With the addition of LeBron James to Philadelphia, the Eastern Conference looks to be as competitive as it ever has been in recent memory. Assuming the Kawhi Leonard trade will send him to Toronto and Jalen Duren re-signs with Detroit, it’s time to see where the Pistons could fall by the end of the upcoming NBA season.
15. Milwaukee Bucks
Record last year: 32-50 (11th)
Key departures: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis
Key additions: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Kasparas Jakucionis, Brayden Burries, Nate Ament
Analysis: The post-Giannis era has begun in Milwaukee. Tyler Herro might average 30 PPG, but this team is terrible. Ryan Rollins is fun, and I’ll continue to dream about Myles Turner if Detroit actually moves on from Duren, but any team with Kyle Kuzma in the lineup is going to lose games. Remember, Kuzma: “don’t be that team!”
14. Brooklyn Nets
Record last year: 20-62 (13th)
Key departures: Nic Claxton
Key additions: Julius Randle, Keon Ellis, Mo Wagner, Mikel Brown Jr.
Analysis: I like Brooklyn’s draft by selecting Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson. Egor Demin is an exciting prospect, but who are the Nets building around? Are Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle the kind of vets you’d want leading your locker room? They need one of their young guys to step up as a centerpiece, otheriwse, they’re waiting on the next draft lottery.
13. Chicago Bulls
Record last year: 31-51 (12th)
Key departures: n/a
Key additions: Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, Caleb Wilson
Analysis: The team of consistent mediocrity! Chicago moved on from two of their best players, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, to build around Josh Giddey. Matas Buzelis is fun and should make an intruiging pair with Caleb Wilson. Yet, I can’t help but feel this team is destined to miss the play-in once again.
12. Washington Wizards
Record last year: 17-65 (15th)
Key departures: D’Angelo Russell
Key additions: Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Deandre Ayton, AJ Dybantsa
Analysis: If there’s a compliment I can give the Wizards, it’s that their front office is at least trying to be exciting. They gave Trae Young one of the worst contracts in the NBA and have to pay Anthony “Street Clothes” Davis $120 million over the next two seasons. I’m excited about AJ Dybantsa, but it’s hard to have faith in a team highlighted by Trae, AD, and Ayton.
11. Orlando Magic
Record last year: 45-37 (8th)
Key departures: Mo Wagner
Key additions: Nikola Vucevic
Analysis: Orlando is basically running back the same team as last year in an Eastern Conference that is way more competitive now. Detroit and Orlando had similar team builds, but Orlando didn’t acquire any real shooting on a team that has one real threat from beyond the arc in their starting lineup. Put the DBB staff in a 2-3 zone against the Magic and we might stand a chance.
10. Miami Heat
Record last year: 43-39 (10th)
Key departures: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis
Key additions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis
Analysis: I’m not sure I can put much faith into Miami yet. The Giannis and Bam pairing is exciting on paper, but Bam’s no Brook Lopez from deep. I think you clog the paint against the Heat and force Davion Mitchell or Tim Hardaway Jr to beat you. They feel a year away and another move (or two) from competing deep into the postseason.
9. Charlotte Hornets
Record last year: 44-38 (9th)
Key departures: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green
Key additions: Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith
Analysis: I’m a believer that the Hornets will be a better team without LaMelo Ball. Where Orlando doesn’t have any shooting, Charlotte has a ton of it. I love the additions of Reid and Allen. I’d put the Hornets at the top of exciting teams to watch on NBA League Pass.
8. Indiana Pacers
Record last year: 19-63 (14th)
Key departures: n/a
Key additions: Kelly Oubre Jr, Larry Nance Jr
Analysis: Indiana punted last season away after Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2024-2025 NBA Finals against the Thunder. This is a well-built team with depth at all positions, but I’ll have to see them produce on the court before I can feel comfortable moving them up the list.
7. Atlanta Hawks
Record last year: 46-36 (6th)
Key departures: Zaccharie Risacher
Key additions: Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, Devin Carter, Kingston Flemings
Analysis: If Charlotte weren’t at the top of my “most exciting offseason” teams, Atlanta would be it. Just getting Trae Young off the roster is a plus in itself, but they’ve improved their depth across the board. Jalen Johnson is their most expensive player at only $30 million, and they’re primed to take a big swing at the deadline. Rudy Gobert, anyone?
6. Toronto Raptors
Record last year: 46-36 (5th)
Key departures: Brandon Ingram*, Gradey Dick*, Sandro Mamukelashvili
Key additions: Kawhi Leonard*, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves
Analysis: Their whole offseason hinges on the league finishing its investigation on Kawhi Leonard. Scottie Barnes is amazing, but the Jakob Poeltl contract is up there with the worst in the league. What happens when this trade gets reversed? Does anyone have any Aspiration inspiration to move them higher?
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record last year: 52-30 (4th)
Key departures: Keon Ellis, Dean Wade
Key additions: Mario Hezonja, Meleek Thomas
Analysis: I mean, what are we doing, Cleveland? You whiffed on a homecoming with LeBron and lost your two best defenders. Your two stars in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden can’t defend a traffic cone, and you play in a division with Cade Cunningham. Don’t forget, you have to pay Mitchell $75 million in 2030-2031!
4. Boston Celtics
Record last year: 56-26 (2nd)
Key departures: Jaylen Brown
Key additions: Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley
Analysis: A healthy Jayson Tatum is back and has a new friend riding shotgun. Paul George isn’t better than Jaylen Brown, but maybe he’s a better fit for this roster. They’ve had a Mitchell Robinson-sized hole at center for the past few seasons that is now filled. Boston is always good and I don’t see that changing. Put me down for Payton Pritchard as Most Improved Player of the Year.
3. Detroit Pistons
Record last year: 60-22 (1st)
Key departures: Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, Marcus Sasser
Key additions: John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Ebuka Okorie
Analysis: Detroit should most certainly be a better team offensively. Collins, Joe, and Prince are all 40%+ three-pointer shooters, and they hung onto Robinson and Huerter. While Beef Stew’s rim protection will be missed, I’m excited about having a more fluid offensive backup center in Paul Reed. The Cade/Ausar/Duren trio will be surrounded by the most shooting it has ever had. I’m happy to see what Ausar and Duren can do sharing the secondary playmaker role until Trajan makes the big trade at February’s trade deadline.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Record last year: 45-37 (7th)
Key departures: Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond
Key additions: LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Analysis: Look, this is the best starting five in the NBA. I mean, their fourth-best player is LeBron James, maybe? This was a great offseason for Philly and there’s no doubt they’re gunning for the Larry O’Brien trophy. I worry about their depth in the playoffs if this team has injury issues, and it feels like someone in their top four will be upset about their lower usage. We’ll see if they can make it work.
1. New York Knicks
Record last year: 53-29 (3rd)
Key departures: Mitchell Robinson
Key additions: Andre Drummond
Analysis: Running it back with the same team after winning the NBA championship? Sounds good to me.
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Go Stones.
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