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Fantasy Basketball 2026-27: Teams Most Likely to Shake Up Their Fantasy Hierarchy

By Amoye Favour Athlon Sports

Updated June 15, 2026 9:07 AM

The 2026 NBA offseason is about to shake fantasy basketball up in a big way. A few teams are clearly the ones to watch when you think about fantasy basketball 2026-27 and which teams are most likely to shake up their fantasy hierarchy. Big draft needs, free agency moves, and roster holes are all coming together at once. The Wizards already added Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and they also have the No. 1 pick in the June 23-24 draft. The Pelicans might trade Zion Williamson. The Bulls have new leadership and tons of cap space. All of this means rookies could grab minutes fast, veterans could see their roles change, and your draft rankings might need a refresh. Keep an eye on these teams before you lock anything in.

Teams Most Likely to Undergo Major Fantasy Hierarchy Shakeups

Zion Williamson's uncertain future could trigger major usage redistribution throughout New Orleans' rotation. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

High-Impact Roster Changes on the Horizon

Washington Wizards

No team's hierarchy is changing more this summer. The Wizards added Trae Young and Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, and now they hold the No. 1 pick. Mock drafts have them taking AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson, giving Washington three new building blocks overnight. That means a totally different starting lineup from a year ago. Players like Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr will need to find new roles around Young's ball-handling and Davis's frontcourt presence. For managers, this is one of the teams most likely to undergo major fantasy hierarchy shakeups, and early mock drafts will shift fast once the pick is official on June 23.

New Orleans Pelicans

After finishing 26-56, the Pelicans enter the offseason without a first-round pick and with Zion Williamson's name in trade rumors. Reports link him to the Bulls and Suns. If Williamson stays, he slots back in at power forward, but New Orleans still needs a center. If he's traded, expect a complete shake-up for Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, and Jeremiah Fears, since usage and shot attempts would need to be redistributed. Either path changes this roster's fantasy hierarchy. This is exactly the kind of high-impact roster change that can turn a bench piece into a top-50 fantasy player overnight.

Chicago Bulls

Chicago is mid-rebuild under new front office boss Bryson Graham, and they're sitting on extra cap space plus multiple first-round picks. That combination usually means trades. Veterans like Nikola Vucevic and Coby White have already come up in deal rumors. Young players stand to benefit most. Leonard Miller, who averaged 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds in a late-season stretch, looks set for a bigger role in a faster, younger system. Matas Buzelis is another name to watch. If Chicago lands a star like Zion Williamson, the entire depth chart flips again.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz hold the No. 2 pick and are expected to take Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, or Caleb Wilson, depending on what Washington does at No. 1. A rookie big man like Boozer would crowd Walker Kessler's spot at center, while a wing or guard pick affects minutes for Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier. Utah's frontcourt is already considered one of the league's wide-open situations heading into camp. Whoever the Jazz pick, someone currently on the roster will lose touches, making this a key spot for fantasy managers to track closely all summer.

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis picks third and is widely linked to Cameron Boozer or North Carolina's Caleb Wilson, both of whom would step into the frontcourt rotation immediately. That puts pressure on Jaren Jackson Jr.'s minutes and touches near the basket. On top of the draft, Memphis has also been mentioned in Ja Morant trade chatter, with the Suns floated as a possible destination. If Morant is moved, the backcourt opens up completely. Between the new rookie and the lingering trade questions, Memphis could look like a different fantasy team by opening night.

Teams With Moderate but Meaningful Hierarchy Shifts

Austin Reaves' impending free agency creates significant uncertainty for multiple backcourt fantasy projections. Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Situations Where One or Two Moves Matter Most

Houston Rockets

Houston already made its big swing this year, trading Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick (Khaman Maluach) to Phoenix for Kevin Durant, who responded with 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Now the focus shifts to Tari Eason, a restricted free agent ranked No. 13 among this summer's available players. If Houston re-signs him, his role stays steady in a crowded frontcourt. If he leaves or gets sign-and-traded, his new team likely hands him a bigger role right away. As our piece on Fantasy Basketball 2026-27: Players Waiting on the Right Trade to Break Out explains, players like Eason are worth watching closely once free agency opens June 30.

Los Angeles Lakers

Austin Reaves is the name to watch here. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds this past season and is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option to test free agency. The Lakers can offer him five years and roughly $239 million, but the Brooklyn Nets are reportedly ready with a four-year, $178.5 million deal, and Detroit and Atlanta also have interest. If Reaves stays in LA, he keeps his role next to Luka Doncic. If he leaves, his new team's backcourt usage changes completely. Draft strategy: don't lock in his ranking until his contract is signed.

San Antonio Spurs

After reaching the 2026 NBA Finals (where they lost to the Knicks in five games), the Spurs now have a backcourt with three ball-handlers worth feeding: De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and rookie Dylan Harper. All three can't get heavy minutes with the ball at once. Castle has steadily grown his role over the past two seasons, so he's the one to watch if San Antonio leans into a bigger lineup around Victor Wembanyama. Fox remains the clear go-to scorer, but expect his assist totals to dip slightly if Castle and Harper both see real point guard minutes next season.

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta added Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield in a trade deadline deal with Golden State, sending Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors in return. That gives the Hawks a crowded frontcourt mix of Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, and now Kuminga, all fighting for minutes at forward. Kuminga has shown he can score in bursts when given a real role, and early reports suggest he's settled in better in Atlanta than he ever did in Golden State. Okongwu is the player most at risk here. If Kuminga keeps developing into a starting-caliber forward, Okongwu's minutes and rebounding numbers could take a hit heading into next season.

New York Knicks

As 2026 NBA champions, the Knicks aren't blowing things up, but their bench rotation is still worth a look. Backup guard Miles McBride has earned more trust over the past two seasons and could see his role grow if New York makes any small moves to its perimeter depth this summer. He's not a starter-level fantasy asset right now, but in deeper leagues, he's worth a late pick as insurance behind Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, especially with a long title defense on the schedule.

Draft Strategy: Positioning for Hierarchy Shakeups

Kevin Durant remains a stable fantasy anchor despite substantial roster movement around him. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

How to Build Rosters Around Potential Changes

With so many rosters in flux, your draft strategy for 2026-27 needs to account for uncertainty, not ignore it. Start by sorting players from teams in this article into two buckets: locked-in role and role up for grabs. Players like Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Durant have clear roles no matter what else happens around them, so draft them at their normal value. Players like Onyeka Okongwu, Jonathan Kuminga, and Tari Eason depend on what their teams do this summer, so draft them a round or two later than their talent suggests, then watch the news.

Redraft tips: Since redraft leagues only care about this season, avoid reaching for players whose situations are still unsettled. Wait until after free agency closes and rookies are slotted into rotations before locking your final board. If a player you like is tied to a trade rumor, draft the alternative who benefits if that trade happens.

Dynasty tips: Dynasty managers can afford more patience. A player like Kuminga might look risky for one season but still hold long-term value if he's talented. Buy low on players stuck in crowded depth charts now, since their price will only go up if their situation improves.

For more on spotting these shifts early, check out Fantasy Basketball 2026-27: Early Indicators of Next Season's Breakout Stars

Quick checklist before you draft any player from a shakeup team:

Has the team made its biggest offseason move yet, or is it still pending?
Does this player have a clear path to 25+ minutes once the dust settles?
If a rookie or new addition arrives, who loses the most playing time?
Is this player's value tied to one trade, signing, or draft pick happening?
For dynasty: is the talent worth holding even if this season is messy?

Time To Wake Up To The Shake-Up

A handful of NBA teams carry the biggest fantasy hierarchy shakeup potential heading into 2026-27. The Wizards, Pelicans, Bulls, Jazz, and Grizzlies sit at the center of it, while the Lakers, Rockets, Spurs, Hawks, and Knicks bring smaller but still meaningful shifts. Draft picks, trades, and free-agency moves are still unfolding, so player roles on these teams remain a moving target right up until training camp opens.

Managers who track these situations closely, rather than drafting on last season's numbers alone, will make smarter picks and build rosters that hold up better through October surprises. Stay patient with players tied to uncertain outcomes, lock in the ones with clear roles, and adjust your board as news breaks. That approach gives you a real edge once the 2026-27 fantasy season tips off.

Questions About Teams Likely To Shake Up Their Fantasy Hierarchy, Answered

Which NBA teams are most likely to shake up their fantasy hierarchy in 2026-27?

The Wizards, Pelicans, Bulls, Jazz, and Grizzlies are identified as the teams facing the largest fantasy-relevant changes due to draft positioning, trade possibilities, and roster uncertainty.

How will the 2026 NBA Draft and free agency affect team fantasy values?

Draft picks, trades, and free-agent decisions can alter minutes, usage, touches, and depth-chart positions, creating both risers and fallers in fantasy value.

Should I avoid or target players from teams facing hierarchy shakeups?

Managers should prioritize players with secure roles while discounting players whose value depends on unresolved trades, signings, or draft outcomes.

How early should I adjust my 2026-27 fantasy basketball boards?

The article recommends monitoring free agency and rookie landing spots before finalizing draft boards and adjusting rankings as news develops.

Are there safe veteran targets from lower-shakeup teams?

Players such as Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Durant are presented as examples of players with clearly defined roles regardless of surrounding roster movement.

This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 8:44 AM.