What I\u2019m most looking forward to<\/p>\n
If we\u2019re lucky, a fully healthy campaign from Victor Wembanyama. He\u2019s already shown flashes of his insane ceiling in his previous two seasons. He\u2019s such a difficult matchup with the ball in his hands, and on defense, he changes the entire calculus of opposing teams\u2019 schemes with his length. Jakub Frankowicz<\/p>\n
From Wembanyama\u2019s looming superstardom (he\u2019s 7ft 5in now?!<\/a>) to 18-year-old Cooper Flagg\u2019s rookie spark, this season feels like a generational crossroads. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander\u2019s encore, Paolo Banchero\u2019s breakout and Nikola Joki\u0107\u2019s quiet dominance all converge. The old heads still matter, but the league now truly belongs to its twentysomethings: audacious, unpredictable and already rewriting the hierarchy. Bryan Armen Graham<\/p>\n The revamped Atlanta Hawks, whose summer trade for Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is sent shockwaves across the league. The question isn\u2019t if the unicorn big man will vibe with Trae Young, an unselfish point guard famous for scoring threes in bunches; the question is, when will Porzi\u0146\u0123is fall injured and how much time will he ultimately miss? Andrew Lawrence<\/p>\n The battle of emerging contenders in the wide-open Eastern Conference. With Tatum and Haliburton sidelined with achilles injuries, multiple teams will have an opportunity to seize power. I expect more intensity in the East now that earning a trip to the NBA<\/a> finals seems more attainable. AR Shaw<\/p>\n Biggest offseason development<\/p>\n The off-court issues with the Los Angeles Clippers and the allegations they circumvented the salary cap to sign Kawhi Leonard. As details continue to come out, it leaves a black cloud hanging over the team and a league until they conclude their investigation. JF<\/p>\n Two earthquakes: Kevin Durant to Houston, and the East losing Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton to season-long achilles rehabs. KD supercharges a massive, physical Rockets core, while Boston and Indiana\u2019s injuries fling the East wide open for New York, Cleveland and (my sleeper finals pick) Orlando. Secondary wave: Denver bolstering Joki\u0107\u2019s minutes with true bench competence. BAG<\/p>\n The free-agent addition of Kevin Durant has Houston Rockets fans dreaming big. Photograph: Mike Stewart\/AP<\/p>\n Kevin Durant move to Houston was significant, given that the league\u2019s most promising young team now has one of the best scorers in league history on their side. (They\u2019d give up Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and a number of draft picks in a record seven-team swap<\/a>.) 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. AL<\/p>\n Durant joining the surging Rockets. Last season\u2019s No 2 seed took the biggest step forward by adding the league\u2019s most lethal scorer who will also provide leadership to a youthful group. The Rockets were bullied and ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the veteran Warriors. But the addition of Durant ensures that they will no longer be pushed around in their quest for a first NBA championship since 1995. AS<\/p>\n Young player to make the superstar leap<\/p>\n If we presume that Wembanyama is already a superstar (which I do), my pick is Cooper Flagg, who has been on the radar of the NBA<\/a> since he had a now-mythical scrimmage as part of the practice squad went toe-to-toe with the USA\u2019s men\u2019s Olympic squad, pre-Paris. JF<\/p>\n Orlando\u2019s Paolo Banchero. The scoring was already there for the No 1 pick from the 2022 draft. Add Desmond Bane\u2019s spacing, Franz Wagner\u2019s two-way glue and a meatier on-ball role for the 6ft 10in power forward. If Banchero can trim the midrange diet and make a home at the stripe, he goes from All-Star to the All-NBA first team conversation. BAG<\/p>\n Wembanyama\u2019s glabrous adventures in China learning the art of war from Shaolin monks made headlines<\/a>. But the pilgrimage he made to see Hakeem Olajuwon is no less significant. Big men have been seeking out the Dream to learn the secrets of his devastating low-post game for decades. Wemby, though, is already applying those lessons while showing flashes of Shaq, Giannis and more NBA greats. Add all that with the two inches Wemby grew over the summer, and what you have is the makings of the NBA\u2019s next top superstar. AL<\/p>\n The Hawks\u2019 Jalen Johnson averaged 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists before suffering a season-ending injury. With Porzi\u0146\u0123is joining him in the Atlanta frontcourt, Johnson will have more one-on-one offensive opportunities and a chance to increase his statistical averages. Look for the dexterous forward to have a breakout season and earn his first NBA All-Star appearance. AS<\/p>\n San Antonio\u2019s Victor Wembanyama could factor into the MVP conversation in his third NBA season. Photograph: Justin Casterline\/Getty ImagesThe surprise package will be …<\/p>\n \u2026 the Sacramento Kings<\/a>. Domantas Sabonis is probably one of the most under-discussed players in the NBA, and while the Kings have failed to launch on a number of occasions, this year\u2019s edition is filled with veteran players who could make it work under the right system. JF<\/p>\n \u2026 the Toronto Raptors. Scottie Barnes plus Brandon Ingram gives the Raptors the length, shot creation and lineup versatility to skip the play-in entirely. Immanuel Quickley\u2019s pace and RJ Barrett\u2019s downhill juice stabilize the half court, while Darko Rajakovi\u0107 pulls the strings of a top-10 defense. It won\u2019t always be pretty, but it will be effective. BAG<\/p>\n \u2026 the Sacramento Kings. I know, I know, the roster makes even less sense now that it did before the last-minute pickup of Russell Westbrook<\/a>. But remember: the Wizards didn\u2019t look like they were going anywhere when Westbrook joined that squad five years ago, and all he did was lead them to a rare playoff berth and turn Bradley Beal into the league\u2019s top scorer while averaging a triple-double. I could easily see Westbrook pulling off the same trick with the cap-crunched Kings, aka the California Chicago Bulls. AL<\/p>\n \u2026 the Philadelphia 76ers. Due to a disastrous season marred by injuries, the 76ers have become an afterthought. Their big three (Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey) only played 15 games together, but can change the dynamics of the East if they can remain healthy this season. Combined with emerging young talent such as VJ Edgecombe, Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes, a healthy Sixers team will possess enough firepower to make a deep run in the playoffs. AS<\/p>\n One bold prediction<\/p>\n The Lakers miss the playoffs. Los Angeles\u2019s depth remains an issue and unless Deandre Ayton makes a leap, they\u2019ll struggle with bigs as well. Without another splashy midseason trade, I don\u2019t see this roster making the tournament despite their abundance of top-end talent led by LeBron James<\/a>, Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Austin Reaves. JF<\/p>\n The Thunder become the third 70-win team ever. With a league-best defense, absurd depth and a healthy Chet amplifying Shai\u2019s late-game mastery, OKC steamroll the regular season even while load-managing. Whether they can catch the 2016 Dubs<\/a> will be an open question until springtime. BAG<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg, still only 18, may have the skillset in place to be an NBA superstar out of the box. Photograph: Stacy Revere\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Steve Ballmer is forced to sell the Clippers after the whole no-show job debacle with Kawhi, who becomes a free agent. AL<\/p>\n Wembanyama will record the first quadruple-double since Spurs legend David Robinson in 1994. Wemby will score, rebound and block shots with ease on a nightly basis, but he\u2019ll also have a few games with double-digit assists. This season, he\u2019ll achieve a quadruple-double and approach a quintuple-double, a feat only accomplished by Wilt Chamberlin in 1968. AS<\/p>\n Most Valuable Player<\/p>\n Joki\u0107 has won three of the last five MVP trophies and finished runner-up twice. With a style that will age well as he starts his first full season since turning 30, it\u2019s safe to presume he\u2019ll be a top contender until Denver fail to put a playoff team around him. JF<\/p>\n Anthony Edwards. Narrative, numbers and team success align. The Wolves\u2019 continuity plus a top-five defense keeps them near the West\u2019s summit and Ant\u2019s improved shot profile fuels a 29-6-5 line with late-game r\u00e9sum\u00e9 moments. Joki\u0107 will be superior by metrics (and hamstrung by voter fatigue, again), while Edwards will nick the balloting on victories and vibes. BAG<\/p>\n Wembanyama. See above. AL<\/p>\n Wembanyama\u2019s numbers will increase in every statistical category on his way to becoming the NBA\u2019s most unguardable force since Shaquille O\u2019Neal\u2019s 2000 MVP season. If the Spurs manage to win more than 45 games in the treacherous Western Conference, Wembanyama will usurp Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> and Nikola Joki\u0107 in the MVP race. AS<\/p>\n Denver\u2019s Nikola Joki\u0107, right, and Minnesota\u2019s Anthony Edwards project to be among the favorites for this year\u2019s NBA Most Valuable Player award. Photograph: David Berding\/Getty ImagesEastern Conference playoff teams<\/p>\n New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks. JF<\/p>\n Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics. BAG<\/p>\n New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons<\/a>, Philadelphia 76ers. AL<\/p>\n New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks. AS<\/p>\n Western Conference playoff teams<\/p>\n Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a>, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs. JF<\/p>\n Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors<\/a>, Houston Rockets, LA Lakers, Dallas Mavericks. BAG<\/p>\n Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, LA Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies. AL<\/p>\n