With the NBA offseason mostly complete and the season quickly approaching it’s time to start evaluating each team. Whether you’re a clear contender or a lottery dweller every team has significant questions attached to them. Let’s dive into one question for every Eastern Conference team. The Western Conference version of this list can be found here.
1 Question For Every Eastern Conference NBA Team
Atlanta Hawks: Is Trae Young Their Franchise Star?
The Hawks had no choice but to break up the backcourt pairing of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray this offseason. They opted to trade Murrary for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, and two first-round picks. Additionally, the Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher as the No. 1 overall pick. While the Hawks aren’t better from a talent standpoint the roster is a much better fit around Young. In many ways, this feels like the last chance to build around Trae. If the Hawks have a successful season then they might look to add another star next to Trae. However, if they have another disappointing year the Hawks could move on from him and enter a full rebuild.
Boston Celtics: Is Success Sustainable In The Second Apron Era?
The reigning champs are coming off a dominant 64-win season and a 16-3 playoff run. Boston’s talent and balance is unmatched. With offseason extensions to Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, the Celtics are set to have a historically expensive roster. Notably, in the 2025-26 season, their luxury tax penalty exceeds their payroll meaning the Celtics will pay close to $500 million dollars for this elite roster. Boston’s 2024-25 cap figures aren’t far off from this. In the second-apron era, it’s fair to wonder how long this core’s title window is. The NBA’s goal with these new tax penalties is to increase parity and disincentive dynasties. Notably, there hasn’t been a back-to-back champion since the Warriors in 2018. It will certainly be interesting to see if the Celtics can break this trend this year and sustain long-term success going forward despite various tax penalties.
Brooklyn Nets: Who Will Benefit From Increased Opportunity?
The Nets bottomed out and entered a full rebuild by trading Mikal Bridges in exchange for six first-round picks. Furthermore, they acquired several of their own picks back in a deal with the Rockets. A rebuild always allows opportunities for surprising players. Cam Thomas will likely up his scoring average even more and Nic Claxton will further develop his offensive game. However, who are some players that could make a surprising leap? Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead were two first-round picks in 2023 they are both primed for this type of opportunity. Day’Ron Sharpe and Jalen Wilson are two other candidates. Maybe just maybe Ben Simmons can rejuvenate his career.
Charlotte Hornets: What’s LaMelo Ball’s Future With The Team?
Admittedly this one might sound weird but it’s a reasonable question. LaMelo Ball has been considered the future of the franchise since being drafted in 2020. However, he played in just 58 total games over the past two seasons. Ball’s injury history along with the emergence of Brandon Miller brings into question his future or at least overall importance to the Hornets. Trading LaMelo doesn’t feel likely at this point but drafting another guard or not prioritizing Ball in their long-term plans feels quite possible. Ultimately, this is a make-or-break season for Ball.
Chicago Bulls: How Will The Guards Fit Together?
The Bulls traded for Josh Giddey this offseason. Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball are returning from injuries. Coby White had a breakout season with more opportunity than ever. 24-year-old Ayo Dosunmu guard has shown plenty of promise and is coming off a career season. All of these players need the ball in their hands to be successful. Making it fair to wonder how they’ll mesh. LaVine is a prime candidate to get traded however, there has been no suitor for almost a year. It’s unclear if Giddey can rejuvenate his career and if White can continue his stellar play with a loaded backcourt.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Should They Stick With The Double Bigs?
The Cavs have had two consecutive playoff appearances including their first series win since 2018 this past year. However, it’s unclear if the two bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are a long-term fit together. Despite being elite defensively neither are three-point threats. It’s difficult to have two non-spacers in your starting lineup regardless of position. The fit comes into question as the Cavs had a 14-4 stretch without Mobley in the regular season. When Allen was out in the playoffs Mobley elevated his play averaging 21 points against the Celtics and the overall offense looked smoother. Perhaps new head coach Kenny Atkinson can improve the offense and Mobley becomes a consistent outside threat. If not this could be the last year of the big men pairing.
Detroit Pistons: Can They Make a Significant Jump?
The Pistons have been rebuilding for the past five seasons. Last season they won a league-worst 14 games and set an all-time losing streak record of 28. However, the team has solid young talent including Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Jalen Duren. The main issue has been with the team’s lack of floor spacing causing a bad fit. The Pistons addressed this need in several ways including singing Tobias Harris, and Malik Beasley as well as trading for Tim Hardaway Jr. The Pistons’ hiring of well-known developmental head coach JB Bickerstaff and shooting guru Fred Vinon as an assistant coach will greatly benefit the team. Vinon could help Cunningham and Ivey make significant strides as shooters. Even winning within the 20s or low 30s and getting a 12 or 13 seed would be a sizable jump. However, their ceiling could be a fringe play-in team.
Indiana Pacers: How Can Their Defense Improve?
The Pacers are coming off a great season resulting in a surprising conference finals run. However, one concern all year was their defense which ranked 24th in the league. For the Pacers to be a consistent threat in the East their defense must improve. Without many offseason additions, it’s unclear how this issue can improve. Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam are two solid individual defenders however, they haven’t been enough to make the team an all-around consistent defense.
Miami Heat: Is This Jimmy Butler’s Last Year With The Team?
Many were expecting the Heat to trade Jimmy Butler and enter a new era this offseason. However, it appears the Heat will play it out as Butler’s contract is set to expire after this season. Unless Butler puts together a high-level regular season with consistent availability or the Heat make a surprising playoff run again it will likely be his last year with the team. Butler will be 35 in September and it will be difficult for the Heat to give him a long-term contract if one or both of those don’t happen.
Milwaukee Bucks: Can The Bucks Return To True Title Contention?
Many expected the duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to dominate the league. However, this was not the case as the Bucks finished as a 3-seed and were a first-round exit. It’s fair to point out that both stars were injured during the playoffs with Giannis missing the entire first round. Nevertheless, Milwaukee didn’t look like a contender all year and notably struggled defensively. They also made a mid-season coaching change letting go of Adrian Griffin in favor of Doc Rivers. Without many major upgrades this season it’s up to Giannis and Dame to figure it out as well as Rivers to help guide them on a deep playoff run.
New York Knicks: How Will The New Additions Impact Julius Randle?
After trading for Mikal Bridges and extending OG Anunoby the Knicks have two of the league’s best wing defenders. Additionally, the 2018 National Champion Villanova squad of Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart were fully reunited. In theory, Julius Randle shouldn’t have trouble fitting in with this group as Bridges and Anunoby aren’t very ball-dominant. The Knicks also went 12-2 with Brunson, Randle, and Anunoby all in the lineup. Randle will also be crucial as a small ball five as the Knicks lack center depth. However, Randle is extremely ball-dominant and it could be difficult for him to be further removed from the spotlight. As a result, it’s reasonable to speculate about how Randle will truly fit. There’s a scenario where things go south alternatively he could buy in and have a Karl-Anthony Towns type of impact.
Orlando Magic: Will Their Upgraded Shooting Be Enough To Compete?
The Magic had one of the best offseasons by addressing their main need of shooting. Orlando notably ranked deadlast in three-pointers made last season. They signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and drafted Tristan Da Silva. KCP was a 40% three-pointer shooter last season while Da Silva projects to provide an instant impact and is a knockdown shooter. The East certainly improved but these moves along with possible internal development from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner could be enough for the Magic to be a top-three-level team, especially with their elite defense.
Philadelphia 76ers: Can Joel Embiid and Paul George Stay Healthy?
On paper, the Sixers trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey fit perfectly together. If healthy they belong in conversations as a legit contender. However, Embiid and George both have extensive injury histories. If one or both players can’t stay healthy the Sixers aren’t contenders. This will be a massive concern all year especially as George is 34 making the Sixers window fairly limited. Despite consistently being one of the top teams in the conference the Sixers have yet to make a conference finals appearance with Embiid. Considering their roster upgrades the pressure is truly on Philly to have some sort of playoff success.
Toronto Raptors: Will Immanuel Quickley or RJ Barrett Have a Breakout Season?
The Raptors didn’t do much this offseason however, they gave Immanuel Quickley a three-year $175 million dollar extension. After being traded from the Knicks to the Raptors Quickley boosted his averages from 15 points, 2.7 assists to 18.6 points, and 6.8 assists. Given this, it’s possible the 25-year-old guard has another level to reach and is a candidate to have a breakout year. RJ Barrett also made improvements after being traded to the Raptors and could similarly have a breakout season. The Raptors have one of their franchise cornerstones in Scottie Barnes but they could possibly have another one with Quickley and Barrett.
Washington Wizards: What Are Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma’s Futures With the Team?
Ahead of the offseason, it was fair to expect the Wizards would double down on their rebuild by trading Kyle Kuzma and or Jordan Poole. While trading Poole might not have been wise given his low value Kuzma could have gotten the rebuilding Wizards a solid return. Instead, they traded 23-year-old Deni Avdija who was coming off a career year. Even with Kuzma, Poole, and offseason acquisitions Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas the Wizards are likely to be a bottom-three seed. However, they could look to go all-in on the youth movement by trading some of these players mid-season. Notably, the Wizards have three 2024 first-round picks on their roster. The 2025 draft class has plenty of top-end talent making it logical for the Wizards to fully bottom out and improve their young core.
