Monday’s media day kicked off NBA coaching camps across the league and provided a primary have a look at a number of stars of their new properties. The Philadelphia 76ers had maybe the most important offseason, including Jaylen Brown on July 1 after which the league’s all-time main scorer LeBron James earlier than the month was over. However the Sixers aren’t the one ones who made large strikes.
James’ former workforce, the Los Angeles Lakers, took a giant swing in buying and selling for former Jazz middle Walker Kessler, and Giannis Antetokounmpo lastly discovered a brand new residence within the Miami Warmth. LaMelo Ball is teaming up with Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ja Morant will search for a contemporary begin with the Portland Path Blazers.
Large trades and signings aren’t the one noteworthy storylines popping out of the offseason. Will the Detroit Pistons resolve Jalen Duren’s contract dispute? How will the San Antonio Spurs rebound after collapsing within the Finals? Our NBA Insiders reply the most important preseason questions for all 30 groups.
Soar to a workforce:
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
Will the Hawks construct on their robust end to final season?
To be clear, the Hawks’ 51-point loss of their elimination recreation is not the robust end we’re referring to. However Atlanta did account for 2 of the Knicks’ three playoff losses, and the Hawks went on a 19-4 run with a plus-13.9 common level differential on the finish of the common season after committing to CJ McCollum within the beginning lineup.
Atlanta added to the roster this summer season — drafting Kingston Flemings within the lottery and buying and selling for ring-earning function gamers Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins — and is positioned to be aggressive on the commerce deadline or subsequent summer season, when the Hawks might have about $45 million in wage cap area. — Tim MacMahon
Is Jayson Tatum able to assume command of the Celtics on the court docket?
Tatum made it a degree to get again on the court docket earlier than final season ended, proving his Achilles harm could not hold him down. The outcomes have been blended within the quick time period, as his regular-season percentages have been down throughout the board and he sat out Sport 7 of the Celtics’ first-round sequence due to left knee discomfort.
Buying and selling Jaylen Brown was a full endorsement of Tatum’s capacity to take the throttle whereas retooling to get again to championship standing. However is Tatum totally recovered from the harm and able to assume management? — Vincent Goodwill
Can the Nets go from deplorable to reliable?
The Nets invested in a long-term rebuilding plan: consider these first-round picks Sean Marks held onto within the 2025 draft, somewhat than trying to combination them for influence gamers. However then lottery reform occurred, forcing the Nets to press the fast-forward button in July.
Buying and selling for Julius Randle upgraded their expertise, as did drafting one other level guard in Mikel Brown Jr. Can this workforce look competent with out the advantage of realizing one other excessive draft choose is on the best way? — Goodwill
Can the Hornets be a greater workforce after buying and selling two cornerstone starters?
Charlotte has been very methodical in its construct, and possession and the entrance workplace have taken strides to keep away from falling into the traps that ascending groups can generally make once they chase the center. The Hornets obtained to the center final season however clearly the workforce did not consider that LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, each of whom have costly contracts and can be looking for extensions quickly, have been a part of the rise so that they tried to maximise their place by buying and selling each.
The acquisitions of veterans Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Dennis Schroder, in concept, increase newly established cornerstones Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. However Charlotte must get Miller into an extension that is smart for either side — an age-old story — and Knueppel suffered a reasonable hamstring harm that’s going to trigger him to take a seat out all of coaching camp and the beginning of the season. In a really aggressive Japanese Convention, getting again to the play-in could be a chore. — Brian Windhorst
Was summer season league a preview of what we’ll see from Caleb Wilson?
No rookie had the Las Vegas health club buzzing fairly like Wilson did this summer season. He put up 35 factors in his first recreation as a professional, knocked down as many 3-pointers in a single recreation as his complete freshman season at North Carolina and rounded out his spotlight reel with ferocious dunks and a chase-down block. For the primary time in years, Wilson provides the Bulls a transparent motive for optimism going ahead. — Jamal Collier
Can Peyton Watson make a distinction because the fifth starter?
The Cavs have been closely invested in 4 of their 5 starters for years — Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen within the entrance court docket with Donovan Mitchell and now James Harden, after a midseason alternate for Darius Garland, within the backcourt. However they’ve had a rotating forged filling out the final spot subsequent to them — Dean Wade, Max Strus or De’Andre Hunter, most just lately — all of whom have failed to boost the ceiling of the lineup.
Watson, 24, is coming off his greatest season with the Nuggets and has the potential to push this group over the sting much more if he can proceed his improved 3-point capturing to associate with his defensive chops. — Collier
How significantly better can Cooper Flagg be as a sophomore?
Flagg is actually and figuratively rising up earlier than our eyes. He obtained taller over the summer season after his Rookie of the 12 months season, measuring at 6-foot-10 with out his sneakers. The truth that the 19-year-old Flagg remains to be rising serves as symbolism of his seemingly limitless ceiling. Honest or not, Flagg will at all times be in contrast in Dallas to Luka Doncic, who was a first-team All-NBA choice in his second season. Typical knowledge is that Flagg is on the trajectory to ascend to that stage of stardom. How quickly can he get there? — MacMahon
Can Aaron Gordon keep wholesome?
In his six seasons with the Nuggets, Gordon has solely improved as a participant and elevated as a match subsequent to Nikola Jokic. His significance has by no means been larger, however his availability has by no means been extra in query. Gordon sat out 31 video games two seasons in the past and 46 video games final season. Each playoff runs additionally ended with a hobbled Gordon coping with a hamstring pressure and a calf pressure that both had him considerably restricted or sidelined.
Denver’s depth has eroded round Jokic, however when Gordon is wholesome and productive on the wing, they nonetheless have as full and feared of a five-man beginning unit as any workforce. However how usually will he be on the market? Phrase is he’s geared and prepared for camp. — Anthony Slater
Will Jalen Duren attend coaching camp, and in that case, how lengthy will it take for him to acclimate?
The Duren saga has loomed over the Pistons all summer season, and there nonetheless isn’t any decision. Duren was not at Pistons media day Monday and isn’t anticipated in the beginning of coaching camp, sources instructed ESPN’s Shams Charania. If Duren goes the acute route of taking a qualifying supply, it will not make for a snug state of affairs — together with the unprecedented act of turning down $200 million.
Crew chemistry and continuity have been causes Detroit went from 44 wins in 2024-25 to 60 final season, and the roster has gone by way of modifications this offseason. The potential for an sad Duren creates the potential of a gradual begin in a stacked East. — Goodwill
When will we see Jimmy Butler?
Butler tore his proper ACL on Jan. 19 and had surgical procedure in early February. The early months of rehab went gradual, however there was regular phrase over the summer season from these round Butler that his knee was strengthening, his court docket work was rising and the optimism about his final restoration was rising. Butler instructed ESPN in June he anticipated to get again “to who I’ve at all times been.”
He can be restricted to particular person court docket work when camp opens. A January or February timeline seems to be a mushy goal, however it would depend upon how his knee responds to elevated contact as soon as he’s cleared. The Warriors’ viability as a darkish horse playoff risk is nearly fully contingent on Butler getting again to someplace close to his outdated self earlier than April. — Slater
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Steph: New contract provides me peace of thoughts
Will the Rockets lastly advance past the primary spherical of the playoffs?
Houston hasn’t superior previous the opening spherical because the 2019-20 season and is coming off back-to-back first-round exits as future Corridor of Famer Kevin Durant enters his second season as a Rocket. Season-ending accidents to veterans Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams created considerably of a spot yr for Houston in 2025-26.
However on the similar time, a number of younger gamers similar to Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. grew as a result of elevated duties created by the lack of the workforce’s essential offensive facilitator. Will that improvement carry over to this season for a workforce that fancies itself a contender? Is VanVleet actually the lacking ingredient? We’ll see. — Michael C. Wright
What can the Pacers count on from Tyrese Haliburton?
It has been 16 months since Haliburton’s most up-to-date recreation when the Pacers put collectively one of the vital memorable playoff runs in league historical past as he went on an all-time run of clutch performances. How nicely Haliburton will bounce again from his Achilles harm is a perplexing wrinkle in an Japanese Convention that has change into much more aggressive since he final performed. Can Haliburton reclaim his spot on the high of the contenders or has the remainder of the competitors handed him by? — Collier
What would be the fallout from the league’s punishment for the Kawhi Leonard saga?
Leonard is now in Toronto, nevertheless it’s not as if it was a clear break after seven seasons with the franchise. Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer is suspended for a yr, as is president of enterprise operations Gillian Zucker. President of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, is suspended six months. The franchise was fined $30 million and can be docked 5 first-round draft picks between now and 2033.
With all that swirling round, how will this new-look roster with the likes of Brandon Ingram, Darius Garland, Bradley Beal, Rui Hachimura, Max Strus and Brook Lopez — alongside rookie Keaton Wagler — be capable to compete in an unforgiving Western Convention? — Dave McMenamin
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Clippers affirm Brandon Ingram will miss begin of season
Will the wager on Walker Kessler repay?
The Lakers pushed nearly all of their chips to the center of the desk to make a transfer on the 25-year-old and pair the 7-2 middle alongside Luka Doncic’s wizardry. The price was prohibitive: not only a four-year, $130 million contract, however two unprotected future first-round picks and two future choose swaps despatched to the Utah Jazz to make it occur. Lakers coach JJ Redick known as Kessler a “good match” alongside Doncic and Austin Reaves earlier than coaching camp even opened, and L.A.’s president of basketball operations and common supervisor, Rob Pelinka, defended the gamble by suggesting that it was the one viable strategy to land a participant like Kessler.
“There is a shortage of provide,” Pelinka stated. “There simply is. And in case you have a look at what you could possibly probably get within the draft or what’s probably going to come back in free company, these facilities simply do not exist.”
If Kessler is every little thing L.A. hopes he can be, it would all be value it. If he is not, the franchise can be in a tricky spot with roster flexibility. — McMenamin
How quickly can Memphis return to relevancy?
Grizzlies common supervisor Zach Kleiman confidently stated final season on the commerce deadline that followers should not count on a protracted rebuild. And that was earlier than Memphis traded franchise star Ja Morant to Portland. “We’re not ranging from scratch,” Kleiman stated. “We have already got lots to work with. I do not suppose that is some five-year, attempt to be horrible [by tanking process].”
The present roster options loads of younger expertise in Zach Edey, Cedric Coward and No. 3 choose Cameron Boozer, nevertheless it seems the Grizzlies would possibly nonetheless be a few years away from returning to the postseason. — Wright
How will Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo match offensively?
After years of making an attempt so as to add a celebrity, the Warmth lastly traded for Antetokounmpo this summer season. Collectively, he and Adebayo can be one of the vital formidable entrance courts within the convention, however their match offensively is far much less clear.
Each have related talent units, play across the basket with out a lot of an out of doors capturing recreation — and each could be enchanted by a degree guard serving to create simple offense. The Warmth are going to wish a a lot more healthy Antetokounmpo this season to compete in a crowded East and supply sufficient time to seek out offensive chemistry with Adebayo. — Collier
Do any of those gamers match collectively?
There are not any scarcity of questions for a way Milwaukee strikes ahead within the post-Giannis period, however within the aftermath of buying and selling a franchise participant, the Bucks’ roster can be deeper than it was final season. However with so many succesful rotation gamers, together with a mixture of veterans and younger gamers, the onus can be on new coach Taylor Jenkins to determine how all of the gamers match collectively on a nightly foundation. The Bucks don’t personal their draft choose this season, which provides them incentives to attempt to stay aggressive if they will discover the best participant combo. — Collier
How rapidly can LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards discover the proper offensive steadiness?
The four-team blockbuster that landed Ball in Minnesota was finalized in early July. Ball has spent a piece of the previous two months within the workforce’s observe facility in downtown Minneapolis getting acclimated along with his new franchise and his new teammates. That has included Edwards, who has been round lots the previous month, trying to expedite the development for the league’s most spectacular new backcourt experiment.
It will likely be a excessive bar for the Timberwolves to rise into the San Antonio and Oklahoma Metropolis tier, but when Ball and Edwards can determine find out how to fuse and amplify one another’s abilities, they’ve the best probability amongst West opponents. — Slater
Did the Pelicans make a mistake in selecting to run it again with basically the identical group as final season?
It’d look that method on the floor. However contemplating the immense expertise on the roster — from Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy to Jeremiah Fears, Zion Williamson and Derik Queen — it is clear that Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver believed the membership’s largest offseason acquisition wanted to be a coach to guide and domesticate all of the expertise.
Maybe New Orleans discovered that in Jamahl Mosley, who presided over a rebuild in Orlando, main the Magic to a few consecutive postseason berths. The proficient Williamson will at all times be a query due to his harm historical past. However do not be stunned to see the large man showcase a extra constant jumper this season. — Wright
Will Karl-Anthony Cities’ contract extension standstill have an effect on the champions’ concord?
The vibes have been nice for the Knicks all spring, culminating in a romp by way of the playoffs and their first championship in 53 years. Cities, the primary of a number of Knicks influence gamers hoping to get prolonged, hasn’t been rewarded with a proposal he likes, as proprietor James Dolan issued the edict to keep away from the punitive second apron.
If final season was certainly one of sacrifice, will he combat the temptation to set himself up as a consider a sturdy free agent market subsequent summer season? The Knicks could have the goal on their backs all season lengthy, they usually cannot afford to be disjointed in any method. — Goodwill
Can Jalen Williams keep wholesome?
Possibly the Thunder would have been the primary repeat champions because the 2017-18 Warriors if not for Williams’ recurring hamstring accidents that sidelined him for a lot of the common season and the overwhelming majority of the playoffs. The hope is that Oklahoma Metropolis will not need to marvel after a summer season of Williams engaged on his physique to maximise his possibilities of staying wholesome.
Williams is among the greatest two-way wings within the league when he is on the court docket — a flexible, disruptive defender who additionally alleviates loads of stress on back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a secondary creator. — MacMahon
What is going to outline this season: The Sweeney impact or a giant commerce?
Final season was a setback for the Magic, who invested closely into their core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane. However, partially due to accidents, they backslid final season. The entrance workplace contemplated main strikes final season and into the summer season — that is robust to consider, admittedly, as a result of Jeff Weltman has been identified for not making trades throughout his tenure — nevertheless it did occur, per sources. As an alternative they determined to vary the coach, firing the favored Jahmal Mosely and changing him with Sean Sweeney, thought to be one of many high assistants within the league.
The Magic have not been in a position to rating when it actually issues and Banchero, to whom they’ve given a max contract, has not persistently been in a position to be a part of efficient lineups across the workforce’s different cornerstones. So it is on Sweeney to see if tactical modifications could make a distinction. Sweeney has performed a giant function in serving to the Mavericks and the Spurs get extra out of their rosters over the previous few seasons. If they do not, you would possibly see the Magic within the uncommon place of being concerned in commerce rumors by midseason. — Windhorst
How lengthy will it take for all the brand new gamers to come back collectively?
As if buying and selling for 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown wasn’t a dramatic sufficient fork within the highway for the Sixers to navigate, four-time Finals MVP, four-time MVP and the league’s all-time main scorer, LeBron James, joined a couple of weeks later. There is not any roadmap for coach Nick Nurse to observe to maximise a gaggle like this, with not solely these two new faces, however an ascendent star in Tyrese Maxey and the participant who has been “the person” in Philadelphia for the previous decade in Joel Embiid.
James, having performed extra NBA video games than anybody in historical past, has seen all of it and is anticipating the invention interval forward. “Now we have to have a bunker mentality,” James stated on an episode of his podcast, “Thoughts the Sport,” final week. “The one factor that issues is what we preach every single day and the way we will maintain one another accountable.”
James has the expertise to know to remain the course, however lots of his new teammates have not lived anyplace near the identical NBA existence that he has. — McMenamin
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LeBron James cites Tyrese Maxey as a key consider his signing with 76ers
How does Jalen Inexperienced slot in with this group?
Phoenix was one of many shock success tales within the league final season, profitable 45 video games in Jordan Ott’s first yr as a head coach and rapidly pivoting from the lackluster Kevin Durant period. However most of that profitable was executed with 24-year-old capturing guard Inexperienced in avenue garments. Inexperienced sat out 50 video games due to persistent hamstring points and within the video games he did play, Phoenix went simply 17-15. Initially seen as the important thing participant within the Durant commerce with the Rockets, it was Dillon Brooks who ended up having a breakout offensive season for the Suns whereas accidents restricted Inexperienced.
Inexperienced’s absence additionally allowed extra minutes for Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, who each had robust seasons and have been rewarded with new contracts within the offseason. Inexperienced is within the final yr of his deal for $36.3 million, though he has a participant choice for subsequent season at $36 million. Will he be capable to discover his stride if he can keep wholesome, or will his greatest talent as a scorer be redundant with Devin Booker already filling that function because the chief of the workforce? — McMenamin
How do the Blazers match all their guards?
The Blazers made Micah Nori the lowest-paid, shortest-term coach this summer season after which gave him a mismatched roster in the midst of a storm about the way forward for the franchise. If you wish to be an optimist, and why should not one, Nori will most likely get common reward if he is in a position to sew it collectively for even a middle-of-the-road season.
Damian Lillard is again, each in Portland and from an Achilles tear. That is superior. Ja Morant has been acquired by commerce after enjoying 79 video games whole the previous three seasons. That is fascinating. Jrue Vacation, two-time winner of the Joe Dumars NBA Sportsmanship Award and winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award, is a rock of management. That is great. Former No. 3 choose Scoot Henderson is coming off his greatest season, however remains to be making an attempt to enhance his effectivity and get a giant contract extension this fall. That is one thing. Shaedon Sharpe is coming off his greatest season and is in the beginning of a four-year, $90 million contract however tore his meniscus and is predicted to take a seat out many of the season. That is a bummer.
Determining find out how to make all of that work goes to be an enormous key to the season. — Windhorst
Can Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis recharge their careers?
Each LaVine and Sabonis have been accessible for commerce through the previous few transition cycles, however Kings common supervisor Scott Perry has not obtained an interesting sufficient supply to strike. So each veterans return to a younger workforce in transition, serving basically as beginning placeholders with out a lot apparent loyalty to the franchise’s future.
It might profit either side in the event that they play nicely. Internally, the Kings are intent on making a minimum of a small leap from the 22 video games they received final season and avoiding the brand new lottery relegation zone. LaVine and Sabonis can support in that, and doing so would additionally resuscitate their worth and maybe get them to extra interesting conditions whereas netting Sacramento commerce belongings in return. — Slater
Can the Spurs reside as much as the hype?
San Antonio entered the 2025-26 season with the objective of incomes a top-six seed for the postseason and shocked the NBA with a run to the Finals. Now, the Spurs head into 2026-27 with lifelike title aspirations after lastly breaking by way of a six-year playoff drought. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs play in a league-high-tying 34 nationally televised video games this season.
How will this nonetheless comparatively inexperienced workforce deal with the limelight? The entrance workplace displayed confidence within the group readily available by bringing in just one participant (Tobias Harris) who will crack the rotation from final season. If Wembanyama continues on his trajectory, this might lastly be his MVP season. — Wright
Is the Kawhi Leonard-Scottie Barnes pairing a house run?
The Raptors had excellent news and unhealthy information after final season. They completely took a step ahead, making the playoffs and taking the Cavs to seven video games regardless of not having starters Immanuel Quickley or Brandon Ingram by the top. Barnes had a superb two-way season, maturing into the form of pressure they at all times hoped he’d change into.
However the unhealthy information was Toronto had an costly roster and it was not in an awesome place to enhance it. Plus, there is a new controlling proprietor, Ed Rogers, and that form of stuff will get everybody on edge. So the Raptors needed to stick their necks out a bit of and take a threat and it, surprisingly, was the identical threat they took in 2018 once they received the title: They traded for Leonard. Oh, and gave him a two-year, $115 million extension as he was stepping out of the cloud of an enormous scandal in L.A.
The concept of Barnes and Leonard, who had a spectacular season in 2025-26, is scrumptious. Combining two two-way forwards with nice measurement and scoring capacity with younger Collin Murray-Boyles might give the Raptors among the finest frontcourts within the league. May. Relying on Leonard has been a idiot’s recreation this whole decade: Good luck to everybody concerned! — Windhorst
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Kawhi desires to maneuver ahead with Raptors after Clippers investigation
Can the Jazz make the large leap to competitiveness?
After a painful rebuilding course of, the Jazz plan to hit the fuel this season, as president of basketball operations Austin Ainge put it. Utah has amassed an intriguing assortment of expertise, however there can be some rising pains because the group learns to win within the NBA. Jaren Jackson Jr. is the workforce’s solely foundational participant who has any playoff expertise. — MacMahon
What occurs with Anthony Davis?
After a number of years of tanking that resulted in a ugly finish to final season, dropping 27 of 28 video games, Wizards administration is making an attempt to engineer a quick, quick, quick turnaround. That was the objective that was the premise of the trades for Davis and Trae Younger final season. The addition of No. 1 choose AJ Dybantsa, in concept, makes the thought of going from a workforce that received 17 video games to the postseason a mildly believable idea. However the Wizards have given themselves a prickly state of affairs with Davis.
The workforce had an understanding with Younger that he’d be getting a giant extension, which was wanted to get him to deal with harm administration — a transfer that will have damage his worth if he’d gone into free company — to assist enhance their odds of securing the No. 1 choose. The Wizards landed the No. 1 choose and Younger obtained a brand new deal for 4 years and $212 million.
There was no such understanding with Davis. And although he has been eligible for a brand new extension because the summer season, the Wizards knowledgeable him they wished to attend for a few months earlier than coming into talks. Davis stated Monday that he’ll determine on contract discussions after ending the season with Washington. This is not the recipe for a wholesome star-team dynamic. For this reason Davis goes to be one of the vital watched gamers within the league within the early going. Possibly this fast flip makes the Wizards seem like geniuses, and their entrance workplace will get a nod for Govt of the 12 months and rewarding contract extensions due to this modern high-wire act they may be capable to pull off. Or possibly Davis revolts, as he has earlier than, and it turns right into a triage state of affairs. This, for positive, may be stated — and it hasn’t been in awhile: The Wizards are going to be should see TV. — Windhorst
