Predictions for the 2025-2026 NBA Season | Season Notes

Hello friends and family,

NBA preseason is upon us and the regular season is right around the corner. It is the time of year we make our predictions and hope that, in 9 months we stand corrected, at least I do.

We shall start with the first category: 

Teams I Am Curious About & Want To Watch

ATL Hawks

With the addition of Kristaps the Hawks have added more length to their starting line up, which will hopefully piece together their defense and increase their rating. Jalen Johnson will be back from his injury and he is set for another breakout year. Prior to getting hurt he was producing strong numbers along side Trae. Dyson Daniels will continue to ascend for the (hopeful) Hawks

Denver Nuggets

Let us discuss depth, which is the theme amongst the teams I am keenly observing throughout the year. Bruce Brown, Jonas, Cam Johnson and Tim Hardaway all make the Nuggets deeper and ready for the playoffs. You need depth and you never know who will get injured.

Clippers

Can I get a couple mill from Aspire? Brook Lopez, Derrick Jones, Brad Beal, John Collins all change the dynamic of this deep team. Chris coming off the bench is also key, with Kris Dunn playing beside him. Will Tyonn Lue adjust his offense to make sure everyone is getting touches and shots? Will Zubac become a dominant defensive center?

Spurs

Boy do they have a lot of depth...in the backcourt. Now how can you possibly tell me that Dylan, Stephon AND Fox will all have success there. Future trade coming? I think so, and I think they will package Fox and maybe Keldon Johnson.  Their bench and front court needs depth. 

Fantasy Dogs - "Predicting packed box scores while having a high usage rate"

Jaylen Brown

Josh Giddey

Pascal Siakam

Evan Mobley

Deni Avdija

The Glow Up - "The ascension of B to A level fantasy players"

Ausar Thompson

Jalen Johnson

Kevin Porter Jr

Reed Shepard

Depth is the Name of the Game

NY Knicks - The knickerbockers have added important depth to their roster adding Yabu and Clarkson. They did have Brogdon but he doesn't love the game anymore. Coach Brown will bring more players into the rotations, utilizing the depth.

N.O Pelicans - This was going to be my sleeper team because I do love their roster, if they can stay health. Looney is a veteran presence in the front court. Trey Murphy will continue to ascend. Derik McQueen will hopefully

Houston Rockets - Besides Fred going down, they have one of the more deeper teams. I am hoping they make a trade using draft picks for a back up point guard. Westbrook wasn't going to fit. Look out for the Rockets making a mid season trade to bolster their backcourt.

(Non) Nationally Televised Teams

These are the teams that won't get a lot of attention but have intriguing rosters to watch to see how the rotation plays out, play style, player development and potential as a team

Portland TrailBlazers - Yang Hansen, Shaedon Sharpe

Orlando Magic - Franz, Desmond, Tyus Jones

Detroit Pistons - Ausar, Duren, Duncan

All players to watch on their respective teams. How will they fit in, will it be a good fit, will their additions put their team over the hump and into the playoffs. All different points of criteria that I think about when it comes to scouting players.

MVP

It is his year, I believe it! Anthony Edwards will be this season's MVP! Heard it here first

Part II. Deeper Dive

"Keep An Eye On"

Yang Hansen:

Yang will turn heads in season. A playmaking big who can hit the outside shot and facilitate. Fan favorite already.

Matas Buzelis:

Prototypical wing except he has defensive instincts and A+ athleticism. Expect 17 & 8 from him. Big year for him to be #1 or 2 option.

Hugo Gonzalez:

Curious to see how the already polished 19 year old will playout. With good instincts for the game he may be a contributor already.

Zacharie Risacher:

He may be one of the most underrated players in the league. Long, dynamic and skilled, he will take the hawks to the next level. It will start defensively and on fast breaks.

Tounami Camara:

Versatile Defensive Beast. VDB, He can switch, play on ball and get back to the block for low post defense. Look for another break out year.

Cam Whitmore:

Raw athletic talent who can hopefully blossom in DC except they have CJ, Bub Carrington and other wings there. Get that man some minutes.

"In 2nd place is..."

VJ Edgecomb will come 2nd in ROTY voting

The Rockets will finish with the 2nd best defensive rating

The Hornets and Jazz will finish better than expected, Hornets will come close if not in the playoffs by the end of the year

Giannis will finish 2nd in MVP voting

AD will finish in the top 3 for Defensive player of the year

Pascal will finish on the 2nd All NBA Team

About 20 Games into the Merry Season

Quick Notes

The Kings, more like the jesters. No one really blames the previous GM for going all in on his last season in Sacramento. Obviously this blame always lands back with the owner Vivek. But throughout sports and across all leagues, soon-to-be ousted General Managers will spend or make moves that benefit, or appear to benefit, the short term. Trading for Zach, signing rental players like Dennis and Westbrook without bringing in younger depth is the true crime here. This roster was likely to not work out.

Solution: Trade Dennis and DeMar. Swap Devin Carter for another young player. Sit Domantas for most of the season in order to tank, or swing for the fences and package DeMar and him, although thats unlikely.

The Bulls. Yikes. No defense to even be passed around. Vuc's mobility is terrible and our PF and 3 position allow for drives and to be out rebounded. When our halfcourt defense gets broken down and defenders can't stay in front of their assignment (Josh), then we have no interior rotation to make up for the mistake. Time for a defensive center.

Solution: Trade Vuc + other expiring contracts. Pat williams wont be going anywhere soon ($$ & inconsistent play). Feature Matas more, especially drive and kicks. Get Zach Collins + Julian Philips more playing time.

The Hawks. What life without a ball dominant guard never felt so good. Good looks Nickeil ;). Without Trae, this long, athletic and defensive minded team is thriving due to no stagnancy in transition or after offensive rebounds. They are able to kick it out, run and get it up. No standing still, waiting for the half court offense to become initiated. I don't think they will trade Trae but they are having success without him.

Solution: Feature Jalen Johnson as primary ball handler. Less half court offense when Trae is in game. Run him off ball with Dyson or Nickeil to handle.

Say What?

Thank you Jaylen

Approaching the Deadline

Trae Young to the Wizards? To the Wolves? Not the latter, I don't think. He is a liability on the defensive end and when it come playoff time will be a detriment to a playoff team who is interested in trading for him, and the size of his contract