Atlantic Division preview

Kelly Dwyer

16 Oct 2025 — 28 min read

The 2025-26 NBA season begins on Oct. 21, we're gonna talk about every player!

BOSTON CELTICS

Last season: 61-21, lost to Knicks in Eastern semis after Jayson Tatum's injury. Offseason: Celtics sold and I didn't see nearly enough "pot o' gold" headlines. Ran from luxury taxes all summer.

C: Xavier Tillman – in better shape. The only first and third quarter pivotman I trust, in all of Boston.
F/G: Jaylen Brown – ensuring this 29-year old superstar doesn't overextend himself in Year Ten is Boston's largest concern in 2025-26. Unless they're gonna trade him, which, in that case, let Jaylen lead the league in minutes. You know he wants it.
SF: Sam Hauser – missed two-thirds his three-pointers in the postseason and yeah don't do that again.
SG: Anfernee Simons – hasn't come off the bench in years. Celtic staff had all summer to enliven hearts with thoughts of Simons dancing through Celtic sets. Boston needs someone to fill up a whole regular season, Anfernee Simons can do some of that.
PG: Derrick White – showed few signs of falling off last season at age 30, which is impressive because this guy kinda goes for it. No. 21 in total blocks last season, only two guards (Shai, No. 24) in the top-40.

Neemias Queta might be a perfect big to sop minutes early in the first and third quarters. It isn't as if the Horford-less roster is a surprise for the C's coaching staff, they knew they weren't long for KP and they'll have the schemes (if not the hucksters).

Chris Boucher is unique, his own Boucher, but ideally the perfect entry for this team. He won't turn it over, opponents have to watch him outside the three-point line, boards and blocks and runs a ton. Took in an exhibition season start at pivot, as did Tillman and Queta, I prefer X.

Others may prefer CB, an eager type. Then again, Boucher is 33 in January, experienced enough to have played alongside Zaza Pachulia. This is Chris Boucher's eighth NBA season and, yeah, I know. Time dilation, things get away from you, when did the neighbor's kid grow old enough to drive?

It is normal, life spins at the same rate, and you should call the police or at worst alert those neighbors. Their child is 13 and can barely reach the gas pedal, let alone the brake.

No. 28 pick Hugo Gonzalez takes on the roughest citation in the NBA: Corey Benjamin Award, the low draft pick on a rebuilding team which feeeeeels as if it should be working with at least one high draft pick. Corey Benjamin Award winners include Luke Harangody (Cavaliers, 2010), Jordan Poole (GSW, 2019), Shabazz Napier (2014, Miami), and Sasha Vujacic (2004, Lakers).

Payton Pritchard did not enjoy the dispirited response to his 2025 Sixth Man win and will absolutely gun for the award again in 2025-26. Felt like this guy dribbled for hours every Thursday on TNT yet he only notched 83 turnovers in 80 games.

Baylor Scheierman was not good in the majors last year but nice in the minors, 2024's No. 30 pick is already 25 and it is time to go.

Holy shit, Luka Garza may have to play.

Josh Minott is talented and the perfect longish small forward to feature prominently and maybe overrate until the real stars return. November will be weird, fun, as Boston builds confidence. There should be dozens of young NBA veterans (Minott is 22 but enters his fourth NBA campaign) seeking to replicate Nickeil Alexander-Walker's recent middle class success.

Kendall Brown is here because we need all the swingman minutes available. This is also why Ron Harper Jr. is here, and why Jordan Walsh was pressed into give-him-the-ball service during Summer League:

Jalen Bridges is in Boston for the same treatment, the Celtics require 6-8 fellas to pick up Tatum's slack and Bridges (who worked well in the minors last season in his first year out of Baylor) could be another reclamation project. It ain't a bad group of prospects, but I wouldn't predict any surprises.

Jayson Tatum will not return this year nor should he try to.

There is considerable intrigue around Boston, the 2024 champions face a daunting luxury tax hurdle, a slow start could encourage an early breakup.

That's only if Brad Stevens acts like this ain't his first beer. It might be, probably is, but that's not the point: Stevens and the Celtics were dealt Tatum's blow months ago, plenty of time to prepare. Bad news in mid-May followed by a long offseason to consider every variable. Plans A and B are do-able and if Plan Z plays out, so what. Still a plan.

The East is an all-time oddity in 2025-26, Boston (its presumed champion given full health and no luxury tax) the green nose peaking the painted face. This Conference's best answer to Tatum's setback was firing a coach, or trading for Boston's old center, or trading four first-rounders for Desmond Bane's zero All-Star Games. Or hiring a third Antetokounmpo brother.

Boston? The front office decimated its team to save it, and that percentage is arguable: Anfernee Simons can frigging ball. The East is a battle of attrition until it has to fly to Oklahoma City in June, whoever has the ball last, wins. Make sure you're around to have the ball.

This goes for the ballgames, too, the ticks in November and February that build up. Boston owns 50-win potential in this realm, at least, but Boston isn't alone among Eastern teams built to win an outsized share of coin flip victories, Pacer-style. This bodes well for our entertainment, tougher for front offices when they try to decide between the wins Pythagoras expects, or the actual numbers at NBA dot com slash standings.

This Celtic group is thin, but read on, that's our East. Throw in injuries and obsolescence and all I see are opportunities.

There are two runs, regular and postseason, and Boston isn't built for the 82-game haul. Neither are Atlanta or Milwaukee or maybe Orlando at the moment. The East is full of teams built for playoff surprises, timely scoring in three consecutive close Eastern runs. Cloning Pacers due to desperation, not because Indiana is in fashion.

Boston is representative of this group, Simons and Pritchard ready to play hero, though neither may be a Celtic past February. I don't know the plans!

Jaylen Brown is 29 this season. Top o' the hill, his summer and offseasons feeling less and less like space to rest until he retires. Jaylen's worked more career playoff minutes than Jalen Johnson's worked NBA minutes. And he's in for the most work, the most meaningful eyes-on-me minutes, he'll ever face. Coming off what felt like the shortest summer of his life.

The vacuum only settles on a star, it doesn't disperse to lesser gravitational pulls, remember what Larry Bird told Bill Walton when McHale was out, you think you're getting those extra shots? Go to the other side of the floor.

Winter demands impatience, cramming 18 hours into nine. Tatum will be missed, chatter will bounce off walls that are already dark by 5 PM, it will become annoying, Boston must not react.

It is a long way toward the bottom of the standings, it will be tough to lose games on purpose against an all-time horrid Eastern Conference in 2025-26. Tank victories are not assured, and that's even before the lottery balls change plans. And that's months before you ask a hotshot 19-year old to figure out how to play alongside 28-year old, recovering Jayson Tatum in Tatum's most dramatic season yet.

Nah, try to remain settled, unsentimental.

Guess: 44-38, No. 7 in East.

BROOKLYN NETS

Last season: 26-56, never in playoff contention but impressive on defense.
Offseason: Sean Marks drafted five rookies, best odds at 2026 No. 1 overall pick is the clear goal.

C: Nicolas Claxton – sneaky-good from midrange last season. Claxton doesn't surrender possessions defensively like he did when the stars were around, the Nets had no business staying in as many games as they did in 2024-25 and Claxton was the set of eyes behind that. He stayed on it, when the rest of the NBA was everywhere but Brooklyn.
F: Ziaire Williams – performed positively last season without looking like he was after box score numbers. He was absolutely after box score numbers, but he made it look as if this wasn't the case. Only 24. Probably better when he's 30. Hit 31 percent of his corner threes which I get, super-crowded over there. I hope he takes advantage of this showcase and is flipped to a contender in February. The Nets have to find room for, like, five new dudes.
F: Michael Porter Jr. – the problem with conspiratorial minds like MPJ's is that they'd be so much better served on our side, spending all night searching Eugene Brading's name before coming to the conclusion that Anne Goodpasture was the inspiration for the septuagenarian spook in 'Cloak & Dagger,' the one who smothered Henry Thomas on the River Walk. Porter was 50/40/77 last season but I wonder if Marks already realizes shutting him down will actually help Brooklyn secure a few pesky, unwanted wins. The longer Porter remains on court, the shorter the odds for top overall pick.
SG: Terance Mann – Terance's Mann's Age 29-Season was internet folklore for so long that it is hard to believe Terance's Mann's Age 29-Season is already here. Double-figure points per game? Three assists per outing? Nightly Eagle Family references to 'Field of Dreams,' the son or father quickly and sincerely pivoting to another sotto voce re-stating of how great "the real life [Terance Mann] is for this young Nets locker room."
PG: Cam Thomas – I suppose the endgame with Cam Thomas is to acquire some second-round pick that the internet applauds, but I wouldn't let it come at the cost of letting him take all my basketball team's basketball shots. Cam's Cam, can't blame Cam for going Cam, can't blame the Nets for not knowing what the hell to do with a guy good at playing basketball that also doesn't know how to play basketball.

Rough second season for Noah Clowney but he's crushing in exhibition season and only 21, I'm on board.

If Day'Ron Sharpe (24 in November) stops kneeing the ball into the photographer's row he could turn into one of this league's great reserve bigs. I would take up a low-limit, high-rate credit card if it meant I could pay to watch Sharpe and Clowney play one-on-on in practice.

We won't pay anything to watch No. 8 pick Egor Demin in 2025-26, he will fill our free social media with so many tasteful scoops and thrilling dishes that we'll wonder for a second if Adam Silver wasn't telling a sort of truth before we re-recognize, no, Adam Silver is wildly out of touch, this isn't 2012. Even if Obama was on WTF this week.

(I love Marc Maron but he'd bring the podcast back tomorrow if he could get, say, Richie Blackmore.)

If Brooklyn starts Demin, all the better. He's certainly tall enough.

The 2025 NBA draft began drafting projects at No. 8, Egor's spot. A handful of players chosen below him may exceed or even disproportionately dwarf Demin's draft status, but Brooklyn's commitment makes sense. Tall point guard, can't pass that up.

Sean Marks' five-man rookie class is utterly underwhelming, but that's because Sean Marks had five picks from No. 8 to No. 27.

This is where Antoine Wright lives. Nolan Smith. Troy Brown Jr. and Rashad Vaughn and Jordan Adams. Five fanbases saying "oof" out loud after reading this. Every team gets one, every fan earns an oof: Byron Mullens. T.J. Leaf. Which Quincy Douby, you be.

There is never any fun picking after No. 8. Dyspeptic fans always think they're drafting Denzel Valentine, optimistic ones worry over taking on the next Al Thornton.

No. 26 pick Ben Saraf already dropped 11 dimes on the Suns in exhibition season, and when his second NBA season ends in 2027 he will still not be allowed to buy a legal beer. Left-handed, each parent played pro ball in Israel, the 6-6 (for now) guard turned professional in 2022-23 at age 16, Israel then Germany. If I had five first-round picks, I, too, would try to use them all on five tall point guards.

And then I'd go out and sign another one:

Nolan Traoré is a No. 19 pick and 19, tiny, speedy, clever, why not?

No. 19 used to be Milwaukee's pick, given away for Jrue Holiday. No. 19's since been traded for Tony Snell, then for Kemba Walker. With Shake Milton. Alongside R.J. Hampton. I wonder if Nolan Traoré knows who these guys are? He knows Tony, of course. Love Tony, ready to watch Nolan Traoré.

No. 22 pick Drake Powell is a 3-and-D guy from North Carolina, recently flipped over to 20, super long and popped 36-95 threes with the Tar Heels last season. Got out of there around the same time Belichick came in, so I bet Powell did pretty well selling his slightly-used furniture.

Danny Wolf at No. 27 is a terrific draft selection. Danny Wolf in action? We'll see. There are no almost-there's with NBA centers, you're either Alperen Şengün right off the bat or you're Alex Len right off the pine. Then again, Len's spent a decade in this league, a wild expectation for a No. 27 pick.

Wolf is only 21 and the ball will bounce off his head a few times. He'll also require showing us something hot, and right away. Problem is, rookies force it.

He turns 22 in May but can't buy the other rookies beer. Not because he doesn't want to break the law, he's game to buy the beer, but because Danny Wolf will probably be the only 7-footer in history that the clerk at the liquor store turns down for looking too young.

Haywood Highsmith is nice sometimes, he's not always some plugger. The ex-Heat turns 29 in December and I hope he stops each his young teammates from spending their per diems on the same broccoli haircut and wholly unnecessary shave in every third NBA city.

Tyrese Martin started a few times at big guard last year and he's probably going to end up starting a few times this year. Stats say he rebounded a lot last year, I probably missed it while I noticing that the game I really wanted to watch was comin' out of halftime.

Dariq Whitehead, No. 22 pick in the 2023 draft, was waived. Which is fine, because the joke I had wasn't any good.

Nets also cut Drew Timme, who crushes in the minor leagues but worked just 254 Net minutes in 2024-25, his rookie year. It would be fun watching DT's big mitts score some more NBA buckets but the Nets didn't want a 25-year old big yanking minutes from the rookies

Kobe Bufkin could find similar footing. In another setting this could be Bufkin's big comeback season on a bad team, making his way back from shoulder surgery. But the Nets aren't lending minutes to a less-successful Cam Thomas.

Third-year power forward Jalen Wilson, as a player, is capable, light, mostly invisible. Over 2500 NBA minutes, zero dunks. Zero, successful, dunks. He's tried, there were "attempts," it hasn't gone in yet.

Is this the most unfamiliar team in NBA history? Other rebuilding outfits, the Process-era Sixers, at least included famed college players, CBS veterans. Maybe a guy from Kansas, maybe a guy from Duke. Kentucky!

Of course, none of those Sixers worked at the same time on the same court, no matter how much I talked myself into the squares in Nerlens Noel's head fitting into Jahlil Okafor's available angles. Sam Hinkie, to his eternal discredit, used an NBA basketball team as training camp for several regular seasons. Auditioning everyone else's No. 15-through-21 two-way cuts.

These Nets are full of earnest draft picks. Five first-rounders in one draft, even. A unique rebuilding choice, one we will write about for years.

No deep cuts alongside them, all veterans you've heard of plus those five rookies. Average NBA players. And when you put five average NBA players out there, you're the worst team in the NBA.

Maybe that "average" junk works in college, 1997-98 Kentucky Wildcats, but not here. Not even in the East. The Nets will compete, Brooklyn will involve itself in many close games this season. There is much more to this team than the Process-Era Sixers, who couldn't be bothered to field more than one Green Room participant at a time. Unless we count Jason Richardson.

These, here, Nets may threaten for the fewest wins in NBA history, but I insist it will not be an all-time bad NBA team. If the big men perform dutiful, unselfish work while Highsmith and Porter remain healthy, the Nets have the horses to execute Jordi Fernandez' vision. Jordi and Sean Marks began looking forward to October of 2025 many, many months before 2024-25 concluded. None of this was sprung on anyone (but the home viewer).

Brooklyn is in the East's basement by design, but Brooklyn can still win games. Central games, certainly Southeastern games, there are victories on the board to swipe in the terrible, terrible East.

Brooklyn won't win those swipes, of course, Brooklyn can't shoot. But Brooklyn will compete, defend.

We'll watch. Though the Long Island minor league ramp will be used extensively, this is the channel to tune into to see five first-round draft picks (and top-tier broadcast teams).

It will be terrible. Real bad. Some of the worst shit you've ever seen. There are teenagers on this team. Porter Jr. will feel old because they listen to different podcasts, it's an uneasy bus ride.

So here's the part where we remind ourselves of BKN's first-round draft pick bucket: Brooklyn keeps its own in 2026. Brooklyn swaps with Houston in 2027 but welcomes the Knicks' (unprotected) selection.

If Philly's 2028 first-rounder lands out of the top-eight, Brooklyn takes in the first and third-best of Philly, Phoenix, and New York's first-rounders. Plus BKN's own way with its first-round pick.

If Philly lands in 2028's top eight, Brooklyn swaps into two first-rounders from the Knicks and Suns and pulls Philly's high 2028 second-rounder. Many picks to augment The Five, via dealing or keeping.

That ain't all. Four extra first-rounders due from the Suns, Nugs, Knicks and Rockets from 2029 through 2032. And as the analysts say, Brooklyn owns its own picks.

The Process accrued no such largesse. Only Three True Outcome swings, from the ankles.

This is Sean Marks' fourth or fifth or sixth time at bat. Pray for a touchdown.

Guess: 13-69, last in East.

NEW YORK KNICKS

Last season: 51-31, very good team fell in Eastern finals to Indiana.
Offseason: Fired Tom Thibodeau, hired Mike Brown.

C: Karl-Anthony Towns – it will be good for KAT to get away from Thibs. This might be a recurring theme in my Knick analysis, but 30-year old KAT needed away from the guy who coached him when he was 21, even if Mike Brown's offenses aren't exactly dynamic. Towns enjoyed a terrific 2024-25 with the last coaching staff but should absolutely gun for the MVP this year as the narrative candidate. Love a narrative candidate.
F: Josh Hart – early back spasms (back spa-sms) are a worry, there will be ongoing fallout from this rotation's use under the previous administration. Hart is a special player, ready to make the extra pass, would do well not to lead the league in minutes again and save his best springs for summer. Still, the man who yelled the most at Thibs may miss Thibs most of all.
F/G: OG Anunoby – needs some new plays, ones which won't waste away in the playoffs. This guy is a nail waiting for Mike Brown's clean strike.
F/G: Mikal Bridges – Thibs' departure doesn't mean Bridges can't push 40 minutes each night, rather New York's franchise-wide acknowledgement that not everyone is as rubber-armed as Mikal Bridges. Along those lines, Mikal Bridges missed two-thirds his three-pointers in the 2025 postseason and fell under average on threes during his first 82 games as a Knick, what is up. Because that elbow should be down.
PG: Jalen Brunson – do the Isiah, not the Iverson.

Give it up and get it back when the floor flattens and the referees lose wits, throwing up their arms because they want to be in the movie, too. If Brunson does less in the regular season, the three-point legs (36 percent from deep in the 2025 postseason) may push a playoff team over the top this time, not cap its chances. JB needs at least a 40 percent singe if some of his defensive deficiencies are to be statistically overcome.

Guards used to carry regular season teams, centers ruled the playoffs, not anymore, things are flipped. Let KAT take the regular season brunt, because in Brunson the Knicks have someone who can go for 24 points in a second half of a Game 5, make it feel like he was supposed to hit for 34.

Brunson enters only his fourth year of stardom in 2025-26, his legs aren't toast, the 29-year old could turn in a legendary spin in Brown's first year. This table is set.

Landry Shamet does very little beyond those occasional hits from outside but those occasional hits (47 percent in the postseason) are platinum ... Jordan Clarkson showed less and less as his dreary time in Utah moved along, though he tried his best to brighten SLC skies. Would not write off a bounceback season at age 33, but can he keep himself available for six months? Already bouncing in the exhibition season.

Take someone like Garrison Matthews, that's who you're trying to keep unavailable if possible ... Matt Ryan, guys like that. If the Knicks can keep this pair available but unneeded, then New York is onto something.

Mitchell Robinson missed 65 regular season games in Thibodeau's last year, if the 27-year old and the Knicks remain happy with each other, New York could be a night-to-night bruise against each and every opponent in 2025-26. Supreme luxury in the pivot.

Miles McBride needs to relax a little in the next postseason. Maybe move the ball around, get a sweat going before joining the conversation ... Alex Len is a Knick now and this might be Alex Len's last NBA chance to murder an opponent after gathering a pass and spinning into the lane. Unintentionally murder an opponent, nothing mean. No premeditation, obviously.

Moving from Precious Achiuwa to Guerschon Yabusele is a type of upgrade, a strange one, like moving from a Škoda to Saab.

Pacôme Dadiet won't turn 21 until July and barely played last season but it was cute when he entered those two playoff games. He was a cut machine during Summer League, which Brown no doubt approves of, it would be fun to watch 2024's No. 25 pick take some pressure off his well-off teammates.

Mohamed Diawara is a 20-year old second-rounder here to learn under Guerschon Yabusele.

Tyler Kolek owns the bounce and vision to keep up in the NBA, last year was a well-watched miss but the Knicks need him to step into minutes and take possession decisions out of the hands of this team's weary All-Stars. Clarkson is not a point guard, neither is Shamet ... Ariel Hukporti enjoyed 32 fouls and 21 turnovers in his 25-game rookie season, 8.7 minutes per game. Still, large young man:

The Knicks don't need another regular season triumph, they've tried and accomplished that. It is tiring!

So, they may not pull as many regular season triumphs. Maybe someone trips over the three-point line, misses a game or two in shame, plays fewer than 3000 minutes for once.

The point inside that building remains the same, the loud and unrelenting insistence to execute with precision, alacrity. The fundamental policy won't shift but the Knicks will want to have a beer with the newly appointed chief. And their bosses will order a whole round of facial recognitions.

Mike Brown is still the same guy last seen beseeching into the Sacramento darkness many, many minutes after his team lost a game, the rest of the nation long ticked past midnight, Mike ticked long past that night. Mike Brown's car is as similarly inescapable as Thibs' in the work-only parking lot, but at least Mike's heard of some TV shows: '24,' I'd guess. 'Major Dad.' Maybe Mike watched one season of the 'The Wire,' doesn't matter, any 'Zoolander' quote is better than last year's brittle bagel.

What's best in this scenario is Brown's ability to hop from planet to planet. Nightly Eastern lineups will rarely reflect the lineup projections hoped-for in October, let alone which uniforms are sold most in the team store. Brown is at his best in hotel conference rooms, anticipating that evening's new lineup wrinkles, severely respecting opponents, changing sets on the fly. Thibs is like, do what with the sets?

That's fun, but will it matter with what we're after?

The point is to develop an extra gear, something to maintain speed halfway up the hill. Whether that means decreased December minutes or better between-game communication in May, we dunno. Onus is on everyone but the aforementioned brittle: Tom Thibodeau, who already paid with his job. The Knicks moved boldly, were turned down repeatedly, and will now face the future pretending they wanted it this way all along.

They didn't, they wanted Tom Thibodeau as the lid, eliminating the boil's rumble and pop all the way toward an NBA championship. Then they wanted Jason Kidd, or Ime Udoka, or Quin Snyder, or three or four other guys. Five other guys. Six or seven guys. Then, Mike Brown.

The Villanova crew didn't ask for this, but will be asked to play as if they did. Karl-Anthony Towns didn't demand relief from Thibodeau, but KAT will be watched as if he's always used that excuse. Unfair? Well, the payoff is legendary, so put up with it. If the Knicks win an NBA title for the first time in over a half-century we're going to hear the rumble and pop from all the way out here in the flyovers.

Smiling just thinking about it. This is New York's best chance.

This is also an imperfect team, not one made to hound all corners until the opponent's ball floats toward an inevitable clang. New York will have to outlast that frustration – this team is made of scorers and not stoppers – rely on Brown's ongoing experience. He's been at this for decades, too, growing at it.

New York's sixth or seventh or eighth coaching choice (after the first three) may have been the best candidate. The Knicks are very lucky the NBA coaching ranks are as deep as they are.

Guess: 50-32, No. 2 in East.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Last season: 24-58 games, 19 appearances from Joel Embiid before arthroscopic left knee surgery.
Offseason: No. 3 pick added, Embiid returns for another run.

C: Joel Embiid – there is no guarantee he falls! No paradigm demanding he strut like a legend until sometime in February, when the legs fail to relieve unprecedented duty and the 76ers fail to tell their fans what is wrong with the best player they've had since Iverson or Barkley or Dr. J or Moses or maybe even Wilt. This could be the year Embiid sheds enough, lucks out a bit, stands as strong in spring as he does in winter, towering and empowering. This could be the one. Or, it could be like every other one. The NBA never had a story like this.
F: Paul George – first time Paul George played against Philly, Jason Kapono was on the Sixers. Tony Battie, Andres Nocioni. In his first year with Philly in 2024-25, George looked about as comfortable as construction worker ambling toward the pizza warmer at Love's after a long day moving objects that I'd previously assumed were lifted by machines (until I heard him explain the whole process later at the counter). Not washed, but pointedly pained, stiff: PG's numbers fell off in his first run with Philly, though he is certainly capable of a bounceback season. After that? No way, those shoulders are wrecked. George is owed more than $163 million over the next three seasons. Paul George turns 36 in May, he is also capable of whatever the opposite of a "bounceback season" is.
F: Kelly Oubre Jr. – very much adept at seeking, reading, remembering, recalling the comments. One dunk per game, sweet. Steals the ball, double-figure scoring, turns 30 in December: Oubre's turned in a fitful but quite nice NBA career.
G: Quentin Grimes – Must keep earning free throws. I will NOT dismiss the capable play (19 per game) he gave the Sixers down the stretch in 2024-25, someone had to bucket. He'll struggle to find his way with everyone back in 2025-26, but who won't?
G: Tyrese Maxey – besides Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese Maxey will not.

Jared McCain's massive bummer of an injury (poor guy had right thumb surgery after tearing a meniscus in his rookie run) will make things a little easier, opening minutes. V.J. Edgecombe was never bothered by the crowd, McCain or otherwise, this year's rookie won't be deterred from proving he belongs. Different dynamics, each welcomed. Jared will return soon enough, the trick to a hot Finals run is to throw a million guards at the East.

Maxey minds the long game. Grimes knows how to pick his spots amongst a rotation that isn't built around him, Oubre scores without the grease board ever pointed in his direction, Paul George is a dedicated forward.

Maxey is chill under heat, which is good, the Sixers have a ton of guards and absolutely none of them take any pressure off Tyrese Maxey at the moment. Luckily for Sixers fans, Philly is far too complicated and dramatic for Maxey to zone out of.

Jared McCain is not an easy fit here but happily sustains his grin. He will be reevaluated in November, there is still plenty of time for this foursome to learn how to play alongside each other. McCain won't turn 22 until midseason, Maxey is still 24, Grimes 25 and eager to earn a home.

Then there's the rookie, a top-three pick for a team badly in search of another star.

V.J. Edgecombe's first name is "Valdez" and I don't want to criticize the young man for his choices in how he refers to himself but ho-ly shit is "Valdez Edgecombe" the coolest name I've ever heard.

Kinda plays that way, too:

Welcome to the NBA, Valdez Drexel Edgecombe Jr., you have the coolest name.

Andre Drummond is an inescapable fact of modern life ... Eric Gordon still gives out Favstars ... Kyle Lowry has neckties older than Jared McCain, matter of fact: Kyle Lowry has a fridge older than V.J. Edgecombe and that icebox works JUST FINE.

Philadelphia 76ers fans are about to see a lot more Trendon Watford than 76ers bosses would like ... Justin Edwards isn't 22 yet and looked quite composed and relaxed in his rookie year, averaging 10.3 points per game, got to watch and learn from Guerschon Yabusele ... Same script with center Adem Bona, he was a treat to view butting around in 2024-25, amid an otherwise lousy Sixer viewing experience.

Scratch that: Saint Thomas is the greatest name I've ever heard and yes the song is in my head, now.

If you enjoying watching Lonnie Walker IV, which I do, this is not the team for him. But it is great to see the 26-year old Walker on any NBA roster, even if it employs 22 guards.

Johni Broome was 18 and 11 in the SEC last year, the Auburn transfer is already 23 and no small puff at 6-10.

Philly keeps its first-round pick if it lands in the top four of the 2026 NBA draft, but there is escaping the middle of this pack, no scheduled losses with this pushover schedule. Losing in the East is too hard, teams can't help but win some ballgames.

So step in these 76ers, with 41 ways to win 42 games. When the guards falter, Philly falls back on what it knows: Joel Embiid dominating before limping through the playoffs.

This isn't a dig, only the hand Daryl Morey (and his best player) acknowledge and are ready to work through. That ain't cynical, just life with a 7-footer. Sixers fans should know, they used to take these guys bowling.

A capable team exists here, working with most its games against opponents the Sixers outclass. The Sixers have stars, plus whichever tangible magic Edgecombe creates.

The Sixers also have one ball to share, defense to play, transition buckets to get in front of. The East will be small this year, that's a game the Sixers can play or counter with Embiid, and score over the top of. But that's only half the game. The Sixers spent a lot of 2024-25 thinking about the last time they had the ball, or the next time they'd get the ball.

It hurts Paul George's arms to do the things required to be a good defender. Joel Embiid's career is threatened any time he leaves his man to trip around smaller limbs. Oubre plus a rookie, guarding a screen and roll, communicating in transition? Lowry and Gordon? Calling themselves 'Starsky & Hutch,' and nobody but McCain understands the reference? Lowry wanted the nicknames to be "Leeroy" and "Jenkins" before Gordon talked him out of it.

Philly will outscore teams and unlike last season we'll enjoy watching it. This mediocre expectation isn't a comment on the will he/won't he value of Joel Embiid's health, merely a representation of being good at one important thing, and bad at another, equally important, thing.

Guess: 40-42, No. 9 in East.

TORONTO RAPTORS

Last season: 30-52, same shit different year except Masai Ujiri strangely traded for Brandon Ingram.
Offseason: Masai Ujiri fired. New vision is to keep all Masai Ujiri's players and coach and not pay anyone to take Masai Ujiri's old job.

C: Jakob Pöltl – 30, owed over $123 million between now and 2030, will only get less mobile and is already in the business of missing 25 games per year. Other than that, big things ahead for the big man. Give him something to play for and we could see 78 games of knockout ball.
F: Scottie Barnes – up and down commitment and focus but what can we say, he takes after the only team he's ever known. Barnes needs a superstar to make waves ahead of him, he can't be asked to pick apart clubs, Giannis-style. He needs to pick apart moments, Barnes-worthy moments, not entire teams at a time. I wouldn't jump away from Scottie, I'd have to be pushed, there is too much talent and brain here to grow impatient with.
F: Brandon Ingram – Masai Ujiri worked too closely with Pascal Siakam to watch Brandon Ingram's 57 Pelican games per season and conclude Brandon Ingram is the Siakam-styled bulwark to ward off competency from onrushing opponents. Plus, the Pacers were only so-so with Siakam when Ujiri made the deal, not a Finals battler. The vision, the hope, will have to explain itself on the basketball court. Ingram is a terrific player and capable team guy, but for how many nights per season?
SG: R.J. Barrett – forced outside by the kids in 2024-25, Barrett responded well by making offense easier for his new, younger teammates. The 25-year old proved he could be potent in Toronto, now it is time to build (or find) a team which suits his talents.
PG: Immanuel Quickley – ideally our IQ would live at the line, but this is one gunked-up lane to drive into. Not an All-Star, but you'd be fine with him as lead point guard provided he remains on the court. Raptor fans know the perfect point guard is not the answer to Raptor problems.

Multi-tool Collin Murray-Boyles is hopefully here to put every player on this team out of business. From center down to point guard, on-court performances or off-court leadership, like the the little advice on dynamic grains and proteins Garrett Temple doles out in the locker room. Garrett Temple saw 'A Walk to Remember' in the theatre on the night it came out.

There is nobody like CMB, but if anyone were close, the Raptors already start him at forward. If the plan is to pair Murray-Boyles and Barnes, best to rush into that starting duo, live with the bumps.

Gradey Dick managed but 35 percent from deep last season but turned into money from midrange and gathered himself more than a few trips to the line. Nice, and good for 14.4 points in 29 minutes a game, but his minutes are a loss until he starts cranking over 40 percent from distance ... Ja'Kobe Walter has to work awfully hard just to not be a drag on the offense but he bounces, he sprints, he cuts, he's only 21 and the form (40/35/79 as a rookie) works ... Ochai Agbaji banged in 40 percent of his threes last season, hit every part of the rim and went down. I'm still excited over this trio, even if they only complicate R.J. Barrett's life further.

Of any current NBA player, I think I would like to be on the same five with David Roddy the most. I just feel like I could find that guy with my passes, it wouldn't matter how late or how low my entry was, his hands would find it and do something cool with it.

Sandro Mamukelashvili is large and bursts with energy and sometimes he has good hands and sometimes he takes his eye off the ball. Championship contenders with second-rounders to spare would do well to throw all of that at Toronto in exchange for Sandro's backup minutes ... AJ Lawson is from Canada and he worked 486 minutes with the Raptors last season and only turned it over 15 times. I also recall Lawson nearly separating shoulders (his own) while searching for rebounds.

Jamal Shead is perhaps the purest of Toronto's point guards, the 6-footer was a welcome sight in some 2024-25 instances. He'd screw it up eventually, a rookie after all, but it was nice to see him initially. Trying to make bounce passes. Acting as the only guy on the floor who actually wanted to run the play. ... Olivier Sarr is an ex-Thunder big man that I'm convinced I've watched perform, but he only worked 46 games and 633 minutes in three years with the Thunder so, I'm probably incorrect.

Jonathan Mogbo was the top pick in the 2024 second-round and a mainstay for the Raptors at reserve big forward in his rookie year, the 23-year old can rebound and make a pass in traffic ... Jamison Battle was another rookie 3-and-D guy trying to separate himself from that precious pack and, frankly, task accomplished. He hit 40 percent from deep and I'm sure he'll be good at defense this year.

Like dem Knicks, the NBA is a better place when the Raptors are winning, home crowds roiling. It gives us chills to listen to the MSG organ during games which matter, just as it thrills us to watch an entire nation back a ballclub as they turn win over win. Canada prevailed once, it will top this league again.

The problem with Toronto's best hopes were identified immediately upon Brandon Ingram's acquisition. He's a sure 20 points, fine, but on which particular dates?

And where, exactly, on the court alongside Scottie Barnes? Because they both appear to enjoy that one spot. Was Ingram's addition an acknowledgement that NBA hypertalent, in the era of the Play-In and flattened lottery odds, is finite?

Dumping a pick for Ingram even if Ingram doesn't fit, simply because we're cynical enough to presume Scottie Barnes isn't always up for it, fine. The extension? The $41 million commitment in 2028, when Brandon is 31? Ingram just turned 27, his prime better be amazing.

Toronto soaked its season in Ujiri's final run, the expectations this year are blatant: Darko Rajakovic has spent over one-quarter of his 46-year old life as an NBA coach, this is his third full season as NBA head coach in Toronto, his brilliance must now overwhelm the Eastern Conference.

Darko, and Toronto, can do that! I also think everyone will fight injury. And unease with so many similar players surrounding them, doing similar things, pretending these are supposed to be the 2013 Denver Nuggets.

The whole point, now, is what if everyone cares? I'd love to run behind that, but we're only winning half our games if Scottie Barnes is in some way comfortable. If Ingram notches as many tangible victories as Malik Beasley performed for last year's Pistons. And if Jakob Pöltl's 30 minutes are free and easy and not at all a frustrating fit.

Maybe they'll let Pöltl play hard in March, now, goodness knows the 30-year old earned it. Maybe Ingram will live at the line, and in the starting intros. All of this means fewer minutes for the most recent lottery pick, passable if we're winning, but we're only winning if someone amongst these many long guards steps up. Way, up.

Until then we're stuck with R.J. Barrett ignoring what he does best in deference to "making teammates better," ugh. Put it up!

If the stars stay on the court, Toronto's top four is arguably among the East's best. That all four are all kinda looking for the same type of bucket, that's up to Darko to figure out, Jakob to get the way out of.

Guess: 38-44, tied at No. 10.

ALMOST SATURDAY NIGHT