What I look forward to most
If we are lucky, A completely healthy campaign from Victor Wembanyama. He’s already shown flashes of his insane ceiling the past two seasons. He is a very difficult matchup when he has the ball in his hands, and on defense, he changes the entire calculus of opposing teams’ schemes with his length. Jacob Frankovich
Of Lumbaanyama’s imminent stardom (He’s 7 feet 5 inches tall now?!) to 18-year-old Cooper Flagg’s spark, this season feels like Crossroads of generations. The emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the rush of Paolo Banchero and the calm dominance of Nikola Jokic converge. The old heads still matter, but the league now truly belongs to the 20s: bold, unpredictable and truly rewriting the hierarchy. Brian Armin Graham
Atlanta Hawks renewalwhose summer trade for Kristaps Porziņģis sent shockwaves through the league. The question isn’t whether the Rhinos big man will mesh with Trae Young, an unselfish point guard famous for scoring three-and-out goals in bunches; The question is when will Porzinis go down injured and how long will he ultimately be out? Andrew Lawrence
Battle of emerging contenders in the Eastern Conference Open. With Tatum and Haliburton out due to Achilles injuries, several teams will have a chance to take over. I expect more power in the East now that a trip to the NBA Finals is more achievable. 3 Shaw
The biggest development of the offseason
Off-court issues with the Los Angeles Clippers And allegations that they circumvented the salary cap to sign Kawhi Leonard. As details continue to emerge, they leave a dark cloud hanging over the team and the league until they conclude their investigation. dry
Two earthquakes: Kevin Durant to Houston, and the East loses Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton to rehab his Achilles tendon for a season. KD charges the Rockets’ big, physical core, while injuries to Boston and Indiana open the East wide open against New York, Cleveland, and Orlando (whom I picked for a sleeper finals). Secondary Wave: Denver boosts Jokic’s minutes with real efficiency off the bench. bag
Kevin Durant’s move to Houston was significantas the most promising young team in the league now had one of the best scorers in the league’s history on their side. (They will give up Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and a number of picks in a record seven-team swap.) After having to share the ball with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal for so long, Durant, 37, can get back to what he does best: being the undisputed No. 1 option. the
Durant joins the rising Rockets. Last season’s No. 2 seed took the biggest step forward with the addition of the league’s most lethal scorer who will also provide leadership to a young group. The Rockets were bullied and ousted in the first round of the playoffs by veterans. But the addition of Durant ensures they will no longer be under pressure in their quest for their first NBA championship since 1995. like
Young player to make star leap
Assuming Wembanyama is already a big star (which I assume), then he’s my pick Cooper Flagwho has been on the NBA’s radar since he had a now-legendary scrimmage as part of the training squad that went toe-to-toe with the USA Olympic Team, prior to Paris. dry
Orlando Paolo Banchero. The scoring was already there for the No. 1 pick of the 2022 draft. Add Desmond Bane’s spacing, Franz Wagner’s two-way glue, and a meatier spin on the ball for the 6-foot-10 power forward. If Banchero can cut back on his mid-range diet and make his place at the stripe, he moves from the All-Star conversation to the first-team All-NBA conversation. bag
AnimalHis engaging adventures in China to learn the art of war from Shaolin monks It made headlines. But his pilgrimage to see Hakeem Olajuwon is no less important. Big men have been searching for Dream to learn the secrets of his destructive, low-share game for decades. However, Wemby is already applying those lessons while showing flashes of Shaq, Giannis and more NBA greats. Add all that up with the two inches Wimpy grew over the summer, and what you have is the makings of the NBA’s next top star. the
Falcons Jalen Johnson He averaged 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists before suffering a season-ending injury. With Porzinis joining him in Atlanta’s forward line, Johnson will have more individual offensive opportunities and a chance to increase his statistical averages. Look for the accomplished forward to have a breakout season and earn his NBA debut. like
The surprise package will be…
…Sacramento Kings. Domantas Sabonis is probably one of the most under-discussed players in the NBA, and while the Kings have failed to get going on a number of occasions, this year’s edition is full of veteran players who can make it work under the right system. dry
…Toronto Raptors. Scottie Barnes, plus Brandon Ingram, gives the Raptors the length, shot creation, and lineup versatility to run the entire play. Immanuel Quickley’s speed and RJ Barrett’s power anchor the half-court, while Darko Rajakovic commands the top-10 backline. It won’t always be pretty, but it will be effective. bag
…Sacramento Kings. I know, I know, the roster makes less sense now that it did before Russell Westbrook’s last-minute selection. But remember: The Wizards didn’t look like they were going anywhere when Westbrook joined this team five years ago, and all he did was lead them to a rare playoff berth and turn Bradley Beal into the league’s leading scorer averaging a triple-double. I could easily see Westbrook pulling the same trick with the Kings, aka the California Chicago Bulls. the
…Philadelphia 76ers. Due to a disastrous season marred by injuries, the 76ers became an afterthought. The Big Three (Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey) have only played 15 games together, but they could change the dynamics of the East if they can stay healthy this season. Combined with emerging young talent like VJ Edgecombe, Jared McCain, and Quentin Grimes, a healthy Sixers team will have enough firepower to make a deep run in the playoffs. like
One bold prediction
Lakers miss the playoffs. Los Angeles’ depth remains an issue, and unless Deandre Ayton makes a jump, they’ll struggle with the bigs as well. Without another impressive mid-season signing, I don’t see this roster making the championship despite the abundance of elite talent led by LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reeves. dry
The Thunder became the third team ever to reach 70 wins. With the best defense in the league, ridiculous depth and a healthy roster that amplifies Shai’s late-game mastery, OKC excels in the regular season even while managing the load. Whether they can catch 2016 dubbing It will be an open question until the spring semester. bag
Steve Ballmer is forced to sell the Clippers After the no-show debacle with Kawhi, who became a free agent. the
Wembanyama will score his first quadruple double since Tottenham legend David Robinson in 1994. Wimpy will score, rebound and block shots with ease every night, but he will also have some games with double-digit assists. This season, he would achieve a quadruple double-double and come close to a triple-double, a feat accomplished only by Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. like
Most Valuable Player
Jokic He has won three of the last five MVP awards and finished second twice. With a style that will age well as he begins his first full season since turning 30, it’s safe to assume he’ll be a top contender until Denver fails to put a playoff team around him. dry
Anthony Edwards. The narrative, the numbers, and the team’s success fit together. The Wolves’ continuity combined with a top-five defense keeps them near the top of the West, and Ant’s improved shooting profile fuels a 29-6-5 line with CV moments late in the game. Jokic will be out-polled by metrics (and again hampered by voter fatigue), while Edwards will be out-polled on wins and sentiment. bag
Animal. See above. the
AnimalThe player’s numbers will increase in every statistical category on his way to becoming the NBA’s most intractable force since Shaquille O’Neal’s MVP season in 2000. If the Spurs can win more than 45 games in the treacherous Western Conference, Wimpanyama will overtake Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic in the MVP race. like
Playoff teams in the Eastern Conference
New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks. dry
Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics. bag
New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers. the
New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks. like
Playoff teams in the Western Conference
Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs. dry
Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks. bag
Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies. the
Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors. like
Eastern Conference Finals
Cleveland Cavaliers over New York Knicks. dry
Orlando Magic over Cleveland Cavaliers. bag
Cleveland Cavaliers over New York Knicks. the
New York Knicks over Cleveland Cavaliers. like
Western Conference Finals
Houston Rockets over Oklahoma City Thunder. dry
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets. bag
Oklahoma City Thunder beats Minnesota Timberwolves. the
Houston Rockets over Oklahoma City Thunder. like
NBA Finals
Houston Rockets 4-2 Cleveland Cavaliers. The Kevin Durant trade was a huge surprise for a Rockets team that was already on the rise. Durant’s efficiency will allow young guys like Shinjun, Thompson, and Smith Jr. to retain their touches while giving the team a star. dry
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-0 Orlando Magic. Orlando’s length and defense kept every game together, but Oklahoma City’s experience and accuracy in the half court were crucial. SGA masters the matchup, Holmgren stretches Banchero and Wagner off the floor, and Jalen Williams’ poise at the end of the game is enough to clinch MVP honors. Let the breed gossip begin. bag
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2 Cleveland Cavaliers. Shay won the Finals MVP award again, but Donovan Mitchell showed grit and grace in defeat. The dynasty talk begins in earnest, and the team’s young roster is talking a good game about sticking together. But vanity and market forces sparked the beginnings of a talent and brain drain, making it difficult for the team to remain on the winning side in the future. the
Houston Rockets 4-2 New York Knicks. Coach Mike Brown will maximize the Knicks’ offensive capabilities and lead the team to their first trip to the NBA Finals in 26 years. The Rockets will field one of the longest starting lineups in NBA history, creating a matchup nightmare for Amen Thompson (6-foot-7) at point guard. Durant’s scoring ability and the Rockets’ depth will be too much for the struggling Knicks to overcome. Once the final buzzer sounds, the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy will return to Houston for the first time since the 1994-95 season. like