By Tim Bontemps | ESPN, 2025-11-21 19:30:00
2025-26赛季NBA常规赛已激战一月——这个赛季已经上演了诸多精彩瞬间。俄克拉荷马城雷霆队与休斯顿火箭队在本赛季的首次交锋中上演了堪称年度最佳的对决，而此后的精彩场面也层出不穷。
一个月的时间并不足以保证任何定论——例如，上赛季的印第安纳步行者队开局战绩为6胜10负，在东部联盟排名第11位，但最终他们一路杀入NBA总决赛并战至抢七——但这足以让一些故事线浮出水面，而这些故事线可能会影响未来几个月的比赛走向、二月交易截止日前的运作以及季后赛席位的争夺。
带着这个想法，在过去一周与全美各地的联盟内部人士交流后，我们为30支球队各总结出一条经验教训。
数据统计截至周三比赛结束。
跳转至球队：
亚特兰大 | 波士顿 | 布鲁克林 | 夏洛特 | 芝加哥
克利夫兰 | 达拉斯 | 丹佛 | 底特律 | 金州
休斯顿 | 印第安纳 | 洛杉矶快船 | 洛杉矶湖人 | 孟菲斯
迈阿密 | 密尔沃基 | 明尼苏达 | 新奥尔良 | 纽约
俄克拉荷马城 | 奥兰多 | 费城 | 菲尼克斯 | 波特兰
萨克拉门托 | 圣安东尼奥 | 多伦多 | 犹他 | 华盛顿
亚特兰大老鹰
开赛一月观察：后特雷·杨时代的蓝图或已浮现
内部消息： 特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 于10月29日因膝盖扭伤倒下，这为老鹰队提供了一个机会，让他们得以一窥如果他在明年夏天以自由球员身份——或通过交易——离队，这套阵容会是什么样子，届时他将拥有一个价值4890万美元的球员选项。初步结果是喜人的。在缺少这位全明星后卫的情况下，亚特兰大取得了7胜2负的战绩，而且——最有趣的是——他们在此期间的防守效率排名联盟第四。在杨效力的七个NBA赛季里，亚特兰大的这项数据从未超过第18名。
“我认为特雷·杨的情况引人入胜，”一位西部联盟的高管告诉ESPN。“有没有他，他们是完全不同的两支球队。”
这种情况凸显了这位球队的长期门面人物与一支可能处于转型期的球队之间的微妙博弈。而且，在杨回归之前还有好几周的时间，这段时期只会让外界更加关注他的长期未来究竟在亚特兰大还是别处。
波士顿凯尔特人
开赛一月观察：马祖拉篮球体系不会动摇
内部消息： 随着杰森·塔特姆 (Jayson Tatum) 从跟腱撕裂中恢复，以及2024-25赛季的首发球员克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porzingis)（去了亚特兰大）、艾尔·霍福德 (Al Horford)（去了金州）和朱·霍勒迪 (Jrue Holiday)（去了波特兰）在夏天离队，联盟中的一个疑问是，波士顿是否会放弃他们在主教练乔·马祖拉 (Joe Mazzulla) 治下所倚重的、大量出手三分球的打法。这个问题的答案很快就揭晓了，尽管波士顿阵容中的射手资源远不如前，但他们的场均三分出手次数仅次于克利夫兰。尽管球队在冲击总冠军的道路上经历了一个“间隔年”，但马祖拉在他执教波士顿的短暂时间里，始终忠于自己的执教哲学。今年的这支球队就是最新的例证。
布鲁克林篮网
开赛一月观察：这次霍尔迪·费尔南德斯也无力回天
内部消息： 联盟内部人士称赞了费尔南德斯在上赛季带领篮网保持竞争力的方式，那一年他们取得了26胜56负的战绩，并在去年感恩节前一直保持着五成左右的胜率，之后才彻底崩盘。但是，再高明的执教能力也无法提升这套阵容，它的构建目的就是为了确保布鲁克林能在天赋爆棚的2026年选秀中获得一个顶级新秀。多位高管告诉ESPN，这是联盟中最缺乏天赋的阵容，而篮网在六月选秀中选中的五名首轮秀的初期表现，往好了说也只能算是喜忧参半。
夏洛特黄蜂
开赛一月观察：康·克努佩尔竞争最佳新秀的机会是真实存在的
内部消息： 状元秀库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 进入赛季时被认为将毫无悬念地赢得联盟最佳新秀的荣誉，但这位达拉斯天才的最大挑战者可能是他前杜克大学的队友。克努佩尔凭借新秀中最高的场均18.3分和40%的三分命中率，已经用他的投篮手感和比赛感觉给球探们留下了深刻印象。
芝加哥公牛
开赛一月观察：他们可能成为一个潜在的交易目的地
内部消息： 公牛队正处在一个非常微妙的中间地带。主教练比利·多诺万 (Billy Donovan) 在这支队伍身上做得很好，但公牛缺少一位可以围绕建队的核心球星。二年级前锋马塔斯·布泽利斯 (Matas Buzelis) 展现出了一些有趣的闪光点——而且球队有能力在今年夏天清理出大量薪金空间——但科比·怀特 (Coby White) 和尼古拉·武切维奇 (Nikola Vucevic) 即将成为自由球员。
这意味着公牛在未来几个月可能会有几种不同的发展方向，包括对现有阵容进行补强。这使得一些消息人士猜测，拥有超过8000万美元到期合同的芝加哥，是否可能成为达拉斯的安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis) 的追求者，将这位风城之子带回家乡。
“我能看到这种可能性，”一位最近观看了芝加哥比赛的西部高管说。“约什·吉迪 (Josh Giddey) 和武切维奇合作得不错，但他需要一个可以让他传空接的顺下内线。”
克利夫兰骑士
开赛一月观察：休赛期的改变正在产生影响——只是目前来看不是好的影响
内部消息： 骑士队用朗佐·鲍尔 (Lonzo Ball) 基本上取代了2025年最佳第六人决赛入围者泰·杰罗姆 (Ty Jerome)，他们知道这是在冒着降低常规赛上限的风险，以换取更高的季后赛上限。而这正是联盟内部人士在2025-26赛季第一个月所看到的。杰罗姆的离开以及达里厄斯·加兰 (Darius Garland) 的缺席——他因大脚趾伤势仅出战73分钟——使得上赛季排名第一的进攻火力跌出了联盟前十。
“他们现在状态不佳，但他们至少缺少了两名首发，”一位西部球探说，他指的是加兰、马克斯·斯特鲁斯 (Max Strus) 和萨姆·梅里尔 (Sam Merrill) 都缺席了比赛。“朗佐的表现也并不出色。”
“他们比去年更强了吗？可能没有。他们一直需要埃文·莫布里 (Evan Mobley) 更进一步，但他还没达到那个水平。”
达拉斯独行侠
开赛一月观察：交易安东尼·戴维斯并非易事
内部消息： 正如ESPN的蒂姆·麦克马洪 (Tim MacMahon) 周三报道的那样，独行侠预计将在现在到二月交易截止日之间探索交易戴维斯的可能性——这也是竞争对手球队所预料的。独行侠面临的问题是，任何潜在的回报都将更类似于凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 到休斯顿的那笔交易——几个可靠的球员和一个选秀权——而不是像几年前鲁迪·戈贝尔 (Rudy Gobert) 或多诺万·米切尔 (Donovan Mitchell) 离开犹他时的交易，那两笔交易都为爵士队带来了多个首轮选秀权的控制权。“考虑到现在联盟中选秀权的稀缺，这就是你对一笔戴维斯交易所能期待的回报，”一位西部球探说。
其他几位消息人士也难以给出一份长长的戴维斯追求者名单，他未来三个赛季的薪水将分别达到5410万美元、5840万美元和6270万美元。
丹佛掘金
开赛一月观察：赛季末状态的贾马尔·穆雷提前到来了
内部消息： 穆雷长期以来一直被对手球探和高管视为一个慢热型球员。但如果这位后卫赛季初的几场比赛能说明问题，那么穆雷可能正在改变这种说法。这位28岁的球员场均得到职业生涯新高的22.5分，考虑到克里斯蒂安·布劳恩 (Christian Braun) 因左脚踝严重扭伤要到新年左右才能复出，丹佛将需要他继续保持这种产出。
“他移动得很好，身体状态看起来不错……我对他印象深刻，”一位东部联盟的球探说。“他是他们火热开局的重要组成部分。他们能跻身争冠行列的核心圈，很大程度上要归功于他在约基奇身边所做的工作。”
底特律活塞
开赛一月观察：杰伦·杜伦做出了正确的决定
内部消息： 在10月20日联盟新秀续约截止日之前，几乎没有人谈论杜伦和底特律会达成协议，当时有消息称双方在价格上相差甚远。杜伦对此的回应是打出了职业生涯最好的一个月，不仅场均得分（20.6分）和篮板（11.9个）创下生涯新高，防守端也有了显著进步。上赛季，杜伦在篮下的防守让对手命中率高达62%，而本赛季这一数据已降至53%。这使得联盟内部人士将他稳稳地列入最快进步球员的竞争行列——并预测他在七月成为受限制自由球员时将获得一份丰厚的合同。
金州勇士
开赛一月观察：库明加的处境仍未解决
内部消息： 如果没有围绕库明加未来的戏剧性事件，那就不算是一个勇士队的赛季了。正如ESPN的安东尼·斯莱特 (Anthony Slater) 报道的那样，他与球队的关系仍然悬而未决。尽管库明加的角色再次从首发到替补摇摆不定，之后又遭遇了膝盖问题，但那些伴随他职业生涯前几年的根本性不稳定性问题再次浮现。
“他就是他，即使他还很年轻，”一位东部球探说。“他看起来好了一些，也一直在努力融入，但他仍然会回到自己的老习惯中。”
关于库明加潜在交易的算计仍然复杂，因为金州不会白白送走他，而且勇士队已经非常接近第二土豪线，这使得为他找到有价值的回报以及愿意接纳这位23岁球员的球队变得困难。
“谁会接手他？”这位球探说。“他们是会为了不想要的东西而交易他，还是会继续等待？很难找到一个对各方都有意义的交易。”
休斯顿火箭
开赛一月观察：休斯顿有机会成为有史以来最好的进攻篮板球队
内部消息： 火箭队每投失五个球，就能抢回两个以上。为了更直观地理解他们高达40.5%的惊人进攻篮板率：休斯顿与排名第二的波特兰之间的差距，等同于开拓者与排名第十六的篮网之间的差距。自1996-97赛季以来，没有一支球队能在整个赛季中超过38%。这就是火箭队在三分出手量上排名联盟垫底（唯一一支场均出手少于30次的球队）的情况下，却拥有联盟最佳进攻的原因。
印第安纳步行者
开赛一月观察：现在是经历“间隔年”的好时机
内部消息： 由于全明星后卫泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton) 因跟腱撕裂赛季报销，以及中锋迈尔斯·特纳 (Myles Turner) 以自由球员身份加盟密尔沃基，外界普遍预计印第安纳的实力会倒退。但没有人能预料到卫冕东部冠军会是这样的开局，除了哈利伯顿之外，他们还遭遇了一连串的伤病。步行者队的进攻是联盟最差的，净效率值倒数第二，仅优于华盛顿。对印第安纳来说，唯一的安慰是，在六月份从新奥尔良重新获得2026年选秀权后，球队可以期待在明年春天得到一位顶尖新秀。
洛杉矶快船
开赛一月观察：在NBA，你可能一夜变老
内部消息： 进入本赛季时，我交谈过的许多球探和高管都认为快船是洛杉矶更强的球队，他们称赞球队用约翰·柯林斯 (John Collins) 和布拉德利·比尔 (Bradley Beal) 基本上取代了离队的诺曼·鲍威尔 (Norman Powell)，然后又签下布鲁克·洛佩斯 (Brook Lopez) 和克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 来增强深度。但比尔因髋部受伤赛季报销，而洛佩斯和保罗的表现完全符合他们37岁和40岁的年纪。这一切使得快船——在科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 再次受伤的情况下——陷入了一种境地，他们可能会在明年春天将一个无保护的乐透签送给雷霆，保罗·乔治 (Paul George) 的那笔交易仍在为卫冕冠军带来回报。
洛杉矶湖人
开赛一月观察：他们很强——但到底有多强？
内部消息： 洛杉矶的开赛月引人入胜。卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 和奥斯汀·里夫斯 (Austin Reaves) 打出了惊人的数据，而勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 几乎错过了所有比赛。德安德烈·艾顿 (Deandre Ayton) 的表现富有成效……但当他在场下时，湖人每百回合的得分要比他在场上时高出好几分。
对手在篮下如入无人之境，湖人在5英尺内的投篮命中率高达69%（NBA第四差）。尽管他们取得了11胜4负的战绩，但他们的整体效率数据却很平庸（进攻第11，防守第17，净效率值第14）。总而言之，虽然他们在战绩上取得了令人印象深刻的开局，但这支球队的上限究竟有多高仍然不清楚——这一点在本周与联盟消息人士的交谈中也得到了反映。
“他们能和俄克拉荷马城、丹佛和休斯顿相提并论吗？不能，”一位东部球探说。“但他们显然处于前六行列。他们的整体深度不佳，但他们的顶级天赋让他们成为一支我在季后赛不想遇到的球队。”
不过，一位西部球探则要乐观得多：“他们绝对是前三。当你有卢卡时，你总会是冠军的有力争夺者。”
孟菲斯灰熊
开赛一月观察：贾·莫兰特已不复当年之勇
内部消息： 有一个非常简单的方法可以证明上述说法：莫兰特在三英尺内出手的比例。
根据Basketball Reference的数据，这个数字已经从他作为一名飞天遁地的新秀时的39.6%下降到本赛季惊人的15.4%，并且在他七个赛季中的每一年都在下降。考虑到莫兰特的投射能力并没有提高——在他最近一次小腿受伤前，他三分球60投仅10中，表现糟糕——很容易理解为什么他不再是几年前那个让联盟为之振奋、似乎带领孟菲斯走上争冠轨道的球员了。消息人士预计孟菲斯会探索莫兰特的交易市场，但和戴维斯一样，他们认为很难为他换来同等价值的回报。
“我确实认为他们会交易他，”一位西部球探说。
迈阿密热火
开赛一月观察：去年诺曼·鲍威尔的表现并非昙花一现
内部消息： 关于迈阿密新进攻体系的讨论很多，但没有人比鲍威尔更能适应它了。当快船在去年夏天选择不与他续约，并将他送到迈阿密的一笔三方交易中，热火几乎没付出什么代价就得到了他时，这被看作是双方的双赢。但即使是最乐观的热火支持者也难以想象鲍威尔在比斯坎湾的生活会如此如鱼得水，他场均得到职业生涯新高的25.5分，三分命中率高达惊人的46%，并且在泰勒·希罗 (Tyler Herro) 本赛季尚未出场、巴姆·阿德巴约 (Bam Adebayo) 也缺席了大部分比赛的情况下，帮助迈阿密的进攻保持在前十水平。
密尔沃基雄鹿
开赛一月观察：扬尼斯·阿德托昆博是本赛季至今的MVP
内部消息： 在赛季的第一个月里，当阿德托昆博在场时，雄鹿的进攻效率为每百回合123.5分——相当于NBA最佳进攻水平。然而，当他下场时，密尔沃基的进攻效率仅为每百回合102分——比联盟排名第30的球队（步行者）还要低几分。由于阿德托昆博因腹股沟拉伤将缺席长达两周，主教练道格·里弗斯 (Doc Rivers) 必须找到一个体系来支撑这支没有明星的球队——消息人士认为这条路对他们来说将很难走。
“当然不行，”一位高管在被问及是否相信密尔沃基能在没有阿德托昆博的情况下保持稳定时直言不讳地回答，他指出球队阵容中缺少其他持球创造者。
明尼苏达森林狼
开赛一月观察：罗布·迪林厄姆仍是半成品
内部消息： 当明尼苏达在2024年选秀夜大胆交易，向上跳到第8顺位选中迪林厄姆时，他们将他视为取代迈克·康利 (Mike Conley) 的未来控球后卫。但尽管康利本赛季已转为替补，但顶替他首发的却是丹特·迪文琴佐 (Donte DiVincenzo)。迪林厄姆的出场时间一直很挣扎。
这位二年级后卫的整体投篮命中率为39%，三分命中率为23%，在他上场的100多分钟里，森林狼每百回合净负14分——这与他不在场的500多分钟里球队正10的净效率值相比，形成了惊人的24分差距。
“我不确定这招是否行得通，”一位东部球探说。“也许情况会好转，但这很难看到。”
新奥尔良鹈鹕
开赛一月观察：他们正如联盟所预料的那样
内部消息： 随着鹈鹕在赛季首月跌跌撞撞，战绩仅为2胜13负并解雇了主教练威利·格林 (Willie Green)，联盟各地的消息人士继续对新奥尔良的决策表示困惑，他们不仅决定将2026年的无保护选秀权交易给亚特兰大，还把自己的那个选秀权还给了印第安纳——而这恰好发生在哈利伯顿在NBA总决赛第七场撕裂跟腱之前。
在另一个平行世界里，鹈鹕本可以在一个选秀大年中拥有两个乐透签来补充他们的核心阵容。然而现实是，一个正在失控的赛季不会带来任何好处。尽管消息人士对球队的两位乐透秀耶利米·菲尔斯 (Jeremiah Fears) 和德里克·奎恩 (Derik Queen) 印象深刻——两人的表现都足以进入首发阵容——但这并不能减轻这种痛苦。
纽约尼克斯
开赛一月观察：进攻依旧出色，但方式不同
内部消息： 今年夏天，尼克斯新任主教练迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 多次谈到希望为纽约的进攻武器库增加更多的球的转移和三分投射。一个月过去了，他做到了：在汤姆·锡伯杜 (Tom Thibodeau) 执教的五年里，尼克斯的场均传球次数仅有一次进入联盟前半段，而本赛季他们排名第五；场均三分出手数也从上赛季的第27位跃升至第三位。
消息人士称赞了纽约的进攻变化，而且在东部联盟竞争格局开放的情况下，尼克斯正押注于这些变化，希望能自1999年以来首次进入NBA总决赛。
俄克拉荷马城雷霆
开赛一月观察：70胜绝对在考虑范围之内
内部消息： 随着俄克拉荷马城在赛季初继续横扫对手——他们场均净胜15.9分——竞争对手的球探和高管们都对雷霆这台机器的持续运转感到惊叹。在向几位消息人士询问雷霆成为NBA历史上第三支在常规赛中取得70胜的球队是否现实时，我没有收到一个否定的回答。据这些消息人士称，唯一阻碍雷霆的因素是：俄克拉荷马城是否会优先考虑冲击70胜。
考虑到球队已经取得了15胜1负的开局，并且净效率值高达惊人的15.3，比去年创纪录的水平每百回合高出近3分——这一切还是在全NBA阵容的前锋杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) 缺阵的情况下取得的——雷霆可能甚至不需要把这当作一个优先事项。为了证明这一点，这里有一个非凡的数据：ESPN的篮球实力指数（BPI）预测俄克拉荷马城在本赛季余下的每一场比赛中都将获胜。
奥兰多魔术
开赛一月观察：德斯蒙德·贝恩一个人无法拯救这支球队的进攻
内部消息： NBA最引人注目的数据之一是，自2011-12赛季以来，魔术队的进攻效率从未进入过联盟前20名。今年夏天引进贝恩本应改变这一状况。然而，他开局慢热，三分命中率仅为职业生涯最低的31.5%，出手次数（4.9次）也排在职业生涯倒数第二。结果是：奥兰多的进攻效率仅排在第20位。
再加上1胜4负的开局，一些消息人士曾短暂地想知道主教练贾马尔·莫斯利 (Jamahl Mosley) 的帅位是否岌岌可危。但这都是在奥兰多最近六场比赛中豪取五胜之前的事了。贝恩已经开始变得更加适应，包括在魔术过去八场比赛中的五场得分至少达到22分。
消息人士仍在关注奥兰多接下来的表现，他们将迎来一波连续九场对阵目前胜率超过五成的球队的赛程，这波赛程要么会重新引发对这支球队方向的质疑，要么会彻底平息这些疑问。
费城76人
开赛一月观察：昆廷·格莱姆斯是年度最佳第六人的候选人
内部消息： 当库明加的受限制自由球员续约风波成为头条新闻时，格莱姆斯与76人的谈判几乎没有引起任何波澜。当时，球队和联盟消息人士表示，76人正在保持未来的灵活性，格莱姆斯签下870万美元的资质报价，使费城的薪资保持在第一土豪线以下，距离奢侈税线也只有几百万美元。与此同时，格莱姆斯延续了自去年春天通过前独行侠总经理尼科·哈里森 (Nico Harrison) 在二月份完成的另一笔交易来到费城后的良好状态，场均得到17.1分，三分命中率高达40.9%。格莱姆斯明年夏天作为一名完全自由球员，应该会得到一份非常可观的合同，这也是他本月早些时候更换经纪公司并与CAA签约后已经在寻求的目标。
菲尼克斯太阳
开赛一月观察：球队已有了初步的特性
内部消息： 在上赛季灾难性的结局之后——以及作为夏天送走杜兰特和比尔的前奏——太阳队老板马特·伊什比亚 (Mat Ishbia) 宣称他的球队需要有自己的特性，一种包含“一些坚韧、一些决心、一些职业道德、一些拼搏、一些快乐”的特性。现在还为时尚早，但太阳队至少已经通过9胜6负的开局开始践行这一愿景。
菲尼克斯只战胜过一个胜率超过五成的对手，但我交谈过的球探们都称赞了新任主教练乔丹·奥特 (Jordan Ott) 的工作，以及围绕德文·布克 (Devin Booker)——他在经历了低迷的2024-25赛季后，重新打出了全NBA级别的表现——配置强硬的防守者和一些射手，这是一个可以让菲尼克斯在极其疲软的西部下半区挤进季后赛的公式。
考虑到太阳队上赛季的处境，这将是一个巨大的胜利。“他们比我想象的要好得多，”一位西部球探说。“他们在德文身边有足够的拼图，能够赢下他们该赢的比赛。奥特让他们以正确的方式打球和竞争。”
波特兰开拓者
开赛一月观察：德尼·阿夫迪亚或许能成为全明星
内部消息： 当波特兰在2024年选秀夜用几个首轮签从奇才队换来阿夫迪亚时，联盟各地的消息人士对此感到困惑，因为当时开拓者距离争冠行列还很遥远。但在阿夫迪亚上赛季在太平洋西北地区的首个赛季取得进步后，他在本赛季的前15场比赛中实现了巨大的飞跃。他场均得到25.9分——比他之前的最高纪录高出近10分——并且正处于全明星的讨论中心。波特兰（6胜9负）已经将自己置于一个可以竞争附加赛席位的位置。
“他打得太棒了，”一位西部球探谈到阿夫迪亚时说，根据ESPN Research的数据，他已经追平了达米安·利拉德 (Damian Lillard)，在开拓者队史30分三双次数上并列第二。“他比波特兰交易得到他时我想象的要好得多。”
萨克拉门托国王
开赛一月观察：是时候推倒重来了
内部消息： 萨克拉门托在周三输给俄克拉荷马城后，战绩不仅跌至3胜12负，主教练道格·克里斯蒂 (Doug Christie) 还将扎克·拉文 (Zach LaVine) 移出了首发阵容。这是国王队这个赛季诸多低谷时刻中的最新一例，他们已经将球队夏季最重要的引援丹尼斯·施罗德 (Dennis Schroder) 降为拉塞尔·威斯布鲁克 (Russell Westbrook) 的替补，并且在防守端被打得落花流水。
随着球队分崩离析，消息人士已经公开质疑克里斯蒂的长期帅位——他在夏天被扶正——以及萨克拉门托是否会开始交易他们一些高薪的老将——前提是有人对拉文、德玛尔·德罗赞 (DeMar DeRozan) 或多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯 (Domantas Sabonis) 感兴趣。据ESPN的沙姆斯·查拉尼亚 (Shams Charania) 周四报道，萨博尼斯因半月板部分撕裂至少将缺席数周。
“他们就是一场灾难，”一位东部球探说。“他们停滞不前。他们只能一脚油门踩到底，继续摆烂……他们薪水高、战绩差、而且阵容老化。”
圣安东尼奥马刺
开赛一月观察：斯蒂芬·卡斯尔取得了飞跃
内部消息： 赛季前围绕圣安东尼奥的最大问题是，球队的三位备受瞩目的后卫——卡斯尔、榜眼秀迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 和二月份交易来的德阿龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox)——将如何共存。这仍然是一个悬而未决的问题，因为至今还没有一场比赛是他们三人都能够出场的。
但至少在最近因髋部受伤离队之前，卡斯尔取得了显著的飞跃，这位上赛季的最佳新秀场均贡献17.3分、7.5次助攻和1.7次抢断。不过，有一个值得担忧的迹象：他的三分命中率低于25%，罚球命中率低于70%，这突显了球探们对他、哈珀和福克斯一起上场最大的担忧：他们三人没有一个是高于平均水平的射手。
多伦多猛龙
开赛一月观察：深度能创造胜利
内部消息： 从送走长期的首席执行官马赛·乌杰里 (Masai Ujiri)，到这是主教练达尔科·拉贾科维奇 (Darko Rajakovic) 的第三个赛季，再到二月份布兰登·英格拉姆 (Brandon Ingram) 的交易和续约，以及明年新老板的接管，联盟普遍认为猛龙本赛季需要取得进步。赛季初期，多伦多做到了——很大程度上是因为拉贾科维奇拥有一个基本健康的轮换阵容。
球队的四名核心球员——英格拉姆、斯科蒂·巴恩斯 (Scottie Barnes)、伊曼纽尔·奎克利 (Immanuel Quickley) 和RJ·巴雷特 (RJ Barrett)——都打满了全部15场比赛，而他们其他的10名球员合计也只缺席了少数几场比赛。在一个伤病泛滥的赛季初期，仅仅是每天都能用同一套阵容出战，就足以让球队占据优势。战绩10胜5负的猛龙充分利用了这一点，在混乱的东部攀升至第二位。
犹他爵士
开赛一月观察：劳里·马尔卡宁回来了
内部消息： 上赛季，由于爵士队全力以赴以最大化他们的选秀顺位，马尔卡宁的表现相比他2023-24赛季的全明星水准有了明显下滑，这让联盟的一些消息人士怀疑那是否只是昙花一现。然而，马尔卡宁本赛季表现出色，场均贡献30.6分，投篮命中率48.5%，帮助犹他取得了5胜9负的尚可开局。他还有三年的合同在身，这使他成为从现在到2月5日期间潜在交易讨论中的一个引人入胜的话题——联盟各地的消息人士都在密切关注。如果犹他在新任篮球运营总裁奥斯汀·安吉 (Austin Ainge) 的领导下选择走这条路，那么很少有球员能像马尔卡宁一样，一旦进入市场就能产生如此巨大的影响。
“他打出了怪物级别的数据，”一位西部高管说。“他们所有的战术都围绕他展开。如果他去一个地方，成为一个补充性的拼图……你必须在他身边有合适的团队才能去追求他。”
华盛顿奇才
开赛一月观察：凯肖恩·乔治是他们最好的球员
内部消息： 在过去几个赛季，奇才队推倒了他们的阵容并开始重建，他们非常倾向于选择尽可能多的一轮秀，以最大化他们的机会。这样做正是为了给奇才带来球探和高管们所说的他们最好的天赋：乔治，他在去年的选秀中以第24顺位被选中。这位身高6英尺7英寸的前锋投篮命中率为50%，三分命中率为45.5%——远高于新秀赛季的32.2%——并迅速成长为这支球队为数不多的亮点之一。在去年春天失望地掉到第六顺位之后，这支球队显然希望明年能在乐透区名列前茅。
乔治和7英尺高的亚历克斯·萨尔 (Alex Sarr)——2024年的榜眼秀，本赛季也取得了一些进步——的表现，是又一个惨淡开局中的几缕乐观之光。他们目前战绩为1胜13负，净效率值为联盟最差的负15.7。
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：NBA first-month lessons: What we're hearing on all 30 teams
NBA first-month lessons: What we’re hearing on all 30 teams
We are one month into the 2025-26 NBA season – a campaign already featuring plenty of spectacular moments. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets played arguably the game of the year in the first battle of the season, and things haven’t slowed since.
A month isn’t long enough to guarantee anything – last season’s Indiana Pacers, for example, started 6-10 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference before their eventual run to Game 7 of the NBA Finals – but it is long enough for storylines to develop that could shape the next few months of play, the run-up to the February trade deadline and the race to the playoffs.
With that in mind, and after speaking with league insiders across the country over the past week, we’re examining one lesson learned for each of the 30 teams.
Stats are updated through Wednesday’s games.
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GS
HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM
MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK
OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR
SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
Atlanta Hawks
Lesson after one month: There might be a blueprint for a post-Trae Young era
What I’m hearing: Young going down with a sprained knee Oct. 29 has provided the Hawks with a chance to see what this roster could look like if he left as a free agent – or via trade – next summer, when he has a $48.9 million player option. The early returns are promising. Atlanta has gone 7-2 without its All-Star guard and – most interestingly – ranks fourth in defensive efficiency in that span. Atlanta has never finished better than 18th in Young’s seven NBA seasons.
“I think the Trae Young situation is fascinating,” a Western Conference executive told ESPN. “They’re a totally different team with and without him.”
The situation underscores the delicate dance between the longtime face of the franchise and a team potentially in transition. And, with several more weeks until Young returns, this stretch will only ramp up interest in whether his long-term future lies in Atlanta or elsewhere.
Boston Celtics
Lesson after one month: Mazzulla ball isn’t going anywhere
What I’m hearing: With Jayson Tatum recovering from a torn Achilles and 2024-25 starters Kristaps Porzingis (Atlanta), Al Horford (Golden State) and Jrue Holiday (Portland) leaving over the summer, one curiosity around the league was whether Boston would move away from the 3-pointer-heavy approach it has leaned into under coach Joe Mazzulla. It hasn’t taken long for that to be answered, as Boston, despite far less shooting on its roster, sits behind only Cleveland in 3s attempted per game. Mazzulla has always stayed true to his coaching philosophy in his short time on the Boston bench despite the franchise taking a gap year of sorts from its championship aspirations. This year’s team is the latest example.
Brooklyn Nets
Lesson after one month: Jordi Fernandez isn’t fixing things this time
What I’m hearing: League insiders praised the way Fernandez kept the Nets competitive during a 26-56 season that hovered around .500 through Thanksgiving last year before bottoming out. But no amount of coaching acumen will be able to boost a roster designed to ensure Brooklyn lands a top prospect in the loaded 2026 draft. Multiple executives told ESPN this is the league’s least talented roster, with early returns on the five first-rounders the Nets took in June’s draft being mixed, at best.
Charlotte Hornets
Lesson after one month: Kon Knueppel’s ROY chances are real
What I’m hearing: No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg entered the season expected to win the league’s top rookie honor in a runaway, but the Dallas phenom’s biggest challenger could be his former Duke teammate. Knueppel, behind a rookie-class-leading 18.3 points per contest and his 40% clip from 3, has already impressed scouts with his shooting stroke and feel for the game.
Chicago Bulls
Lesson after one month: They could be a potential trade destination
What I’m hearing: The Bulls are in a fascinating in-between place. Coach Billy Donovan has done a great job with this group, but the Bulls lack a star to build around. Second-year forward Matas Buzelis has shown intriguing flashes – and the club has the ability to open a bunch of cap space this summer – but Coby White and Nikola Vucevic are set to become free agents.
That means the Bulls could go in a few directions over the next several months, including adding to the current roster. That has led some sources to speculate whether Chicago, with over $80 million in expiring money, could be a suitor for Dallas’ Anthony Davis and bring the Windy City native home.
“I could see it,” said a West executive who saw Chicago play recently. “[Josh] Giddey has worked well with Vucevic, but he could use a roll man to throw it up to.”
Cleveland Cavaliers
Lesson after one month: Offseason changes are having an impact – just not a good one right now
What I’m hearing: In essentially replacing 2025 Sixth Man finalist Ty Jerome with Lonzo Ball, the Cavaliers knew they were risking a lower regular-season ceiling in favor of a higher one in the playoffs. That’s exactly what league insiders are seeing through the first month of 2025-26. The departure of Jerome and the absence of Darius Garland, who has played just 73 minutes while dealing with a big toe injury, has dropped last season’s top-ranked offense to outside the top 10.
“They’re not great right now, but they’re down at least two starters,” a West scout said, referring to Garland, Max Strus and Sam Merrill all missing time. "Lonzo hasn’t been great.
“Are they better [than last year]? Probably not. They’ve always needed Evan [Mobley] to get even better, and he’s not there yet.”
Dallas Mavericks
Lesson after one month: An Anthony Davis trade won’t be easy
What I’m hearing: As ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported Wednesday, the Mavericks are expected to explore a Davis trade between now and February’s trade deadline – something rival teams expect to happen, too. The problem for the Mavericks is that any potential return will be something more akin to the Kevin Durant trade to Houston – a couple of solid players and a draft pick – than, say, the Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell trades out of Utah a couple of years ago that each netted the Jazz control over several first-round selections. “With the lack of picks around the league now, that’s what you should expect for a [Davis] deal,” a West scout said.
Several other sources struggled to produce a deep list of suitors for Davis, who is set to make $54.1 million, $58.4 million and $62.7 million across the next three seasons.
Denver Nuggets
Lesson after one month: Late-season Jamal Murray has arrived early
What I’m hearing: Murray has long been seen by opposing scouts and executives as a player who eases his way into the season. But if the guard’s first handful of games is any indication, Murray could be changing that narrative. The 28-year-old is averaging a career-high 22.5 points, production Denver will need to continue with Christian Braun out until around New Year’s with a serious left ankle sprain.
“He’s moving well, his body looks good. … I’ve been impressed with him,” an Eastern Conference scout said. “He’s been a huge part of their hot start. They’re in the inner circle of contenders in large part because of the work he’s been doing next to Jokic.”
Detroit Pistons
Lesson after one month: Jalen Duren made the right decision
What I’m hearing: There was virtually no talk of Duren and Detroit getting a deal done heading into the league’s rookie extension deadline Oct. 20, with sources saying at the time that the two sides were pretty far apart in price. Duren has responded with the best month of his career, with not only career highs in points (20.6) and rebounds (11.9) per game but also a significant defensive improvement. Duren, after allowing 62% shooting at the rim last season, is down to 53% this season. That has led to league insiders putting him firmly in the running for Most Improved Player – and projecting a nice payday when he becomes a restricted free agent in July.
Golden State Warriors
Lesson after one month: The Kuminga situation remains unresolved
What I’m hearing: It wouldn’t be a Warriors season without drama surrounding the future of Kuminga, who, as ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported, remains in limbo with the team. While Kuminga’s role has again fluctuated from starter to reserve before dealing with a knee issue, the same underlying inconsistencies that have followed him through his first few years have cropped up yet again.
“He is who he is, even though he’s on the younger side,” an East scout said. “He has looked better, and has been trying to fit in, but he still falls back into his old habits.”
The calculus for a potential Kuminga trade remains complicated since Golden State isn’t going to give him away, and with the Warriors being right up against the second apron, there’s difficulty in finding value for him and a team that will acquire the 23-year-old.
“Who is going to take him?” the scout said. “And are they going to move him for stuff they don’t want, or just wait? It’s very hard to find a trade that makes sense for everyone.”
Houston Rockets
Lesson after one month: Houston has a chance to be the best offensive rebounding team ever
What I’m hearing: The Rockets are grabbing more than two out of every five shots they miss. To put their absurd 40.5% offensive rebound rate into perspective: The gap between Houston and second-place Portland is the same as between the Trail Blazers and the 16th-place Nets. No team since 1996-97 has eclipsed 38% across a full season. This is how the Rockets have the league’s best offense while being dead last in 3-point shooting volume as the only team taking fewer than 30 per game.
Indiana Pacers
Lesson after one month: It’s a good time for a gap year
What I’m hearing: It was expected that Indiana would take a step back with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the season with a torn Achilles and center Myles Turner leaving for Milwaukee as a free agent. But no one could have predicted this start for the defending East champs, who have begun with a rash of injuries beyond Haliburton. The Pacers have the worst offense in the league with the second-worst net rating, ahead of only Washington. The consolation for Indy is that, after reacquiring its 2026 draft pick from New Orleans in June, the team can look forward to landing an elite prospect next spring.
LA Clippers
Lesson after one month: You can get old fast in the NBA
What I’m hearing: Entering the season, the Clippers were seen by plenty of scouts and executives I spoke with as the better team in Los Angeles, praised for essentially replacing the departed Norman Powell with John Collins and Bradley Beal and then signing Brook Lopez and Chris Paul to buttress their depth. But Beal is out for the season with a hip injury, and Lopez and Paul have looked every bit of 37 and 40 years old, respectively. It all has left the Clippers – with Kawhi Leonard once again injured – in a position where they could send an unprotected lottery pick to the Thunder next spring as the Paul George trade keeps on giving to the defending champions.
Los Angeles Lakers
Lesson after one month: They’re good – but how good?
What I’m hearing: It has been a fascinating opening month in L.A. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have put up gigantic numbers, and LeBron James has basically missed all of it. Deandre Ayton has been productive … but the Lakers are several points better per 100 possessions with him on the bench than they are with him on the court.
Opponents are having a field day at the rim, with the Lakers giving up 69% shooting inside of 5 feet (fourth worst in the NBA). While they have an 11-4 record, they have middling overall efficiency numbers (11th in offense, 17th in defense, 14th in net rating). Add it up, and while it has been an impressive opening few weeks in the standings, it’s still unclear just how high this team’s ceiling really is – which was reflected in conversations this week with sources around the league.
“Are they up there with Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston? No,” an East scout said. “But they’re clearly in the top six. Their depth overall isn’t good, but their top-line talent makes them a team I wouldn’t want to see in the playoffs.”
A West scout, though, was much more optimistic: “They’re top three for sure. When you have Luka, you’re always going to be in the mix.”
Memphis Grizzlies
Lesson after one month: Ja Morant isn’t the same player
What I’m hearing: There’s one very easy way to prove the above statement: the percentage of Morant’s shots that are taken inside of three feet.
That number, per Basketball Reference, has gone from 39.6% of his shots as a high-flying rookie down to a remarkable 15.4% this season and has dropped in each of his seven seasons. Given Morant hasn’t improved as a shooter – he was an abysmal 10-for-60 from 3 before his latest calf injury – it’s easy to see why he’s not the same player who electrified the league and appeared to have Memphis on a championship-caliber trajectory a few short years ago. Sources expect Memphis to explore the trade market for Morant but, like Davis, believe it will be difficult to get value for him.
“I do think they’ll move him,” a West scout said.
Miami Heat
Lesson after one month: Last year was no fluke for Norman Powell
What I’m hearing: There’s been plenty of discussion about Miami’s new offensive system, but no one has taken to it more than Powell. When the Clippers chose not to extend him this past summer and sent him to Miami in a three-team deal that saw the Heat land him for almost nothing, it was seen as a win-win for both sides. But even the most optimistic Heat partisans would have had a hard time envisioning how Powell has taken to life on the shores of Biscayne Bay, where he’s averaging a career-high 25.5 points on an absurd 46% from 3 and has kept Miami in the top 10 on offense with Tyler Herro yet to play this season and Bam Adebayo missing a good chunk of it.
Milwaukee Bucks
Lesson after one month: Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the NBA’s MVP
What I’m hearing: Through the opening month of the season, when Antetokounmpo has been on the court, the Bucks have had an offensive rating of 123.5 points per 100 possessions – the equivalent of the NBA’s best offense. When he’s been off it, however, Milwaukee has had an offensive rating of 102 points per 100 possessions – a couple of points lower than the league’s 30th-ranked team (Pacers). With Antetokounmpo sidelined for up to two weeks with a groin strain, coach Doc Rivers must figure out a system that will prop up this group without its star – a path sources believe will be tough for them to navigate.
“Of course not,” one executive said bluntly when asked if they believed Milwaukee could stay afloat without Antetokounmpo, pointing to the lack of other on-ball creators on the roster.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Lesson after one month: Rob Dillingham remains a work in progress
What I’m hearing: When Minnesota swung a bold draft-night deal in 2024 to jump to No. 8 and take Dillingham, it envisioned the team’s point guard of the future to replace Mike Conley. But while Conley has shifted to the bench this season, it’s been in favor of Donte DiVincenzo. Dillingham’s minutes have been a struggle.
The second-year guard is shooting 39% overall, 23% from 3 and is being outscored by 14 points per 100 possessions in the Timberwolves more than 100 minutes with him on the court – a staggering 24-point swing from the plus-10 net rating they have in the over 500 minutes with him on the bench.
“I’m not sure that’s ever going to work,” an East scout said. “Maybe things come around, but it’s hard to see it.”
New Orleans Pelicans
Lesson after one month: They are what the league thought they were
What I’m hearing: As the Pelicans have careened through the opening month of the season, going 2-13 and firing coach Willie Green, sources around the league have continued to express bewilderment in New Orleans not only deciding to trade Atlanta its unprotected draft pick in 2026, but also to give Indiana back its selection – which happened just before Haliburton tore an Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
In an alternate reality, the Pelicans have two lottery picks in a loaded draft to add to their core. Instead, a season spiraling out of control won’t come with any benefit. And while sources have been impressed with the team’s two lottery picks, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen – both have performed well enough to crack the starting lineup – it doesn’t make the sting hurt any less.
New York Knicks
Lesson after one month: The offense is still good, but different
What I’m hearing: This summer, new Knicks coach Mike Brown repeatedly talked about wanting to add more ball movement and 3-point shooting to New York’s offensive arsenal. A month in, he has done that: The Knicks, after being in the top half of the league in passes per game only once in the five years under Tom Thibodeau, rank fifth this season, and jumped from 27th in 3s attempted per game last season to third.
Sources have praised New York’s offensive changes, and with the Eastern Conference more than up for grabs, the Knicks are betting on those changes in possibly reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Lesson after one month: 70 wins is absolutely in play
What I’m hearing: As Oklahoma City continues to mow through the opposition to start the season – it is winning by an average of 15.9 points – rival scouts and executives have marveled at the way the Thunder machine keeps rolling. In polling several sources on whether it was realistic that the Thunder could become the third team in NBA history to win 70 games in a regular season, I didn’t receive a single no. The only thing standing in the Thunder’s way, according to those sources: whether Oklahoma City would prioritize going for 70.
Considering the team has begun the season 15-1 and has a staggering net rating of 15.3, almost three points per 100 possessions better than last year’s record-setting mark-- all without All-NBA forward Jalen Williams – the Thunder might not need to make it a priority. To back this up, here’s a remarkable stat: ESPN’s Basketball Power Index favors Oklahoma City to win every single game for the rest of the season.
Orlando Magic
Lesson after one month: Desmond Bane couldn’t fix this offense by himself
What I’m hearing: One of the NBA’s most remarkable stats is that the Magic haven’t finished inside the top 20 in offensive rating since the 2011-12 season. Acquiring Bane this summer was supposed to change that. Instead, he has gotten off to a slow start, shooting a career-low of 31.5% from 3 on the second-lowest number of attempts (4.9) of his career. The result: Orlando is sitting at No. 20 offensively.
That, coupled with a 1-4 start, had some sources briefly wondering how hot the seat of coach Jamahl Mosley is getting. But that was before Orlando ripped off wins in five of its past six games. Bane has started to get more comfortable, including scoring at least 22 points in five of the Magic’s past eight contests.
Sources are still monitoring what happens as Orlando heads into a stretch featuring nine straight games against teams currently above .500, which could either reignite questions about this team’s direction or squash them completely.
Philadelphia 76ers
Lesson after one month: Quentin Grimes is a Sixth Man of the Year candidate
What I’m hearing: As Kuminga’s restricted free agency saga was making headlines, Grimes’ negotiations with the 76ers barely created a ripple. At the time, the team and league sources said the 76ers were maintaining future flexibility, with Grimes signing the $8.7 million qualifying offer kept Philly below the first apron and within a few million of the luxury tax line. Grimes, meanwhile, has picked up where he left off last spring after arriving in Philadelphia in the other trade former Mavericks GM Nico Harrison made in February, averaging 17.1 points and 40.9% from 3. Grimes should be in line for a very nice payday as an unrestricted free agent next summer, something he is already looking for after changing representation and signing with CAA earlier this month.
Phoenix Suns
Lesson after one month: There’s an early-season identity
What I’m hearing: After the disastrous way last season played out – and as a precursor to moving on from Durant and Beal over the summer – Suns owner Mat Ishbia declared that his team needed to have an identity, one that included “some grit, some determination, some work ethic, some grind, some joy.” It’s early but the Suns have at least begun to follow through on that vision with their 9-6 start.
Phoenix has one victory over an opponent above .500, but scouts I’ve talked to have praised new coach Jordan Ott’s work and surrounding Devin Booker – who is back to playing like an All-NBA player after a down 2024-25 season – with hard-nosed defenders and some shooting is a formula that could allow Phoenix to sneak into the playoffs in the incredibly soft bottom half of the West.
Considering where the Suns were last season, that would be a huge win. “They’ve been way better than I thought,” a West scout said. “They’ve got enough pieces around Devin where they’ll win the games they should win. [Ott] has them playing the right way and competing.”
Portland Trail Blazers
Lesson after one month: Deni Avdija might be an All-Star
What I’m hearing: When Portland acquired Avdija on draft night in 2024 from the Wizards for a couple of first-round picks, it was met with confusion by sources around the league, given how far away the Blazers were from contention at the time. But after Avdija took a step forward last season in his first campaign in the Pacific Northwest, he has made a gigantic leap through the first 15 games this season. He’s averaging 25.9 points – almost 10 more than his previous high – and is smack in the middle of the All-Star conversation. Portland (6-9) has put itself in position to be a play-in team.
“He’s been awesome,” a West scout said of Avdija, who already has tied Damian Lillard for the second-most 30-point triple-doubles in Blazers’ history, according to ESPN Research. “He’s much better than I thought he was going to be when Portland traded for him.”
Sacramento Kings
Lesson after one month: It’s time to start over
What I’m hearing: Not only did Sacramento fall to 3-12 after Wednesday’s loss to Oklahoma City, but coach Doug Christie also removed Zach LaVine from the starting lineup. It was the latest low moment in a season full of them for the Kings, who have already benched the team’s top summer acquisition, Dennis Schroder, for Russell Westbrook and getting demolished defensively.
Sources have been openly wondering about Christie’s long-term job status as things have fallen apart – he was given the permanent job over the summer – as well as whether Sacramento could begin to trade some of its high-priced veteran talent – assuming there are any takers for LaVine, DeMar DeRozan or Domantas Sabonis, who is out at least several weeks with a partially torn meniscus, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.
“They’re a disaster,” an East scout said. “They’re going nowhere fast. They just have to put a rock on the accelerator and keep going into the tank … they’re expensive, bad and aging.”
San Antonio Spurs
Lesson after one month: Stephon Castle has made a leap
What I’m hearing: The big question surrounding San Antonio before the season centered around how the team’s three high-profile guards – Castle, rookie No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and February trade acquisition De’Aaron Fox – would fit together. And that’s still a lingering question, as there hasn’t been a single game yet where all three have been available.
But Castle, at least before recently exiting the lineup with a hip injury, has made a significant leap, as last season’s Rookie of the Year is averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 assists and 1.7 steals. One sign for concern, though: He’s under 25% from 3 and 70% from the foul line, highlighting the biggest concern scouts have had about playing him, Harper and Fox: None is an above-average shooter.
Toronto Raptors
Lesson after one month: Depth can create wins
What I’m hearing: Between moving on from longtime lead executive Masai Ujiri, this being coach Darko Rajakovic’s third season, the Brandon Ingram trade and extension in February and new ownership taking over next year, the belief around the league entering this season was that the Raptors needed to make progress. Early on, Toronto has delivered – in large part by having a mostly full healthy rotation of players for Rajakovic.
The team’s top four players – Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett – have played in all 15 games, and their other 10 players have missed only a handful of games combined. In a league where there’s been an epidemic of injuries early, just starting with the same group daily is enough to give teams a leg up. The 10-5 Raptors have taken full advantage of it, moving up to second in the muddled East.
Utah Jazz
Lesson after one month: Lauri Markkanen is back
What I’m hearing: As the Jazz were fully invested in maximizing their draft positioning last season, Markkanen took a significant step back from his 2023-24 All-Star campaign, leading some sources around the league to wonder whether that had been a fluke. Instead, Markkanen has been outstanding, averaging 30.6 points on 48.5% shooting as Utah has gotten off to a respectable 5-9 start. The fact that he’s under contract for another three seasons makes him a fascinating topic in potential trade discussions between now and Feb. 5 – one that sources around the league are monitoring closely. If Utah chooses to go that route under new president of basketball operations Austin Ainge, there are few players who could become available who would have as big an impact as Markkanen.
“He’s putting up monster numbers,” a West executive said. “They’re running everything through him. If he goes to a place that he’s an additive piece … you have to have the right team around him to go after him.”
Washington Wizards
Lesson after one month: Kyshawn George is their best player
What I’m hearing: As the Wizards have torn down their roster and began to build it up again over the past couple of seasons, they’ve leaned heavily into taking as many first-round talents to maximize their number of opportunities. Doing so is exactly what gave the Wizards the player who scouts and executives say is their best talent: George, who was taken with the 24th pick in last year’s draft. The 6-foot-7 forward is shooting 50% from the field, 45.5% from 3 – up from 32.2% as a rookie – and has quickly developed into one the few bright spots for a team that is clearly hoping to land at the top of the lottery next year after the disappointment of falling down to sixth this past spring.
The play of George and 7-footer Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in 2024, who has also made some strides this season, are the strands of optimism amid yet another dismal start – now 1-13 with a league-worst negative 15.7 net rating.
By Tim Bontemps | ESPN, via ESPN