By Mike Vorkunov, James L. Edwards III, Fred Katz, Tony Jones, Zach Harper, Josh Robbins, Eric Nehm, Jo / The Athletic, 2026-10-03 18:22:37
拥有扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 的迈阿密热火真的是争冠球队吗？没有勒布朗·詹姆斯的洛杉矶湖人能有多强？后拉梅洛·鲍尔时代的夏洛特黄蜂又将何去何从？
随着训练营拉开帷幕，The Athletic 向其NBA编辑团队询问了每支球队在季前赛开打之际面临的一个最迫切的问题——以上只是部分回答。
以下是我们还关注的其他问题：
亚特兰大老鹰
这支球队值得押上更多筹码吗？
后特雷·杨时代的老鹰拥有总经理翁西·萨利赫最喜欢的词——“选择权”——而且数量充足：五名最佳年轻球员的合同都签到了2028年，明年夏天可能有最大薪资空间，外加一个来自新奥尔良鹈鹕或密尔沃基雄鹿的2027年乐透签。但他们真的足够出色，值得把这个有利局面转化为引进一位核心球星的重磅交易吗？上赛季下半段他们看起来确实如此，只是对阵纽约尼克斯的最后三场季后赛表现就没那么亮眼了。——约翰·霍林格
波士顿凯尔特人
德里克·怀特能找回投篮手感吗？
上赛季怀特唯一挣扎的技能，恰恰是他最引人注目的那项。他是联盟最好的护框型后卫，甚至是史上最佳之一。波士顿让他在防守端更多地远离球的位置，收到了成效。他会空切，会组织进攻，很少做出低智商的决策。但他就是投不进球，不仅三分不进，弧线内也不进。如果随着杰森·塔图姆的回归——塔图姆会让他的比赛轻松许多——怀特的得分能力恢复，同时其他宝贵技能依旧在线，那么这位凯尔特人后卫将有资格竞争东部最佳球员之一。——弗雷德·卡茨
布鲁克林篮网
小米克尔·布朗到底有多强？
尽管篮网拥有联盟第三差的战绩，他们却没能跳进2026年选秀前四的豪华区间，而是拿到了第六顺位并选中了路易斯维尔大学的布朗。那么他到底有多强？这个问题的答案可能决定这支球队的很多未来。他将加入一支在交易来朱利叶斯·兰德尔（但送走了尼克·克拉克斯顿）之后应该比去年更好的球队。篮网仍在向前看，而布朗将帮助决定这个未来有多光明。——迈克·沃尔库诺夫
夏洛特黄蜂
他们究竟有多强？
黄蜂上赛季前半段表现平平，后半段却非常出色。随后他们在附加赛中落败，并交易了队中最佳球员鲍尔，这表明管理层并不认为黄蜂真如后半段数据所显示的那样强。如今，他们围绕布兰登·米勒和康·克尼普尔进行了重组，而后者赛季初将无法保持健康。但球队似乎在今年一月找到了自我，本赛季将有助于为未来设定基准线，同时他们手握大量选秀资产，一旦管理层准备升级阵容便可作为筹码。——沃尔库诺夫
芝加哥公牛
凯莱布·威尔逊的表现能配得上他的 hype 吗？
球队未来的诸多规划，尤其是时间线，都取决于威尔逊能有多出色。球队正在为他投入资源，阵容的搭建和安排——比如布赖森·格雷厄姆引进老将射手——都是为了给他腾出空间并助力其成长。但他是不是公牛一直在等待的潜在超级巨星？这个问题的答案将决定公牛能否重返辉煌以及何时重返辉煌。——乔尔·洛伦齐
克利夫兰骑士
他们在埃文·莫布利身上做出了正确的选择吗？
骑士本可以在今年休赛期用莫布利交易得到扬尼斯或杰伦·布朗。其中一笔交易或许会改变勒布朗自由市场的走向，球队面貌也将截然不同。但管理层最终选择在莫布利身上三倍下注。从球队长期健康的角度来看，这很可能是正确的决定，但如今莫布利肩上的压力更大了。他防守端是精英级别，但他的进攻是否足以让骑士围绕他设计战术？——杰森·劳埃德
达拉斯独行侠
凯里·欧文能打多少场比赛？
缺席了整个上赛季的欧文表示，他已经准备好重返球场并“大干一场”。我相信他。我认为欧文还有不少高水平篮球可以打。我只是想知道他能打多少场。自2017-18赛季以来，欧文只有一个赛季出场超过65场。他的左膝已经历过四次不同的手术，并将在明年三月年满35岁。独行侠——高水平进攻发起点并不充裕——必须小心不要把他用废。——克里斯蒂安·克拉克
丹佛掘金
掘金的健康状况能撑得住吗？
尼古拉·约基奇是世界上最出色的球员之一。贾马尔·穆雷上赛季入选了全明星。然而，掘金不得不应对克里斯蒂安·布劳恩、阿隆·戈登和卡梅伦·约翰逊的伤病。约基奇甚至缺席了职业生涯新高的17场比赛。近年来，即使全员健康，阵容深度也一直是丹佛的隐忧。伤病是可能阻止丹佛在西部挑战俄克拉荷马城雷霆和圣安东尼奥马刺的主要问题。——杰森·琼斯
底特律活塞
谁将成为凯德·坎宁安的搭档？
即便杰伦·杜伦同意五年续约回归球队，关于他能否在季后赛中成为底特律第二好的球员的疑问依然存在。也许奥萨尔·汤普森会实现飞跃，成长为能为坎宁安分担进攻重担的人。又或者，这个人是约翰·科林斯——活塞今年休赛期引进他，预计是让他担任首发大前锋。——亨特·帕特森
金州勇士
亚克塞尔·伦德博格早期表现能有多好？
伦德博格不是典型的新秀。除了比大多数同龄人年长不少（他周三刚满24岁）之外，伦德博格进入本赛季时肩上的压力也更大，因为勇士需要他尽早且持续地打出好表现，以便球队在交易截止日前决定方向之前先赢下比赛。伦德博格的全场投篮能力广受赞誉，但他需要提高防守稳定性才能赢得史蒂夫·科尔的信任。——尼克·弗里德尔
亚克塞尔·伦德博格刚满24岁，比普通新秀年长不少。（Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images）
休斯顿火箭
弗雷德·范弗利特是他们问题的答案吗？
上赛季的火箭在一支52胜的球队中，可以说是最令人沮丧的之一。尽管战绩出色、年轻天赋众多，但每当第四节比赛节奏放缓时，这支球队有多迷茫，实在难以忽视。阿门·汤普森和里德·谢泼德在被推上火线后表现不错，但范弗利特才是这支球队迫切需要的可靠、老练的场上指挥官。如今32岁的他从右膝前交叉韧带撕裂中回归，他能产生足够大的影响，帮助休斯顿实现冠军梦想吗？——威廉·吉洛里
印第安纳步行者
他们还能重返争冠行列吗？
2025年，步行者打出了近年来最令人惊喜的季后赛之旅之一。但接下来的赛季，在没有明星泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿的情况下，步行者跌至积分榜底部，淡出了更大的讨论范围。随着伊维察·祖巴茨和小凯利·乌布雷的加盟，加上哈利伯顿从右跟腱撕裂中回归，印第安纳希望让质疑者闭嘴，再次在六月份打球。——谢基亚·泰勒
洛杉矶快船
布兰登·英格拉姆何时能准备好上场？
快船训练营是那些劲爆的休赛期话题回归到更实际的篮球事务的时候——比如主教练泰伦·卢没有完整的阵容可用。新近交易来的英格拉姆已经确定将缺席常规赛开局。这给所有人带来了更大压力，首当其冲的是控卫达里厄斯·加兰。伤病频发的加兰不仅要保持健康，快船才有机会，他还得等待进攻端的明星支援。对于洛杉矶试图建立的新组合来说，这不是一个理想的开局。但值得重复的一点是：卢早已习惯了这种处境。——劳·默里
洛杉矶湖人
卢卡领衔的湖人能有多强？
湖人今年夏天优先围绕卢卡·东契奇建队，为他配来了中锋沃克·凯斯勒，补充了年轻和运动能力，并找到了能投篮、能攻击扑防的球员。这是一支围绕球星打造的球队，但他们（或者他）足够出色，能带领球队登顶西部吗？——丹·沃伊克
孟菲斯灰熊
他们能指望扎克·伊迪吗？
灰熊正处于重建之年，这没什么问题。但关于球队未来方向的最大疑问之一是：伊迪是否是他们未来的中锋……还是说，上赛季限制他只打了11场的伤病会吞噬掉这位巨型中锋的职业生涯。——霍林格
迈阿密热火
热火真的能争夺总冠军吗？
训练营开启时，多名球员谈到本赛季迈阿密的氛围感觉不同，因为球队相信自己可以争冠。随着一位前五级别球员的加盟，这种感觉是自然的。但阿德托昆博与巴姆·阿德巴约在进攻端的兼容性，从表面上看并不无缝，而且阿德托昆博需要整个赛季保持健康，迈阿密才有争冠的可能。热火对赛季开局充满信心，但在一个重塑且强队林立的东部，有多个理由让人认为球队的宏大目标可能难以实现。——埃里克·内姆
密尔沃基雄鹿
赛季结束时阵容里会留下谁？
总经理乔恩·霍斯特和主教练泰勒·詹金斯强调，雄鹿不是在重建，而是在为下一支争冠球队积蓄力量。他们的行动是否与这些话相符，值得观察。可以说，最好的建队方式是交易走迈尔斯·特纳、凯尔·库兹马、泰勒·希罗和小凯文·波特等老将，为有望成为基石的年轻球员腾出空间。但赛季中的交易也可能动摇球队，让赢球习惯更难建立。——内姆
明尼苏达森林狼
拉梅洛将如何应对真正的利害关系？
森林狼今年夏天在鲍尔身上押下重注，相信他的传球和进攻创造力将解放安东尼·爱德华兹，帮助球队重返西部争冠行列。鲍尔在夏洛特的六个赛季里从未打过季后赛。有人怀疑他自由奔放的风格是否适应季后赛的强度，以及当比赛对抗加剧时他能否保持健康。到目前为止，森林狼对鲍尔展现的一切都很满意，并相信在这支球队打球所伴随的期望，会激发出他迄今为止的最佳版本。——乔恩·克劳钦斯基
新奥尔良鹈鹕
他们能有一次保持健康吗？
如果我告诉你，锡安·威廉森、特雷·墨菲三世和赫伯·琼斯一共只一起打了89场比赛呢？这不是过去几个赛季的数据，而是自墨菲和琼斯2021年加入鹈鹕以来的总和。畅想德里克·奎因和杰迈亚·菲尔斯的未来固然令人兴奋，但这支球队拥有足够的老将天赋，可以在西部搅局。这些家伙真的能上场吗？还是历史将重演？——吉洛里
纽约尼克斯
夺冠之后，他们还有同样的斗志吗？
这一代尼克斯以永不放弃、化不可能为可能、扛起美国最大城市之重而铸就传奇。在夺得总冠军、卸下无数渴望登上这项运动之巅的球迷的沉重期待之后，我很想看看纽约能否保持那股锐气。从理论上讲，尼克斯可以放松了。他们可以卸下重担。他们夺冠了。但他们言谈之间仿佛并不满足。现在，他们必须证明这一点。——詹姆斯·L·爱德华兹三世
迈克·布朗和他的尼克斯在为纽约带来53年来首个NBA总冠军后，正寻求卫冕。（Al Bello / Getty Images）
俄克拉荷马城雷霆
受财务影响的决策会动摇他们的统治力吗？
俄克拉荷马城已连续三年称霸西部，很大程度上是因为他们打造了一台常规赛机器。雷霆的阵容一直充斥着体系球员，他们能够弥补非超级巨星的产出，掩盖轮换中的缺员。然而，这种深度在今年夏天受到了冲击。这会如何影响他们季后赛时的体能状态？像卡森·华莱士和阿杰·米切尔这样的主力轮换球员，将被迫承担怎样的后续负荷？——洛伦齐
奥兰多魔术
肖恩·斯威尼将如何改进半场进攻？
魔术对首年主教练斯威尼寄予厚望，但受制于工资帽和税线，球队官员在休赛期只为改进半场进攻做出了一笔重要引援：具备空间能力的内线尼古拉·武切维奇。他应该能帮助球队在关键时刻更好地执行进攻，但球队仍然缺乏可靠的场上指挥官和足够的三分火力。依靠防守来推动快攻、轻松得分是一回事。但以斯威尼接手的这套阵容，他恐怕很难提升半场进攻。——乔什·罗宾斯
费城76人
这一切该如何运转？
谁来投最后一球？谁是球队得分王？这一切如何整合？拥有如此多高火力进攻球员，76人必须找到办法将它们捏合起来——他们自己也清楚这一点。关键词是牺牲。谁来做，做多少？如果76人想明白了，他们可以夺冠。如果没想明白，他们可能季后赛首轮出局。——托尼·琼斯
菲尼克斯太阳
杰伦·格林能给他们带来什么？
太阳想要在西部竞争，而杰伦·格林是实现这一目标的关键。作为凯文·杜兰特交易的核心筹码之一，格林上赛季缺席了50场比赛，主要是腿筋问题。对这位运动能力出色的后卫来说，那并非一个荒废的赛季——他在赛季末段有过一些亮眼表现——但他与德文·布克之间的化学反应和默契始终未能建立。这正是太阳本赛季需要格林提供的：不仅仅是一个得分手，而是一个能让队友变得更好的后卫。——道格·哈勒
波特兰开拓者
开拓者能让四名控卫共存吗？
拥有达米安·利拉德、贾·莫兰特、朱·霍勒迪和斯库特·亨德森，开拓者坐拥四名天赋控卫……别忘了还有控球前锋德尼·阿夫迪亚，他2025-26赛季的爆发正是源于持球创造的自由。新任主教练米卡·诺里能否让所有人都开心——更重要的是，都保持高效——预计将成为开拓者赛季初的核心剧情。从纸面上看，诺里将这种拥挤视为一种奢侈——他进攻体系的核心将聚焦于球的转移和决策——但诺里的构想有一个不可预测的变量：情绪。诺里能否设计出一套让球员既高效又满意的方案？还是说，受伤的感情会迫使球队做出改变？——杰森·奎克
萨克拉门托国王
年轻化进程会全面启动吗？
小达里厄斯·阿卡夫是未来。但扎克·拉文和多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯还会在国王的现在停留多久？国王已经投资了多名年轻球员，其中一些人在拉文和萨博尼斯上赛季因伤缺阵期间获得了上场时间。老将们会整个赛季都打大量时间，还是会被逐步边缘化并最终被交易？——琼斯
圣安东尼奥马刺
迪伦·哈珀的角色将如何演变？
哈珀正在大力敲响马刺首发阵容的大门，这已不是秘密。达龙·福克斯上赛季对球队至关重要，即便他在季后赛中带伤挣扎。哈珀一直努力说着得体的话，但他也想成为超级巨星——这无可厚非。如果他本赛季的进步幅度与上赛季相当，那么在比赛的关键时刻让他坐在板凳上就太屈才了。——贾里德·韦斯
多伦多猛龙
科怀·伦纳德能让他们重返争冠行列吗？
撇开“伦纳德能否保持健康”这个前提不谈，东部的竞争激烈程度前所未有。猛龙去年打进了季后赛首轮抢七。用伦纳德替换布兰登·英格拉姆，能让他们跻身顶级强队之列吗？他们（又一次）押注答案是肯定的。——扎克·哈珀
犹他爵士
全员健康时，这支球队会是什么样子？
多年来第一次，爵士派上球场的阵容是以赢球为目标的。我们将看到劳里·马尔卡宁和小贾伦·杰克逊在前场如何搭配，也将看到基翁特·乔治和新秀达伦·彼得森在后场的表现。但最重要的是，我们将看到爵士整个赛季的投入程度。当他们全力投入时，这看起来像一支季后赛阵容吗？——哈珀
华盛顿奇才
他们能从摆烂转向赢球吗？
奇才过去三个赛季场均只赢16.7场，如今他们将在继续培养年轻球员的同时尝试赢球。对于一群在NBA只尝过失败滋味的年轻人来说，尝试赢球、争夺附加赛或季后赛席位，意味着巨大的转变。像亚历克斯·萨尔和基肖恩·乔治这样的现有年轻球员，以及备受瞩目的新秀AJ·迪班萨，将如何应对这种压力？特雷·杨和安东尼·戴维斯又能提供多大帮助？——罗宾斯
由生成式 AI 翻译，翻译内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
查看原文：Every NBA team's biggest burning question as the preseason begins
Every NBA team’s biggest burning question as the preseason begins
Are the Miami Heat actually contenders with Giannis Antetokounmpo? How good can the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers be? And what about the post-LaMelo Ball Charlotte Hornets?
With training camp underway, The Athletic asked its NBA staff for one burning question facing each team as preseason games get going — and those are just a few of the responses offered.
Here’s what else we have our eyes on:
Atlanta Hawks
Is this team worth pushing in more chips?
The post-Trae Young Hawks have general manager Onsi Saleh’s favorite word — “optionality” — in abundance, with the five best young players signed through 2028, potential max cap room next summer and a likely 2027 lottery pick courtesy of the New Orleans Pelicans or Milwaukee Bucks. But are they good enough to warrant turning that favorable situation into a blockbuster trade for a leading man? They certainly looked that way in the second half of last season, just not so much in the final three playoff games against the New York Knicks. — John Hollinger
Boston Celtics
Will Derrick White regain his shooting stroke?
The only skill White struggled with last season was the one that stands out most. He was the best rim-protecting guard in the league, one of the best ever. Boston positioned him on defense away from the ball more, and it paid off. He cuts. He runs an offense. He rarely makes low-IQ plays. But he couldn’t hit a shot, not just from 3 but from inside the arc, too. If White’s scoring recovers with the return of Jayson Tatum — who will make his life easier — as the rest of his invaluable skills remain, then the Celtics’ guard will have an argument as one of the best players in the Eastern Conference. — Fred Katz
Brooklyn Nets
How good is Mikel Brown Jr.?
The Nets did not jump into a loaded top four in the 2026 draft despite owning the third-worst record in the league. Instead, they got the sixth pick and took Brown out of Louisville. So how good is he? The answer to that question could determine a lot for the franchise. He’ll join a team that should be better than last year after it traded for Julius Randle (but traded away Nic Claxton). The Nets are still looking forward, and Brown will help determine how bright that future looks. — Mike Vorkunov
Charlotte Hornets
Exactly how good are they?
The Hornets were not very good for half of last season, then great for the second half. Then, they lost in the Play-In Tournament and traded their best player, Ball, signaling that the front office didn’t think the Hornets were as good as their second-half numbers suggested. Now, they’ve reloaded around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, who won’t be healthy at the start of the season. But the team seemed to find itself last January, and this season will help set the baseline of the future, with plenty of draft assets as ammunition if and when that front office is ready to upgrade. — Vorkunov
Chicago Bulls
Will Caleb Wilson’s production match his hype?
So much of the organization’s future, specifically its timeline, hinges on how good Wilson can be. Resources are being dedicated to him. The roster has been built and arranged — see Bryson Graham adding veteran shooters — to make room for and aid in his development. But is he the potential superstar the Bulls have been waiting on? Whether he is could determine if/when the Bulls return to glory. — Joel Lorenzi
Cleveland Cavaliers
Did they make the right call on Evan Mobley?
The Cavs could’ve traded Mobley for Giannis or Jaylen Brown this offseason. One of those moves may have changed the outcome of LeBron’s free agency, and this team would have suddenly looked dramatically different. Instead, the organization tripled down on Mobley. It was likely the right call for the long-term health of the franchise, but now there’s more pressure on Mobley. He’s elite defensively, but is there enough there on offense for the Cavs to run actions through him? — Jason Lloyd
Dallas Mavericks
How many games will Kyrie Irving play?
Irving, who missed all of last season, said he’s ready to get back on the floor and “kick butt.” I believe him. I think Irving still has a lot of high-level basketball left. I’m just wondering how often he’s going to play. Irving has played more than 65 games in a season once since 2017-18. He’s also had four different surgeries on his left knee and will turn 35 in March. The Mavericks — not exactly bursting at the seams with other high-level offensive initiators — must be careful not to wear him down. — Christian Clark
Denver Nuggets
Will the Nuggets’ health hold up?
Nikola Jokić is one of the best players in the world. Jamal Murray was an All-Star last season. The Nuggets, however, had to deal with injuries to Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson. Jokić even missed a career-high 17 games. Depth has been a concern in Denver in recent seasons, even at full strength. Injuries are the main issue that could keep Denver from challenging the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the West. — Jason Jones
Detroit Pistons
Who will be Cade Cunningham’s co-star?
Even with Jalen Duren back in the fold after agreeing to a five-year extension, questions will remain about whether he can be Detroit’s second-best player during the postseason. Maybe Ausar Thompson takes a leap and blossoms into someone who takes the offensive burden off Cunningham. Or maybe it’s John Collins, whom the Pistons acquired this offseason, presumably to be their starting power forward. — Hunter Patterson
Golden State Warriors
How good can Yaxel Lendeborg be early?
Lendeborg isn’t your typical rookie. Aside from the fact that he’s much older than most of his peers (he turned 24 on Wednesday), Lendeborg comes into the season with a larger amount of pressure on his shoulders given that the Warriors need him to play well early and often as they try to win games before deciding which direction to take at the trade deadline. Lendeborg has drawn praise for his ability to shoot from all over the floor, but he needs to improve his defensive consistency to gain Steve Kerr’s trust. — Nick Friedell
Yaxel Lendeborg just turned 24, making him older than your normal rookie. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
Houston Rockets
Is Fred VanVleet the answer to their problems?
Last year’s Rockets were about as frustrating as a team could be during a 52-win season. Despite the wins and young talent, it was hard to overlook how lost this team was whenever the game slowed down in the fourth quarter. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard performed well after getting thrown in the fire, but VanVleet is the reliable, savvy floor general this team desperately needs. As he returns from a torn right ACL at 32, can he make a big enough impact to help Houston reach its championship aspirations? — William Guillory
Indiana Pacers
Can they be a contender again?
In 2025, Indiana had one of the most surprising playoff runs in recent memory. But the following season, without star Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers fell to the bottom of the standings and out of the larger conversation. With the addition of Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr., plus Haliburton’s return from his torn right Achilles tendon, Indiana hopes to put its doubters to rest and find itself playing in June once again. — Shakeia Taylor
LA Clippers
When will Brandon Ingram be ready to play?
Clippers training camp is when explosive offseason narratives normalize into more relevant basketball things — like coach Tyronn Lue not having a full roster to work with. The recently acquired Ingram is already out to start the regular season. That puts more pressure on everyone, starting with point guard Darius Garland. Not only does the oft-injured Garland have to stay healthy for the Clippers to have a chance, but he also has to wait for star help offensively. Not an ideal start for a new partnership that LA is trying to establish. But the silver lining bears repeating: Lue is used to these circumstances. — Law Murray
Los Angeles Lakers
How good are the Luka Lakers?
The Lakers prioritized building around Luka Dončić this summer, getting him his center in Walker Kessler, adding youth and athleticism and finding players who can shoot and attack closeouts. It’s a team built around a star, but are they (or is he) good enough to get them to the top of the West? — Dan Woike
Memphis Grizzlies
Can they count on Zach Edey?
The Grizzlies are in a rebuilding year, and that’s fine. But one of the biggest questions about their eventual direction is whether Edey is their center of the future … or whether the injuries that limited him to just 11 games last season will swallow up the behemoth big man’s career. — Hollinger
Miami Heat
Can the Heat actually contend for a title?
As training camp opened, multiple players talked about the energy feeling different in Miami this season, because the team believes it can contend. With the addition of a top-five player, that feeling is natural. But the offensive fit of Antetokounmpo next to Bam Adebayo does not look seamless on the surface, and Antetokounmpo will need to stay healthy all season for Miami to contend. The Heat are confident to start the season, but there are multiple reasons to think the team’s lofty goals might not be obtainable in a remade and loaded East. — Eric Nehm
Milwaukee Bucks
Who ends the season on the roster?
General manager Jon Horst and coach Taylor Jenkins emphasized that the Bucks are not rebuilding but rather building toward their next contending team. It’s worth watching how their actions match those words. An argument could be made that the best way to build is trading away veterans like Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Herro and Kevin Porter Jr. to make room for the young players who will hopefully serve as foundational pieces. But in-season trades can also destabilize a team and make winning habits more difficult to build. — Nehm
Minnesota Timberwolves
How will LaMelo handle playing with real stakes?
The Timberwolves made a big bet on Ball this summer, believing that his passing and offensive ingenuity would unlock Anthony Edwards and help the team get back into contention in the Western Conference. Ball never played in a playoff game in his six seasons in Charlotte. Some wonder whether his free-wheeling style will fit the intensity of the playoffs and whether he can stay healthy when the games get extra physical. The Wolves have loved everything they have seen from Ball so far and believe the expectations that come with playing on this team will bring out the best version of him to date. — Jon Krawczynski
New Orleans Pelicans
Can they stay healthy for once?
What if I told you Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones have played 89 games together? That’s not over the past few seasons; that’s since Murphy and Jones joined the Pelicans in 2021. It’s exciting to think about what Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears will be in the future, but this team has enough veteran talent to be frisky in the West. Will these guys actually play? Or will history repeat itself? — Guillory
New York Knicks
Will they have the same fire after winning?
This iteration of the Knicks has built a legacy on never giving up, turning the impossible into possible and carrying the weight of America’s largest city. After winning the title and removing the weight of a massive fanbase starving to be at the sport’s mountaintop, I’m fascinated to see if New York will keep that edge. The Knicks, in theory, can relax. They can drop their shoulders. They won the title. But they talk as if they’re not satisfied. Now, they have to show it. — James L. Edwards III
Mike Brown and his Knicks are looking to repeat after bringing New York its first NBA title in 53 years. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder
Will financially influenced decisions alter dominance?
Oklahoma City has topped the West three years straight, in large part because it has formulated a regular-season machine. The Thunder’s rosters have been loaded with system players who can supplant their non-superstar production and mask absences in the rotation. That depth took a hit this summer, though. How might that affect their conditioning come playoff time? What subsequent loads will their mainstay rotation players — like Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell — be forced to bear? — Lorenzi
Orlando Magic
What will Sean Sweeney do to improve the half-court offense?
The Magic have high hopes for Sweeney, a first-year head coach, but team officials, constrained by the salary cap and tax aprons, made only one major offseason player addition to improve the half-court offense: floor-spacing center Nikola Vučević. He should help the offense execute in late-game situations, but the team still doesn’t have a reliable floor general or enough 3-point shooting. It’s one thing to rely on the defense to help get out and run for easy baskets. But with the roster Sweeney inherited, he likely will be hard-pressed to improve the half-court offense. — Josh Robbins
Philadelphia 76ers
How does it all work?
Who takes the last shot? Who leads the team in scoring? How does it all come together? With so many high-octane offensive players, the Sixers will have to figure out a way to put it together — and they know it. The key word is sacrifice. Who will do it, and how much? If the Sixers figure it out, they can win a championship. If they don’t, they could lose in the first round of the playoffs. — Tony Jones
Phoenix Suns
What will Jalen Green give them?
The Suns want to challenge in the West. Jalen Green is the key to making it happen. A centerpiece of the Kevin Durant trade, Green missed 50 games last season, mostly because of hamstring issues. It wasn’t a lost season for the athletic guard — he had some nice moments late — but the chemistry and rhythm with Devin Booker never developed. That’s what the Suns will need from Green this season. Not just a scorer, but a guard who makes his teammates better. — Doug Haller
Portland Trail Blazers
Can the Blazers make four point guards work?
With Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, the Blazers have four talented point guards … and don’t forget point forward Deni Avdija, whose breakout 2025-26 season was rooted in the freedom to create with the ball. Whether new coach Micah Nori can keep them all happy — and, more importantly, effective — figures to be the central plot in the Blazers’ early season. On paper, Nori sees the logjam as a luxury — the crux of his offense will be focused on ball movement and decision-making — but Nori’s vision has one unpredictable variable: emotion. Can Nori devise a plan in which players are both effective and content? Or will hurt feelings force a move? — Jason Quick
Sacramento Kings
Will the youth movement go into full effect?
Darius Acuff Jr. is the future. But how long will Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis be part of the Kings’ present? The Kings have invested in several young players, some of whom benefited from playing time while LaVine and Sabonis missed time last season with injuries. Will vets play heavy minutes all season or be phased out and eventually traded? — Jones
San Antonio Spurs
What will Dylan Harper’s role become?
It is no secret that Harper is knocking on the door — loudly — of the Spurs’ starting lineup. De’Aaron Fox was vital to the team last season, even if he struggled through injury in the postseason. Harper has been trying to say the right things, but he also wants to be a superstar — and rightly so. If he improves as much this season as he did last, he will be too good to spend crucial moments of games on the bench. — Jared Weiss
Toronto Raptors
Does Kawhi Leonard make them contenders again?
After you get past the “if Kawhi can be healthy” of it all, the East is as stacked as it’s ever been. The Raptors made it to Game 7 of the first round last year. Does swapping in Leonard for Brandon Ingram put them in the upper echelon? They’re betting that the answer to that is yes (again). — Zach Harper
Utah Jazz
What does this team look like at full strength?
For the first time in years, the Jazz are putting a team on the floor with the intention of winning. We’ll see how Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. fit together up front, and we’ll see how Keyonte George and rookie Darryn Peterson look in the backcourt. But mostly, we’ll see the Jazz commit for the whole season. Does this look like a playoff roster when they do? — Harper
Washington Wizards
Can they transition from tanking to winning?
The Wizards averaged 16.7 wins over the last three seasons, and now they’ll attempt to win while they continue to develop their young players. Attempting to win and competing for a Play-In or playoff berth amounts to a significant change for a group of youngsters who’ve known nothing but losing in the NBA. How will incumbent young players such as Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, along with heralded rookie AJ Dybantsa, handle the pressure? And how much of a help will Trae Young and Anthony Davis be? — Robbins
By Mike Vorkunov, James L. Edwards III, Fred Katz, Tony Jones, Zach Harper, Josh Robbins, Eric Nehm, Jo / The Athletic
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