I’m convinced this will be the best NBA season in over a decade.
Since the year most Gen Zers will call the best of their lives, we have the perfect storm: parity, two stars splitting up who clearly didn’t like each other much, stars teaming up, and exciting rookies ready to make their mark.
The East is the strongest it’s been in my lifetime, and it’s impossible to feel good about predicting, while the West has two titans destined to meet in a rematch.
Kawhi Leonard is somehow back in Toronto, LeBron James will retire (one of these days) in the City of Brotherly Love, and Pat Riley finally made good on one of those trade rumors.
Through all the betting and prediction-market ads and the various streaming services needed to watch half the games, I’ll be watching.
Opening night already gave us a taste of what’s to come.
Below, I’ll try to predict how it all plays out.
East Conference Standings Predictions
1. Boston Celtics
Over the last decade, the Celtics have been a regular-season machine.
In a year when many thought they’d compete for the #1 pick, Boston was much closer to competing for the #1 seed. Losing Jaylen Brown’s isolation and overall two-point scoring could hurt a team that tends to be too monotonous in its approach, but they replaced him with Paul George and Mitchell Robinson, two cleaner fits within Boston’s 3PR x OREB ecosystem.
Many think Boston got worse this offseason, and adding injury-prone players is cause for concern, but if they’re moderately healthy, adding one of the best 3-and-D players in the world and the best offensive rebounder in the sport should keep the regular-season dominance going.
The playoffs are a different story, though.
2. New York Knicks
New York took a second to gel and learn Mike Brown’s system last season and hit a few bumps in the road, yet still finished as the third seed.
The Knicks peaked in the playoffs when they shifted to running their actions through Karl-Anthony Towns, and the result was one of the most dominant playoff runs in history. Of course, that level of role-player shooting won’t sustain over an 82-game season, but New York still has the talent to repeat as a top-ten offense and defense.
Losing Robinson will sting, but the Knicks replaced him with Andre Drummond, one of the best rebounders in history who still has a strong second-chance footprint.
3. Detroit Pistons
So it looks like the Pistons are still pretty good, eh?
Detroit has the youth, athleticism, and defense to set a high regular-season floor, and they added real shooting and play-finishing talent with the acquisition of Isaiah Joe and John Collins. Now that the Jalen Duren saga has ended and he and Ausar Thompson are both on long-term deals, the pair should keep dominating the glass and being highly efficient at the rim.
Thompson should have more on-ball responsibilities this season and is already showing flashes of growth (albeit in the preseason), and we shouldn’t rule out continued self-creation growth from Duren.
In a much tougher East than last season, the Pistons’ regular-season and playoff ceiling will hinge on how quickly they can add secondary ball-handling and creation next to Cade Cunningham.
Whether that comes from first-round pick Ebuka Okorie, one of the country’s premier creators last season, or a trade deadline move (or both), will determine whether Detroit takes another step this season or stares down another first-round exit.
4. Toronto Raptors
Toronto finished as the fourth seed last season, then swapped Brandon Ingram for Kawhi Leonard, one of the five best regular-season players.
That reasoning for placing them at three may seem rustic, especially in a tougher conference, but replacing your highest-usage player with a more resilient, efficient scorer who limits turnovers and defends better should significantly impact a team’s performance.
The Raptors will win by creating havoc on defense, winning the possession battle, and getting out in transition. Ball-handling, pull-up three-point shooting, and rebounding could be issues, but if Barnes continues to grow as a creator as he did in the playoffs, Collin Murray-Boyles gets the start at center, and Kawhi Leonard is 90% of the player he was last year, Toronto will be dangerous in the regular season and far beyond.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia will be one of the league’s most polarizing teams this season.
That’s partly because LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown are three of the NBA’s most polarizing figures, but fans will also be eager to see how their star power fits together.
If the 76ers are to succeed, they will need James and Brown to scale back into more complementary roles, something both have shown they can do at points in their careers. Philly should be one of the league’s premier transition, interior scoring, foul-drawing, and overall offensive units, but I question how well they’ll generate quality three-point attempts, rebound, protect the rim with a more ground-bound Embiid, and defend in transition.
Though, Embiid’s opening night performance was encouraging on the rim protection front.
Embiid’s health looms over the franchise as always, and the team doesn’t have a great backup big option for an extended absence, but Philadelphia has more talent than in recent years to tread water if he misses time. The 76ers come in at 5th, partly because they’ll likely prioritize managing Embiid’s health through the regular season to make a playoff run.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
Is this the year that Donovan Mitchell and James Harden finally get over the hump and win a championship? Probably not.
Cleveland finished with the NBA’s sixth-best record last season (22-9) after trading for James Harden, and made their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2018. The
Harden-Mitchell-Mobley-Allen lineups posted a +10.8 net rating (low sample ~285 mins) when they were on the floor together.
Then, New York dominated them and made it clear how far they were from championship contention.
Cleveland’s offensive ceiling is among the highest in the league when they’re on, and they’ve routinely been a top-five seed since the Mitchell-Mobley-Allen trio came together, but even with the addition of Peyton Watson, I am concerned about the team’s depth and perimeter defense.
Tyson was great off the bench in his sophomore season, and they’ll need him to keep improving, but this team likely stagnated or improved slightly while the rest of the conference made significant changes.
7. Miami Heat
After years of being a featured team in every star trade rumor, the Heat finally went big fish hunting and reeled in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But it feels a few years too late?
Not because Giannis isn’t still at his peak—he’s still a top-five player on the planet—but because the East is as strong as it’s been in the Greek Freak’s career and is becoming injury-prone. I commend Pat Riley for giving it one last go, but by acquiring the former MVP, he gutted the team’s depth, ball-handling, and flexibility, limiting his ability to make moves that would significantly improve the roster.
I expect Miami to be an elite defense under Eric Spoelstra, but I have major questions about their depth, ball-handling, and pull-up shooting.
8. Indiana Pacers
Indiana could be sleeping giants this season.
But I’m prepared to sleep a little longer.
A year after a miraculous run to the NBA Finals, they were tanking for a top-three pick while their captain healed from a heartbreaking injury. The gamble on Ivica Zubac backfired, as they lost their shot at a top-ten pick, but if he returns to his 2024-2025 form, it’ll be worth it in the short term.
The last time we saw Tyrese Haliburton healthy, he had the Thunder on the ropes in the NBA Finals. After a full season away, he looks back to form and is ready to return as one of the NBA's best offensive players in the NBA —if the preseason is any indication.
Indiana comes in at eight because I’m interested to see how Zubac fits into Indiana’s fast-paced system, with Haliburton as more of a roller/short roll/post-up center than the pick-and-pop threat Myles Turner was. I’m also skeptical of their depth, creation outside of Haliburton, and their defense.
9. Orlando Magic
Sound the alarms: Orlando used Paolo Banchero as a roll-man!
The Magic didn’t do much to fix a roster with clear flaws, but they didn’t need to. Orlando’s biggest variable for being ultra-competitive in the regular season and beyond is health. Over the past three seasons, with Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Jalen Suggs on the floor, the Magic have posted a +4.8 net rating. But add Desmond Bane to the mix, and the sample size drops tremendously (252 minutes) because the quartet couldn’t stay healthy; that figure jumps to a +12.9 net rating.
Orlando needs to get healthy and stay healthy, and adopt a new offensive philosophy that gives Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane more on-ball usage and, in turn, makes Paolo Banchero more of a play-finisher and play-extender than the engine of an offense. Based on the preseason sample, First-year head coach Sean Sweeney seems to agree and be up to the task of building a more creative Magic offense.
Orlando still needs to improve its shooting and figure out whether the Banchero-Wagner pairing can work—especially because the roster is becoming incredibly expensive relative to its ceiling—but this team is being slept on this season and could easily outplay this ranking.
10. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are one of the biggest victims of the conference getting stronger.
Atlanta was a top six seed last season and gave the reigning champions a bit of a scare in the first round.
Now, they’ll be back where they’re most comfortable: The Play-In tournament.
But it’s not like they got any worse. Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander Walker, and Lu Dort will be among the toughest front lines to score on, and Jaylen Johnson could take another leap.
CJ McCollum was legitimately great after the trade. Oneyka Okongwu steps in, and the Hawks nabbed one of the highest-ceiling guards in the 2026 NBA Draft.
But Kingston Flemings will need a year or more to be physically ready for NBA basketball, and he’s still far from being an efficient scorer.
Similar to last season, the Hawks could be too reliant on McCollum for half-court creation.
And that’ll hold them back.
11. Washington Wizards
Washington made buy-low moves on Anthony Davis and Trae Young at the deadline last year, then hit the jackpot when they won the lottery and selected AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick. The Wizards will be an intriguing league-pass team with a chance at the play-in — a more competitive outlook than they’ve had this decade — but the biggest question is how the roster fits together.
Dybantsa was one of the best load-bearing, on-ball scoring prospects in NBA Draft history, and now he’s slotted to play with a guard who hasn’t shown the ability to play off the ball and a big who needs his fair share of mid-post and isolation touches.
Can he scale down effectively?
If so, and his defensive activity improves (as it has since he was drafted), the Wizards will have the greatest accumulation of size, length, athleticism, and defense Young has played with in his career. And while the eight-year vet may never reach the all-time great offensive heights he reached in Atlanta, he’s still one of the best passers in the world and can raise the Wizards’ floor tremendously.
12. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte won 33 of its last 50 games to close last season, averaging 64 wins and marking one of its best stretches in franchise history. Like Boston, the Hornets found an effective offensive style: shooting a ton of jumpers and crashing the glass for extra opportunities.
Then, they traded the engine that powered the machine for Naz Reid, an unprotected first-round pick, and three swaps.
Charlotte doubled down on their shooting-and-offensive-rebounding philosophy by re-signing Coby White to a long-term deal and drafting Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson, but I can’t imagine they’ll find the same success without LaMelo Ball, one of the league’s best playmakers last season. Without him, they’ll likely get lower-quality shots and keep struggling to score from two and defend the perimeter.
13. Milwaukee Bucks
The will-they-or-won’t-they game is finally over in Milwaukee: The franchise has moved on from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In his absence, we shouldn’t expect much from the Bucks, but the roster still has a mix of veteran presence and young talent. Ryan Rollins had a breakout season last year, Tyler Herro is a shoo-in for some buckets; Myles Tyler will be serviceable for now before likely getting moved at the deadline, Jaime Jaquez can prove he isn’t just a product of Miami’s system, and Kelel Ware was arguably the most intriguing piece in the deal.
Brayden Burries looked good in summer league and preseason. The Bucks reportedly like Nate Ament a lot, and Kasparas Jakucionis has more runway than he did in Miami.
Title dreams are long gone, and I’m not sure the team will be cohesive, but they’ll be a fun league pass team to watch.
What’s going on with that Gary Trent contact?
14. Chicago Bulls
Can you smell that Chicago? That’s fresh air.
After cleaning house after the trade deadline, Chicago has a new regime with a new vision for roster building. A fresh start, plus a shiny new toy who stands 6’10 and can jimp out the jump, gives Bulls fans the most excitement they’ve had heading into a season this decade. The development of Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Leonard Miller, Dailyn Swain, and Noa Essengue should be the major focus this season. Chicago should also try to build value on short-term deals like Nomran Powell and Nicholas Claxton, then attempt to ship them at the deadline for future assets.
The Bulls will be fun, with a ton of highlight plays from Wilson and Buzelis, but they lack perimeter defense, and the center spot remains a huge question mark. Their defense projects as one of the league’s worst units, and their offense lacks ball-handling and shooting.
15. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets should rename themselves the Brooklyn house-flippers.
The best reclamation project is back for another year of rehabbing player value before you make out like thieves on the trade market.
This year’s propositions are Michael Porter Jr., on an expiring contract, and Julius Randle, on a 1+1.
Beyond that, the Nets have two intriguing perimeter talents in Mikel Brown and Egor Demin, paired with an offensive mind in Jordi Fernandez, one of the league’s best.
The emergence of Dayron Sharpe, along with sub-all-star talents in Randle and Porter Jr., will be too much to be downright terrible. Fernandez has proven he can get the most out of teams, but I think the players that could keep them competitive are most likely gone by the deadline.
Western Conference Standings Predictions
1. San Antonio Spurs
I know he went 0-13 on opening night, but he’s inevitable, ya’ll
After Victor Wembanyama returned from a left calf strain that kept him out for a few weeks, the Spurs were by far the best team in the NBA. San went 45-13, had the second-best offense, third-best defense, and posted a +11.4 net rating. With Wembanyama on the floor, this is the best team in the league, and that’s before accounting for continued growth from Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, a bounce-back year from De’Aaron Fox, and the addition of Tobias Harris.
The Spurs plan to start Harper, Fox, and Castle, a lineup that saw just 20 minutes, so I’m somewhat skeptical it will work, but the Spurs have the size, length, athleticism, youth, and arguably the best player in the league.
They’ll be a buzzsaw this season.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City lost key regular-season innings-eaters in Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Lu Dort, who helped the team win games when they dealt with injuries. This year, that margin will be smaller, and they’ll lean more on Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Jaylin Williams, and a couple of rookies and second-year players.
But when it’s all said and done, the Thunder still have my pick for the NBA’s best player, two other top-25 players, and the league’s best defense.
If Chet Holmgren and Jaylen Williams stay healthy, Cason Wallace takes a step forward offensively, and Ajay Mitchell remains one of the league’s best reserves, then the Thunder should three-peat as the #1 seed and have everything they need to hoist another championship.
3. Houston Rockets
Houston got stuck at base before they could take off, but the captain is back.
Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL last offseason cast a dark cloud over the Rockets’ season before it started, and Steven Adams’ ankle injury was the nail in the coffin. Their two main cogs in winning the possession battle weren’t present, and Houston turned the ball over the third most in the league without VanVleet, while their opponent offensive rebounding percentage fell to 14th after Adams left the lineup.
More importantly, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard took on more on-ball responsibility than either seemed ready for, and Thompson’s defensive efficacy slipped slightly. With VanVleet and Adams back, and Kevin Durant essentially added to their 2024-2025 team (in place of Jalen Green), the Rockets should dominate the possession battle, return as one of the league’s elite defenses, and have a higher offensive ceiling than two seasons ago.
The Rockets will likely fail to reach contender status again, as the team still lacks shooting, multiple dynamic ball-handlers, and a true high-volume, on-ball offensive engine. Durant, while still a great off-ball scorer, is only getting older, can’t get to the paint like he once could, struggles with turnovers, and his ancillary production has dipped tremendously.
But playing hard and defending well wins in the regular season.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves will be fun to watch both on and off the court.
Minnesota’s biggest issue last season, though they had many, was creation and secondary ball-handling outside of Anthony Edwards, and the Timberwolves effectively solved that issue by trading for one of the best playmakers in the world.
Ball’s acquisition will allow Edwards to play off-ball more and lessen his creation load, which, in theory, could lead to Edwards leaning more into rebounding and regaining some ground as an individual and team defender. Ball will instantly make Minnesota’s transition offense, already ranked 14th, one of the league’s best, and with the best defensive infrastructure of his career around him, his status as an average defender (from earlier in his career) could resurface.
The Timberwolves lack volume shooting, ball-handling, passing, and frontcourt depth, which could keep them from being true title contenders, but they’ll be an improved regular-season team with a shot at the title if Ball’s game adapts well to the postseason.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
In Luka Doncic’s first 1.5 seasons in Los Angeles, the Lakers haven’t built a roster good enough to compete for a championship, and this season will be no different.
The franchise used its offseason flexibility to bring in a slew of free agents who are valuable but have deficiencies on both ends of the floor. Walker Kessler is the rim protector they’ve needed since Davis’s departure, but Los Angeles l overpaid to get him, and he won’t be able to make up for a roster that lacks defensive talent.
The Doncic-Austin Reaves pairing, plus several shooters, almost guarantees an elite offense, and that’ll be enough to win regular-season games, but the team’s wing and big depth are major question marks.
6. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are hustling backward.
Denver is supposed to be building a contender around a top 20 player of all time, but several poor decisions over the last three years have come back to bite them.
KCP is gone. Christian Braun’s deal has aged poorly. MPJ thrived in Brooklyn last year, and Peyton Watson’s breakout last season was all for naught.
If Nuggets asset management has bothered Jokic, he hasn’t shown it, and all signs point to him signing an extension next offseason.
As it stands, the Nuggets should still have an elite offense as long as Jokic, Gordon, and Murray are healthy.
Ginormous if.
But the aging champions lack depth, athleticism, defense at every level, and a (clear) viable backup big.
7. Portland Trailblazers
What is this roster?
I’m still asking myself that, but it is talented and deep.
Portland won last year by letting Deni Adijiva run a half-back dive every play, launching a ton of threes and crashing the offensive glass. The Blazers have size, length, athleticism, and physical interior defenders. And now they have too many ball handlers to handle.
Do their guards fit together? No, probably not. Could this experiment stunt Scoot Henderson’s growth? Definitely.
But if Dame comes back at 70-85% of the player he was before he left, he should be able to shoulder some of the offensive burden with Avdija (which should lead to positive regression for his defense), and then this could be a dangerous team.
At the very least, starting Ja Morant and Lillard is an interesting experiment. He seems to have lost multiple steps, but if he stays healthy, he should remain one of the NBA’s best passers.
A leap from Henderson and/or Clingan, and look out.
8. Utah Jazz
Utah’s acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. last year made them a fun league pass team. Then they picked up Darryn Peterson.
Will Hardy, widely regarded as one of the league’s best offensive wizards, finally has some horses to make his wildest dreams come true.
Three great off-ball scorers, a jumbo wing who can space the floor, and one of the league’s best bench passers. The Jazz have plenty of shooting to build a top-ten offense.
On the other hand, triple JJJ might be overtasked defensively because the roster lacks perimeter defenders and another high-quality rim protector. Additionally, I’m skeptical of the starting lineup’s collective passing and decision-making, and with Jusuf Nurkic missing some time, rebounding could be a problem.
9. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix had a surprisingly competent season last year, then returned to its old ways.
The Suns made several questionable moves this offseason, most notably trading an unprotected 2033 first-round pick for Miles Bridges. Phoenix has committed significant money and future assets to a roster that isn’t particularly young, talented, or close to contention.
But the Suns shouldn’t be terrible this season.
Though his three-point shot seems to have sunk to a new low, Devin Booker remains one of the league’s best offensive players when healthy; Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin emerged as valuable contributors last season, and Dillon Brooks will help set the tone defensively. If Jalen Green takes a step forward as a scorer and decision-maker, Phoenix could have a surprisingly potent offense.
However, the Suns lack high-level creation outside of Booker, and Mark Williams’ injury leaves them thin at center. Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach will have significant responsibilities, and it’s unclear whether either is ready to anchor a high-level defense.
Phoenix should compete for a play-in spot because of its shooting, defensive activity, and Booker’s offensive brilliance, but the team’s ceiling is limited.
And their long-term outlook is even worse.
10. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors keep failing Stephen Curry, even though he’s still one of the world's best offensive players.
Golden State’s lone significant move this offseason was drafting Yaxel Lendeborg, who could be really good, but not enough to move the needle toward Curry’s fifth championship.
For what it’s worth, when Jimmy Butler returns from injury, the starting lineup should win a ton of its minutes and surprise people with how good they are, but at the end of the day, this team is old and lacks size, athleticism, and depth.
As I write this, they’re on the phones trying to trade Kristaps Porzingis.
They’ll have to attach assets for anyone to answer.
11. Memphis Grizzlies
Ja was not fine in the West — at all.
After trading Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies have shifted their attention toward building around Cameron Boozer, one of the most talented prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft.
And they already have some intriguing pieces around him.
Boozer should be one of the team’s best offensive players right away, and his scoring, passing, and rebounding could make him the centerpiece of Memphis’ next competitive team. Zach Edey was a monster when healthy last season, Cedric Coward showed flashes of becoming a high-level 3-and-D wing, and Ty Jerome provides much-needed shooting and creation.
The Grizzlies also have a mix of veterans and young talent that should keep them competitive most nights, even if they move several players at the deadline.
But I’m skeptical of their perimeter creation, shooting, and transition defense, especially with Boozer and Edey sharing the frontcourt. Memphis has enough talent to be a pesky team, and Boozer could be one of the league’s best rookies, but the Grizzlies are still a year or two away from returning to the playoffs.
Take the over, but don’t get too greedy.
12. Dallas Mavericks
Dallas has a franchise cornerstone in Cooper Flagg, but the roster around him is a mess.
Flagg had an impressive rookie season despite efficiency struggles. He was tasked with far too much on-ball creation for a rookie, and the Mavericks lacked the shooting and ball-handling to make his life easier.
Kyrie Irving’s return should help tremendously.
Irving remains one of the league’s best offensive guards when healthy, and his presence should allow Flagg to operate more off the ball and attack tilted defenses. But Irving is 34, coming off a torn ACL, and entering the final year of his contract, making him a likely trade candidate if Dallas struggles early.
Beyond that, the Mavericks have an odd collection of talent. P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Santi Aldama, Zaccharie Risacher, and Morez Johnson Jr. are all competing for minutes at forward, while the roster lacks guards who can consistently create offense.
First-year head coach Dusty May will have his hands full trying to make the pieces fit.
Dallas has the size, length, athleticism, and defensive talent to compete, and a leap from Flagg could push them into the play-in conversation, but a lack of shooting, guard depth, and offensive cohesion will likely hold them back.
The Mavericks’ future could be bright.
Their present? Not so much.
13. Los Angeles Clippers
Would they do it all again if they could?
Steve Ballmer would probably say yes. Though his world is worth much less than he is nowadays.
After trading Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles finally began moving toward a rebuild, but the franchise hasn’t fully committed to getting younger.
Instead, the Clippers added several veterans to a roster that already lacked young talent, leaving Tyronn Lue with an awkward mix of aging role players and a few intriguing long-term pieces.
Darius Garland is the team’s most important player. He’s one of the league’s best pull-up shooters and passers, and his ability to create efficient offense should keep the Clippers competitive when he’s healthy. Brandon Ingram could add scoring and creation once he returns from injury, but his availability remains a major question mark.
Keaton Wagler is another intriguing piece, and his shooting should translate immediately, but he’ll likely need time to adjust to the physicality and athleticism of NBA defenders.
The Clippers should have enough offensive talent to avoid being completely unwatchable, and Lue has consistently gotten the most out of undermanned teams, but the roster lacks athleticism, defensive versatility, and a clear long-term direction.
And without control of their own first-round pick until 2034, the Clippers can’t even benefit from being terrible.
14. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans might be better than people think this season.
But we’ve been saying that for years.
The Pelicans have a collection of wings and forwards, with Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, and Bennedict Mathurin, and some combination of them provides shooting, defense, and scoring. Dejounte Murray had good moments in his return from an Achilles injury last season, and Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen could continue developing into valuable offensive players.
Then there’s Zion Williamson.
When healthy, Williamson remains one of the league’s most dominant interior scorers, and his ability to pressure the rim and create advantages could make New Orleans a dangerous offensive team. But his health remains a question mark, and the Pelicans may have to rely on him or Queen at center for significant minutes.
That will be a disaster defensively.
The Pelicans have enough talent to compete for a play-in spot if Williamson stays healthy, but too many questions about the team’s health, defense, and roster construction make it hard to project them any higher.
15. Sacramento Kings
Things have been bleak for the Kings forever, and they won’t be better in the foreseeable future
As if it couldn’t get any worse for Sacramento, Ben Simmons tore his Achilles before the redemption arc could even get off the ground.
The Kings have one of the league’s most expensive rosters, but they’re nowhere close to competing for a championship, and the franchise doesn’t have the young talent or draft capital to inspire much confidence in its future.
Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are still talented offensive players, but neither has shown the ability to anchor a winning team in recent years. Keegan Murray hasn’t looked the same since his rookie season, but could bounce back. After an injury-riddled season.
Did you see the picture of all the coaches surrounding Darius Acuff? That’s how the entire season should go: focused on his development
But that’s about where the optimism ends.
The Kings lack perimeter defense, rim protection, athleticism, and a cohesive offensive identity. Sabonis remains one of the league’s best passing bigs, but building a high-level defense around him has proven difficult, and Sacramento doesn’t have the personnel to cover his weaknesses.
LaVine could bounce back offensively, and Acuff should provide some exciting moments, but the Kings have too many overlapping weaknesses to compete in a loaded Western Conference.
Sacramento should prioritize developing its young players and moving its veterans for future assets, but the franchise has repeatedly shown an unwillingness to commit to a full rebuild.
The Beam Team feels like a lifetime ago.
Award Predictions
Most Valuable Player: Victor Wembanyama
Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
Rookie of the Year: Cameron Boozer
Most Improved Player: Coby White
Coach of the Year: Darko Rajakovic
Sixth Man of the Year: Payton Pritchard
Finals Predictions
Thunder over Knicks in 7 Games