1. BOSTON CELTICS
Predicted 2024-25 record: 60-22
Last season: 64-18, 1st in Eastern Conference
Last time…
The Celtics came off a title run was the 2008-09 campaign. They went 62-20 but got bounced in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
FanDuel championship odds: +310
Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 30, SG Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
No. 54, SF Anton Watson, Gonzaga
DEPARTURES: F Svi Mykhailiuk, F Oshae Brissett
VETERAN ADDITIONS: N/A
Big picture
Last season resulted in the 18th title in franchise history for Boston, which will be trying to run things back with a nearly identical group. Even though big man Kristaps Porzingis is expected to be in street clothes until December because of offseason ankle surgery, the Celtics are still loaded, with star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown set to lead the way. Basking in the glory of a championship is the last thing on Boston coach Joe Mazzulla’s mind, though, and the 36-year-old has frequently compared life on the court to the animal kingdom to make sure his team stays on the prowl.
Get to know: C Neemias Queta
A 38-year-old Al Horford is in line to take over down low while Porzingis recovers, meaning that Queta, Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman likely will be taking on expanded roles. It’ll probably be Kornet who serves as Horford’s primary backup, but Queta was a beacon of efficiency whenever he checked into a game last season. He was on a two-way contract for most of the campaign, and clearly the Celtics liked what they saw from him, evident by the full NBA deal that they gave him in early April.
2. NEW YORK KNICKS
Predicted 2024-25 record: 58-24
Last season: 50-32, 2nd in Eastern Conference
Last time…
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals was the year 2000, and they got there with a team that featured Rick Brunson. He’s now an assistant coach for New York, and his son, Jalen, is running the point.
FanDuel championship odds: +750
Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 25, SF/SG Pacome Dadiet, Germany
No. 34, PG Tyler Kolek, Marquette (acquired from Trail Blazers)
No. 56, SF Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas (acquired from Suns)
No. 58, C Ariel Hukporti, Germany (acquired from Mavericks)
DEPARTURES: F Julius Randle, G Donte DiVincenzo, F Bojan Bogdanovic, G Shake Milton, G Alec Burks, C/F Isaiah Hartenstein
VETERAN ADDITIONS: C/F Karl-Anthony Towns, G/F Mikal Bridges, G Cameron Payne
Big picture
Considering how much run he likes to give his starters, New York coach Tom Thibodeau is going to be living in paradise this season. He’ll have Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Bridges and Towns at his disposal on a nightly basis, and the challenge will be keeping that group fresh for a playoff run. The Knicks needed to send Randle and DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in order to get Towns, and it wasn’t long before a rivalry developed between the two teams, with DiVincenzo jawing at New York’s bench during a preseason game last Sunday.
Get to know: G Miles McBride
If anything is going to hamper the Knicks, it’ll be their bench. Someone is going to need to step up outside of New York’s starting five, and the 24-year-old McBride could be up to the task. He shouldered a massive load at the end of 2023-24, logging 36.7 minutes per game over his final 14 contests of the regular season. During that span, McBride averaged 15.2 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds.
3. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Predicted 2024-25 record: 53-29
Last season: 47-35, 7th in Eastern Conference
Last time…
The 76ers got at least 65 games out of Joel Embiid, the star center was named NBA MVP at the end of 2022-23. Embiid was held to 39 games (all starts) last season because of a knee injury.
FanDuel championship odds: +1000
Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 16, SG Jared McCain, Duke
No. 41, PF Adem Bona, UCLA
DEPARTURES: F Tobias Harris, F Nicolas Batum, C Mo Bamba, G Buddy Hield, G De’Anthony Melton, G Cameron Payne, C Paul Reed
VETERAN ADDITIONS: F Paul George, C Andre Drummond, G Eric Gordon, G Reggie Jackson, F Caleb Martin, F Guerschon Yabusele
Big picture
Philadelphia has more than enough talent to make a deep playoff run, but it will only be able to do so if Embiid and George are healthy. The Sixers are putting a lot of faith in the latter, signing George to a four-year, $212 million deal even though he’s played more than 60 games just once in the past five seasons. Then there’s Embiid, who told ESPN that his days of playing back-to-backs are likely over. Should Embiid or George miss significant time due to injury, Philadelphia could go from title contender to play-in team overnight.
Get to know: F Guerschon Yabusele
Yabusele broke into the league with one of the 76ers’ fiercest rivals, the Celtics, back in 2017, but he only lasted two seasons in Boston before taking his talents overseas. He caught everyone’s eye in the Paris Olympics, though, dropping 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting as France fell 98-87 to the United States in the men’s basketball gold medal game. Having frontcourt depth behind Embiid can never hurt, and perhaps Philadelphia found a diamond in the rough.
4. TORONTO RAPTORS
Predicted 2024-25 record: 35-47
Last season: 25-57, 12th in Eastern Conference
Last time…
The Raptors had back-to-back losing seasons was 2011-12 and 2012-13. However, Toronto finished above .500 in each of the next seven seasons, reaching the postseason each time, highlighted by a title in 2019.
FanDuel championship odds: +100000
Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 19, SG Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
No. 31, PF Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco
No. 45, PG Jamal Shead, Houston (acquired from Kings)
No. 57, PF Ulrich Chomche, NBA Academy Africa (acquired from Timberwolves)
DEPARTURES: G Gary Trent Jr., F Jalen McDaniels, F Mouhamadou Gueye
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Davion Mitchell, C Bruno Fernando
Big picture
Although it boasts some promising young talent, Toronto finds itself in an Atlantic Division loaded with heavyweights in the Celtics, Knicks and 76ers. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley came over from New York last season and flanked main attraction Scottie Barnes, and they should have even more defined roles in Year 2 across the border. Newcomer Mitchell could also provide a boost after tapering off over his final two seasons with the Sacramento Kings following a productive rookie campaign (11.5 points, 4.2 assists per game).
Get to know: G Gradey Dick
Dick is slated to be a full-time starter after coming off the bench in 43 of his 60 games last season, his rookie year. He was getting big-time minutes once the spring hit, and the 20-year-old carried himself well, averaging 12.6 points over his final 22 games of the season. If Dick can keep making strides in the right direction, the Raptors’ starting lineup won’t be one to just gloss over, and Toronto could end up securing a play-in berth.
5. BROOKLYN NETS
Predicted 2024-25 record: 21-61
Last season: 32-50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Last time…
The Nets made the playoffs was 2023, but that feels like decades ago considering they’ve entered a complete rebuild. A franchise that once had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden playing together will now be trying to ward off a last-place finish in the East.
FanDuel championship odds: +100000
Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
None
DEPARTURES: G/F Mikal Bridges, G Lonnie Walker IV, F Keita Bates-Diop
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Shake Milton, F Bojan Bogdanovic, F Ziaire Williams
Big picture
Out with the old and in with the new didn’t fully apply to Brooklyn this summer, as the Nets didn’t have a single pick in the 2024 draft. Sure, a new coach might help liven things up, but Brooklyn’s front office certainly didn’t do Jordi Fernandez any favors when it came to crafting a roster for his first season at the helm. With the spotlight shining far, far away from the Nets, maybe Ben Simmons thrives due to minimal pressure and starts playing at an All-Star level again. The 2018 Rookie of the Year appeared in just 15 games (12 starts) a season ago and averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 boards and 5.7 assists.
Get to know: G Cam Thomas
Thomas will be one of the few reasons to watch Brooklyn basketball over the next five-plus months. An explosive scorer who finished seventh in voting for Most Improved Player last season, Thomas, 23, dropped at least 40 points on four occasions in 2023-24. With Bridges now across town with the Knicks, the Nets’ offense is going to be running through Thomas, who should end up on All-Star watch.
