poeltl
Leonard's agreed‑upon trade to the Toronto Raptors will not be finalized until the NBA completes its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Aspiration, according to team statements reported by ESPN's Shams Charania.
For now, though, we'll pencil the two-time Finals MVP into a starting lineup here that looks really good.
Quickley and Barrett provide offensive pop in the backcourt, Barnes is quickly becoming one of the NBA's best talents with his play in nearly every area and Poeltl is only keeping his job because Collin Murray-Boyles is 6'7".
The question mark at center is perhaps the only thing holding Toronto back.
9. Houston Rockets
22 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Fred VanVleet
- SG: Amen Thompson
- SF: Kevin Durant
- PF: Jabari Smith Jr.
- C: Alperen Şengün
The Houston Rockets' starting five should be far more balanced in 2026-27 if VanVleet can play like his pre-ACL tear self.
Houston tried to go ultra-big at times with no true point guard, leading to a bogged-down offense that needed more playmaking and outside shooting.
VanVleet, 32, will need to prove he's healthy and beat out Marcus Smart for the position. Houston will also be a team to monitor in the trade market if a star point guard becomes available.
8. Atlanta Hawks
23 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: CJ McCollum
- SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- SF: Dyson Daniels
- PF: Jalen Johnson
- C: Onyeka Okongwu
This is one of the sneaky-best starting lineups in the NBA, as the Atlanta Hawks will run back their same five after agreeing with McCollum to a one-year, $21 million contract.
In 822 possessions last season, this group registered a net rating of plus-21.4, good for the 90th percentile via Cleaning the Glass. Outside of McCollum, the other four are 27 years or younger and are only inching closer to their collective prime.
We may see No. 8 overall pick Kingston Flemings take over for McCollum next season if the veteran guard begins to show his age (34). Lu Dort has proved himself as a two-way impact starter for the Oklahoma City Thunder, although this current five deserves the begin the season together again.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
24 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: James Harden*
- SG: Donovan Mitchell
- SF: Max Strus
- PF: Evan Mobley
- C: Jarrett Allen
Four of the Cleveland Cavaliers' starting positions are locked in, assuming Harden returns on a new contract.
Strus and Jaylon Tyson could battle for the fifth spot, and the latter makes more sense with his three-point shooting and on-ball defense. Head coach Kenny Atkinson clearly preferred Strus to Tyson in the playoffs, however.
Cleveland has four starters who have all made All-Star teams in recent years, yet the small forward position remains a question mark.
6. San Antonio Spurs
25 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: De'Aaron Fox
- SG: Stephon Castle
- SF: Devin Vassell
- PF: Julian Champagnie
- C: Victor Wembanyama
The defending Western Conference champions face some tough decisions in regards to their starting five.
Clearly, Dylan Harper and Castle should be starting. They represent the backcourt of the future in San Antonio and allow the Spurs to reach their massive ceiling alongside Wembanyama. Harper "voiced displeasure" about his role and playing time last year, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright.
Fox, being the veteran at age 28 and getting ready to start a four-year, $221 million max extension, may not like the idea of being a sixth man, though.
Champagnie could get pushed by Tobias Harris in training camp for the starting power forward job, although the former Detroit Piston could get a bigger offensive role in the second unit.
5. Denver Nuggets
26 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Jamal Murray
- SG: Christian Braun
- SF: Cameron Johnson
- PF: Aaron Gordon
- C: Nikola Jokić
The Denver Nuggets are far from done this summer, as they have five roster spots left to fill and need to work out a new contract with restricted free agent Peyton Watson, one of the best players left on the market.
Keep an eye on Johnson being moved in a salary-shedding move, as the Nuggets are just $7.7 million below the second apron before factoring in a new contract for Watson.
The 23-year-old is a better overall player than Johnson and deserves to be the team's starting small forward. Watson averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and shot 43.0 percent from three in his 40 starts last year.
4. Indiana Pacers
27 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Tyrese Haliburton
- SG: Andrew Nembhard
- SF: Aaron Nesmith
- PF: Pascal Siakam
- C: Ivica Zubac
Eighty percent of this starting lineup was in the NBA Finals just over a year ago, and Zubac is an upgrade over Myles Turner in a lot of areas.
The core of Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith and Siakam had a net rating of plus-29.1 without Turner on the floor in 2025-26, proving that they'll survive the loss of their former starting center just fine.
This will be one of the league's best lineups once again with the return of Haliburton, especially with the 7-foot Zubac (14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 59.8 percent shooting last season) now in the middle.
3. New York Knicks
28 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Jalen Brunson
- SG: Josh Hart
- SF: Mikal Bridges
- PF: OG Anunoby
- C: Karl-Anthony Towns
There's no debating who the New York Knicks will roll out on opening night, as the entire championship starting five will be present to collect their rings.
Mitchell Robinson, who started 16 games for the Knicks last season, has since signed with the Boston Celtics and Deuce McBride isn't taking a starting job from Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart anytime soon. There's no drama to be found here.
The Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby and Towns lineup had a net rating of plus-13.9 in the playoffs en route to winning a title and will all be back this fall.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
29 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Cason Wallace
- SF: Jalen Williams
- PF: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
The Oklahoma City Thunder's starting five will look a little different this year after trading away Lu Dort, but there's a number of quality options to replace him.
Wallace should get the first chance, as the 22-year-old guard started 58 of his 77 games last season while earning All-Defensive second team honors. Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso are all perfectly capable of playing this role as well.
It looked like Hartenstein may have to go for the Thunder to reduce their massive luxury tax bill, although the 7-footer took a $5.4 million pay cut this season by agreeing to a three-year, $75 million contract.
This could very well end up being the best starting five in all of basketball if Williams is healthy, although OKC's primary strength lies in its depth.
1. Philadelphia 76ers
30 of 30
Projected Starting 5:
- PG: Tyrese Maxey
- SG: VJ Edgecombe
- SF: Jaylen Brown
- PF: LeBron James
- C: Joel Embiid
Trading for Brown put the Philadelphia 76ers' starting five in the conversation for best unit in all of basketball. The signing of James to supplant Dean Wade at power forward ensures that Philly should be ranked No. 1.
Yes, Embiid's knee health will be an issue. The shooting in this five is questionable and there's no elite defenders in this group. However, these starters have a whopping 36 All-Star appearances (22 by James alone), five MVP awards and five Finals MVP awards between them. That's a ton of hardware.
If James and Embiid need to miss games due to health or rest, Maxey and Brown can go for 30 on any given night. Edgecombe is an other-worldly athlete who should develop into a lock-down defender.
The firepower in this starting five is unmatched by the rest of the NBA and deserves to be ranked No. 1.
.jpg?w=3840 "Kyle Shanahan Injured in Car Crash")