NBA season preview: Rankings, predictions and what to know for all 30 teams

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  ESPN staffOct 19, 2026, 07:00 AM ET

Welcome back to the NBA. Just in case you didn't hear:

Giannis Antetokounmpo is (finally) in Miami; Jaylen Brown (stunningly) is in Philadelphia; Ja Morant (somewhat stunningly) is in Portland; Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto (it took a bit); LaMelo Ball is joining forces with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota's backcourt (it might take a bit); and the Lakers got a new lob threat for Luka Doncic (it worked last time): those major moves, plus the addition of a deep 2026 rookie class.

Oh. And a 41-year-old legend defying Father Time changed coasts, setting up the league's newest superteam, a major conference shift and potentially one of the most exciting seasons in recent history. Got all that?

On the eve of opening night, ESPN's NBA insiders and analysts are breaking down the storylines and stars that will shape 2026-27 and the run through the postseason.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Brian Windhorst, Ben Golliver, Ramona Shelburne, Kris Rhim, Baxter Holmes and Anthony Slater) think teams belong heading into this season.

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 | UTAH | WAS

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 99.9%
Projected wins: 60.7

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: The Thunder still have arguably the NBA's deepest roster despite the departures of a trio of championship-winning role players (Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins) via a series of salary-shedding summer trades. Back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's supporting cast is loaded with talent, starting with All-NBA sidekicks Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain are talented young players to whom the Thunder are eager to give more minutes. Rookie first-rounders Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz both impressed during the preseason, but it will be difficult for them to earn immediate regular roles because OKC's rotation is so crowded. -- Tim MacMahon

Biggest strength: Oklahoma City has the league's top-ranked defense by a significant margin the last two seasons. The departure of Dort is a hit, but the Thunder still have a trio of recent All-Defensive selections (Wallace, Williams and Alex Caruso) to harass opposing perimeter stars. Holmgren is the most dominant defensive force in the league other than a certain Frenchman in San Antonio. The Thunder's ability to create turnovers fuels Oklahoma City's offense, and that aspect of the game should be upgraded with an increasing role for Wallace, last season's steals leader, and Williams' return to health. -- MacMahon

Biggest weakness: Rebounding is the biggest nit to pick with Oklahoma City, which ranked 22nd in the league with a 49.0% rebounding rate last season. The Thunder typically start a big lineup with a pair of 7-footers (Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein), but one blemish with the roster is that the size thins out at power forward behind Holmgren, whose lack of bulk is occasionally exposed in battles for rebounds. -- MacMahon

Bold prediction: The Thunder finish second -- not first -- in defensive rating. Oklahoma City led the league in this stat by wide margins in the last two seasons, finishing 2.5 points ahead of second place in 2024-25 and 2.4 points ahead of second place in 2025-26. But the Thunder lost Dort over the summer and will now rely on more defensive targets -- McCain and the young guys -- than in previous seasons, at the same time that Victor Wembanyama's Spurs could surpass them for the top spot on the defensive leaderboard. -- Zach Kram

Number to watch: 33%. In the 2024-25 regular season, when the Thunder went 68-14 and set a point differential record en route to the championship, they won 83% of their games. In 2025-26, counting both regular season and playoffs, they did slightly better by winning 84% of their games -- if you don't count their 4-8 record against the Spurs. But those 12 games at a 33% winning percentage -- 1-4 in the regular season, 3-4 in the conference finals -- were the most important of the Thunder's season, as they prevented Oklahoma City from returning to the Finals. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Wallace recorded 150 steals in 77 games last season despite averaging just 26.6 MPG. With Dort and Joe gone, he could see additional playing time. Wallace is being drafted just inside 150, making him particularly appealing for managers targeting steals late in category leagues. Increased minutes could also improve his 3-point production, although his scoring remains limited. -- Eric Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: The Clippers. For a second consecutive season, Oklahoma City could have a lottery pick despite playing deep into the playoffs. The Thunder have two of the most favorable first-round picks of the Clippers, Denver (if 6-30) and their own. The Thunder also have a first from San Antonio if it falls between 17 and 30. The first from the Clippers was acquired as part of the James Harden trade with Philadelphia. The BPI projects LA to have the league's fifth-worst record.

BPI first-round projection: No. 5 (via LAC), No. 24 (via DEN), No. 29 (via SA)

2. San Antonio Spurs

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 99.9%
Projected wins: 59.1

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: At least early on, San Antonio's experimentation with three-guard lineups featuring De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle will generate most of the conversations concerning the Spurs. But other interesting lineups could be on the horizon with Spurs coach Mitch Johnson explaining, "That's just part of natural evolution that will take some time. But it's time to also push forward appropriately." Victor Wembanyama serves as the linchpin driving potential innovation in San Antonio. "Victor allows you to think outside the box in almost any way you want to," Johnson explained. -- Michael C. Wright

Biggest strength: Fox, Harper and Castle represent arguably the most talented backcourt trio in the league, and the overall roster is teeming with so much depth the Spurs will be forced to make difficult decisions regarding lineups. If San Antonio opts to start the guard trio regularly, its bench will be led by Julian Champagnie, who set a franchise record for made 3-pointers last season, and Keldon Johnson, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year. -- Wright

Biggest weakness: Outside of Wembanyama, free agent addition Tobias Harris and backup center Luke Kornet, San Antonio is relatively thin in the frontcourt. First-round pick Tarris Reed Jr. has shown promise throughout training camp and the preseason and might have a chance to fill in at center when frontcourt depth is thinned by injuries or rest days for Wembanyama or Kornet. -- Wright

Bold prediction: Wembanyama records the NBA's first quadruple-double since David Robinson in 1994, and just the fifth in recorded history. I also made this prediction last season and didn't come all that close to hitting, but I trust Wembanyama enough to try again. He has already reached double-digit assists three times in his career and double-digit blocks three times (counting playoffs), so he just needs to combine those achievable feats in the same game. -- Kram

Number to watch: 17.0. The Spurs posted a plus-17.0 net rating with Wembanyama on the floor last year, per NBA Advanced Stats. That was the second-best mark among all rotation players, and the only one in the top six that didn't belong to a Thunder player: Alex Caruso led the league in this stat, followed by Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Hartenstein. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Castle averaged 16.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 7.4 APG last season, leading the Spurs in assists despite sharing the backcourt with Fox. He also averaged 8.9 assists per 36 minutes, up from 5.5 as a rookie. Harper's development could create more competition for touches, but Castle's rebounding and playmaking make him an appealing target at his ADP. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: Keldon Johnson's next contract. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year appeared in all 83 games last season (including the NBA Cup title game), setting the record for most points in a season by a reserve. But in the playoffs, Johnson reached double-digit points in just five of San Antonio's 16 games. Johnson is entering the final year of his contract and, through June 30, can extend for up to four seasons. With year one of Wembanyama's rookie extension set to begin next season, San Antonio is $9 million below the luxury and $16 million under the first apron.

BPI first-round projection: No. 14 (via ATL). Note: From the Dejounte Murray trade, San Antonio has an unprotected Atlanta first. The Spurs' own 2027 first will go to Sacramento or Oklahoma City.

3. New York Knicks

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 97.7%
Projected wins: 51.7

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: How this team handles being the defending champion. For as much pressure as the Knicks faced within New York when breaking the 53-year drought, they'll face a different type of pressure on the road to repeating. Contracts for two key players, Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, along with the competition in the East ramping up will have many wondering if the Knicks will go for it in the regular season or play the long game. -- Vincent Goodwill

Biggest strength: Jalen Brunson has emerged into one of the steadiest leaders in the NBA and one of the most trusted in the clutch. If the Knicks go through regular-season turbulence, expect Brunson to address it internally and keep a cool head externally. If there's turbulence in a game, count on Brunson to play smart basketball with the rock in his hands. Now that he has cemented himself as a champion, he can play with a little extra arrogance knowing that he has conquered every challenge in front of him. -- Goodwill

Biggest weakness: Frontcourt depth. There will be times Mike Brown places OG Anunoby at small-ball center, although smart money says it won't happen too much. Losing Mitchell Robinson to Boston is a big blow to New York's rim protection and offensive rebounding, as he had his fingerprints on more than a few wins in critical situations last year. Will Andre Drummond -- a different type of center as far as skill set -- be able to fill the void in his own way? And will Towns and Drummond be reliable enough defensively for the long haul? -- Goodwill

Bold prediction: The Knicks win fewer regular-season games than in 2025-26. After a run to the Finals, the Knicks might take their foot off the pedal a bit in the regular season, and they benefited from excellent health that might not be repeatable (except by Mikal Bridges) this season. And with a stronger top-to-bottom Eastern Conference and the removal of tanking incentives, the Knicks could decline from 53 wins to a number lower in the 50s without compromising their status as favorites to return to the Finals. -- Kram

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Number to watch: 14.9. The Knicks set a record with a plus-14.9 point differential in the playoffs, which was the highest mark for any champion in NBA history. Six of the seven previous leaders in this stat went on to repeat as champions the following season. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The Knicks ranked third in the NBA in team offensive rating (ORtg) last season with 119.8 points scored per 100 possessions, then they improved to first in playoffs ORtg with 120.4 PP100 against better competition. First-year head coach Brown's offensive system proved successful, and really ramped up when he started running the offense more through Towns as a distributor in the postseason. High-efficiency offenses are good for fantasy production in general, but for Towns specifically, a further adaptation of his postseason role could lead to career-best assist numbers that would round him into a top-15 fantasy prospect. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Will extensions talks (or lack thereof) become distractions? The Knicks made a decision to publicly announce that contract extensions will not be negotiated until later in the season. Since the NBA Finals concluded in June, Towns, Hart, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek have been eligible to sign new deals.

BPI first-round projection: None (Note: The Knicks sent Brooklyn their unprotected first as part of the Mikal Bridges trade.)

4. Philadelphia 76ers

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 88.3%
Projected wins: 47.5

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Everything. If training camp was any indicator, there is no story too small to draw outsized attention with this team. Whether it was LeBron James' new mode of airborne transportation, Jaylen Brown's lack of interest in naming a pecking order for the new group or Joel Embiid rebutting a report about being late to practice, it is abundantly clear that every step Philadelphia takes will be chronicled and scrutinized. The talk will continue at that pitch until the Sixers show the team they are going to become. -- Dave McMenamin

Biggest strength: Top-level talent. With James, Brown, Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers have one of the best starting fives in the league. Brown is coming off a career season with the Boston Celtics in which he averaged 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game. Maxey was fifth in the league in scoring last year (28.3 points) and was named an All-Star in two of the past three seasons. Edgecombe averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists as a 20-year-old rookie. Embiid, when healthy, remains an offensive force. And James, despite being 41, is coming off yet another All-NBA season and playoff run in which he demonstrated he can still shoulder the load when the stakes are high. -- McMenamin

Biggest weakness: Chemistry. The Sixers rostered nine new players this season (including two-way contracts), and no matter how organized Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse might be, it will take time to round out his rotation and identify his ideal lineups. The second weakness is health -- not a unique obstacle for Philadelphia, but a pronounced one with Embiid missing 150 games in the last three seasons and Ariel Hukporti, a center signed in free agency to back Embiid up, going down with a season-ending Achilles tear in the preseason. -- McMenamin

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Bold prediction: James scores the fewest points among the 76ers' starting five. James fell from 24.4 points in 2024-25 to 20.9 last season, tying his career low (with his rookie campaign). Brown, Maxey and Embiid all outscored him by 6-plus PPG and should do so again. So this prediction is really predicated on Edgecombe, who averaged 16 PPG as a rookie, slightly increasing his production while James' falls again -- which is eminently possible if James gets less playing time to stay fresh for the playoffs and takes on more of a distributor role because he's the best passer in this talented starting group. -- Kram

Number to watch: 55.8%. According to GeniusIQ, the 76ers' defense allowed a shot quality of 55.8% last season, meaning their opponents would have been expected to finish with a 55.8% effective field goal mark, based on factors like shot location and defender distance. That was the sixth-highest opponent shot quality in the league, behind only five tanking teams that all lost at least 56 games. In other words, Philadelphia allowed the easiest shots of any team that was trying to win games. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The addition of James and Brown this offseason limits the fantasy outlook for all of their players. Brown, James, Maxey, Edgecombe and, when healthy, Embiid are all proven fantasy producers with high ceilings. But when playing together, none of them can attain their typical usage or volume. The presence of so much talent, along with two strong distributors in James and Maxey, could have a positive effect on each player's efficiency. But ultimately, the capped volume also caps each individual's fantasy value. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Maxey's next contract. Will the 76ers star-studded lineup cost Maxey a significant payday next summer? Because he was named All-NBA last season, Maxey is eligible to sign a four-year, $304 million deal next summer if he was named All-NBA again. He would also become eligible to sign a five-year, $393 million super max extension in the 2028 offseason. (Maxey has played at least 65 games in three of his six seasons.)

BPI first-round projection: No. 25

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 95.5%
Projected wins: 47.8

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: The backcourt fit. Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball -- from personality to play style to production -- form one of the most spectacular, captivating guard duos in recent NBA memory. They will draw eyeballs and generate a steady stream of highlights. But there's a reasonable question about how seamlessly they can fit. How well does Edwards, powering into his prime at 25, cede control of the offense to a true point guard? And can Ball sharpen his winning habits in a newer environment and now facing the greatest expectations of his career? -- Anthony Slater

Biggest strength: Pure talent and positional athleticism. The Wolves' perhaps forgotten man, Jaden McDaniels, had one of the more impressive first-round playoff performances in the league. He completely erased Nuggets guard Jamal Murray on the defensive end and scored 32 points in the closeout game without Edwards. At 26, McDaniels appears ready to become a two-way force on the wing. Minnesota is also planting Jonathan Kuminga, another highflyer entering his mid-20s, next to him in the starting lineup, while 7-3 Rudy Gobert (aging well at 34) looms behind as the protector. -- Slater

Biggest weakness: The weakened frontcourt in the matchups that matter. Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic and the Isaiah Hartenstein-Chet Holmgren combination remain as playoff tests the Timberwolves must conquer. Gobert defended Jokic well last April but struggled against Wembanyama. But he had bulkier backup. To acquire Ball, they had to give up Julius Randle and Naz Reid, stripping away at one of the deepest frontcourts in the league. They did grab Kuminga on a $6 million bargain but might need a breakout season from him to quell concerns. -- Slater

Bold prediction: Minnesota finishes with its best offensive ranking and worst defensive ranking since trading for Gobert. To date, the Timberwolves' best offensive finish with Gobert is eighth and their worst defensive finish is eighth. But they downsized with the Ball trade, and now they simultaneously have their most electric offensive backcourt in years -- possibly ever -- and their weakest defensive rotation around ace defenders Gobert and McDaniels. -- Kram

Number to watch: 6,008. The Timberwolves' acquisition of Ball means they now have the No. 1 and No. 3 picks from the 2020 draft in their backcourt: Edwards and Ball, respectively. Both players are All-Stars with incredible shooting range and a flair for highlights in transition. But among other differences -- such as Edwards' two conference finals trips, contrasted with zero playoff games for Ball -- one important gap separates the players' NBA trajectories thus far: Edwards has played 6,008 more regular-season minutes than his new teammate. That's the equivalent of roughly 200 extra games at a starter's workload. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 3.8 made 3s in just 28.0 minutes per game last season. He also played 72 games, including 56 straight to close the season. Edwards remains Minnesota's primary scorer, but Ball should have a significant playmaking role, making him especially valuable for assists in category leagues. His second-round draft cost is risky, though, given his extensive injury history. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: All-NBA and Edwards. Last season, Edwards failed to play 65 games to qualify for All-NBA honors despite averaging the third-most points per game in the league. Edwards also missed a chance at becoming supermax-eligible. He has another in 2026-27. If Edwards plays at least 65 games and is named MVP, All-NBA or Defensive Player of the Year this season, he will become eligible to sign a four-year, $304 million supermax extension next summer. The contract would keep him in a Timberwolves uniform through the 2031-32 season.

BPI first-round projection: None (Note: The Timberwolves sent Utah their 2027 first as part of the Rudy Gobert trade.

6. Boston Celtics

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 97.2%
Projected wins: 51.3

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: The Jaylen Brown trade. The Celtics made a carefully considered decision to trade All-Star forward Brown to the 76ers, but the potential for that to backfire is still enormous. Just imagine the anger and outrage in Boston if the 2024 Finals MVP helps the 76ers win their first championship since 1983. While that worst-case scenario became more plausible when LeBron James joined Philadelphia on a veterans minimum contract, Boston should remain one of the East's top contenders after adding Paul George and Mitchell Robinson this summer. Jayson Tatum should be back to his All-NBA level form now that he's 18 months removed from his Achilles tear, and coach Joe Mazzulla has established a winning, high-effort culture that has delivered at least 56 wins in each of his four seasons. -- Ben Golliver

Biggest strength: 3-point shooting. Even though centers Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson are both non-shooters, Boston should once again boast strong spacing and an offensive system that generates a barrage of 3-point looks. After ranking fourth in 3-point attempts in 2025-26, the Celtics will likely climb even higher with Tatum and George leading the way as a high-volume shooting duo. Mazzulla's list of reliable marksmen also includes Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser. -- Golliver

Biggest weakness: Free throw generation. After ranking last in free throw attempts in 2025-26, Boston must find new ways to get to the charity stripe. Its blockbuster summer trade only made this situation more dire: Brown ranked fifth leaguewide in free throw attempts last season, while George's free throw rate has dropped noticeably as he has progressed through his mid-30s. A healthy Tatum should draw more fouls than he did last season, and the Celtics would really benefit from the crafty Pritchard taking a step forward in this department. -- Golliver

Bold prediction: Robinson and Queta combine to produce the value of a top-five center. Advanced stats adore both Robinson and Queta, who score efficiently, play stalwart defense and do all the little things -- such as grab offensive rebounds and set sturdy screens -- that make them stand out in player value metrics. Neither player is an All-Star on his own, but their partnership could produce All-Star-caliber value in Mazzulla's system. -- Kram

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Number to watch: 4. In all four of Mazzulla's seasons as Boston's coach, the Celtics have finished with a top-five offensive and defensive rating, per Cleaning the Glass. Only three other squads in that span have accomplished that feat: the 2023-24 Thunder, the 2024-25 Thunder and the 2025-26 Spurs. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The Celtics had led the NBA in 3-point attempts and 3-pointers made for two straight seasons before last season, when they finished fourth in attempts and third in makes. Their drop from 48.2 3PA/game in 2024-25 to 42.1 3PA/G last season was likely influenced by the injury absence of Tatum (9.1 3PA/G for last three seasons) for most of the season with the offense built more around Brown's more midrange game (5.7 3PA/G for last three seasons). But Tatum is back full time, and Brown was traded this offseason for George (8.0 3PA/G for the last eight seasons). Expect the Celtics as a team to bounce back to the league lead in 3-pointers, with all of their fantasy contributing shooters maximizing their 3-pointers made. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: George's future. Does a strong season by George parlay into a new contract but at a lower salary? Including his $56.6 million player option next season, Boston is $6.7 million over the luxury tax and $16 million under the first apron. An option that would boost Boston's flexibility: George declines the option and re-signs at a lesser value but with more guaranteed years.

BPI first-round projection: No. 27

7. Detroit Pistons

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 93.4%
Projected wins: 49.4

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Cade Cunningham, as usual. He elevated himself into the MVP strata last season with a career year and still has room to grow as he enters Year 6. In the playoffs, he showed his shooting can go to another level, shooting over 40% from 3 in 14 games -- which might be the last step to a complete offensive package. He believes Detroit is being overlooked in the East with all the talent upgrades in the conference but assuming health, it's hard to envision Detroit falling back to the pack if Cunningham has a similar season. -- Golliver

Biggest strength: Continuity. Losing Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris is no small measure, and perhaps some toughness goes out the door. But having Cunningham, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren still making strides together will do wonders while many of the newly constructed teams have to get acclimated to each other. Will they be third again in defense? Hard to say. But J.B. Bickerstaff's system on that end will still be stingy, enabling this team to use its sweat equity to win its share of games. -- Golliver

Biggest weakness: Is too much being asked of Cunningham? It was on full display during the playoffs when defenses were able to load up on him and he had some high-turnover games. The front office didn't make a bold move to rectify that, even if it didn't hurt in the regular season. Expect Duren and Thompson to take on more responsibility to initiate offense. -- Goodwill

Bold prediction: Isaiah Joe receives Sixth Man of the Year votes. For four seasons in a row, Joe has made more than 40% of his 3s, and he looks like a new version of Malik Beasley for the Pistons. Beasley finished second in Sixth Man voting in his lone season in Detroit. -- Kram

Number to watch: 6. Along with Cunningham, Thompson and Duren seem like two of the Pistons' three great building blocks -- assuming Duren signs a long-term deal rather than taking the qualifying offer. That's why it's so notable, and so potentially concerning, that Thompson and Duren made six combined 3-pointers last season. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The Pistons brought in 28-year-old John Collins this offseason to replace 34-year-old Tobias Harris as the starting power forward. Collins is bigger, more explosive and a better finisher than Harris at this point in their respective careers. Collins showed in his days with the Hawks that he operates well as a finisher next to a dominant offense-creating point guard, setting single-season-bests of 21.6 PPG and 10.1 RPG next to Trae Young. This season, Collins will be playing off MVP candidate Cunningham, and could be a late-round fantasy sleeper with the potential to produce one of his best seasons. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Will Langdon be tempted to go all-in because of the expiring contracts? With the core of Cunningham, Thompson and Duren under contract for at least the next four seasons, Detroit has the tradable contracts and up to four first-round picks to make a big move. Duncan Robinson ($15.2 million), Collins ($17 million) and Joe ($11.3 million) either have a non-guaranteed salary next season or a team option. Since taking over as GM in June 2024, Langdon has made 11 trades. None have included the Pistons dealing their own first-round pick.

BPI first-round projection: No. 26

8. Denver Nuggets

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 96.9%
Projected wins: 48.7

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: When Denver won the NBA title in 2023, it felt like it could be the beginning of a five-year championship contention window. After three straight early playoff exits, the pressure is mounting for Denver to give perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic another real shot at contention. The all-world big man is squarely in his prime and has said he'll sign the supermax extension if it's offered after the season, but each year the financial realities of the Nuggets' situation make it harder to surround him with championship-caliber depth. -- Ramona Shelburne

Biggest strength: The experience and consistency of the Nuggets' championship trio of Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon is still intact and still incredibly potent -- when healthy. Denver has a regular-season record of 125-51 (a 71.0% win rate) when those three play together. Last season they went 20-6: an elite record, but a painfully small number of games. -- Shelburne

Biggest weakness: The Nuggets' bench was a strength during their championship run, but that depth has slowly withered away each successive season as financial constraints have limited Denver's roster building. This offseason, Peyton Watson was the biggest roster casualty, as Denver ended up trading the young swingman they'd so carefully drafted and developed, rather than match the offer sheet he signed in Cleveland. None of this will help the devastating on/off splits that plague the Nuggets every time Jokic comes off the floor. Last year had an elite plus-10.8 net rating with Jokic, but a minus-6.5 net rating when he was off the court. -- Shelburne

Bold prediction: Jokic posts the largest on/off differential of his career. This will be a tall task for Jokic, who routinely posts the widest on/off differential in the league. But this is a bet on two factors, which are both realistic: First, Jokic will be as dominant as ever, just like he was last season before being waylaid by injury; and second, the Nuggets' bench will be more disastrous than usual without Jokic, due to the team's lack of depth and a reliance on Marvin Bagley III and Zeke Nnaji as backup bigs. -- Kram

Number to watch: 4. According to the advanced stat estimated plus-minus, only four Nuggets rate as above-average players at this point in their careers. To be fair, that quartet -- consisting of Jokic, Murray, Gordon and Cameron Johnson -- is generally way above-average. Jokic, for instance, is the second-most-valuable player in the league by EPM's reckoning, behind only Victor Wembanyama. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: DeMar DeRozan averaged 18.4 PPG and 4.1 APG last season with the Kings, but he is expected to come off the bench in Denver. He should still have opportunities to score with the second unit, but his minutes could decline. He still offers scoring value, though his expected role off the bench makes him a player fantasy managers shouldn't reach for in drafts. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: The Nuggets acquired a 2031 unprotected first from Cleveland in the Watson sign-and-trade. That matters because it gives Denver the flexibility to trade either the Cavaliers' first or their own in 2031 (they can't trade both). The Nuggets have the $23 million expiring contract of Johnson as the possible centerpiece of any trade.

BPI first-round projection: None. Note: Denver's 2027 first (top-five protected) will go to the LA Clippers, Oklahoma City or Toronto.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 88.4%
Projected wins: 47.9

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: The Cavs made two big decisions this offseason and how they play out will largely define the season. They could've gone for big swings in getting involved in the pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaylen Brown but it likely would've cost them Evan Mobley. The front office still deeply believes in Mobley in the wake of a bit of a disappointing season, however. The other choice was the acquisition of Peyton Watson, which caused them to make a series of expensive trades and salary shedding moves. They believe Watson is on the verge of a breakout after he showed flashes in Denver last season. -- Brian Windhorst

Biggest strength: The Cavs have four starters who have been All-Stars (Mobley, Jarrett Allen, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell) plus Watson, who they believe is on his way to being an elite two-way wing. They believe this group, coming off a conference finals appearance, has enough firepower to win the East. -- Windhorst

Biggest weakness: Cleveland had to hollow out its bench to accomplish getting Watson and dipping below the second apron. They now have one of the thinnest teams in the league and are depending on the development of recent draft picks Jaylon Tyson, Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas to step into vacated roles. -- Windhorst

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Can the Cavaliers make it out of the East?

Bold prediction: Sam Merrill, Watson and Tyson combine to average 40 points per game while making more than 40% of their 3s. For years, so much focus on the Cavaliers has centered on their lack of a proper wing between two star guards and two star bigs. But between new Cavalier Watson and holdovers Merrill and Tyson, Cleveland now has several sensible options on the wing. Watson and Tyson in particular are both recent first-round picks who took big steps forward last season, and they still have more room to grow. -- Kram

Number to watch: 14.2. The Cavaliers' defense slipped to a league-average 15th last season, after four consecutive seasons in the top 10. One chief culprit was the 3-point line, as opponents sank 14.2 long-range shots per game -- the fifth-highest tally in the league. Put another way, the Cavaliers made just 10 more 3-pointers than their opponents across the 2025-26 regular season. In 2024-25, they made 199 more 3s than their opponents. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The presence of Harden on this team positively influences the fantasy outlooks for the Cavaliers' frontcourt but limits the output of the backcourt. Harden is excellent at running the pick-and-roll/pop with frontcourt players, creating high-efficiency looks either at the rim or on spot-up jumpers. Last season, immediately after Harden joined the Cavaliers, Allen turned in by far his best scoring month of the season. He could have a similar effect on Mobley and Watson. Harden's high-usage style requires possessions that eat into the offense-creating opportunities for Mitchell, however, and vice versa. So, neither of the starting backcourt members have as high of a ceiling playing next to one another. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Roster creativity. Despite a lack of financial flexibility ($45,000 below the first apron) or tradable draft assets Cleveland has still found ways to improve its roster. Over the past two seasons, the Cavs have traded De'Andre Hunter, Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis and traded for Harden and most recently Watson this summer. Making another trade during the season will be a challenge, unless they are willing to part ways with All-Star center Allen or key rotational players, such as Merrill and Tyson.

BPI first-round projection: None (Note: The Cavaliers traded their 2027 first to Utah as part of the Mitchell trade.)

10. Houston Rockets

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 92.5%
Projected wins: 46.7

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: How much better the Rockets look offensively with Fred VanVleet back running the show. In Kevin Durant's first season in Houston, he played somewhat of a different role than he was accustomed to because he, along with other Rockets, was tasked with helping to facilitate offense in the absence of VanVleet. With VanVleet back, all the players that were forced last season to play unfamiliar roles will slide back into their natural positions, which in turn will help the veteran facilitator to better optimize all the talent around him. -- Wright

Biggest strength: There's a reason Houston has led the NBA in offensive rebounding in each of the last two seasons. The Rockets are massive, especially in the frontcourt. VanVleet is listed at 6-foot. But every other Rocket in the starting lineup is 6-7 or taller, including three 6-11 players in Durant, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. The 6-11, 265-pound Steven Adams serves as Sengun's primary backup, but coach Ime Udoka will deploy lineups featuring the New Zealander and Sengun on the floor at the same time. -- Wright

Biggest weakness: Houston ranked near the bottom of the league last season in turnovers (15.4 per game), and that played a role in some of the late-game execution issues that plagued Houston. The Rockets squandered double-digit leads in 18 of their 32 losses in the regular season, and some of that could be attributed to the lack of consistent ballhandling. VanVleet's return should remedy some of the turnover issues. -- Wright

Bold prediction: Amen Thompson makes more than 30% of his 3s. Thompson hasn't hit this low bar in any season yet, and he was at just 21.6% from distance last season. But he quietly boosted his free throw performance to 78%, indicating that his shooting form isn't broken, and new Rockets shooting guru Chip Engelland is positioned to help Thompson improve to at least respectable from deep. -- Kram

Number to watch: 37.4%. The Rockets led the NBA by grabbing 37.4% of their own misses last season, per Cleaning the Glass. According to Stathead, they had the highest offensive rebounding rate for any team since 2003. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: VanVleet averaged 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.7 treys in 2024-25 before missing all last season with a torn ACL. Houston expects him to reclaim his starting role, and he's being drafted just inside the top 100. VanVleet's 34.5% shooting in his last healthy season is a concern, but the assists, steals and 3-pointers position him as a nice value in category leagues. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: Nets and Suns picks. It has been nearly five years since the Rockets traded Harden, and they are still taking advantage. Next up: the right to swap 2027 first-round picks with Brooklyn. The Nets are projected to have the second-worst record. Besides swap rights with the Nets, Houston has the Suns' unprotected first. That pick was originally acquired by Brooklyn in the Durant trade. The Nets relinquished the Suns first to Houston as part of the conditions to reacquire their 2026 first and also eliminate swap rights in 2025. Both of those draft assets were originally sent to Houston in the Harden trade.

BPI first-round projection: No. 2 (via BKN), No. 16 (via PHX)

11. Los Angeles Lakers

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 88.3%
Projected wins: 45.4

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: The start of the Luka Doncic era in earnest. His first half season with the team was a wash, arriving to L.A. out of shape because of a calf strain and out of sorts from the shocking deal. Last season was much better, when he led the league in scoring, but a hamstring injury in April dashed any hopes of a playoff run. With LeBron James in Philadelphia, the Lakers are now indisputably Doncic's team, and it will be on him to lead it. -- McMenamin

Biggest strength: Offense. Doncic's 33.5 points per game fueled the Lakers to the No. 10 offensive rating in the league, averaging 117.0 points per 100 possessions (Denver was first at 121.2). Coach JJ Redick expects such production to continue. "I think with this group, [it is] probably the first time in my three years here that I feel like the pieces actually fit together," Redick said last month. Austin Reaves, coming off a career-best 23.3 points per game, is back in the fold as Doncic's running mate, and they have the massive, 7-2 lob threat in Walker Kessler to fill the middle. -- McMenamin

Biggest weakness: Defense. L.A. was below average defensively last season. Even with its 16-2 late-season surge, L.A. still finished No. 20 in the NBA in defensive rating. Enter Kessler, with career averages of 5.9 defensive rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game to shore up that end for the Lakers. He already liked what he saw during offseason workouts. "I think we're going to be a nasty defensive team, I'm just being honest," Kessler said at the start of training camp. "We're going to be really good defensively. We have a lot of defensive tools." Kessler later praised Doncic and Reaves as great off-ball defenders while talking up the ball-hounding skills of Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Jake LaRavia on the perimeter. -- McMenamin

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How the Lakers are preparing for life after LeBron James

Bold prediction: Thybulle is the Lakers' most valuable bench player. Thybulle was one of the top underrated free agents this summer, after a quietly strong bounce-back season in Portland. And he should fill a major hole for the Lakers because of his ability to play tenacious perimeter defense and make the open 3s (41% over 45 games the last two seasons) that Doncic's distribution creates. -- Kram

Number to watch: 54.6%. Kessler is one of the most important X factors in the NBA this season, after his team committed so much -- in terms of both money and draft capital -- to acquire him in a sign-and-trade. Over the course of his career, he ranks third (behind Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, among players with at least 500 shots defended) by holding opponents to just 54.6% shooting in the restricted area when he's the closest defender, per GeniusIQ. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Kessler averaged 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while shooting 66.3% from the field in 2024-25. Those numbers came in 58 games, providing a better picture of his potential than last season's five-game sample. Playing alongside Doncic should help his efficiency too. Kessler is worth targeting for rebounds and blocks, although his free throw shooting remains a negative. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy. With no available first-round pick and only three seconds available, Knecht or Hardy could play a role in the Lakers' trading to shore up their frontcourt, especially at backup center. Hardy ($6 million) and Knecht ($4.2 million) are each in the final year of their contract. The Lakers are not over the first apron and are allowed to take back more salary in a trade.

BPI first-round projection: None (Note: The Lakers will send Memphis their 2027 first if it falls outside of the top 4.)

12. Toronto Raptors

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 75.6%
Projected wins: 45.5

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: In 2019, the Raptors masterfully load-managed Kawhi Leonard's oft-injured body all the way to the franchise's first NBA championship. But seven years later, Leonard is 35 years old and has more serious injuries under his belt than he did back then, so what will that process look like this season? And how, especially, will the Raptors approach that method when and if the postseason arrives? -- Baxter Holmes

Biggest strength: The Raptors had an elite defense last season -- a No. 5 defensive rating of 113.0 -- and that was before they acquired Leonard, one of the league's best-ever defensive players, this offseason. If everyone stays healthy, the Raptors should be able to stifle teams, and the one-two punch of Scottie Barnes and Leonard will pose a lot of problems for opposing frontcourts. -- Holmes

Biggest weakness: Leonard's health is always a question mark, but, putting that aside, questions loom about the team's offense -- and, in particular, the Raptors' shotmaking. Toronto was near the bottom of the league with 11.3 three-pointers made per game last season (25th), and poor 3-point shooting means teams can pack the paint and impact spacing. Leonard is an efficient pull-up 3-point shooter, so he should help -- again, provided that he's healthy. -- Holmes

Bold prediction: Leonard leads the Raptors back to the Finals, where he faces his old team, the Spurs. I hold perhaps unreasonably strong belief in the Raptors because Leonard seems like such a perfect fit for their team: He fixes their most glaring weakness (efficient lead scoring) while making their greatest strength (team defense) even stronger. If he stays healthy, the Raptors will be a legitimate championship contender -- and wouldn't it be fittingly poetic if Leonard's second (and now fourth) team met his first team in the Finals? -- Kram

Number to watch: 14.4. When Leonard was on the court last season, the Clippers were 14.4 points better per 100 possessions than when he was off. That was the third-best margin among all players with at least 1,500 minutes, per Cleaning the Glass. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The addition of Leonard improves the fantasy ceilings of the other Raptors starters. On first blush this wouldn't appear to be the case, because Leonard takes more shots than Brandon Ingram, the player he is replacing in the Raptors' lineup. But while Leonard takes roughly four more shots per game than Ingram (with free throws factored in), he also uses about a possession less than Ingram as a distributor (e.g. assists and turnovers). And Leonard demands a lot more defensive attention than Ingram does, which should improve the scoring efficiency of the shooters and the assist percentage of the distributors when he is on the court. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: RJ Barrett extension talks. Will Leonard's extension impact Barrett's next contract? The forward is entering the final year of his contract and is eligible to sign a four-year extension. With deals for Leonard and Jakob Poeltl set to begin next season, Toronto is $23 million below the luxury tax and $29 million under the first apron.

BPI first-round projection: No. 30 (via OKC) (Note: As part of the Leonard trade, Toronto has the least favorable first of the Clippers, Denver (if 6-30) or Oklahoma City.)

13. Indiana Pacers

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 47.3%
Projected wins: 42

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: How does Tyrese Haliburton look? Haliburton hopes at some point the conversation moves on from his torn Achilles, but that will be determined by how quickly he rounds into form. He has had 16 months to heal from the injury and has been playing 5-on-5 since April. But, as his preseason debut showed, there are still some kinks to iron out as he and the Pacers look to recapture the incredible rhythm they found en route to back-to-back conference finals berths and a trip to the 2025 Finals. -- Collier

Biggest strength: Coach Rick Carlisle. Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan's answer was simple before the start of the season. When asked what gives him confidence Indiana can reclaim its spot near the top, he told ESPN: "We have a coach who figures things out." Put simply, the Pacers might have to win differently than the five-out, fast-pace offense they ran through the East with a few years ago. They have a different center and the competition is much tougher. But a strength for Indiana under Carlisle in recent years has been closing the season much stronger than it started. -- Collier

Biggest weakness: Can the Pacers become an elite defense again? Their offense and Haliburton's clutch shooting got all the headlines during their playoff runs, but the Pacers also leveled up on defense back then (eighth in defensive efficiency in the postseason in 2025). Now with Ivica Zubac in the middle, can this team begin operating on that level again? -- Collier

Bold prediction: Haliburton's pick-and-rolls with Zubac rank in the top five in efficiency among high-volume partnerships. A big question for Indiana is how well Zubac can replace Myles Turner at center. He should do just fine, as he's an excellent defender and solid operator inside, while Haliburton has a proven ability to mesh with any talented big. Over the last half-decade, Haliburton and Turner ranked third in pick-and-roll efficiency, per GeniusIQ (minimum 500 picks), while Haliburton and Pascal Siakam ranked fourth. -- Kram

Number to watch: 487. When Haliburton takes the floor for the Pacers' first regular-season game -- in New Orleans rather than at home in Indiana, controversially -- 487 days will have passed since his last contest (Game 7 of the 2025 Finals). -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The Pacers finished 12th in the NBA in assists last season (27.7 APG) with Haliburton sidelined, but they had finished third (29.2 APG) and first (30.8 APG) in the two seasons prior. With Haliburton back and running Carlisle's motion offense, the Pacers should again return to the top of the league in the category. And team assists lead to team points, which is good for the fantasy prospects of all Pacers rotation players. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Jarace Walker. After failing to land a rookie extension, Walker enters the final year of his contract ($8.5 million) coming off career highs in games played (76) and points per game (11.6). Could the former lottery pick be a trade candidate if Indiana decides to sneak under the luxury tax? The Pacers, currently $5.8 million over the threshold, haven't paid the tax in two decades.

BPI first-round projection: No. 13 Note: New lottery rules prevent Indiana from picking in the top 5 in three consecutive drafts. Last year, the Pacers sent the No. 5 pick to the Clippers as part of the Zubac trade.

14. Miami Heat

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 76.3%
Projected wins: 45.6

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Depth around Giannis. Acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo was the biggest move of the offseason, but did the Heat give up so much to get him that they'll run into the same problem Milwaukee did in trying to build around him? The Heat did well adding in Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson to fill out the roster with shooters, but they're also betting a lot on older players staying healthy. -- Shelburne

Biggest strength: Defense. The Heat, which ranked No. 13 in defense last season, could feature an elite unit with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in the front court and Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell on the perimeter. Those four, when healthy, can absolutely be the backbone of a stifling, top-ranked defense. -- Shelburne

Biggest weakness: Playmaking and depth. Miami gave up Tyler Herro in the deal to get Antetokounmpo and lost Norman Powell to free agency. That's a significant amount of offense and playmaking to make up for. Antetokounmpo should pick up some of the playmaking and shot-creation slack, but Miami could be vulnerable to high-pressure defenses that try to force the ball out of his hands. That'll force Mitchell to step in as a ball handler, which he has done before, but not in such a primary role. -- Shelburne

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Giannis, Bam discuss 'nightmare' other teams will face when playing the Heat

Bold prediction: The Heat finish in the top 10 in made 3-pointers. The Heat finished 15th in 3-point makes and attempts last season, and it seemed like they'd drop even further after trading several shooters for Antetokounmpo. But they spent the rest of the summer adding elite marksmen -- Hardaway, Thompson and Bobby Portis in the Bucks blockbuster -- and now they'll surround their new superstar with shooters, which is perfect for a player who loves to drive and kick out. -- Kram

Number to watch: 20. The 2025-26 Heat played offense unlike any other team in modern NBA history. Consider: They set just 20 picks per 100 possessions, per GeniusIQ. In the tracking era (which began in 2013-14), the second-lowest pick frequency is from the 2018-19 76ers, at 38 picks per 100 possessions -- nearly twice as Miami's average last season. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The presence of Antetokounmpo on the Heat increases the ceiling for all of the 3-point shooters in the lineup. Antetokounmpo is one of the biggest defense-warping players in the NBA, still demanding opposing team defenses to "build a wall" to keep him from getting to and finishing at the rim. When opponents sag off their defensive assignments to slow Antetokounmpo, he is adept at finding the open shooter when operating off the dribble or playing decoy off the ball to create space. Look for the shooters on the Heat to all turn in 3-point shooting volume and efficiency above their norm while playing next to Antetokounmpo this season. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Giannis not extending his contract. Do not get alarmed, Heat fans, if Antetokounmpo does not extend his contract on Jan. 6. One scenario not to be overlooked is Antetokounmpo mirroring Jokic's plans and signing with Miami as a free agent in the 2027 offseason. The five-year contract would raise his career on-court earnings to $754 million, the most in NBA history.

BPI first-round projection: None (Note: As part of the Rozier trade, Miami sent Charlotte its 2027 top-14 protected first. The pick becomes unprotected in 2028 if not conveyed.)

15. Atlanta Hawks

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 48.7%
Projected wins: 42.2

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Whether the Hawks take another leap toward real contention -- or make a move to do so. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the NBA's Most Improved Player last year. Jalen Johnson was an All-Star. What's the next step? Atlanta has fully turned the franchise over to the 24-year-old Johnson, building its roster to complement his playmaking, athleticism and ability to get downhill. If he stays healthy -- he's missed a combined 82 games in the past three seasons -- and continues to develop, the Hawks could be a top-four team in the East. -- Shelburne

Biggest strength: Defense. The Hawks have the makings of a nightmarish perimeter defense with Dyson Daniels, who made All-Defense teams the past two years, and newly acquired Luguentz Dort, who came over in a trade with Oklahoma City. Atlanta, which ranked No. 9 in defense last season, ranked third last season in both points off turnovers and fast-break points, and should only improve in both this season with Dort in the fold. -- Shelburne

Biggest weakness: Rim protection. After trading Kristaps Porzingis last season, they need an anchor at the basket. Onyeka Okongwu is just 6-foot-10, and their backup in longtime reserve Jock Landale, who has never averaged more than one block per game. Atlanta is also putting a lot of playmaking responsibility on Daniels and rookie Kingston Flemings. Any injury to either the front or back line could really test Atlanta's already limited depth. -- Shelburne

Bold prediction: Okongwu leads all centers in made 3s. Okongwu tripled his long-range output from 0.6 3s per game in 2024-25 to 1.9 last season. He'll need to keep shooting to balance out lineups with less potent shooters like Daniels and Johnson. -- Kram

Number to watch: 108.6. The Hawks allowed just 108.6 points per 100 possessions after the All-Star break, ranking second in the NBA in that span, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The Hawks play a ball-hawking team defense, with three starting guards who hound opposing perimeter players all over the court. This style leads to a lot of steals; the Hawks were fifth in the NBA in steals last season after finishing second the season before. As a result, the Hawks' fantasy players tend to rank highly in steals, a hidden source of fantasy value. Last season, led by league co-leader Dyson Daniels, the Hawks finished the season with all five starters averaging at least one steal per game. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Future cap space. With over $60 million in expiring contracts (CJ McCollum, Dort, Landale, Dorian Finney-Smith), Atlanta is one of eight teams with projected cap space next summer. While their own 2027 first-rounder is in the hands of San Antonio, the Hawks do have the least favorable pick (top-five protected) between Milwaukee and New Orleans.

BPI first-round projection: None

16. Orlando Magic

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 54.4%
Projected wins: 42.9

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: After blowing a 3-1 lead to the Pistons in the playoffs last season, the Magic fired coach Jahmal Mosley. They hired Sean Sweeney, who has gotten credit for helping the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs reach the Finals in recent years as a major strategy voice, as new head coach. Despite what seem like flaws in the roster, the front office has mulled over but thus far resisted much change and believes that the new coach can raise the floor. -- Windhorst

Biggest strength: With Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter and recently signed Nikola Vucevic, the Magic have terrific size. They also have good length on the wings, which has made them a decent-to-good defensive teams over the last few seasons. -- Windhorst

Biggest weakness: Despite the addition of Desmond Bane at a high price last year, the Magic continue to lag near the bottom in 3-point shooting stats. That drags down the team's offense as it creates spacing issues, especially for Banchero. -- Windhorst

Bold prediction: Banchero finishes with a positive on/off rating. This one's simple: The Magic have been better with Banchero off the floor in every season of his career. But further individual development from the 2022 No. 1 pick, combined with better team balance under Sweeney, should place Banchero on the right side of that ledger for the first time. -- Kram

Number to watch: 2012. I've been performing this exercise for years, and Orlando's defining number has been 2012 in every edition thus far. That's because 2012 -- Dwight Howard's last year with the Magic -- is still the last year in which Orlando ranked in the top half of the league in offensive efficiency. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Keep an eye on Anthony Black as a potential fantasy breakout player this season. Black has improved his production significantly in every season of his career, and last season he set career highs in all six fantasy counting categories. But Black showed signs of even more last season, particularly during stretches such as the 10 games from Dec. 18 through Jan. 4 when he averaged more than 23 points, five assists and almost three 3-pointers in 34 minutes per game. If Black can stay healthy and earn those types of minutes more consistently this season, he could shoot up the fantasy rankings. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: The future of Black, who became the first Magic player since 2022 to not sign a rookie extension. "We're in tighter quarters than we've been in years past," Orlando president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said last month. A luxury tax team this season, Orlando is $20 million under the threshold next season, not including a new contract for Black. The Magic have four players (Wagner, Banchero, Bane, Jalen Suggs) earning at least $26 million over each of the next two seasons.

BPI first-round projection: No. 17

17. Portland Trail Blazers

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 62.6%
Projected wins: 41.4

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Owner Tom Dundon. Whether it's an ongoing arena battle, a series of cost-cutting moves that included widespread layoffs or a botched television broadcaster hire, Dundon's rookie stumbles have consistently overshadowed his team since his ownership tenure began in March. Dundon said in a recent letter to fans that his "intention" was to "bring a championship to Portland," but his first offseason passed by with few moves of consequence. His biggest bet to date: acquiring Ja Morant, hoping that a change of scenery and better health can help him reclaim his All-Star status. The middling Blazers, who will be led by first-time coach Micah Nori, need more help than that. -- Golliver

Biggest strength: Offensive playmaking. Portland's guard-heavy and forward-light roster might lack in positional balance, but it boasts a trio of All-Star playmakers who are proven No. 1 scoring options. Damian Lillard will return to the court after missing last season with an Achilles injury, joining Deni Avdija and Morant to provide three distinct flavors of scoring firepower. Between Lillard's long-range shooting, Avdija's relentless rim attacks and Morant's off-the-dribble quickness, Portland will keep opposing defenses guessing. -- Golliver

Biggest weakness: Turnovers. Despite a breakthrough season from Avdija, the Blazers' offense ranked 21st last season because they finished 28th in 3-point percentage and dead last in turnovers. Lillard's return should help Portland's shooting numbers, but giveaways could remain a problem. Nori has installed a new offensive system for a roster filled with fresh faces, and Morant has averaged at least three turnovers in each of his seven seasons. -- Golliver

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Perk: Kawhi is the 'most feared' and dangerous player in East

Bold prediction: Portland finishes with a losing record ... but returns to the playoffs anyway. Not only do the Trail Blazers have to sort out a tricky positional logjam, but they snuck over .500 last season only because they beat up on tanking teams -- which shouldn't exist this season. However, Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, Avdija and Jrue Holiday would bring a lot of talent to the wild-card round, so Portland can still make the playoffs even if it takes a step back in the regular season. -- Kram

Number to watch: 27.7. Gilgeous-Alexander was the king of drives in the NBA. Entering last year, he'd led all starters in drives per 100 possessions, according to GeniusIQ, for five straight seasons, dating to his first year as Oklahoma City's primary ball handler. But that streak ended last season, when Avdija averaged 27.7 drives per 100 possessions to usurp SGA's crown. (Jaylen Brown also edged out Gilgeous-Alexander, knocking him down to third place.) That was a massive increase in usage for Avdija, who'd averaged 17.3 drives just a year earlier. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Clingan averaged 11.6 RPG and 1.7 BPG in just 27.2 MPG last season. He also made 34.1% of his 3-pointers on 3.2 attempts per game, adding another dimension to his fantasy value. Clingan is already being drafted around pick No. 80, according to our draft trends, so managers will need more than last season's production. A move toward 30.0 MPG could justify that investment, especially in category formats. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: Holiday. What does a healthy Lillard and the addition of Morant mean for Holiday's future in Portland? The two-time NBA champion, All-Star and six-time All-Defense selection has started in 92% of games played in his career and has two years remaining on his contract ($34.8 million and a $37.2 million player option).

BPI first-round projection: No. 15

18. Phoenix Suns

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 53.1%
Projected wins: 40.4

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Jalen Green's fit. Recurring right hamstring issues limited Green to 32 games in his first season in Phoenix, which opened the door for coach Jordan Ott to expand Dillon Brooks' and Collin Gillespie's offensive roles alongside franchise staple Devin Booker. The Suns' offseason acquisition of Miles Bridges could open up more of a need for Green if he's healthy, with Phoenix parting with two rotation players in Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale to complete the deal. -- McMenamin

Biggest strength: Booker. The 11-year veteran is a rare low-maintenance superstar, having been named an All-Star in six out of the past eight seasons despite the franchise cycling through eight head coaches and two owners in his tenure. Booker's steady demeanor and skill set that makes him effective both on and off the ball has allowed the Suns to reimagine themselves around him on the fly, with Ott guiding them to 45 wins as a first-year coach. Booker is five years removed from back-to-back 40-point games in the NBA Finals as a 24-year old and two years removed from being a key role player on Team USA's gold medal run at the Paris Olympics, and he has shown patience in Phoenix building a contender around him again. -- McMenamin

Biggest weakness: Center. Last season's big man rotation of Oso Ighodaro, Mark Williams, Nick Richards and Khaman Maluach was no match for the pivot threats the Suns faced in the Western Conference. And they haven't done much to reinforce that corps, trading Richards away and losing Williams to shoulder surgery in September that will sideline him indefinitely. Phoenix did sign backup center Duop Reath, who averaged 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds the past three seasons in Portland, but the Suns' hopes for improvement in the post hinge on Maluach's development. Selected with the No. 10 pick in 2025 out of Duke, the 7-1 Maluach showed flashes in summer league and during preseason, but he's largely unproven. -- McMenamin

Bold prediction: Gillespie replaces Green in the starting lineup before Christmas. The Suns have very little shooting and passing chops in their starting five, but Gillespie provides both. Inserting him in place of Green -- a career 34% 3-point shooter with just 3.3 assists per game -- would bring more balance to Phoenix's lineup even if it might not be popular given Green's salary and pedigree as a former No. 2 pick. -- Kram

Number to watch: 34%. Here are last season's 3-point percentages for the Suns' projected starters:

Booker: 33%
Green: 31%
Brooks: 34%
Bridges: 33%
Ighodaro: 0% (one attempt)

The highest mark among that group, Brooks' 34%, is still below league average. Meanwhile, Booker has been stuck at 33% for two seasons now, Green has never been above 35% in any season, and Bridges has exceeded that mark just once (in 2020-21). -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Maluach averaged 0.7 BPG and 2.9 RPG in just 8.9 MPG as a rookie. Williams' offseason shoulder surgery creates an opportunity for more minutes, although Ighodaro remains firmly in the mix. Maluach is worth a gamble late in drafts for managers looking for rebounds and blocks. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: Bridges' extension talks. Acquired in a trade with Charlotte this summer, Bridges is eligible to sign a three-year, $86 million extension. That jumps to four years and $143 million on Jan. 13. (Working against Bridges is that career 33.8% shooting on 3s.) The Suns are a projected $16 million below the luxury tax next season.

BPI first-round projection: No. 23 (via MIN). (Note: The Suns have the least favorable first of Cleveland, Minnesota and Utah. Their own pick is controlled by Houston.)

19. Golden State Warriors

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 79.1%
Projected wins: 43.6

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: The never-ending conversation: Are they doing enough to maximize Steph Curry's fading window? Days before training camp, Curry recommitted with a two-year extension pledge to the organization, taking him through his 20th season. The Warriors enter October as noncontenders but should get Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody back around midseason and are loaded with expiring contracts and first-round trade assets. If Curry's knee allows him to have a healthy 65-game season, will the front office feel enough trade deadline motivation to risk assets, find a move and perhaps jolt this franchise back into fringe contention? -- Slater

Biggest strength: Their collective brainpower. Curry and Draymond Green have played 15 seasons together and have a rare level of on-court symbiosis and off-court comfort. Once Butler's knee heals, his mind will return as one of the sharpest in the league. Any minutes from veteran Al Horford spike the collective know-how on both sides. The Warriors added the respected Frank Vogel to run the defense. They don't have near the athleticism or scoring punch of many of the younger teams that populate the league, so they'll have to outthink opponents. -- Slater

Biggest weakness: Age and health. Their two projected starting wings -- Butler and Moody -- suffered serious knee injuries last season that should have them out until around January. Team sources indicate that Moody is slightly further ahead in his rehab timeline than Butler. But that's still $69 million in production currently absent and a $20 million center (Kristaps Porzingis) out indefinitely with a private health issue. Depth in the NBA can look very thin when three of the team's five highest-paid players aren't available. -- Slater

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Steph: New contract gives me peace of mind

Bold prediction: Yaxel Lendeborg makes the All-Rookie first team. The No. 11 pick in the 2026 draft is more NBA-ready than many of the players picked ahead of him, as he's already 24 years old. Lendeborg can stuff the stat sheet and play an important role for a team with a lot of nationally broadcast games, giving him ample opportunity to impress voters. -- Kram

Number to watch: 2019. The 2018-19 season was the Warriors' last with Kevin Durant, and their last of five consecutive years with a Finals trip. It was also, to this day, the last season in which Golden State finished with a top-10 rating on both offense and defense, per Cleaning the Glass. Even in 2021-22, when the Warriors won the title, their offense ranked a distant 17th. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Brandin Podziemski made 153 treys last season, second on the Warriors behind Curry, while averaging 5.1 RPG and 3.7 APG. Butler is expected to miss the start of the season, which means Podziemski could take on more offensive responsibility. He's an appealing breakout candidate if his scoring increases. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: Future cap flexibility. Despite extensions for Curry and Podziemski, Golden State is in position to have nearly $60 million in cap space next summer. But what if a trade presents itself this season that can improve the roster but at the expense of that future flexibility? Golden State has more than $100 million in sizable contracts (Butler's expiring, Green's expiring and Porzingis') and up to three firsts to trade. And Porzingis' contract for next season is guaranteed for only $3 million.

BPI first-round projection: No. 11

20. Utah Jazz

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 17.2%
Projected wins: 35.4

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: A more competitive Jazz. Utah made a pair of major roster additions over the past couple of transaction cycles, trading for two-time All-Star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. before the February deadline and selecting former Kansas guard Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick in June. The Jazz have a talented foundation in place with the newcomers joining former All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, guard Keyonte George and second-year forward Ace Bailey. The question will be: How quickly can they learn how to win after a couple of seasons of blatant tanking? -- MacMahon

Biggest strength: Offensive firepower. The Jazz feature plenty of offensive juice. Markkanen is a skilled 7-footer who doesn't need to dominate the ball to score 25 points per game, and his blend of shooting and slashing creates space for teammates. George (23.6 points, 6.1 assists per game) is coming off a breakout season. He'll be paired with Peterson, one of the most gifted offensive prospects in recent memory, in what could be one of the league's most dynamic backcourts. And Jackson, who has a career average of 18.6 points per game, has guard skills in a 6-11, 240-pound body. -- MacMahon

Biggest weakness: Center. The 5 was a primary concern after the sign-and-trade exit of Walker Kessler, and then Jusuf Nurkic, a quality backup Utah needs to start, suffering a toe injury during the preseason that will sideline him as the regular season begins. At some point, the Jazz front office will probably use some of the assets it has accumulated to acquire a long-term solution for this spot. For now, coach Will Hardy will have to make do with some combination of Jaxson Hayes, Kyle Filipowski, Mo Bamba and playing Jackson out of position. -- MacMahon

Bold prediction: Utah finishes with a top-seven offense and bottom-seven defense. The Jazz are ready to bound forward with a host of talented scorers, but the defensive talent on hand is a lot less convincing. Utah's ranked 29th, 29th and 30th on defense in the past three seasons, and simply trying might not be enough to course correct -- especially because Jackson and backup Josh Okogie are the only plus defenders in the rotation. -- Kram

Number to watch: 31. Over Hardy's four-year tenure as Utah's coach, after he took over following the dismantling of the Rudy Gobert/Donovan Mitchell/Quin Snyder playoff squad, the Jazz rank 29th in cumulative win percentage. But they've arrived there in a strange way: They've won at a 31-51 pace before the All-Star break, but a 17-65 pace afterward. That disparity reflects how Utah has tended to approach recent seasons -- typically with a surprisingly competitive start, followed by a furious race to the bottom of the standings (and the top of the draft). Now that the Jazz have turned a corner toward competitiveness once again, highlighted by last season's Jackson trade, it will be fascinating to see how Hardy approaches a season when he's actually trying to win for all 82 games. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: George improved his FG% from 39.1 in 2024-25 to 45.6 last season while averaging 23.6 PPG and 6.1 APG. That improvement significantly strengthened his category-league value, although he played just 54 games. Peterson's arrival could affect his usage, but George is worth considering at his ADP if managers believe his shooting improvement will hold. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Draft assets. With the Jackson trade, Utah showed it was finally willing to part with first-round capital to upgrade their roster. And despite using three picks to acquire the former Defensive Player of the Year, Utah remains well-positioned for another move. The Jazz picked up two future unprotected firsts from the Lakers in the Kessler sign-and-trade and have an additional five tradable firsts.

BPI first-round projection: No. 22 (via CLE) (Note: The Jazz have the second-most-favorable first of their own, Cleveland and Minnesota. The Grizzlies have the most favorable and Suns' least favorable first. Because of the lottery rules, their own first cannot fall in the top five.)

21. Dallas Mavericks

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 10.1%
Projected wins: 33.8

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: All eyes are on Cooper Flagg in anticipation of his continued ascension to superstardom. He's coming off one of the most spectacular seasons by a teenager in the history of the league. In fact, he joined former Maverick Luka Doncic as the only teens to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. (LeBron James, who blossomed into a pretty good player, fell half a rebound per game short.) Flagg flourished when paired with a point guard as a rookie and will have the luxury of starting his second season alongside eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving. -- MacMahon

Biggest strength: The Mavs have legitimate star power with the tandem of Flagg and Irving, a pair of former No. 1 picks with a 15-year age gap. The age difference is a long-term concern, but Irving profiles as a phenomenal complement to Flagg, possessing the combination of creation and shooting skill that should ease pressure on the teenager. Irving has thrived when paired with a series of superstars such as James, Doncic and Kevin Durant throughout his career. -- MacMahon

Biggest weakness: There are big questions about the Mavs' center rotation entering the season. It's unclear when Dereck Lively II will be cleared to practice, much less play, as he recovers from a second operation on his right foot after playing only seven games last season. Daniel Gafford has his own durability issues, which have factored into limited interest in him when Dallas has dangled him in the trade market. It's notable that Morez Johnson Jr., the Mavs' 6-9, 250-pound lottery pick, started the preseason opener at center. -- MacMahon

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Kyrie Irving scores 17 in first game back in over 19 months

Bold prediction: Flagg makes the All-NBA third team. Over a 10-game stretch last spring -- only one against a tanking opponent -- Flagg averaged 27.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Small sample? Yes. Evidence of the No. 1 pick's maturation and immense superstar potential? Also yes. With better guard play in Dallas boosting Flagg's efficiency, he has a realistic chance to burst onto an All-NBA team -- especially because his youth means he's more likely to reach the 65-game minimum than other, more decorated veteran candidates. -- Kram

Number to watch: 3. Flagg will celebrate his 20th birthday in December. Only three previous players have made an All-NBA team at that age: Kobe Bryant, James and Doncic. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Flagg averaged 21.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 4.5 APG as a rookie despite shooting just 29.5% from 3. Irving's return could limit Flagg's assists, so improved shooting might be his clearest path to another statistical leap. Flagg also averaged 2.1 combined steals and blocks. His all-around production and upside make him worth his high draft cost. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: The future of Irving. President Usai Ujiri and coach Dusty May have praised the impact Irving can have on the roster. But what will happen if Dallas is not contending for a postseason spot at the February trade deadline? Irving turns 35 in March and can become a free agent in the summer if he declines his $42.4 million player option.

BPI first-round projection: None (Note: The Mavs sent Charlotte their 2027 top-two-protected first to acquire P.J. Washington.)

22. Washington Wizards

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 1.8%
Projected wins: 32.4

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: The Anthony Davis experiment. Davis, who never suited up for the bottom-dwelling Wizards last season after a February trade from the Mavericks, is one of the biggest variables of the 2026-27 season. Washington's most accomplished player is entering the season without a contract extension and has averaged only 47 games over the past six seasons. If Davis stays healthy, he could lead the Wizards into the East's play-in tournament and create leverage for a new deal or a trade to a contender. If not, Washington will be forced to decide whether the 10-time All-Star big man fits its long-term plans. -- Golliver

Biggest strength: Scoring talent. After ranking 29th in points per possession last season, Washington's offense should improve noticeably thanks to boosts from Trae Young, Davis and 2026 No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa. Young, a four-time All-Star guard who was traded to Washington in January, noted recently that this season will be the first time in his career that he has had teammates who consistently command double-teams. Meanwhile, Davis has extensive experience as both a first and second option, and Dybantsa averaged an NCAA-best 25.5 points as a BYU freshman. -- Golliver

Biggest weakness: Continuity. Though the Wizards have significantly upgraded their talent, coach Brian Keefe must reconfigure his players' roles in a rotation that has little shared experience. Young, Davis and Dybantsa will inevitably push Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson down the scoring pecking order. Meanwhile, Davis and new backup center Deandre Ayton must quickly build defensive chemistry in the frontcourt with Dybantsa and 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr. -- Golliver

Bold prediction: Young posts the lowest usage rate of his career. Young has never finished a season with a usage rate below 28%, but he has many mouths to feed in Washington and has said all the right things about making sure all the Wizards' young prospects get their time to shine. In the preseason, Young's usage rate was down to 21%. -- Kram

Number to watch: 3.3%. The Wizards pulled off a dreadful double last season: According to Genius IQ tracking, they had the lowest shot quality on offense and allowed the highest shot quality on defense. On average, shots from an opponent had a 3.3% higher expected effective field goal percentage than shots from the Wizards themselves. That gap was so wide that the 29th team by this metric (the Grizzlies) was as far away from 21st place as from the Wizards in 30th. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The Wizards played at the sixth-fastest pace last season, while Young's Hawks were top five in pace each of the two seasons prior to his trade to Washington. Expect the Wizards to continue to push the pace with Young getting the team down the floor and into scoring opportunities quickly. This bodes well for scoring efficiency, shooting volume and free throw opportunities for all Wizards starters. It also makes them a potentially good source of fantasy hoops streamers. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Expect AD's future to be a storyline monitored by front offices all season. Davis, 33, has been eligible since early August to sign a four-year, $275 million deal. He holds a player option for $62 million next season, the final year of a three-year, $175 million deal he signed with the Lakers. Davis, who did not play with Washington after he was acquired at last season's trade deadline, has played 60 games just once over the past six seasons.

BPI first-round projection: No. 8 (Note: New lottery rules prevent the Wizards from picking in the top five.)

23. Charlotte Hornets

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 30.6%
Projected wins: 39.9

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: With 44 wins, the Hornets had their best season in a decade last year and got a play-in victory that excited their fanbase. Their ownership and front office recognized, though, that this was aided by a historic number of tankers. So they took what they seemed to believe was an elevated value for LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges and traded them. That clears the way for Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller to firmly take over as franchise cornerstones. -- Windhorst

Biggest strength: Knueppel, Miller and role players such as Grayson Allen helped the Hornets become a 3-point powerhouse last year. They also were an elite defensive rebounding team, led by breakout big man Moussa Diabaté, which allowed them to start breaks. -- Windhorst

Biggest weakness: They lacked inside scoring, which was tied to their struggles pressuring the rim. They made a series of moves to try to address this, including getting big man Naz Reid and basket attacker Dennis Schroder in trades. They also drafted two players who could help: guard Christian Anderson and big man Hannes Steinbach. -- Windhorst

Bold prediction: The Hornets make more 3s than last season when they led the league. Losing Ball, who made plenty of his own 3s and created more for others, will hurt this prediction. But new starting point guard Coby White is a volume shooter, too, and Reid is better from distance than Bridges. Add Allen and Royce O'Neale, and Charlotte's rotation is still filled with knockdown shooters. -- Kram

Number to watch: 11.6. The Hornets scored 125.0 points per 100 possessions when Ball was on the floor last season, per Cleaning the Glass, which ranked in the 97th percentile of all offensive lineups leaguewide. But with Ball off the court, that number plummeted to 113.4 points per 100 possessions, or the 36th percentile. That gap of 11.6 points was the second largest among all rotation players, sandwiching Ball between Nikola Jokic (15.2) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11.0), the top two finishers in MVP voting. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: White and Reid could be in for career seasons that make them fantasy sleepers. The Hornets traded Ball with Reid as the primary player coming back, and White steps in for Ball as the starting point guard. In his last two full seasons with the Bulls, White averaged just under 20 points, five assists and three 3-pointers per game, and he could be poised to surpass each of those marks as the full-time starter in Charlotte. Reid, meanwhile, is a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year who is poised to be a full-time starter for the first time in his career. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: The standings With three potential first-round picks next June, Charlotte will have an eye on the standings this season. Besides their own, Charlotte has a top-two-protected first from Dallas and a top-14-protected first from Miami. The picks were acquired in deals for P.J. Washington and Terry Rozier. (The Hornets, Grizzlies and Thunder control one-third of this year's first-round picks.)

BPI first-round projection: No. 9 (via DAL), No. 12, No. 19 (via MIA)

24. Memphis Grizzlies

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 1.5%
Projected wins: 29.4

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Memphis' potential. Expectations aren't high now that the Grizzlies have finally moved on from the previous big three of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. Memphis turned over a good portion of the roster from last season and used the third pick of the draft to bring aboard Cameron Boozer, giving Tuomas Iisalo a new canvas to work with as he continues to implement his unconventional system in just his second full season as head coach. -- Wright

Biggest strength: The Grizzlies' latest rebuild features a couple of potential foundational players in Boozer and big man Zach Edey. Boozer should be a candidate to win NBA Rookie of the Year. But Edey will likely be the key to making it all go in Memphis. Edey played just 11 games last season and eventually underwent season-ending surgery on his left ankle. He dominated at times as a rookie, but he has been limited to 77 games over his first two seasons.

Biggest weakness: Youth and inexperience. Yes, Memphis has veterans such as Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart, Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. They'll have to take on lead roles in helping the young Grizzlies grow. Two key core players in Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells enter their second and third seasons, respectively, for a team that appears to be a couple of seasons away from returning to the playoffs. -- Wright

Bold prediction: The Grizzlies host a game in the play-in tournament. Memphis has one of the deepest rotations in the NBA, with the likes of Grant, Stewart and Cam Spencer poised to come off the bench. Add in the projected brilliance of the rookie Boozer -- my pick to win Rookie of the Year -- and more playing time from Jerome and Edey, and the Grizzlies have all the makings of a sleeper candidate that can leap over several teams that beat them last season. -- Kram

Number to watch: 31. Across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, the Grizzlies won a combined 107 games, and they landed the West's No. 2 seed both years. Only three years have passed since then, but all 31 players who suited up for the Grizzlies in that brief successful span are now gone. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Jerome averaged 19.7 PPG, 5.7 APG and 2.8 treys in just 22.6 MPG last season. He appeared in only 15 games, but Morant's departure should provide an opportunity for more minutes. Pippen remains competition, although Jerome's averages of 34.8 points and 10.0 assists per 40 minutes make him an appealing target at his ADP if he stays healthy. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: The standings. The Grizzlies could feel the sting of the new draft rules. Despite having a projected lottery pick of their own and Utah's, neither team's is allowed to be in the top five. The Grizzlies and Jazz selected third and fourth in last year's draft.

BPI first-round projection: No. 7, No. 10 (via UTH), No. 18 (via LAL)

25. New Orleans Pelicans

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 1%
Projected wins: 28.1

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Whether Zion Williamson can stay healthy. For the Pelicans, the years change but the biggest question remains the same as ever. Williamson played 62 games last season -- his second most ever, behind only his 70-game season in 2023-24 -- and appears to be in shape entering this season, his eighth in the NBA.

Biggest strength: Youth. The Pelicans have one of the most promising young cores in the league with guard Jeremiah Fears and center Derik Queen. Forward Trey Murphy III, whom the Pelicans deemed nearly untradable this past season, is 24. The Pelicans added 24-year-old guard Bennedict Mathurin this offseason. Williamson is 26. Herb Jones -- one of the league's most elite two-way players overall -- is 28. There are others. In other words, the cupboard in New Orleans isn't bare; far from it. First-year coach Jamahl Mosley has, in a perfect world, a stable of dynamic talent at his disposal. -- Holmes

Biggest weakness: Health. For all that promising talent, it's hard to imagine the Pelicans staying healthy when they haven't managed to do so in years. And while Mosley is an accomplished coach, it's also hard to imagine the team's promising young players carrying the Pelicans in the always-challenging Western Conference. Inexperience and health remain major question marks for a team with little margin for error. -- Holmes

Bold prediction: The Pelicans trade one of their core players. Williamson, Murphy and Jones have been teammates for five seasons, but that run could come to an end by the trade deadline. The Pelicans might prefer to build around sophomores Fears and Queen, and they're set at one wing position after signing Saddiq Bey to an extension. That logjam could open a lane for New Orleans to finally make a long-awaited big trade. -- Kram

Number to watch: Negative-12.3. When Williamson and Queen shared the floor last season, the Pelicans were outscored by 12.3 points per 100 possessions. That net rating ranked in the 12th percentile of all lineups, per Cleaning the Glass. In those alignments, the Pelicans struggled to score (18th percentile) and defend (12th percentile). They were miserable all around. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Murphy averaged 21.5 PPG, 3.2 treys and 1.5 SPG last season while shooting 88.6% from the free throw line. Dejounte Murray's return and Mathurin's arrival could reduce his scoring opportunities, but Murphy doesn't need to dominate the ball to produce. His contributions with 3-pointers, steals and free throw percentage make him a dependable category-league target. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: The lottery and the veterans. After not having a lottery pick last year, the Pelicans could have two in the 2027 draft. The Pelicans will send the least favorable of their own and Milwaukee to Atlanta. If both are in the top four, New Orleans will retain the two first-rounders. (The BPI projects the Bucks to finish with the third-worst record.)

Besides watching the standings, president of basketball operations Joe Dumars and new coach Jamahl Mosley must evaluate the upside of the roster when healthy or decide whether time has run out. New Orleans already has 14 players under contract for the 2027-28 season, including Williamson, Murray, Jones and Murphy.

BPI first-round projection: No. 3 (via MIL), No. 4

26. Chicago Bulls

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 0.2%
Projected wins: 28.3

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Caleb Wilson. The No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft has immediately become the most important member of the Chicago Bulls' franchise and future. His summer league debut was electric, but judging by his preseason slate, he will mix in highlights of brilliance with the inexperience of youth. The Bulls are going to give him a runway to make mistakes without the fear of losing playing time. How quickly he develops will determine the timeline for Chicago to get back into contention. -- Collier

Biggest strength: Speed. Chicago has a young roster capable of getting up and down the floor. Wilson and Matas Buzelis combine to make a dynamic combo at the forward spots. Josh Giddey is the perfect pass-first point guard who will focus on feeding them the ball. When Norman Powell, the team's only player over age 30, and floor-spacing big man Jalen Smith are in the game alongside that trio, the Bulls are going to look for every opportunity to hit a fast break and provide plenty of highlight-reel plays for social media. -- Collier

Biggest weakness: Iso-shot creators. If the clock is winding down in a tight game, who gets the ball for the Bulls? Powell made the All-Star team last season, and he is the favorite to lead the team in scoring, but he had never been a No.1 option on a nightly basis. Giddey is an excellent passer, but he doesn't put a ton of pressure on defenses to create points for himself. And Buzelis and Wilson still have room to grow in that regard; both are better play finishers than play creators. Late-game execution could be a work in progress for this team. -- Collier

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Chicago Bulls: Game Highlights

Bold prediction: Smith steals the starting center spot from Nic Claxton. Smith turned in a strong performance after the Bulls traded Nikola Vucevic last season, and his ability to play with pace and stretch the floor (37% on 3s last season) makes Smith a strong fit for new coach Tiago Splitter's preferred style. Meanwhile, Claxton is on a multiyear decline; if Claxton doesn't turn back the clock, Smith might prove himself a superior option alongside Buzelis and Wilson in Chicago's frontcourt. -- Kram

Number to watch: 42. In "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," the number 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything. In Chicago, it's the combined age of Buzelis (who will turn 22 years old next month, before opening night) and Caleb Wilson (20) -- and they might as well be the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything for the Bulls, because Chicago's future rests on the development of this young frontcourt duo. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Giddey is on the verge of fantasy stardom, but his production style is more suited to fantasy points leagues than fantasy category leagues. Giddey is coming off a career season in which he set new bests in points, rebounds and assists per game. He was less than one assist and two rebounds away from averaging a triple-double, and at a still-improving 24 years old, he could potentially average a triple-double in the future. However, he does not contribute much in the defensive categories that are so valuable in category leagues. Thus, Giddey ranks in the top 20 in points leagues but more like top 40 in category leagues going into the season. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Powell. How will the Bulls view the veteran scorer when trade season arrives? Similar to how Indiana acquired Pascal Siakam in 2024, would Chicago consider dealing the 34-year-old Powell and future draft capital for a foundational player? The Bulls have up to four tradable firsts and the financial flexibility to add in free agency.

BPI first-round projection: No. 6 (Note: New lottery rules prevent Chicago from picking in the top five in three consecutive seasons.)

27. LA Clippers

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 2.2%
Projected wins: 30.1

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Off-court drama. This is the Clippers' first season under a massive cloud of punishment. Their owner, Steve Ballmer, is suspended, top executives are suspended and the team is forfeiting five future first-round picks. All of this will hang over the team. (And that's not counting Max Strus sustaining a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot and Brandon Ingram being out with a right heel injury and a partially torn Achilles tendon.) Oh, and there are at least two federal investigations going on that could impact the team, one involving the Eastern District of New York and the other involving the Securities and Exchange Commission. These points will be made all season long. -- Holmes

Biggest strength: Coaching. Given everything going against the Clippers this coming season, the team has little to lose -- and, given the fact that the Clippers owe Oklahoma City a first-round pick swap, LA can't afford to lose, either. Ty Lue is a respected head coach who often can get the most out of every player on the roster. Under these trying circumstances, he will be expected to help hold the team together, and he seems well-suited for the job, even if it will be a considerable challenge. -- Holmes

Biggest weakness: Morale. The injuries to Strus and Ingram really hamper a team that is already rebuilding after trading Kawhi Leonard this offseason and James Harden at the trade deadline. Expectations have been recalibrated. But on some level, morale stands to be the team's biggest obstacle, given the lack of top-level talent on the roster and the myriad issues it is facing off the floor. This is a heavy time for the Clippers, and trying to navigate this period won't be easy. -- Holmes

Bold prediction: The Clippers finish with one of the three worst records in the league. Ingram and Strus are already hurt, and unlike other non-playoff teams, the Clippers will have no incentive to push for late-season wins under the new lottery rules, as they owe their first-round pick to the Thunder in a swap. Moreover, many of the Clips' best players -- Strus, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez -- should be on the trade market, which would make them even worse down the stretch. -- Kram

Number to watch: 30. The Clippers were the NBA's oldest team last season, with an average age of 30.0 years. They still project as one of the NBA's older teams this season. They'll feature Lopez (38), Bradley Beal (33), Dunn (32), Strus (30), Jones (29) and Ingram (29). They also were the oldest team in 2024-25 and in 2023-24, and the second oldest in 2022-23. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Darius Garland averaged 19.9 PPG, 6.4 APG and 3.3 treys in 19 games with the Clippers last season. Leonard's departure should create more offensive opportunities for Garland. His average draft position is just inside the top 50, but Garland has the potential to outperform that ADP if he can stay healthy. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: The decision-makers. The aftermath of the Leonard salary cap investigation has left the Clippers in a precarious position, with Ballmer suspended for one year and head of basketball operations Lawrence Frank out for six months. Does Trent Redden, who will oversee basketball operations until March, have autonomy to make significant roster changes? The Clippers have no available first-round picks to trade but do have the expiring contracts of Lopez, Jones, Strus, Dunn and Rui Hachimura.

BPI first-round projection: No. 20 (via TOR) (Note: Despite forfeiting five future picks, the Clippers still have a first-rounder in the 2027 draft: the least favorable of Denver (top-five protected) and Oklahoma City. That pick can be swapped for Toronto's.)

28. Brooklyn Nets

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 0%
Projected wins: 25

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: How the Nets will try to win games after the new lottery rules completely shifted their long-term plans and will attempt to slow-play this rebuild. Mikel Brown Jr. was one of the top point guards selected in the 2026 draft, and he is arguably the most confident. He also is very young; hopefully by season's end, he will look like a franchise point guard. -- Goodwill

Biggest strength: As long as new additions Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. are suiting up, the Nets won't lack thirsty offensive players. On his best day, Randle is a load to handle physically and a capable playmaker. Porter, we know, has no problem taking on the task of being a No. 1 option, liable to go on a heater at a moment's notice. Porter's future could be slightly murkier because he will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, but as long as he's around, account for both of them. -- Goodwill

Biggest weakness: It's hard to press the fast-forward button in just one season. There's just not a lot of top-level NBA talent down the roster. There is, however, a lot of opportunity. Remember, the Nets held onto all of their first-round picks in the 2025 draft and went through a lot of growing pains. -- Goodwill

Bold prediction: The Nets land their first player on the All-Star team since Kevin Durant. Brooklyn hasn't exactly been at the center of the NBA map since the Durant-Irving-Harden team disintegrated. But Porter was an All-Star contender last season, and he and Randle could make worthy cases this campaign, as both players put up solid regular-season stats. -- Kram

Number to watch: 72%. Egor Demin was by far the best of the Nets' rookies last season, averaging 10.3 points per game and a solid assist-to-turnover ratio while making 38.5% of his 3-pointers. That latter statistic is especially encouraging for a player with shooting questions entering the NBA. But Demin didn't find many ways to score other than 3-pointers, as 72% of his shot attempts last season were 3s. That was the 16th-highest rate out of 279 players with at least 1,000 minutes last season; the three immediately ahead of Demin were shooting specialists Klay Thompson, Gary Trent Jr. and Landry Shamet. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Fantasy sleepers watch for the Nets' young starting backcourt of rookie No. 5 draft pick Brown and last season's No. 8 selection Demin. Demin battled injuries for much of his rookie campaign and averaged roughly 10/3/3 in 52 games, but he showed flashes of all-around upside and proved himself "too good for summer league" this year while averaging 21.0 PPG, 4.3 APG and 2.3 SPG in 25.3 MPG in Las Vegas. Brown, meanwhile, showed flashes of his own this summer while averaging 16.7 PPG and 4.0 APG in 22.5 MPG. The rebuilding Nets should give their backcourt of the future plenty of minutes and an opportunity to produce fantasy-worthy stats this season. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: Future draft assets. With no incentive to bottom out in the standings, would Brooklyn explore trades to improve the current roster but at the cost of future first-round picks? The Nets have nine tradable firsts and 19 seconds over the next seven seasons. They also have a $40.8 million expiring contract for Porter.

BPI first-round projection: No. 21 (via HOU), No. 28 (via NYK) (Note: The Rockets can swap firsts with the Nets. Brooklyn has an unprotected first from New York.)

29. Milwaukee Bucks

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 0.1%
Projected wins: 26.3

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Who stays and who goes? The Bucks are still a team in transition after trading their superstar over the summer. Every once in a while this season, you might catch a highlight and get reminded, "Oh yeah, that guy does play for the Bucks." Tyler Herro, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and any of the other former Miami players: Are any of these players a part of the team's long-term future? Where does Kevin Porter Jr. fit in after finding a role with Milwaukee the past two seasons now that the team has added an influx of guards. Will Gary Trent Jr. play well enough to justify his contract? There could be a wide gap between how this roster looks at the beginning of the season and by the end. -- Collier

Biggest strength: Depth. Whatever buttons new coach Taylor Jenkins decides to push this season with his rotation, he should have one major benefit: a lot of NBA-level talent. The Bucks should have very few minutes without five competent NBA players on the floor, even if they do give a lot of time to their rookies. With a surplus of players acquired in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to add to a mix of talent already on the roster, the Bucks will be deep, if ill-fitting. On the right night, it could all add up to more than the sum of its parts. -- Collier

Biggest weakness: Identity. The Bucks have veterans trying to rebuild their value, veterans finally getting more playing time out of the shadow of a superstar, young players who are still finding their way and a pair of first-round draft picks who need to go through growing pains. Nearly everyone is capable of filling in some kind of role. But is there a coherent way to fit them all together? And how does that hold up on a nightly basis? -- Collier

Bold prediction: The Bucks trade multiple opening-night starters by the deadline. Milwaukee has been quiet on the trade market since moving Antetokounmpo, but that deal reoriented the Bucks' competitive timetable and gave them plenty of players who'd be better fits on win-now contenders. Turner, Herro, Kuzma, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and even young guard Ryan Rollins could all fit for this prediction. -- Kram

Number to watch: 11. For each of the past 11 seasons, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in value over replacement player, per Basketball-Reference. That streak will come to an end this campaign after his offseason trade to Miami. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: The Bucks are a team in a rebuild, and they just traded Antetokounmpo for a large quantity of players and draft picks. The end result is a squad with a lot of depth and an unclear distribution of minutes. The projected starting lineup to start the season has two players over 30 years old in Turner and Kuzma, and both have proved to be productive fantasy contributors when starting. However, if the team follows a typical rebuilding arc and falls far behind in the standings, do not be surprised if younger players such as Kasparas Jakucionis, Kel'el Ware and rookie Brayden Burries see their roles -- and their fantasy output -- increase as the season goes along. -- Snellings

What Bobby Marks is watching: The veterans. The Bucks added two future firsts and young players Ware, Jakucionis and Jaime Jaquez as part of the Antetokounmpo trade. But this roster remains full of players who no longer fit Milwaukee's timeline, including Herro (age 26), Kuzma (31), Turner (30), Trent (27) and Caris LeVert (32). Herro, LeVert and Kuzma are in the final year of their contracts and could be trade targets for contenders.

BPI first-round projection: None (Note: The Bucks sent New Orleans their own first as part of the Jrue Holiday trade. The least favorable first between Milwaukee and New Orleans will be sent to Atlanta if it falls outside the top five.)

30. Sacramento Kings

Schedule | Roster | Best bet | Offseason preview
Chances to make the playoffs: 0%
Projected wins: 21.7

Biggest thing we'll be talking about this season: Darius Acuff Jr.'s high-usage rookie season. The front office is in the middle stages of flipping this roster over entirely. General manager Scott Perry has added six players through the draft during his first two years on the job. That group will be prioritized, and among those players, Acuff is the signature talent. At 19 years old, he will be the starting point guard on opening night, able to run the offense and shoot his way through the inevitable growing pains without looking over his shoulder. Acuff has the keys, and Sacramento's current rebuild will be mostly judged through his growth arc. -- Slater

Biggest strength: The lack of immediate pressure. Perry's lone stated goal from an ESPN interview over the summer was to establish a tougher identity while eclipsing the 22-win mark from a season ago. Most experts are predicting the Kings as the worst team in the Western Conference. Local and internal expectations are a bit higher, but not by much. Thirty wins, especially if driven by their youth, would be viewed positively. There will certainly be some disappointing performances and home losses, but grander playoff demands are not hovering over this squad. -- Slater

Biggest weakness: The potential buy-in from a group of veterans that doesn't necessarily see a long-term future with the franchise. Perry has explored the trade market for Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk in the past year. LaVine is on an expiring $48.9 million deal, which is viewed as Perry's first path to cap space and flexibility in the free agent market. Sabonis is extension-eligible, but there have been no discussions about adding to the two years and $94 million he has left. To recharge their value, LaVine and Sabonis will need productive stretches to open the season, but that can be a difficult ask on an ill-fitting roster for a team that is prioritizing development of more unproven players. -- Slater

Bold prediction: Acuff leads all rookies in points and all players in turnovers. Acuff should get all sorts of on-ball action this season; through his first two preseason games, for instance, his touch time was so high that it would have ranked in the top 10 in the league last season, per an analysis of GeniusIQ data. For a rookie guard, so much opportunity is a recipe for a large dose of high highs and low lows. -- Kram

Number to watch: 83. The Kings' five projected starters played just 83 combined games for the team last season. Sabonis, LaVine and Keegan Murray were injured for the majority of the campaign. De'Andre Hunter played just two games after a deadline trade before suffering an injury of his own. And Acuff, of course, was playing in college rather than Sacramento. -- Kram

Fantasy nugget: Acuff averaged 23.5 PPG and 6.4 APG at Arkansas, becoming the first SEC player since Pete Maravich to lead the conference in scoring and assists in the same season. Acuff is projected to start at point guard for Sacramento, giving him an immediate opportunity to produce. He is an appealing rookie target at his 104.4 ADP, particularly in points leagues, where inefficient shooting is less damaging. -- Moody

What Bobby Marks is watching: LaVine and Hunter. With their expiring contracts ($48.9 million and $24.9 million), Sacramento can unlock significant cap space in 2027. While a projected $50 million in room next summer looks appealing, should Sacramento consider trades now to bring back young players under contract for next season? In less than six months, Sacramento went from the fourth-oldest roster in the league to its 12th oldest, a boost in youth thanks to drafting Acuff, Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp in June.

BPI first-round projection: No. 1 (Note: The Kings also have San Antonio's 2027 first if it lands in the top 16.)