Sports
NFL Week 5 buzz: Gauging Ravens panic, Titans desperation and the QB trade market
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Jeremy Fowler
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Dan Graziano
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Dan Graziano
senior NFL national reporter
- Dan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.
We’re a month into the NFL season, and insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources around the league for the latest news and buzz on key situations heading into October play.
One of the biggest storylines of the week is what’s going on with the Ravens and their 1-3 start. Jeremy and Dan have intel on the sentiments in Baltimore and how much panic the Ravens are feeling. They are also diving in on the Titans’ 0-4 start and long-term ramifications of it, along with what they’re hearing on the quarterback front as the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline approaches.
That’s not all, as Jeremy and Dan will also be examining rookies who have earned themselves more playing time. It’s all here, as our reporters answer big questions and empty their notebooks heading into Week 5.
Jump to:
Potential Titans changes | Ravens’ panic meter
Rookies making a move | Will a QB be traded?
More notes on Week 5
What are you hearing on the Titans’ 0-4 start and potential changes they could make — now or in the offseason?
Fowler: There is moderate concern among the coaching staff that the front office and ownership might not be as patient as they originally believed, which could lead to change sooner than later. The proverbial “vibes” simply are not good right now. The front office entered the season with optimism about head coach Brian Callahan, who was a hot name on the coaching circuit in 2024. And though it wouldn’t set a win-loss goal in regard to his tenure, Titans brass wanted to see a team that’s improving. That’s hardly the case in Tennessee, where a minus-69 point differential through four games is by far the worst in the league (next closest is New Orleans at minus-55).
The overall lack of flow from week to week is only intensifying the discomfort. Callahan relinquishing playcalling duties to assistant Bo Hardegree a week ago could buy the Titans staff a little time, but firing him a week after such a change would be counterproductive. The Titans’ bye is Week 10, which feels important. But the expectation among some around the league I’ve talked to is that the temperature is increasing, especially with owner Amy Adams Strunk’s willingness to make drastic changes in recent years.
Graziano: It’s one thing to start 0-4 with a rookie quarterback, but it’s another to be as noncompetitive as the Titans have been. They had a second-half lead against the Broncos in Week 1, but things seem to have gotten progressively worse each week since. Sunday’s loss to Houston was a complete no-show, and to get shut out the week after making an offensive playcaller change doesn’t say much about their chances to fix this thing on the fly.
Callahan was Tennessee’s top choice as head coach following the 2023 season, and the franchise entered this season with the belief that he was the guy to shepherd Ward’s transition into the league. But there have been red flags, including some game management situations and some postgame news conferences in which Callahan seemed unaware of some of the rules governing replay challenges, etc. If the Titans can win a couple of games, I’m sure that will buy him time, but that’s a big if right now, and Callahan hasn’t helped himself with some of his gaffes.
I will say, from talking to people who follow these situations in the league, that there’s belief this will be a desirable job if and when it comes open. Young, promising QB, new stadium on the horizon, etc. You agree?
Fowler: Agreed. This can be a good job, Dan. Cam Ward has serious potential but needs an infusion of pass-catching talent around him. A few drafts can fix that. The offensive line hasn’t come together despite significant investments. But offensive tackle JC Latham (currently injured) and guard Peter Skoronski are players to build on. The defense has held up at times.
President of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi come from well-established, methodical personnel trees — the Packers and Chiefs, respectively. That should lead to build-through-the-draft patience … which I once thought would help Callahan’s case, but now I’m not so sure. As you mentioned, game management issues in multiple games this season have not helped his cause. That’s such a priority for teams now.
Graziano: Yeah, that’s another thing to watch, because Borgonzi and Brinker weren’t really in their current roles when the organization hired Callahan. (Maybe Brinker was, but he didn’t have as much clearly delineated power at the time.) It’s never a comfortable feeling working for people who didn’t hire you. And your point about the offensive line is a critical one, because the offensive line coach is Callahan’s father, Bill Callahan, who’s considered one of the best to ever do that job. I believe Bill wouldn’t stick around if Brian got fired, so you’re talking about major change in critical areas. I might look foolish in a couple of weeks (or days, who knows?), but if I’m making a prediction, I lean toward the Titans giving Callahan the rest of the year before making a decision.
Rate the level of panic in the Ravens’ building on a scale of 1-10.
Graziano: I say 5, but it’s important to note that that’s a really high number in Baltimore, where there’s typically not much panic at all. This defense has had no answers for anyone but the Browns, and with Nnamdi Madubuike out for the season and a ton of other injuries (Nate Wiggins, Roquan Smith, Ar’Darius Washington, the list goes on and on) on that side of the ball, where are the answers going to come from? Add Lamar Jackson‘s hamstring injury, and now you have a potential for disaster.
If Jackson misses significant time, this season could go downhill quickly. Cooper Rush is the backup, and obviously the offense will look a lot different when he starts than it does when Jackson starts. The run game hasn’t done anything since the season opener against Buffalo. There are a lot of problems for a team that was a popular preseason Super Bowl pick.
I am guessing the panic meter about the Ravens outside the building — among fans and those of us who analyze objectively — is closer to 10 right now. But the Ravens count on the strength and steadiness of coach John Harbaugh, general manager Eric DeCosta and their internal leadership structure to solve problems and get them through tough times. You can bet they’re scouring for answers, internally and externally.
Fowler: I’ll go 6. It’s worth remembering in times like this that Jackson has a .717 career winning percentage as a starter. That’s a Tom Brady-like figure. Assuming Jackson does not miss significant time, the Ravens have a path to a backdoor playoff spot.
All three losses are to elite teams with championship hopes. It’s not like the Ravens are blowing leads to winless teams. The offense is still trying to find its rhythm with personnel groupings — when to play big people for the run game (such as two or three tight ends) vs. playing through receivers and the passing game more often. There’s enough talent on offense to make it work regardless. But this defense is galaxies away from the once-proud unit that charged Super Bowl runs. It’s currently serving as a confidence builder for struggling offenses to get right. And losing Madubuike for the year is a crushing blow. That’s a premier player on a defensive front that’s struggling to generate a pass rush.
Graziano: Like you, I also look at who their losses are against. The Bills, Lions and Chiefs are among the best teams in the league, sure, but the Ravens were supposed to be, too. And in the case of Buffalo and Kansas City, those are losses that could really come back to bite the Ravens late in the season when we’re sorting out playoff seeding and tiebreakers. At 1-3, Baltimore is probably hoping it has that problem, but assuming the Ravens come back from this and make the run we all expected, these early-season losses could put them behind the 8-ball come playoff seeding time. Sunday’s game against the Texans is another that could potentially have implications for tiebreakers and seeding if the Ravens play their way back into contention.
When I was at their training camp, I was talking to Harbaugh about the coming season and he was stressing how important it was to get off to a fast start — how they started 0-2 last season and ended up having to play a playoff game in Buffalo in January instead of playing the Bills at home. I’m sure Harbaugh is as perplexed as the rest of us are about why September went so poorly.
Fowler: The Ravens’ schedule will ease up. Only one of their next seven opponents (Rams, Week 6) has a winning record. The AFC North is winnable. But it appears they’ll have to win shootouts. On defense, the Ravens need more from pass rusher Odafe Oweh, a former first-round pick, and corner Jaire Alexander, who hasn’t played since Week 1. Otherwise, my preseason Super Bowl pick looks bleak.
Harbaugh made an unconventional defensive coordinator hire in Zach Orr, a former Ravens linebacker who quickly worked his way up the ranks, in February 2024 to replace Mike Macdonald. Orr was able to help steady a struggling Ravens defense late last season, but this is two consecutive years of suboptimal results for long stretches.
Which rookie has made a case for more playing time after a strong start?
Fowler: He’s already getting more time, but Giants running back Cam Skattebo is proving a capable option out of the backfield with Tyrone Tracy Jr. sidelined by injury. Skattebo’s recent impact has been undeniable. His ability to knife through tackles and create additional yards will be crucial for a streaky (that’s putting it nicely) New York passing offense. He averaged nearly six yards per touch thus far.
Another emerging offensive option is Seahawks receiver Tory Horton, who is making the most of his limited role. He’s averaging just under 27 snaps but has six catches on 10 targets for 74 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive over-the-shoulder grab in the end zone in Week 3. While Cooper Kupp seems entrenched as Seattle’s WR2, Horton is giving the Seahawks something to think about after producing three total touchdowns (including a 95-yard kickoff return). Looks like GM John Schneider got a fifth-round gem.
1:11
Eric Karabell: Acquire Cam Skattebo if you can
Eric Karabell explains why Cam Skattebo is a definite top-20 fantasy running back for the rest of the season.
Graziano: Woody Marks looks like a more exciting running back than Nick Chubb in Houston, where the Texans are looking for any answer they can find on offense. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Marks get a little more run. Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith has seen more involvement in the offense in recent weeks and I’m told to expect that to continue.
And my guy Harold Fannin Jr., who we pointed out in Week 1 as a rookie to watch, has worked his way into the pass catcher rotation in Cleveland even with David Njoku ahead of him on the Browns’ tight end depth chart. The Browns love using Fannin in a lot of different roles, and I think that usage will only expand.
Fowler: Cleveland is really excited about Fannin’s future — and that of running back Quinshon Judkins and wide receiver Isaiah Bond. On defense, Carolina edge rusher Nic Scourton has made a quick impression. The Panthers wanted to utilize more young players on defense after a sluggish start, and Scourton, a second-round pick in April, has played 100 snaps over the past two weeks, producing a pass deflection and several quarterback pressures. He has a high motor, plays with power and has a nifty spin move in his arsenal. The youth movement is on for Carolina, which is also giving third-round edge rusher Princely Umanmielen extended snaps.
Graziano: Edge rusher Ashton Gillotte is a player who really excites the Chiefs. He got his hand on a field goal attempt in the Week 3 victory over the Giants and has seen his snap count rise each week as the team continues to trust him more. I would not be surprised to see Kansas City continue to use Gillotte more as the season goes on as they rely more and more on their defense while the offense gets its act together.
True or false: A quarterback will be traded before the deadline.
Graziano: True. Now, it could be someone such as Carson Wentz or Kenny Pickett, which wouldn’t exactly make headlines, but I think you’re asking if it could be someone such as Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson or one of the Cleveland rookies. Anything’s possible. It doesn’t feel like Wilson has a real role in New York, where rookie Jaxson Dart is now the starter and Jameis Winston is signed through 2026 to be his backup. Wilson’s trade value is also likely very low right now, so the Giants might wait until someone gets desperate to ship him out.
Cousins’ situation in Atlanta, as the veteran backup behind Michael Penix Jr., is one we’ve frequently discussed. He could get dealt, but Atlanta is not desperate to deal him and is still asking for a relatively high price. The Falcons believe he has value as a reliable backup in case something should happen to Penix. And having been on the sideline for Sunday’s game against Washington, I can tell you Cousins is one of the prominent voices in Penix’s ear between possessions. He’s been helpful in Penix’s development and, along with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams, is a helpful extra set of eyes and ears that benefits Penix.
Fowler: Man, Pickett getting dealt for the third time in a calendar year would be tough on his real estate portfolio. Do I believe a quarterback will be traded? Yes, so my answer is true. A quarterback with a marquee name, I’m not so sure. Wilson would be the most sensible candidate. Cleveland had some level of interest in Wilson before he signed with the Giants, and his $2 million base salary makes him very tradeable.
But it’s uncertain where Cleveland will be from a roster-building standpoint three to four weeks from now. If the Browns want to stash Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders for a few months longer, then Wilson would be a low-cost play. And Cleveland explored the Cousins situation before ultimately signing Joe Flacco, trading for Pickett and drafting two passers. But here’s to guessing Gabriel will be on the field by the end of October, at which point the Browns will want to see what they have in the third-rounder.
0:37
Rex Ryan wants Shedeur to start for the Browns
Rex Ryan questions why the Browns have not started Shedeur Sanders at quarterback.
Outside of that, there’s not a clear-cut need for teams, barring injury. One intriguing option is Anthony Richardson Sr., who is stuck behind Daniel Jones in Indianapolis. My sense is Richardson would be open to joining a premier playcaller such as Sean McVay as a developmental player so he can reset for 2026.
Graziano: Richardson is an interesting one. I remember a couple of teams wondering if Indy would be open to moving him during free agency. So far, they’ve insisted they aren’t, but you’re right. If Jones keeps playing well and leads them to their first division title in more than a decade, who’s to say the Colts don’t decide he’s their future at quarterback and sign him to an extension?
In general, acquiring a starting QB at the trade deadline is tough, because in most cases it’s a guy who must learn a new offense on the fly. By the time he’s up to speed, it could be too late for him to save the season. That’s why someone like Richardson, whom teams might view for development in the long term, makes more sense. But there are situations that come up where a team with high hopes finds itself with a sudden need and might be willing to take the risks involved with bringing in someone from outside its system, right?
Fowler: That question reminds me that quarterback needs can change in a hurry — especially after what the Bengals just showed Monday night. Got to wonder if Cincinnati evaluates quarterback options if the downward spiral deepens. After Monday night’s lifeless outing, Cincinnati now has gained fewer than 200 offensive yards in three of its first four games. The last team to do that was the 2009 Raiders, who rolled out a combination of JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye at quarterback.
The Bengals still believe in Jake Browning, who was far from the only culprit in Denver on Monday, but Cincinnati has too much skill position talent to accept the status quo. At some point, it could need reinforcements at the game’s most important position. It might be worth calling up recently retired Derek Carr to check on how his shoulder injury is healing.
KARACHI: With the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 entering a crucial phase, Islamabad United all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has underlined the importance of consistency, admitting his side is “not fully satisfied” despite remaining in contention for the playoffs.
In an exclusive interview with Geo News, Faheem offered a detailed assessment of Islamabad United’s campaign, the evolving standard of the PSL, and its role in shaping the careers of both emerging and established cricketers.
Reflecting on the team’s performance so far, Faheem acknowledged missed opportunities that have impacted their standing on the points table.
“If we look at ourselves as a team, we are satisfied… but not fully. One of our matches was washed out, and we lost two games that we shouldn’t have,” he said.
The all-rounder stressed that minimising losses is key in a tightly contested tournament. “Even if you lose, you should keep the margin as small as possible,” he added.
With the league stage intensifying, Faheem made it clear that Islamabad United’s immediate focus is securing a playoff berth.
“Our first goal is to qualify for the top four. Once we get there, we will aim for a top-two finish,” he said.
Having emerged as a prominent name through the PSL itself, Faheem described the league as a transformative platform for cricketers.
“The PSL is Pakistan’s top league and one of the best in the world. If you perform here, you will definitely get opportunities — whether in the national team or in leagues abroad,” he noted.
He emphasised that the tournament serves a dual purpose, offering a breakthrough stage for youngsters while also allowing senior players to revive or strengthen their careers.
“It’s not just for young players. Even for seniors, a strong performance in PSL can change your career trajectory,” he explained.
A three-time champion side, Islamabad United has long been regarded as one of the most consistent teams in the league. Faheem credited this success to the franchise’s stable core and player-centric environment.
“The management believes in maintaining a strong core group because that core wins you tournaments,” he said.
He also highlighted the inclusive culture within the squad.
“Whether you are a junior or a senior, everyone is treated equally. That creates a positive environment and helps players perform freely,” he added.
Drawing comparisons with other global T20 leagues, Faheem pointed out that the PSL stands out for its competitive qualit, particularly in bowling.
“The biggest strength of this league is its quality. If you compare it with other leagues, our bowling standard is very strong,” he said.
According to him, the intensity is not limited to one department.
“Batting, bowling, and fielding – every aspect is highly competitive, which makes PSL unique,” he remarked.
Despite being one of Pakistan’s senior all-rounders, Faheem maintained that personal milestones take a backseat to team success.
“My only goal is for the team to win. Even if I play a small role in that victory, it’s enough for me,” he said.
Faheem also spoke about the steady influx of young talent making an impact in PSL.
“Every season, new players come through. Even from U-19 and domestic cricket, youngsters are performing here,” he noted.
He expressed confidence that many of these players will soon represent Pakistan at the international level.
Concluding the conversation, Faheem shared a message for the next generation of players aiming to follow in his footsteps.
“Stay focused on cricket, keep working hard, and always put Pakistan first,” he said.
As PSL 11 heads towards its decisive stages, Islamabad United will be hoping to translate potential into results, while players like Faheem Ashraf continue to highlight the league’s growing stature as a launchpad for cricketing excellence.
Hyderabad Kingsmen won the toss and opted to bowl first against RawalPindiz in the 24th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Thursday.
Hyderabad Kingsmen and RawalPindiz are two newly inducted sides this season and have not faced each other previously. The Kingsmen are placed in sixth position after winning their last two games following four consecutive defeats.
The Pindiz, captained by Muhammad Rizwan, are at the bottom of the table as they have failed to open their account so far, with five defeats in as many matches.
Playing XIs
Rawalpindiz: Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Usman Khawaja, Yasir Khan, Daryl Mitchell, Abdullah Fazal, Sam Billings, Saad Masood, Asif Afridi, Mubasir Khan, Ben Sears, Mohammad Amir
Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Marnus Labuschagne(c), Usman Khan(w), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Asif Mehmood, Mohammad Ali
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.
Tuesday night kicked off the start of the NBA postseason, when the Portland Trail Blazers secured the 7-seed in the West playoffs and the Charlotte Hornets won an overtime thriller to avoid elimination in the battle for the East’s final playoff spot.
But while numerous storylines will play out during the two-month trek to decide the 2026 champion, this is a good opportunity to take stock of what just took place across every franchise’s 82-game regular season.
It has been an eventful 2025-26, full of superlative performances, shocking trades and surprises up and down the league standings. (Plus plenty of talk surrounding tanking and other less savory subjects.)
Here, we’re handing out regular season grades to all 30 teams — an ode to ESPN NBA analytics and grades legend Kevin Pelton — using a simple rubric: Did a team meet, exceed or fall short of its preseason expectations?
Teams will have to go above and beyond to receive one of the seven ‘A’ grades handed out. See where all 30 teams landed below. (Teams are in alphabetical order within each grade).
Jump to a grade range:
A’s | B’s | C’s | D’s | F’s
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
‘A’ grades
2025-26 record: 56-26
ESPN Forecast: 43-39
Given the roster reshuffle in the wake of Jayson Tatum‘s torn right Achilles — Boston traded Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and lost Al Horford in free agency — a run to the 2-seed was difficult to fathom. But behind a Coach of the Year caliber job by Joe Mazzulla and a career-redefining season from Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA champs are right back in the mix. And with Tatum rounding into form during his 16-game runup to the playoffs, the Celtics are back as the favorites to win the conference.
2025-26 record: 44-38
ESPN Forecast: 26-56
The belief leaguewide — and likely in Charlotte as well — was that the 2025-26 season would provide valuable experience for the team’s young talent as the franchise prepared to add another high lottery pick in a loaded 2026 draft class. Instead, Charlotte went 18-9 after the All-Star break to roll into the play-in tournament with a chance to reach its first playoff series in a decade. But whatever happens in Friday’s game, the season has been an unqualified success in Buzz City.
2025-26 record: 60-22
ESPN Forecast: 47-35
Going from 14 wins in 2023-24 to 44 wins last season was a remarkable feat. Going to this season’s staggering 60 victories, something that’s only happened twice in the franchise’s illustrious history — is at another level. Cade Cunningham became an MVP candidate, Jalen Duren developed into a star and the Pistons reclaimed their status as the East’s menacing, physical contender.
2025-26 record: 45-37
ESPN Forecast: 30-52
The Suns were seen as a team more likely to finish last in the league than to make the playoffs. And yet, they flirted with a top-six seed in the West all season, ultimately finishing seventh, and now will have to win Friday to make the playoffs. Phoenix hired an excellent young coach in Jordan Ott, who has created an impressive hard-working, hard-playing culture in his first season.
2025-26 record: 62-20
ESPN Forecast: 44-38
Heading into the season, San Antonio merely reaching the postseason was considered a reachable goal, especially after Spurs’ 34-win campaign featured Victor Wembanyama missing the second half due to a blood clot issue. But not only has Wemby been healthy, he led the Spurs to 62 wins while nearly chasing down the defending champion Thunder for the league’s best record.
2025-26 record: 53-29
ESPN Forecast: 50-32
It might not feel great in Lakerland right now, given devastating injuries to leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves just before the playoffs, but it’s hard to see this season as anything but a success in the aggregate. The Lakers finished with a top-four seed in the West, Doncic had an MVP-caliber season and LeBron James settled into a role as a third star who had the franchise dreaming of a deep playoff run before injuries hit.
2025-26 record: 64-18
ESPN Forecast: 64-18
It says plenty where the defending champions sit that winning 64 games is seen as achieving an expected outcome, but it’s a truthful statement. The fact the team did it with so many injuries throughout the season is a testament to the talent across the roster, and the sheer steadiness of potential two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City will now hope to do something else it is expected to: Break the NBA’s record streak of seven seasons without a repeat champion.
‘B’ grades
0:31
Deni Avdija’s big and-1 puts Portland ahead, reaches 40 points
Deni Avdija’s big and-1 puts Portland ahead, reaches 40 points
2025-26 record: 42-40
ESPN Forecast: 39-43
The regular season began with coach Chauncey Billups being charged in a federal gambling investigation. It ended with the team completing a sale to new owner Tom Dundon. Through it all, Portland finishing the regular season in the upper half of the play-in tournament is quite an accomplishment, particularly to interim coach Tiago Splitter and star forward Deni Avdija. It was a successful campaign for the rising Blazers, even before Avdija led them to the 7-seed and the franchise’s first playoff appearance in five years
2025-26 record: 46-36
ESPN Forecast: 33-49
The Raptors were hard to place coming into this season, particularly since Brandon Ingram (ankle) had yet to make his Toronto debut after joining the team ahead of last year’s trade deadline. But he played 77 games — most since his rookie season in 2016-17. Ingram’s bounce-back season and Scottie Barnes‘ All-NBA-caliber leap have the Raptors in the playoffs for the first time in four years.
2025-26 record: 46-36
ESPN Forecast: 47-35
Atlanta entered the season with aspirations of a top-four seed, built around longtime franchise icon Trae Young. Instead, Young was sidelined in October with a knee injury, played 10 games for the Hawks and was traded to the Wizards in the first deal of the season. But after floundering in the bottom of the East play-in picture through the All-Star break, a furious finish behind first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson lifted the franchise all the way to sixth.
2025-26 record: 54-28
ESPN Forecast: 53-29
It’s been an eventful season in Denver, one that concluded in odd fashion with the Nuggets trying to avoid the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round and ultimately still ending up against the team they’ve faced in the playoffs twice in the past three seasons. But at the same time, Denver will enter the playoffs relatively healthy and as one of three teams expected to have a chance to emerge from the West with a chance to win a second championship in the past four seasons. That’s where Denver was expected to be when the season began.
2025-26 record: 52-30
ESPN Forecast: 54-28
This is another case where the season ended at or above where it was supposed to, just in a more circuitous path than expected. With starting point guard Fred VanVleet out with a torn ACL, Houston’s offense sputtered, and the team’s young talent — specifically Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard — had its ups and downs. And yet, Houston is expected to win a playoff series for the first time since 2020, and matched last season’s 52-win total.
2025-26 record: 45-37
ESPN Forecast: 40-42
Until last week, this season would have been considered a major success after last year’s injury-filled 24-58 campaign. But the news of Joel Embiid‘s emergency appendectomy could derail the 76ers bounce-back season before the playoffs even begin. So even though the Sixers pushed for a top-six seed, rookie VJ Edgecombe shined and Tyrese Maxey played his way into a likely All-NBA breakthrough, 2025-26 could end like many recent seasons in Philadelphia — disappointing injury news involving Embiid.
‘C’ grades
2:02
Stephen A.: James Harden has it all to prove in the playoffs
Stephen A. Smith believes James Harden needs a strong showing for the Cavs in the playoffs to help reverse the narrative surrounding him.
2025-26 record: 20-62
ESPN Forecast: 23-59
It might not have been an enjoyable process, but Brooklyn wound up where it was supposed to be: bottom three in the NBA standings with the highest possible odds of landing a top-four pick in June’s draft. Michael Porter Jr. posting a career season after coming over (along with a future first-round pick) in an offseason trade with Denver was a welcomed bonus, but the Nets’ overall goal was achieved.
2025-26 record: 52-30
ESPN Forecast: 59-23
Cleveland entered this season as co-favorites to come out of the East, but a topsy-turvy season saw the Cavaliers break up their “Core Four” and limp to a fourth-place finish. With former MVP James Harden replacing Darius Garland in the backcourt in one of trade season’s biggest moves, Cleveland is banking on a deep playoff run to change this assessment, but it’s been an unsatisfying regular season.
2025-26 record: 49-33
ESPN Forecast: 51-31
The Timberwolves have been the big winner from the tanking maneuvers at the top of the Western Conference over the past few days, as they will get the Nuggets, a team they’ve had postseason success against, and then an inexperienced Spurs squad as they vie for a third straight Western Conference finals. But it’s been an up-and-down season, and rather than pushing for a top-four spot in the West, they nearly found themselves in the play-in.
2025-26 record: 53-29
ESPN Forecast: 54-28
The Knicks, like the Cavaliers, entered the season with sky-high expectations after moving on from coach Tom Thibodeau after last season’s conference finals defeat. And while this season’s story will ultimately be written in the playoffs, it can only be seen as a mild disappointment right now. In Brown’s first season, the Knicks feel like a group that’s played to less than the sum of its parts as they chase preseason ambitions of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time this century.
2025-26 record: 22-60
ESPN Forecast: 19-63
The Jazz accomplished their preseason goal: keep their first-round pick and get one final swing at the top of the draft. Utah accomplished it while trading for former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. and being fined for tanking along the way, a more interesting path than many expected. The only thing left is to see if this is finally the year this team gets some lottery luck.
2025-26 record: 17-65
ESPN Forecast: 20-62
Like Brooklyn, the goal was clear all season in Washington: guarantee no worse than the fifth pick in the draft. But while the Wizards were securing the league’s worst record, the franchise made two of the biggest splashes of trade season when it acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis. With a high lottery pick coming in June, next season will be a fascinating watch in D.C.
2025-26 record: 19-63
ESPN Forecast: 39-43
While Boston avoided a gap year in the wake of Tatum’s injury, the combination of Tyrese Haliburton being out for the season with an Achilles tear and a rash of other injuries in the opening weeks of the regular season doomed Indiana from the start. That said, the Pacers will come out of this season with All-Defense center Ivica Zubac and a potential top-four pick. There are far worse outcomes in a gap year, but Indy’s lost season remains quite a fall from Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
2025-26 record: 43-39
ESPN Forecast: 39-43
Like Atlanta, Miami matched most projections but in a convoluted fashion. The Heat spent much of the season fighting for a top-six spot in the East and ended up surpassing their preseason over/under wins total. But after Bam Adebayo said repeatedly throughout the season that he was tired of being in the play-in, Miami finished there for the fourth consecutive season and grabbed the 10-seed for the second straight season. But unlike last year, the Heat couldn’t make a run to the 8-seed.
‘D’ grades
1:26
‘Inside The NBA’ crew react to Doc Rivers’ departure from Bucks
Charles Barkley points to the Bucks’ players as one of the factors why Doc Rivers is leaving Milwaukee.
2025-26 record: 37-45
ESPN Forecast: 48-34
The Warriors began the season dreaming of a top-six finish in the West, with a full season of Jimmy Butler III in the fold and another year of icon Stephen Curry. Instead, Golden State bungled several winnable games early and then endured season-ending injuries to Butler and Moses Moody — plus lengthy absences for Curry and Kristaps Porzingis, among others. The bad stretches and injuries relegated the Warriors to the last team in the play-in for most of the past few months. Could Golden State still make the playoffs? Sure. But this is not the season the Warriors were hoping to have.
2025-26 record: 42-40
ESPN Forecast: 50-32
The Clippers had a great few months to dig themselves out of an early-season hole, but this was a team widely expected to have homecourt in the Western Conference playoffs. LA began the season with an almost unbelievable 6-21 record and coupled it with trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac. Even if both deals, for Darius Garland and a potential mid-lottery pick, were understandable, the final result makes this an easy season to label as a disappointment.
2025-26 record: 31-51
ESPN Forecast: 36-46
Bulls fans might argue this season actually exceeded expectations, given the team finally chose a direction and is now searching to replace Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley as the leaders of basketball operations. But the Bulls, who didn’t enter 2025-26 with visions of the East’s 12-seed, also failed to meaningfully move up in the draft lottery standings after the play-in tournament became out of reach.
2025-26 record: 26-56
ESPN Forecast: 44-38
It’s hard to remember given how awful this season has gone, but Dallas was believed to have a chance to be a factor in the Western Conference this season. Instead, Anthony Davis played 29 games before being traded, and Dallas spent most of the back half of the season desperately trying to move as high in the lottery standings as possible. It now enters the offseason searching for Nico Harrison’s replacement as the franchise’s head of basketball operations.
2025-26 record: 25-57
ESPN Forecast: 42-40
The Grizzlies have been the league’s most egregious tanking machine over the past couple of weeks — it worked, they’re all the way up to sixth in the lottery. But while it’s a positive to come out of a lost season, it doesn’t change that Jaren Jackson Jr. is in Utah, Ja Morant had another invisible campaign and Zach Edey spent another nearly entire season sidelined with ankle issues.
2025-26 record: 45-37
ESPN Forecast: 50-32
After years of inactivity with the roster, Orlando went all-in by trading Memphis four first-round picks for guard Desmond Bane in a move designed to vault the Magic into a true contender status. Instead, Orlando finished another regular season as a below-average offensive team and are unlikely to snap a streak of 16 seasons without a series victory.
2025-26 record: 32-50
ESPN Forecast: 46-36
No team belongs here more than the Bucks. Between a disastrous, injury-filled season that saw Doc Rivers step down as coach and the ongoing saga surrounding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s little doubt this season has been a failure. Massive changes are coming to Milwaukee.
2025-26 record: 26-56
ESPN Forecast: 26-56
Expectations might not have been met in New Orleans, where the Pelicans made moves in the offseason while believing this team could contend for a play-in spot or better. But the reason the draft night trade with Atlanta was panned as much as it was last June was because of the expectation the Pelicans would land in the middle of the lottery. And, if it wasn’t for egregious tanking from across the league, the pick would’ve landed even higher than it did.
2025-26 record: 22-60
ESPN Forecast: 37-45
A microcosm of the Kings this season: They were investigated for tanking, in a season that’s been rife with it, and were cleared from it by arguing that their coach just completely messed up a strategy decision in a game. That said it all about a team that was projected to fight for the play-in and instead was one of the league’s worst teams — and then even won its way out of a top-three lottery spot.
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