Six weeks from NBA opening night, Zach Kram is tiering all 30 teams, starting with the championship favorites. The New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs are the top tier, the only teams to win a conference finals game last season. They return 14 of 15 starters, with only Luguentz Dort departing. All three have championship expectations.

The flawed West contenders include Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and Minnesota. The Lakers and Timberwolves remade rosters around stars, importing Walker Kessler and La Melo Ball, but losing Le Bron James and Julius Randle/Naz Reid poses risks. The Nuggets and Rockets stood pat, with Houston extending Amen Thompson.

Regular-season win machines Boston, Cleveland, and Detroit should stay in the 50-plus-win range. The Celtics traded Jaylen Brown but gain a full season of Jayson Tatum. Postseason upside remains a question for these teams.