The NBA season is under way, and the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are title co-favorites at +300, according to BetMGM. Here are quick thoughts and potential questions for all 30 NBA teams.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Philadelphia 76ers: LeBron and Jaylen Buzz
Win Total: 50.5, Championship Odds: +850
The addition of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown sent the futures market into a tizzy. Will LeBron truly embrace a supporting role and let the young guns cook? Do not forget that fragile Joel Embiid is one knee injury away from retirement.
New York Knicks: Championship Hangover in Gotham
Win Total: 52.5, Championship Odds: +1000
The Knicks won their first championship in 53 years, so fans won’t be disappointed when they don’t repeat as champions. They replaced defensive guru Mitchell Robinson with DeAndre Jordan, but attempted to run it back with their core four: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges.
Boston Celtics: One Jay Remains
Win Total: 51.5, Championship Odds: +1300
Jayson Tatum is back to full strength after recovering from Achilles surgery. The health status of newly acquired Paul George is a major concern. The Celtics signed a much-needed rim protector in Mitchell Robinson.
Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Reprise
Win Total: 45.5, Championship Odds: +1600
Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto, but the Raptors surrendered Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick in the trade to the Clippers. So long as he stays healthy, Leonard improves a starting five that includes Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl.
Cleveland Cavs: Another High-Octane Playoff Bust?
Win Total: 47.5, Championship Odds: +3000
The Cavs’ high-scoring offense dominated the regular season, but fizzled out in the playoffs. The Cavs passed on a second LeBron James reunion. Kenny Atkinson will lean heavily on his veteran quartet of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Eric Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. They added Peyton Watson, but lost Max Strus, so their bench is thin.
Detroit Pistons: Contender or Pretender in the Big D?
Win Total: 49.5, Championship Odds: +3000
The Pistons were the best team in the East last season but were a second-round flameout. Aside from Cade Cunningham, the Pistons lacked another reliable scoring threat in the postseason. They extended Jalen Duran, added John Collins and Isiah Joe, and traded up to draft coveted point guard Ebuka Okorie.
Indiana Pacers: Healthy Haliburton
Win Total: 44.5, Championship Odds: +4000
Tyrese Haliburton returns from an Achilles injury, and Pascal Siakam is coming off a career year. The Pacers bolstered their front line with Ivica Zubac. They added Kelly Oubre and Larry Nance, Jr. to strengthen their bench. Will the Pacers compete with the big dogs in the East, or be lumped into the crowded second tier?
Miami Heat: Greek Freak Goes to South Beach
Win Total: 46.5, Championship Odds: +5000
The Heat landed Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade that sent Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez to Milwaukee. They lost Norman Powell in free agency, but brought in Tim Haraway Jr. Pat Riley is also gambling that aging veterans Klay Thompson and Bobby Portis still have some gas in their tanks. The Heat also wisely avoided a LeBron James distraction. It’s now the Greek Freak and Bam Adebayo Show in South Beach.
Atlanta Hawks: ATL Shines with NAW and JJ
Win Total: 43.5, Championship Odds: +6000
When the Hawks traded Trae Young and ditched his heliocentric vibe, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.8 ppg) and Jalen Johnson (22.5 ppg) had career seasons. Without Young, the Hawks were finally able to play Quin Snyder’s quick-decision offense with a heavy dose of pick-and-rolls.
Orlando Magic: New Coach, No More Excuses
Win Total: 43.5, Championship Odds: +8000
Rookie head coach Sean Sweeney replaces Jahmal Mosley. No more excuses for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. We’ll soon find out if the young Magic will finally live up to their expectations or continue to be playoff fodder with another first-round exit.
Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Leaves Buzz City
Win Total: 37.5, Championship Odds: +15000
The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball, but they still have several talented young players anchored by Brandon Miller and sharpshooter Kon Knueppel. They added Naz Reid in the Ball trade, who will be a formidable frontline partner with Moussa Diabate.
Washington Wizards: Time to Rise Out of the Swamp
Win Total: 35.5, Championship Odds: +15000
The Wizards won the AJ Dybantsa sweepstakes and drafted the BYU star with the #1 pick. The Wiz now have a trio of up-and-coming stars including shooting guard Kyshawn George and center Alex Sarr. Will the Wiz crawl out of the basement and compete for a playoff spot in the first full season with Trae Young and Anthony Davis? Can Davis stay healthy for 60-plus games, or will they trade him?
Milwaukee Bucks: Post-Freak Era Begins
Win Total: 26.5, Championship Odds: +100000
The Bucks finally traded the disgruntled Antetokounmpo, and new head coach Taylor Jenkins replaced Doc Rivers. Expectations are low with a win total of 26.5. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. join a starting five that includes Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and Ryan Rollins. They added two first-round draft picks in Brayden Burries and Nate Ament.
Chicago Bulls: CONTROL-ALT-DELETE
Win Total: 27.5, Championship Odds: +100000
The Bulls fired Billy Donovan and overhauled the roster. New head coach Tiago Splitter will oversee the rebuild. Veteran Norman Powell joins a mix of young talent, including forward Matas Buzelis, guard Josh Giddey, and the fourth-overall draft pick in Caleb Wilson.
Brooklyn Nets: Exile on Hipster Street
Win Total: 24.5, Championship Odds: +100000
Rookie head coach Jordi Fernandez inherits a team of castoffs. Julius Randle and Michael Porter, Jr. were exiled among the Brooklyn hipsters. They have talented young prospects like Egor Demin, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Mikel Brown, Jr. who was picked sixth overall in the draft.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder: On a Mission Without J-Dub
Win Total: 60.5, Championship Odds: +300
A healthy Thunder squad should’ve won back-to-back titles if Jalen Williams didn’t miss time in the playoffs. The Thunder seek to reclaim championship glory without their swingman. He sustained a gruesome, season-ending leg injury in the third game. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chases a third straight MVP.
San Antonio Spurs: Tough Road Back to the Finals
Win Total: 59.5, Championship Odds: +300
The Spurs seek redemption after the Knicks embarrassed them in the NBA Finals. Victor Wembanyama became a villain in last year’s playoffs for his immaturity and dirty tactics. Will opposing teams try to get under his skin this season? Expect Dylan Harper to make a huge leap in year two.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Ant Man and LaMelo
Win Total: 48.5, Championship Odds: +1800
If LaMelo Ball stays healthy, the Timberwolves could have the best backcourt in the NBA. Anthony Edwards and Ball are an electric duo who make the Timberwolves must-see TV this season. They made a smart decision to ditch Julius Randle and traded him to the Nets.
Houston Rockets: Van Vleet to the Rescue
Win Total: 47.5, Championship Odds: +2200
The Rockets couldn’t unload Kevin Durant, so they’re stuck with the NBA’s biggest Twitter troll. Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams return from injuries. This team has a mix of veterans and younger players like Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Reed Sheppard. Their depth is exactly what they need to compete with the Thunder and Spurs.
Denver Nuggets: Disappointing Offseason
Win Total: 49.5, Championship Odds: +3000
Aaron Gordon injuries and Jamal Murray’s late-game struggles doomed Denver’s playoff run last year. Once again, the Nuggets failed to build a strong roster around superstar Nikola Jokic. They traded Peyton Watson for next to nothing. They added scorer DeMar DeRozan, but he’s a defensive liability. The Nuggets are in danger of slipping into the Play-In Tournament zone.
Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Doncic’s Team
Win Total: 46.5, Championship Odds: +3500
The LeBron James era is over, so the Lakers are officially Luka Doncic’s team now. They inked Austin Reaves to a well-deserved contract extension. New additions Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, and Quentin Grimes add depth.
Portland Trail Blazers: Dame Returns
Win Total: 43.5, Conference Odds: +5500
Long-time assistant coach Micah Nori makes his head coaching debut. The Blazers are overloaded with guards, so will they trade Scoot Henderson or play small ball all season? Billionaire team owner Tom Dundon threatened to move the Trail Blazers to Kansas City or St. Louis, but the team insisted they’re committed to remaining in Portland. Diehard fans love that Damian Lillard is finally back from an Achilles injury, which gives Rip City something to celebrate.
Golden State Warriors: Bay Area Nostalgia
Win Total: 40.5, Championship Odds: +8000
The Warriors resemble a nostalgia act band playing tepid versions of their greatest hits. Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) should return midseason if they don’t trade him first. Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Al Horford hope good health is on their side. Kristaps Porzingis, the perpetually banged-up Unicorn, played 32 games in the last two years. The Warriors could sneak into the Play-In Tournament with their youngsters like Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Brandon Williams, and first-round draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg.
Phoenix Suns: Don’t Sleep on D-Book
Win Total: 38.5, Championship Odds: +12000
After cycling through three coaches in three seasons, Jordan Ott returns after a surprising 45-win campaign last year. Devin Booker leads a tough squad that includes Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Oso Ighodaro. They also drafted Koa Peat from the Arizona Wildcats.
Utah Jazz: No More Tanking?
Win Total: 35.5, Championship Odds: +15000
Will Hardy is one of the NBA’s best young coaches, but Danny Ainge insisted on tanking the last few seasons. They drafted Darryn Peterson with the #2 overall pick. The Jazz didn’t trade Lauri Markkanen because they wanted to build a team around him that also includes Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey.
Dallas Mavs: Old College Try with Dusty May
Win Total: 34.5, Championship Odds: +50000
The Mavs are gambling on a college coach making his NBA debut. Dusty May won a March Madness title with Michigan and made a magical Cinderella run with Florida Atlantic a few years ago. Last season’s Rookie of the Year, Cooper Flagg, is still a teenager yet he’s the best player on the Mavs. They drafted Morez Johnson Jr., who played for May at Michigan. Kyrie Irving returns after a lengthy rehab, but he’s already linked in trade rumors to the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic.
Memphis Grizzlies: Moving Forward Without Ja Morant
Win Total: 28.5, Championship Odds: +50000
The Ja Morant experiment failed, and the Grizzlies are eager to move on. They’re excited about Cameron Boozer, a Rookie of the Year contender. Boozer should make an immediate impact on a lineup that has Cedric Coward, Ty Jerome, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells.
L.A. Clippers: Picking Up the Pieces After the Kawhi Scandal
Win Total: 30.5, Championship Odds: +100000
The Kawhi Leonard scandal cost the Clippers five future first-round picks. All eyes will be on rookie guard Keaton Wagler, the #4 pick in the draft, who led Illinois to the Final Four. Keaton is their last first-rounder for a while. Darius Garland’s health is always a concern, but he’s the best player on the roster. Brandon Ingram and Max Strus will miss the start of the season with injuries.
New Orleans Pelicans: Will Zion Stay Healthy?
Win Total: 27.5, Championship Odds: +100000
Jamahl Mosley joined one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the NBA. The Pelicans have the second-lowest win total out of all Western Conference teams, even with talented players including Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, and Derik Queen. They added Bennedict Mathurin in free agency, and hope Zion plays 60-plus games for a second season in a row for the first time in his injury-plagued career.
Sacramento Kings: Cow Town Blues
Win Total: 21.5, Championship Odds: +100000
Head coach Doug Christie is the betting favorite to become the first fired head coach. Oddsmakers have little faith in the Kings, who have the NBA’s lowest win total at 21.5. The season just tipped off, and Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Keegan Murray are mentioned in trade rumors. The Kings drafted Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh pick, and he should get significant playing time with this lackluster squad.
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