NBA Survey Roundup: Best player, LeBron James, conference picks, worst offseason

A new season is nearly here, which means the annual survey of NBA insiders is back.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps spoke with 20 coaches, scouts and executives to get their take on the offseason — from MVP favorites to best and worst moves, emerging trends and, ultimately, who will be left holding the trophy in June.

We’ve pulled together the highlights and added a little Hoops Wire flavor.

Who Will Be MVP?

• Nikola Jokic: 7

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 5

• Luka Doncic: 4

• Victor Wembanyama: 2

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: 1

• Anthony Edwards: 1

The top of the ballot looks familiar. Jokic and SGA have finished one-two in the voting two years running, and execs expect another nip-and-tuck battle. Doncic gets love after a full offseason with the Lakers and, as one East exec put it, “he’s in shape and motivated.” Wembanyama, Giannis and Edwards round out the field.

Who Is the Best Player Right Now?

• Nikola Jokic: 19

• Luka Doncic: 1

This wasn’t close. While SGA may be the reigning MVP, Jokic is the overwhelming pick as the league’s best player. “As long as he’s walking and breathing, it should be him,” said one East executive. Jokic becomes the first three-time winner in the seven years of the survey, passing Antetokounmpo’s back-to-back honors in 2021 and 2022.

Where Will LeBron Be In 2026-27?

• Los Angeles Lakers: 7

• Retired: 5

• Cleveland Cavaliers: 4

• Golden State Warriors: 2

• Dallas Mavericks: 1

• Miami Heat: 1

Plenty of uncertainty surrounds LeBron’s future. “If I was taking the Lakers or the field, I’d take the field,” said one Eastern Conference scout, “but I’ll take the Lakers over any specific team.” Others predict this will be his last lap. A Western Conference scout was blunt: “It just feels like it’s where it’s going to end.”

Best Offseason

• Atlanta Hawks: 7

• Denver Nuggets: 4

• Houston Rockets: 3

• Oklahoma City Thunder: 2

• Orlando Magic: 2

• LA Clippers: 1

• Los Angeles Lakers: 1

The Hawks impressed the most, landing Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and a prized lottery pick from New Orleans. “They utilized every tool in their toolbox,” said one exec. Denver drew praise for adding Bruce Brown., Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas and Cameron Johnson. And yes, Houston got a few nods — mostly for landing Kevin Durant.

Worst Offseason

• New Orleans Pelicans: 9

• Phoenix Suns: 4

• Sacramento Kings: 2

• Chicago Bulls: 1

• Los Angeles Lakers: 1

• Memphis Grizzlies: 1

• Philadelphia 76ers: 1

• Portland Trail Blazers: 1

The Pelicans ran away with this one. Execs didn’t love the price to land Derik Queen and were baffled by taking on Jordan Poole’s contract for CJ McCollum’s expiring deal. “I just don’t get what they are doing,” one East exec said. Phoenix and Sacramento also drew criticism for their overall direction.

Biggest Trend of Offseason

• Avoiding the second apron/financial flexibility: 7

• Prioritizing size: 6

• Prioritizing youth and depth: 4

• Free agency fading as a factor: 1

• RFAs getting squeezed: 1

• Waiving and stretching contracts: 1

For the third straight year, the dreaded second apron dominated front-office thinking. “Size matters now,” one East scout said, noting the renewed emphasis on rebounding. Others pointed to the Thunder and Pacers proving that depth and youth can take you all the way to the Finals.

Conference Picks

East

• Cleveland Cavaliers: 9

• New York Knicks: 7

• Atlanta Hawks: 2

• Milwaukee Bucks: 1

• Orlando Magic: 1

West

• Oklahoma City Thunder: 18

• Denver Nuggets: 2

NBA Champion

• Oklahoma City Thunder: 18

• Denver Nuggets: 2

The Thunder are the runaway choice to repeat. At just 27 and under across the board (aside from a couple vets), OKC looks like a juggernaut. Denver, still anchored by Jokic and a fortified bench, got a couple of nods. But the East? Not a single vote to win it all.

Execs split between Cleveland’s top-end talent and New York’s depth for conference supremacy, with a few votes scattered elsewhere. “I think Orlando fits really well now,” one East exec said. Another gave Atlanta credit for Trae Young’s playoff résumé. And then there was the simple case for Milwaukee: “I’m just betting on Giannis, and against the rest of the East.”

Bottom Line

From Jokic’s dominance to OKC’s rise, the survey reflects a league where the balance of power is firmly in the West. The East may be deep, but insiders don’t see a true Finals favorite emerging. And as for LeBron’s next stop? That’s anybody’s guess.