Although most NBA fans will welcome the new season, some may not be looking forward to watching their teams struggle.
Despite the changes to the draft lottery designed to discourage tanking, a handful of franchises are still bound to struggle.
NBA Analysis Network has predicted the five worst teams in the league next season, along with their projected win totals
- READ MORE: Three decisions the Clippers must make after losing five first-round picks in Kawhi Leonard investigation
5. Milwaukee Bucks (31 wins)
The Milwaukee Bucks are almost guaranteed to struggle next season after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.
The Greek Freak will be a huge loss for the Bucks both on and off the court, and it could take them several years to recover.
However, they might not be as bad as many expect, given that Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr are both talented players.
The former Heat duo will have a point to prove on their new team and could combine for around 40 points per game.
4. Sacramento Kings (28 wins)
The Sacramento Kings waiving DeMar DeRozan earlier this offseason confirmed that they are entering a rebuild.
They must now build around 19-year-old point guard Darius Acuff Jr, who they drafted with this year’s seventh overall pick.
The Kings could also decide to trade some of their more experienced players, such as Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.
They are highly likely to be near the bottom of the Western Conference, but they have more talent than at least three other teams on this list.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (27 wins)
The Los Angeles Clippers’ future looks bleak following the NBA’s brutal punishment for salary-cap circumvention.
Having forfeited five first-round picks, the Clippers are expected to consider trading key players such as Darius Garland for draft capital.
The only reason they are not lower on this list is that, at this stage, Garland and Brandon Ingram could be an exciting duo.
If they are traded, the Clippers must shift their focus to developing Keaton Wagler and the other prospects on the roster.
2. Brooklyn Nets (23 wins)
The Brooklyn Nets are still recovering from their failed experiment with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.
They are undergoing a major rebuild with a roster full of young players that could develop into a playoff team in a few years.
For now, they are far too inexperienced to even make the Play-In Tournament despite the addition of Julius Randle.
However, winning three more games than last season while seeing improvement from the likes of Egor Demin would constitute a positive year.
1. Memphis Grizzlies (22 wins)
The Memphis Grizzlies’ offseason moves made sense for the team’s future, but they are unlikely to help them much this season.
Even after a difficult few years, losing All-Star point guard Ja Morant will almost certainly leave them worse offensively.
Zach Edey’s durability remains a concern, but Cedric Coward and Cameron Boozer both have the potential to become long-term building blocks.
The unfortunate reality is that immediate wins are not the priority for the Grizzlies in 2026-27, and their record could reflect that as they focus on the future.
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