NBA.com’s latest Eastern Conference offseason rankings reflect a league that looks crowded and unsettled after a wild summer.
John Schuhmann’s updated list puts the Knicks first, with the defending NBA champions still sitting atop the conference after bringing in Andre Drummond to support a core built around Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The question in New York isn’t whether the roster has the talent to stay in front of the pack. It’s whether the Knicks can get anywhere close to last season’s historically dominant playoff run.
Philadelphia comes in at No. 2 after the kind of offseason that changes a team’s entire ceiling. The 76ers added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, pushing them near the top of the East in Schuhmann’s view. The fit comes with obvious firepower, but he also raises the issue of how much ball movement the offense will actually generate and whether Joel Embiid can be the anchor on defense.
Cleveland slips to No. 3 even after keeping much of the roster that reached last year’s Eastern Conference finals together. That continuity could help the Cavaliers, Schuhmann notes, but the bigger concern is whether they can clean up the slow starts that haunted them all season and into the playoffs. Mario Hezonja is the team’s key addition, and James Harden is still listed as the notable unsigned free agent.
Toronto’s rise to No. 4 is tied to a projected trade for Kawhi Leonard, assuming the move becomes official. The Raptors’ place near the top of the conference comes with the same warning signs that have followed them before: health and rebounding.
Detroit lands at No. 5 after a 60-win season and offseason additions of John Collins and Isaiah Joe. Schuhmann’s main question is a familiar one for the Pistons - whether Cade Cunningham has enough offensive help around him.
Boston checks in at No. 6 after losing Jaylen Brown and adding Paul George and Mitchell Robinson. The Celtics still have plenty of talent, but Schuhmann is watching to see if Derrick White can get back on track offensively.
Indiana sits seventh, with the Pacers expecting Tyrese Haliburton back healthy after a gap year. Schuhmann also points to Ivica Zubac as a possible stabilizer for a defense that has struggled for several seasons.
Miami is No. 8 after the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who gives the Heat a new-look frontcourt alongside Bam Adebayo. The concern, though, is whether the rest of the roster has enough depth and shooting in the backcourt.
Atlanta rounds out the top 10 at No. 9, bringing in Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and rookie Kingston Flemings. The Hawks still look like one of the more interesting teams in the conference, but their upside remains tied to the continued growth of Jalen Johnson. Orlando follows at No. 10, essentially running it back under new coach Sean Sweeney while trying to fix two persistent issues: defense and shooting.
Washington is one of the biggest swings on the board at No. 12, with Anthony Davis, Trae Young and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa giving the Wizards major wild-card energy.
Chicago comes in at No. 13 under new coach Tiago Splitter after adding Nic Claxton and Norman Powell. The Bulls’ biggest issue remains depth.
Brooklyn is next at No. 14 after bringing in Julius Randle, Mo Wagner and rookie Mikel Brown Jr., but the emphasis there is still on development more than immediate results.
At the bottom of the list, Milwaukee begins the post-Giannis Antetokounmpo era at No. 15. Schuhmann says the Bucks do have several promising young players, but the expectation is that the rebuild will come with growing pains.
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