How will the new-look Celtics measure up against their competition in the Eastern Conference? Here\u2019s a look at where each of their East opponents stand entering training camp (listed in order of their NBA championship odds):<\/p>\n
New York Knicks<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Andre Drummond<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Mitchell Robinson (Celtics)<\/p>\n
Outlook: It was a quiet offseason for the defending NBA champions, who were able to retain nearly all of their contributors after winning the franchise\u2019s first title since 1973. Their only loss was a big one, however, as Robinson\u2019s elite offensive rebounding will be difficult to replicate. New York will rely on the veteran Drummond to fill the new Boston big man\u2019s spot.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Labaron Philon<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Paul George (Celtics), Andre Drummond (Knicks), Quentin Grimes (Lakers), Kelly Oubre Jr. (Pacers)<\/p>\n
Outlook: Questions abound about how this new Sixers superteam will fit together, from the availability of players like James and Joel Embiid to the on-court mechanics of stuffing this many high-usage scorers into the same offense. But a starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid is as formidable as any group you\u2019ll find in the NBA. Philly also overhauled its bench, including signing ex-Celtic Simons to one of the offseason\u2019s best bargain contracts (two years, $12.25 million).<\/p>\n
Cleveland Cavaliers<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Dean Wade (76ers), Max Strus (Clippers), Dennis Schroder (Hornets), Keon Ellis (Nets), Larry Nance Jr. (Pacers)<\/p>\n
Outlook: After being trucked by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavs tried and failed to woo James back to Cleveland, then shelled out big money to extend Donovan Mitchell, re-sign James Harden and add Watson in a sign-and-trade. Watson, who\u2019s coming off a career year with Denver, will be a key piece.<\/p>\n
Toronto Raptors<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Anderson, Andre Jackson Jr., Allen Graves<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Brandon Ingram (Clippers), Gradey Dick (Clippers), Sandro Mamukelashvili (Lakers)<\/p>\n
Outlook: The yearlong Leonard-Clippers salary cap circumvention saga culminated in the seven-time All-Star being traded back to Toronto, where he won a championship in 2019. Even at 35, Leonard is an upgrade over Ingram and should elevate the Raptors\u2019 starting five if he can stay healthy.<\/p>\n
Detroit Pistons<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Isaiah Joe, John Collins, Gary Harris, Taurean Prince, Ebuka Okorie<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Tobias Harris (Kings), Caris LeVert (Bucks), Isaiah Stewart (Grizzlies)<\/p>\n
Outlook: After a terrific regular season spearheaded by superstar point guard Cade Cunningham, the Pistons flopped in the playoffs. The East\u2019s No. 1 seed needed seven games to get past the play-in Magic, then bowed out against a flawed Cleveland team in the conference semifinals. Detroit\u2019s biggest problem during that postseason to forget \u2014 alarming regression by third-team All-NBA center Jalen Duren \u2014 remains so, as Duren has yet to sign a new contract since hitting restricted free agency.<\/p>\n
Miami Heat<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis, Nick Richards<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Tyler Herro (Bucks), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Bucks), Kasparas Jakucionis (Bucks), Kel\u2019el Ware (Bucks), Norman Powell (Bulls)<\/p>\n
Outlook: Miami won the Giannis sweepstakes this summer, beating out Boston for the two-time NBA MVP\u2019s services. But at what cost? The Heat don\u2019t have much of a supporting cast behind Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and the former has dealt with a litany of injuries in recent years. They\u2019ll need shooting from the 36-year-old Thompson, who remained a potent 3-point threat during his otherwise unimpressive two-year stint with Dallas.<\/p>\n
Indiana Pacers<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Kelly Oubre Jr., Larry Nance Jr.<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Micah Potter (Trail Blazers)<\/p>\n
Outlook: Indiana\u2019s most important addition was an internal one. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is back after tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and missing all of last season. So is center Ivica Zubac, who played in just five games after his February trade from the Clippers. Along with mainstay Pascal Siakam and several other members of the \u201925 Finals squad, they\u2019ll look to revive a Pacers team that won just 19 games a year ago.<\/p>\n
Atlanta Hawks<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kingston Flemings<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Zaccharie Risacher (Mavericks), Jonathan Kuminga (Timberwolves), Gabe Vincent (free agent), Buddy Hield (Hornets)<\/p>\n
Outlook: The Hawks added two championship-winning Thunder alums and the eighth overall pick in Flemings to a team that flourished last season after trading away longtime centerpiece Trae Young. The player they got back in the Young trade, CJ McCollum, re-signed this offseason. Jalen Johnson (third-team All-NBA) and Nickeil Alexander Walker (Most Improved Player) also return.<\/p>\n
Orlando Magic<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Nikola Vucevic<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Moritz Wagner (Nets)<\/p>\n
Outlook: Nearly upsetting the Pistons last postseason didn\u2019t save Jamahl Mosley\u2019s job. Orlando kept its roster largely intact (Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Wendell Carter Jr. all return) but installed a new head coach, Sean Sweeney, who was an assistant on teams that reached the NBA Finals in 2024 (Dallas) and 2026 (San Antonio).<\/p>\n
Charlotte Hornets<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Naz Reid, Dennis Schroder, Royce O\u2019Neale, Grayson Allen, Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard, Christian Anderson Jr.<\/p>\n
Notable departures: LaMelo Ball (Timberwolves), Miles Bridges (Suns), Josh Green (Jazz), Tre Mann (Wizards)<\/p>\n
Outlook: The Hornets enjoyed their best season in more than a decade \u2014 then promptly traded away two starters, including face of the franchise Ball, in a bold reset. Charlotte\u2019s core now centers around Rookie of the Year runner-up Kon Knueppel and 23-year-old Brandon Miller.<\/p>\n
Washington Wizards<\/p>\n
Notable additions: AJ Dybantsa, Deandre Ayton, Tre Mann, Khris Middleton<\/p>\n
Notable departures: D\u2019Angelo Russell (Grizzlies), Jaden Hardy (Lakers), Cam Whitmore (Nuggets)<\/p>\n
Outlook: The Wizards might not be good, but they\u2019ll finally be interesting after adding No. 1 overall pick Dybantsa, a hotshot prospect from Brockton, to a roster that features Young and Anthony Davis.<\/p>\n
Chicago Bulls<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Anfernee Simons (76ers), Collin Sexton (Lakers), Nick Richards (Heat)<\/p>\n
Outlook: The Bulls landed the last of this year\u2019s four top-tier draft prospects \u2014 Wilson out of North Carolina at No. 4 overall \u2014 and he looked awesome in NBA Summer League. Chicago likely won\u2019t be in the playoff mix this season under new head coach Tiago Splitter, but Wilson, Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey are promising young pieces.<\/p>\n
Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, Kel\u2019el Ware, Caris LeVert, Brayden Burries, Nate Ament<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Heat), Bobby Portis (Heat), Gary Harris (Pistons), Taurean Prince (Pistons), Andre Jackson Jr. (Raptors)<\/p>\n
Outlook: Expect tough sledding for the Bucks as they enter their post-Giannis rebuild. Their hodgepodge roster is one of the NBA\u2019s weakest.<\/p>\n
Brooklyn Nets<\/p>\n
Notable additions: Julius Randle, Moritz Wagner, Keon Ellis, Mikel Brown Jr.<\/p>\n
Notable departures: Nic Claxton (Bulls), Ziaire Williams (Lakers), Ochai Agbaji (Knicks)<\/p>\n
Outlook: Randle and Michael Porter Jr. are solid vets, but for Brooklyn to climb out of the basement, they\u2019ll need to develop their pile of recent first-round draftees. Brown and Egor Demin are the most intriguing of that bunch.<\/p>\n
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