LeBron James and Jaylen Brown are in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami, and Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto. But did any of these moves produce a team better than the defending champion Knicks? Or the two best teams in the West: San Antonio and Oklahoma City?
With the NBA season one month away, it’s time for my preseason power rankings. Let’s count down from 30 to 1 based on how I stack up everyone’s chances of winning the NBA Finals, and look at what’s changed, what’s exciting, and what’s concerning for each team.
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East: Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards
West: Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
What’s changed: Sacramento used the seventh pick on point guard Darius Acuff Jr. and took two-time national champion Alex Karaban with the 29th pick, giving its collection of veteran scorers two young guys to develop. DeMar DeRozan left for Denver, and the Kings added Ben Simmons.
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What’s exciting: Sacramento has a lot of appealing young talent: Acuff, Karaban, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud. But Acuff is the headliner as an electric scorer who can shake a defender with a crossover, toss up a floater over a big, or pull up from deep. What makes him so intriguing is how much control he has over all that creativity. At 6-foot-2, Acuff uses pace to manipulate defenses, and recognizes when to hunt his own shot and when to feed a teammate. He’s also comfortable working without the ball, which could allow him to play off Zach LaVine or operate out of handoffs with Domantas Sabonis. Even if the Kings aren’t winning many games, Acuff could become a reason to tune in.
What’s concerning: What happens if Acuff struggles as a rookie? He couldn’t buy a shot during summer league and turned the ball over far too often. Point guards, especially smaller ones, are often slow starters in their careers. So if those problems carry into the regular season, what will Kings fans have to latch on to? Acuff deserves time to figure things out, but losing is easier to stomach when you can see the future taking shape.
What’s changed: The Giannis era is over. Milwaukee sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis and draft capital, including the pick used on Nate Ament. The Bucks also drafted Brayden Burries and hired Taylor Jenkins to replace Doc Rivers.
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What’s exciting: After years of chasing a second championship around one of the greatest players ever, Milwaukee has a new coach and a bunch of promising players to build around. Watching those young guys develop should be a rewarding experience for Bucks fans. The two rookies — Burries and Ament — will draw most of the attention, as will the imports from Miami. But Bucks fans know the existing roster also already had some intriguing young guys with Ryan Rollins, Ousmane Dieng and Bogoljub Marković. Last season, Rollins averaged 22.4 points per 75 possessions on 58% true shooting in minutes without Giannis, per DataBallr. So he’s already shown he can handle more scoring responsibility. Now Milwaukee gets to find out whether he can become one of the players it builds around.
What’s concerning: The Bucks don’t own their 2027 first-round pick. It’s headed to New Orleans or Atlanta. So Milwaukee has every incentive to win. But a team leaning on Herro, Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma as its best players has a slim chance of even sniffing the play-in. Unless one of the young guys makes a significant and unexpected leap, this could feel like an aimless year with too little talent to compete, with the losses improving somebody else’s draft position. For the first time in a long time, Bucks fans will have to count player development as a victory.
28. Los Angeles Clippers
What’s changed: Kawhi Leonard is headed to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a handful of first-round picks that’ll help replenish what was lost in the punishment for salary cap circumvention. Amid the fines and the suspensions, the Clippers drafted Keaton Wagler with the fifth pick, added Max Strus and Rui Hachimura, and re-signed Bradley Beal. John Collins and Bennedict Mathurin also left in free agency.
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What’s exciting: Can the pick-and-roll combination of Keaton Wagler and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser turn into something special? Yanic showed plenty of flashes screening for James Harden last season, exploding for lobs and showing enough coordination to catch on the move, take a dribble and finish. Wagler could give him plenty more opportunities. He was one of college basketball’s best playmakers at Illinois, and together they could form a duo that gives Clippers fans something to feel good about amidst a murky time in the franchise’s history.
What’s concerning: I feel for Clippers fans. The franchise is depleted of draft picks, and while there are young players worth watching, only Wagler offers star upside — and that’s coming from a big fan of Kobe Sanders! That puts a lot of pressure on Wagler to become someone the next era can revolve around. And if he doesn’t? Gulp. As a franchise, how do you sell patience when you can’t offer a clear path forward? For many fans, it’ll be hard to find a reason to tune in.
What’s changed: New Orleans hired Jamahl Mosley to replace interim head coach James Borrego, but the most significant addition to the roster was Bennedict Mathurin. The Pelicans didn’t do much else. Trendon Watford and AJ Johnson were brought in. Jordan Hawkins and Micah Peavy got sent to Memphis. But it was overall a quiet summer for a team that was constantly in rumors.
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What’s exciting: Jeremiah Fears is a shifty guard who averaged 30 points on 60% true shooting over his final six games. It’s a tiny sample, but it helped him earn a spot on an All-Rookie team. With Trey Murphy stretching defenses, Zion Williamson pulverizing the paint, and Dejounte Murray helping run the offense, Fears has supportive pieces to help him grow. If he can continue any of the success he had to close the year, the Pelicans might translate some fun into actual wins.
What’s concerning: Zion played 62 games and the Pelicans still finished 26-56. It’s kind of hard to blame health for that. Fears, Zion, and Derik Queen are all at their best in the paint, so spacing could be an issue. And on defense, none of them are stoppers. Herb Jones and Murphy can help cover some mistakes, but not all of them. So while the individual talent is intriguing, this roster is very much composed of a mismatch of parts. And the front office led by Joe Dumars still has to prove it knows how to turn this collection of players into winning basketball.
What’s changed: Brooklyn used the sixth pick on Mikel Brown Jr. and the 28th pick on Joshua Jefferson. Nic Claxton was sent to Chicago, but Julius Randle, Keon Ellis, and Moe Wagner were all added, so the team overall got a lot older.
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What’s exciting: Brown has a dangerous jumper, touch finishing with either hand, and processing speed. Though he may not be ready physically as a rookie, it’s going to be fun to see what he can do playing alongside so many other talented players who can handle the ball. Egor Dëmin has size, Danny Wolf is like a point center, and Nolan Traoré brings the speed. They all create advantages in different ways, which gives Jordi Fernández plenty of combinations to experiment with. So even if the Nets aren’t winning many games, it should at least be entertaining.
What’s concerning: The Rockets hold Nets first-round swap rights as a result of the James Harden trade. That means the Nets have no reward waiting for them in the lottery. So Brooklyn could spend another year at the bottom without enjoying the benefits.
What’s changed: Bryson Graham took over the front office, Tiago Splitter replaced Billy Donovan, and the Bulls drafted Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain. They also acquired Nic Claxton and signed Norman Powell as Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton departed.
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What’s exciting: Wilson was the most gifted athlete in the draft, with the bounce to finish above traffic or spring back up for an offensive rebound. Then, in Las Vegas Summer League, he looked more like a go-to scorer with an ability to drain 3s off the dribble and drive to the rim. There’s a chance he turns out to be the steal of the draft as the fourth pick if he sustains his skill development into real games. At a minimum, Josh Giddey should have some fun throwing him lobs, and Matas Buzelis now has a compelling frontcourt partner to grow with. Together, they give Chicago three big creators who can initiate the offense and attack in different ways. It’ll be fascinating to see how Splitter gets them creating opportunities for each other as the Bulls begin to build their next era.
What’s concerning: There could be a sizable gap between how exciting the Bulls look in the open floor and how difficult they are to guard in the half-court. As many shot creators as there are on the team, it remains to be seen how effective any of them will be at shooting off the dribble and thus causing the defense to respect them on the perimeter. There is a lot of pressure on Splitter to find the right combination of players to optimize the development of the young core.
What’s changed: The Ja Morant era is over. Memphis traded its longtime face of the franchise to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. The new one begins with Cam Boozer, the third pick in the draft. The Grizzlies also acquired Isaiah Stewart, drafted Karim López and Richie Saunders, signed Quinten Post, and moved Santi Aldama to Dallas. But Memphis has 19 players on contracts, with second-round pick Saunders still unsigned. At least four players must be waived or traded to reach the regular season limit of 15, so more will change in the coming weeks.
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What’s exciting: The Grizzlies have one of the best young cores in basketball with Boozer joining Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, and Cam Spencer — among a long list of other talented players still on rookie-scale deals. The beauty of Boozer is he can fit with just about anyone. He can move a defender with his strength, beat him with footwork, knock down a 3 or run a pick-and-roll and fire a pass across the court. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo can use him to initiate the offense, screen for a teammate or space the floor around Edey. Memphis has plenty of young talent, and Boozer could help bring out the best in all of it.
What’s concerning: Can Edey stay healthy long enough to anchor this defense? He played only 11 games last season and has undergone two surgeries on his left ankle. Foot injuries are scary for any player but especially for a center who is 7-foot-3 and weighs over 300 pounds. Last season, the Grizzlies had a 98.8 defensive rating with him and 121.2 without him, per DataBallr. Edey’s size can discourage drives, force difficult finishes and end possessions with defensive rebounds. If he’s on the floor, the Grizzlies could end up competing for the playoffs. Without him, they could be fighting to stay out of the relegation zone.
What’s changed: Washington followed last season’s trades for Trae Young and Anthony Davis by drafting AJ Dybantsa first overall. Then the Wizards kept adding veterans, acquiring Khris Middleton and Deandre Ayton while signing Young to a four-year extension.
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What’s exciting: Could Dybantsa end up a future MVP candidate? At 6-9, Dybantsa can devour space with long strides, stop on a dime for a pull-up, or finish through contact with either hand. Those gifts helped him lead the country with 25.5 points per game at BYU, but his developing passing makes his ceiling especially promising. When defenses loaded up on him, he increasingly found teammates with pinpoint cross-court passes. Dybantsa could become the centerpiece of a promising young core already featuring Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr. It’s been a decade since Wizards fans had this much reason to dream.
What’s concerning: Washington’s veterans could accelerate the rebuild, but how much room they leave for the kids to develop is a legitimate question. Young and Davis will get their touches. With Middleton and Ayton also aboard, head coach Brian Keefe has plenty of experience to lean on when a game gets tight. Shouldn’t the young guys be out there in those moments, though? Dybantsa needs to work through a rough stretch, George needs another chance to run pick-and-roll after a turnover, and Johnson shouldn’t just be spotting up in the corner.
What’s changed: After some public negotiating, head coach Steve Kerr signed an extension. Golden State also brought back Draymond Green, Kristaps Porziņġis, Al Horford, and De’Anthony Melton. Quinten Post left for Memphis, but the Warriors signed Georges Niang to add some shooting, and Brandon Williams to bring more ball-handling, and made a big investment in versatile rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
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What’s exciting: Lendeborg looked like a natural fit for Golden State during NBA Summer League. As a big forward who can score from all over the floor, playmake, or cut off-ball, he brings ingredients that fit the DNA of Kerr’s offense. His MVP performance in Las Vegas was an encouraging start and now we’ll get to see what that versatility looks like next to Stephen Curry.
What’s concerning: How much longer can the Warriors keep asking Curry to be Curry? He’s 38 years old and surrounded by players with durability concerns. Draymond is 36, Horford is 40. Porziņġis has uncertain health. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody both could miss the entire season, and even if they return there’s no guarantee they immediately resemble themselves. For a franchise that’s supposedly trying to make the most of Curry’s remaining years, it sure seems like the Warriors are just doing a bunch of nothing.
What’s changed: The Jazz surprised everyone by trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. before the trade deadline, and then they went in the opposite direction this summer by trading center Walker Kessler to the Lakers for two future firsts and two swaps. But Jusuf Nurkić was brought back and Mo Bamba and Jaxson Hayes were signed to bolster the frontcourt. Veteran wings Josh Green and Josh Okogie were also added. Most importantly, the Jazz drafted Darryn Peterson.
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What’s exciting: After four years of coaching tanking teams, head coach Will Hardy finally has the talent to start exploring what a winning team looks like. And with Peterson, Ace Bailey and Keyonte George, a potential Big Three could blossom in Utah. The young guys will get to grow alongside veterans with Lauri Markkanen stretching defenses, Jackson getting stops on defense, and Nurkić filling gaps on both ends.
What’s concerning: Until Peterson shows he can stay on the floor, that worry will be in the back of everyone’s mind following his weird freshman season at Kansas. The burst and playmaking that made him a top high school recruit never really made an appearance in college as he dealt with cramps and injuries all season. Summer League was a positive step forward. But Utah needs to find out whether he can regularly get into the paint against NBA defenders. Doing that will help determine how much offense he can create for everyone else.
What’s changed: Phoenix traded Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale for Miles Bridges, then added Luke Kennard to replenish some of the shooting it lost. The Suns also brought back Mark Williams and Collin Gillespie, and drafted Koa Peat. However, Williams will miss multiple months after surgery on a torn labrum.
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What’s exciting: Khaman Maluach looked like a different player in Las Vegas. He averaged 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds while making eight of his 20 3s across four Summer League games. It’s a tiny sample, but it was a vision of the versatile player the Suns hoped they were drafting with the 10th pick in 2025. Anytime a big can flush down lob dunks or pop for a 3, they offer a team an ability to play with dramatically different lineups. So if Malauch translates that success to the season, Suns head coach Jordan Ott will gain a lot of flexibility with the lineups he chooses to use.
What’s concerning: Can Booker get back to superstar form? Last season, he posted his lowest effective field goal percentage since his third year. Despite his reputation as an elite shooter, he’s made just 37.5% of his catch-and-shoot 3s since Chris Paul left. Booker’s finishing regressed too. After shooting 63% at the rim over seven seasons, he dropped to 59% in 2024-25 and 56% in 2025-26, per Synergy Sports. Phoenix needs to find out whether this was an injury-related dip or the beginning of a decline. Booker’s salary climbs from roughly $57 million this season to $69 million in 2029-30. If this is Booker’s new normal, the Suns could get the supporting cast right and still be missing the superstar.
What’s changed: Orlando made its biggest change on the sideline, replacing Jamahl Mosley with Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney. The roster is nearly identical, except Nikola Vučević is back in a Magic uniform as Moritz Wagner left his brother Franz to join the Nets.
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What’s exciting: Sweeney has worked with Giannis, Luka and Wemby. Now the highly regarded assistant gets his own team with plenty of talent to experiment with. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have the size to punish mismatches and the passing ability to create for teammates. Desmond Bane gives them a shooter who can also handle the ball. There are enticing possibilities in getting those three screening and cutting for each other in ways Mosley’s unimaginative offense never really tapped into. With a strong group behind the stars, Sweeney has the pieces to build a team that makes opponents uncomfortable all over the court.
What’s concerning: Orlando still needs more reliable shooting after finishing 27th in 3-point percentage and 22nd in 3-point attempts last season. Their two best players are part of the problem. Both Banchero and Wagner have made only 32% of 3s in their careers. Bane’s shooting helped, but it wasn’t enough and no additions were made this summer to address the glaring problem. Development from within will need to happen, or else it could turn into another aimless year.
What’s changed: Damian Lillard will make a heroic return to Portland alongside a pretty fascinating roster. The Blazers sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis for Ja Morant, signed Jeremy Sochan, and re-signed Robert Williams. The Tom Dundon Owner Experience put a damper on this summer, but new head coach Micah Nori was hired and comes in with a high reputation.
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What’s exciting: Portland has two comeback stories to monitor with Dame and Ja. Lillard’s first deep 3 is gonna cause Moda Center to explode. There really is no losing for him. As for Ja, he’s got a lot to lose with only two years left on his big contract. The Blazers gave him a chance, though, and I can’t wait to see how he handles it. Morant played eight games last year where he looked more like himself. If he’s able to tap more into that, then the Blazers could have a dynamic backcourt duo once again.
What’s concerning: On the flipside of the excitement is the worry about sacrifice. Dame, Ja, and Scoot Henderson all need touches and that’s before getting to All-Star forward Deni Avdija. Are we sure a rookie head coach on a one-year-guaranteed deal is going to be able to manage all these egos and minutes? As optimistic as I am about how these guys could play together, it’s undoubtedly something that could become an issue when all of them are better with the ball in their hands.
What’s changed: Dallas has new decision-makers in Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz, and a new coach in Dusty May. The roster got younger too. The Mavericks moved on from veterans Klay Thompson and Khris Middleton, and drafted two rookies in Morez Johnson and Sergio De Larrea while acquiring Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher. Kyrie Irving will also return after missing all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL.
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What’s exciting: Cooper Flagg averaged 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists over his final 26 full games as a rookie — he looked like one of the 15ish best players in the league. Now if Kyrie returns and looks like Kyrie, Dallas can explore more of Flagg’s versatility. One play, he’ll run the pick-and-roll. Next, he’ll cut inside while Kyrie creates. Irving has already thrived alongside jumbo playmakers in LeBron James and Luka Dončić, and Flagg is very much built in the same mold. Having help could reveal how much more Flagg can do.
What’s concerning: Dallas ranked 26th in 3-point percentage and 27th in 3-point attempts last season, and Flagg made just 29.5% of his 3s as a rookie. Aldama and Max Christie offer some shooting, but the Mavericks need more players who can space the floor. That way driving lanes are optimized for Kyrie and Cooper.
What’s changed: The LaMelo Ball era is over after the Hornets traded him to Minnesota. Miles Bridges was sent to Phoenix too. All together, the Hornets changed one-third of their roster by adding Naz Reid, Dorian Finney-Smith, Grayson Allen, Dennis Schröder, and Royce O’Neale. Coby White was also re-signed, and Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson were drafted.
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What’s exciting: The Hornets were largely dependent on LaMelo for everything before, and it led to a disastrous play-in loss. Now they have a ton of guys who can create from all over the floor, and my bet is in the long run that’ll lead to far greater success. It’s just a matter of who, when, and how. Could it be Brandon Miller? At 6-7, his ability to create at his size could make him a matchup nightmare for defenses. Could it be Kon Knueppel? We already know he can stroke 3s, but he’s also a nifty creator. And what type of dimensions could White’s downhill attacking and Reid’s floor spacing provide? The combination of trading LaMelo and bringing in all these guys gives head coach Charles Lee a roster with unlimited options to create.
What’s concerning: Hornets fans need to be prepared for a psychological setback. As disappointing as the play-in was for Charlotte, getting there would be an accomplishment this year. The East is far better now. There could be growing pains! And opportunities are no guarantee to immediately lead to results for the Hornets. It may take time. So Hornets fans are going to have to be patient — and new ownership is going to have to be, too, and not make any erratic decisions.
What’s changed: CJ McCollum re-signed plus Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Ryan Nembhard were all added. The Hawks also drafted Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor, and Henri Veesaar, so they still have young pieces after moving on from Zaccharie Risacher and Jonathan Kuminga.
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What’s exciting: The Hawks added enough wings and bigs that some absences in the starting lineup shouldn’t wreck the rotation. Dort provides another lockdown defender next to Dyson Daniels. Wiggins is another wing scorer like Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Nembhard and Flemings can support McCollum at point guard. Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson could both take another leap forward this year, and they now have Ejiofor, Veesaar, and Jock Landale to support them in the frontcourt. With so much talented depth, head coach Quin Snyder has to be enjoying thinking up all the lineup possibilities.
What’s concerning: This team is built to rack up regular-season wins, but what happens when the first action gets snuffed out? That could hold them back from becoming true contenders. McCollum scored 0.82 points per isolation with the Hawks last season, per Synergy. NAW? 0.85. Johnson? 0.78. All three of them finished below the 50th percentile. Every close game doesn’t require a one-on-one bucket to win, but it sure is necessary come playoff time.
What’s changed: Welcome back, Tyrese Haliburton! That’s the big change after he missed all of last season with a torn Achilles. He’s returning to a different roster, too, with Ivica Zubac at center, Kelly Oubre at wing, and Larry Nance Jr. at forward. Point guard Braden Smith was also drafted.
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What’s exciting: Aside from watching Haliburton play basketball again, I cannot wait to see how this team operates with Zubac. There’s a lot of talk about how they play fast and Zubac plays slow, but I couldn’t disagree more. Zubac is a quick decision-maker in two-man actions and his low-post scoring adds a brand new layer to the offense. I just can’t wait to see how Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle builds layers to this offense with all his new pieces.
What’s concerning: I cannot fathom what the trauma feels like for a Pacers fan. One win from a championship, and Haliburton tears his Achilles. It’s just brutal. So what scares me is the thought: What if that was it? All these new additions were made, Haliburton is back, but how can I let myself feel like this team actually can go all the way? I would hope Pacers fans, and certainly the players, just use it all as fuel. Because if the Pacers do make it all the way back, and if they end up winning it all, it would be one of the most glorious feelings any sports fan has ever felt.
What’s changed: Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, and Caris LeVert are gone, and John Collins, Isaiah Joe, and Taurean Prince are in. The Pistons also re-signed Kevin Huerter and drafted Ebuka Okorie. But most importantly, the Jalen Duren contract situation remains unresolved.
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What’s exciting: The Pistons finished 17th in 3-point percentage but 29th in 3-point attempts last season, and that inability to effectively space the floor carried into the playoffs. Opponents crowded the paint for Duren and Cade Cunningham, but now the team has more shooting threats. Joe is a talented movement shooter, Prince is reliable off the catch, and Collins can knock down shots from the corners. Those additions will help out Cade on his drives, Duren on his rolls, and Ausar Thompson on his cuts.
What’s concerning: The issue is that Duren returning won’t necessarily mean everything is all good and dandy. Whether he accepts a long-term deal or takes the qualifying offer, the frustration from these negotiations could always linger into the season. Duren’s consistency has wavered plenty of times in the past. What if that version of him returns? And even if he has another All-NBA season, we’ve watched him turn into a shrinking violet for two consecutive postseasons. Maybe he’s just not built for it. And if he’s not, then he needs to be replaced.
What’s changed: After acquiring Kevin Durant last summer, the Rockets were a lot more subtle with this year’s additions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović. The two of them will replace Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie.
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What’s exciting: Houston won 52 games with Fred VanVleet missing the entire season and Steven Adams appearing in only 32 games. Their presence alone should boost the Rockets up the standings. And that’s even before accounting for the development of their young players, which has to be the most exciting thought for Rockets fans. Tari Eason is still only 25. Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson are still only 24. Jabari Smith Jr. and rookie Bruce Thornton are only 23. Reed Sheppard is only 22. This group is incredibly young, and already incredibly good. With the veterans back, if the kids get better, this team has amazing upside.
What’s concerning: Last season, the Rockets shot only 36% in the last four seconds of the shot clock, per Synergy. On isolations, they ranked in the 45th percentile for scoring efficiency. Is that gonna be any better this year? Who closes games for Houston? Şengün still isn’t a reliable perimeter option. Neither is Thompson. Is Ime Udoka going to resort to VanVleet chucking up 30-footers again? Will it be bully ball with Adams and Şengün crashing the boards? Or is it gonna have to be on Durant every single night? KD is 38. It can’t be on him all the time, but there are no other clear answers on this team either.
What’s changed: The Cavaliers re-signed James Harden, extended Donovan Mitchell, and swapped a lot of pieces around them. Max Strus, Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis, Dean Wade, and Larry Nance Jr. are all gone. Replacing them are Peyton Watson and Mario Hezonja.
What’s exciting: Harden, Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley played only 90 minutes together during the regular season last year. They barely got any reps as a unit before the playoffs began. And despite that, the team made it to the East finals. I’ve been plenty critical of the path there, taking 14 games to dispose of a young Raptors team and a broken Pistons team. But they still got there. With a full year together, maybe this group can develop the type of chemistry that can translate to the playoffs and lead to a championship.
What’s concerning: I’m not convinced Cleveland’s depth is actually any better. Watson is a solid role player, but aside from an awesome 15-game stretch last season, he was precisely just that: A solid role player! Hezonja has never shot 3s well in the NBA, so we’ll see if his recent success overseas can carry over. The outgoing role players had their limitations, but they also had some clear strengths that supported the stars. And ultimately, if the stars don’t get better, then this team won’t be able to take the next step either.
What’s changed: Kawhi Leonard is back! After a long delay thanks to the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers, the Raptors officially brought back Kawhi for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a haul of draft picks. Veteran Kyle Anderson was also signed and the Raptors drafted Allen Graves.
What’s exciting: Toronto ranked 23rd in isolation scoring and 29th in pick-and-roll scoring efficiency last season. What does Leonard do at an elite level? Run isolations and pick-and-rolls. He is an immediate solution to the biggest issue facing Toronto’s half-court offense, which has to be music to the ears of Raptors fans. And to Scottie Barnes! There will be less on his plate now, which might lead to lower numbers, but should lead to a far more dynamic role. Barnes checks virtually every box on the floor as a scorer, cutter, and screener, and playing alongside Kawhi will put him in positions to excel in every single category.
What’s concerning: The Raptors still need a better center than Jakob Poeltl. After ranking 26th in 3-point attempts and 21st in 3-point percentage last season, it would be ideal if the Raptors had a center who can space the floor. After all, they can only play small for so long with Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. Toronto has fewer draft assets after splurging on Kawhi, but finding an upgrade would boost the team’s odds of making another Finals run.
What’s changed: The Celtics broke up the Jays, trading Jaylen Brown to the Sixers for Paul George and draft picks. They also signed Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley, re-signed Neemias Queta, and drafted Chris Cenac.
What’s exciting: Could this be the best version of Jayson Tatum we’ve ever seen? There’s no ambiguity that it’s his team now, so it’ll be fascinating to see how he handles that responsibility. But it’s also possible that Tatum’s usage stays close to the same and it’s a committee of players that fill what’s lost from Brown. Will Derrick White have a bounceback year? He forgot how to shoot last year, but he could have refound it this summer. Could Payton Pritchard take a leap? Last season, Pritchard averaged 26.7 points and 7.6 assists per 75 possessions without Brown on the floor. What will Baylor Scheierman or Hugo González look like with more chances? And could George end up having a healthy season that builds on his strong finish in Philadelphia? There are a lot of paths for the Celtics to end up even better.
What’s concerning: The big concern in Boston entering last season was the center position. Even though Robinson was signed, that’s still the case now. Queta had a good season but really struggled against Joel Embiid in the first round by logging 4.1 fouls in 21.7 minutes per game. Robinson is a historically injury-prone player and had his minutes managed by the Knicks. I have no concerns about Joe Mazzulla finding the best ways to replace Brown, but the center spot remains a question.
What’s changed: Nuggets fans can’t be too enthused with what happened this summer with Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. both leaving in free agency. But veterans DeMar DeRozan, Tyus Jones, and Marvin Bagley III were brought in, and rookie forward Trevon Brazile was drafted in the second round.
What’s exciting: The Nuggets won 54 games with Nikola Jokić appearing in 65 games, Cam Johnson in 54 games, Christian Braun in 44 games, and Aaron Gordon in 36 games. What happens if those four and Jamal Murray actually stay healthy? Murray became an All-Star for the first time and Jokić was having another MVP-caliber season before he got injured. There is a lot of doubt over the summer the Nuggets had. But the idea of what this team can be when healthy would be enough for me as a Nuggets fan to believe we can prove the whole league wrong.
What’s concerning: The options behind Jokić are again pretty lackluster. The Nuggets are really comfortable with Bagley, Brazile, DaRon Holmes, and Zeke Nnaji? Really? Over the past five regular seasons combined, the Nuggets were 18.3 points per 100 possessions worse with Jokić off the floor, per DataBallr. That number will probably not be any better this year either.
What’s changed: Congratulations to Pat Riley for landing his big fish! Giannis Antetokounmpo is headed to Miami along with Bobby Portis. Of course, the cost was substantial. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez, Kasparas Jakučionis, and a pile of draft picks are gone. Norman Powell also left in free agency for Chicago. But Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. were signed to supply shooting, and Ryan Conwell was drafted in the second round to add shot creation.
What’s exciting: Erik Spoelstra must be having the time of his life this offseason imagining ways to integrate Giannis into the system. After running a unique offense last season without many on-ball or off-ball screens, I’m sure we’ll see some elements of that still. But Giannis will force Miami to run more ball screens. I’m imagining Spo running big-big pick-and-rolls with Giannis and Bam Adebayo screening for each other, Klay setting slip screens for Giannis, and Giannis himself rolling down the paint after setting one for Davion Mitchell. Spoelstra is one of the best X’s and O’s coaches in the world, and odds are this Heat offense is going to have a long list of identities it can tap into.
What’s concerning: Does Miami have enough shooting and creation? Acquiring Klay and THJ helps, but there aren’t many high volume shooters on this team. And even if these guys can shoot from a standstill, there really aren’t many options to take pull-up jumpers off the bounce. Will Mitchell develop it? Or will Conwell surprise everyone as a rookie? The Heat were a middling 3-point shooting team last year, and there’s no guarantee it improves.
What’s changed: The Lakers officially made this Luka Dončić’s team. LeBron James left for the Sixers, and Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura departed too. But in their place the Lakers re-signed Austin Reaves, sent out a haul for center Walker Kessler, and then added Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Collin Sexton, and Kevon Looney. They also drafted Cameron Carr in the first round.
What’s exciting: Kessler could be the best center that Luka has ever played with. Kessler sets hard screens, rolls hard, and can make quick decisions as a passer. Last season, he also began to show off a spot-up 3-pointer. Kessler is at his best on defense, though. In his career, opponents shoot only 50.6% on shots within six feet of the rim, which is 13.3% worse than their average in those situations. So he’s an elite rim protector who also brings the precise offensive traits that a center for Luka would ideally have. With Kessler, more shooters on the team, and Luka in the best shape of his career, this could end up Luka’s first MVP season.
What’s concerning: We’re gonna find out how much perimeter defenders actually matter. Dončić and Reaves obviously aren’t stoppers. But neither is Mamu, Grimes, Sexton, or Jake LaRavia. Maybe Kessler will clean up everything in the paint, but what happens when he’s off the floor? Can the Lakers hold up? There is no doubt about what they can become offensively, but winning a title typically requires more success on defense than what the Lakers project to offer.
What’s changed: The Timberwolves shook up the whole team by getting rid of Julius Randle and Naz Reid, and bringing in LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga. The whole vibe of the team is about to change with this new supporting cast, plus Ayo Dosunmu was brought back and Trey Lyles was added to replace the departed Mike Conley and Kyle Anderson.
What’s exciting: Wolves general manager Tim Connelly said in May that he’d like to get Anthony Edwards easier shots because he’s such an elite shooter. That’s true. Edwards made nearly 50% of his catch-and-shoot 3s last season, but it came on a low volume. Who could help out that problem? LaMelo. I’m fired up to see how this dynamic develops. Will Ant tap into his inner Steph? We’ve seen him add layer after layer to his game, so maybe thriving off-ball is the next step.
What’s concerning: LaMelo raises Minnesota’s ceiling, but he also lowers its floor. His decision-making is erratic and, until last season, he was extremely injury prone. So betting on him to be the piece that helps put Ant over the top is quite a risk. It’s one worth taking, in my opinion. But that doesn’t change the fact it could implode.
What’s changed: Philadelphia added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. So yeah, a couple things changed. Not only that, new Sixers team president Mike Gansey signed Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to replace veterans Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre.
What’s exciting: Joel Embiid has never had a better chance to win a championship, or at least get through the second round of the playoffs. LeBron is LeBron, Brown just made another All-NBA team, and Tyrese Maxey brings contagious speed and energy. What if VJ Edgecombe takes a leap in his second year too? With strong depth, the Sixers have a roster that could push for 70 wins if everything clicks. So enjoy the ride, Sixers fans.
What’s concerning: Could it all be too good to be true? LeBron is about to turn 42, Jaylen wasn’t even satisfied being the 1B in Boston, and Embiid gets hurt every single year. There are only so many shots to go around, so as nice as sharing sounds in the summer, it may not sound as nice during a skid midway through the year. But most of all, I’m concerned about Embiid. If he can’t stay on the floor, and if the Sixers can’t get stops without him, who’s gonna get blamed? Obviously Embiid. And who would a new Sixers front office try to trade to fix it? Obviously Embiid. It makes logical sense if that’s the way things go, but that would suck. If I’m a Philly fan, I want to win it all with Embiid. Anything else wouldn’t be quite as sweet.
3. New York Knicks
What’s changed: The defending champions mostly kept the band together by re-signing Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson — and New York’s secret, Mo Diawara, was re-signed too. But Mitchell Robinson left for Boston and Andre Drummond was brought in to replace him.
What’s exciting: The one piece New York lost is Mitch, which obviously hurts. Robinson is a lob threat and a rebounder, and offers rim protection. But I’m weirdly intrigued by the possibility that the frontcourt could be better this year. For one, the Knicks finally figured out how helpful it is to play through Karl-Anthony Towns during the playoffs. I’d imagine that carries into this season. Secondly, what if Drummond actually is an upgrade? He’s a better passer, decision-maker, shooter, and rebounder than Robinson. He’s also not as prone to injury. Maybe Diawara also gets some minutes playing power forward next to one of the bigs. There’s a chance Robinson is severely missed, but maybe the Knicks end up better.
What’s concerning: The simple fact that the NBA has crowned different champions for eight-straight years is a pretty simple concern. Repeating is really, really hard. And plus, New York’s dominance in the playoffs makes it easy to forget how frustrating the Knicks could be during the regular season. The offense went through stagnant stretches, the defense was up and down, and even in the first round it all felt like it would be another frustrating ending. So while a championship showed New York’s upside, it wasn’t too long ago we saw the downside either.
What’s changed: Not a lot! The Spurs followed their Game 5 loss by adding Tobias Harris and drafting Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed. All the main rotation guys are back, including Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie.
What’s exciting: Everything? I mean, the Spurs just reached the Finals with their best players all still in their infancy. Victor Wembanyama can get stronger. Dylan Harper will become even more dynamic in pick-and-rolls. Stephon Castle could become more consistent as a shooter. The Spurs were ahead of schedule even defeating Oklahoma City in May. It didn’t end the way Spurs fans had hoped for, but even if one of their young guys takes a leap, it might result in a far different ending the second time around.
What’s concerning: Spurs fans get annoyed with me for it, but I still wonder if there’s enough shooting on the team. Castle, Harper, and De’Aaron Fox are not knockdown shooters. Harris isn’t elite either. Will Carter Bryant become an elite standstill shooter? I’m doubtful. Even Wemby himself made only 34.2% of his 3s across the playoffs. But it shouldn’t be on Wemby to space the floor for everyone else. The goal should be creating as many easy at-rim shots as possible for Wembanyama, whether he’s catching it in the paint or dribbling from the perimeter.
What’s changed: Sam Presti released a statement suggesting that their moves this summer were a “financial decision.” That might be true. Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins were traded away for no immediate help in return. But it’s also possible the Thunder are using the money as an excuse to make some systematic changes. The Thunder also drafted Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, and they have plenty of other young players ready for minutes.
What’s exciting: The Thunder lost in the West finals in part because they were worn down. Jalen Williams couldn’t stay healthy and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency fell off a cliff. What could the solution be? I suspect the Thunder might want to spread the ball around more often moving forward, which would alleviate the load off SGA. JDub, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Cason Wallace, and even the rookie Stirtz can all handle the ball a bit. So can all their bigs. Shai is a two-time MVP, but maybe the next step is to share the rock more often. I could be dead wrong here, but seeing how they reload, however they do it, intrigues me most.
What’s concerning: There isn’t much! The Thunder are absolutely loaded. They proved last year they can withstand injuries across the roster and still rack up wins. There’s no reason to believe this year will be any different. That said, part of the charm with OKC is its chemistry. The way the players all huddle after games, how they interact with Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo, and their goofiness online. They are a young group. But I wonder, as they mature, and as contracts become a priority for some players (such as Wallace), how will vibes change? And if they do, how does that impact the product? But on the floor, OKC has all the pieces to win the title again.
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