How Open is the Eastern Conference for the 2025-26 season?

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As the road to the 2025-26 NBA season begins following the 2025 NBA Draft, the biggest question being asked is knicks in the Eastern Conference next season. The 2024-25 season and playoffs saw several events shake up the conference for next season including major injuries to superstars, trades and more.

Atlanta Hawks

Last season, the Atlanta Hawks would finish with a 40-42 record and lose in their second Play-In tournament game against the Miami Heat. The Hawks would trade Dejounte Murray early during the season for a package including Dyson Daniels. With the start of the offseason, the Hawks have decided to keep their star guard in Trae Young instead of moving on from him. Instead of tanking or rebuilding, the team has decided to retool around Young. They would acquire Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis in hopes the duo can compete in the East. With players like Jalen Johnson on the rise, there are hopes the Hawks can land in a legitimate playoff spot next season.

Brooklyn Nets

Despite being linked to several superstars including Jimmy Butler and Giannis Antetokounmpo over the course of the season, the Brooklyn Nets have not had any success attracting any stars. The team would only win 26 games with many of those wins coming early in the season. Cam Thomas and Cameron Johnson would both have strong seasons and have turned into potential trade pieces for the Nets, with Johsnson being named in several rumors and linked to multiple teams. With Johnson likely being traded this offseason or before the 2026 trade deadline, many expect the Nets to remain in the same position were last season. For Brooklyn, their focus is likely to turn to the 2026 NBA Draft following questionable choices in the 2025 draft.

Boston Celtics

The 2025-26 Boston Celtics are going to be nowhere near the team that won the 2024 NBA championship. The biggest blow to the roster, Jayson Tatum is unlikely to come play next season despite rumblings that he could return for the second half of the season. In the days following the beginning of the 2025 offseason, the Celtics would make two big trades. Boston would first trade Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trailblazers for Anfernee Simons before trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks. While there have been rumblings teams are calling about Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, it’s unlikely either will be traded. Losing two key defensive plays, the Celtics are expected to be an offense heavy team that will take a step back. They are still expected to be a playoff lock in the weakened East.

Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets have continued to be one of the worst teams in the East, mainly due to injuries. LaMelo Ball would miss just under half the season due to lower body injuries while Brandon Miller would miss over 50 games. The team would finish with just 19 wins and the second worst record in the conference. The team has never been a free agent destination and there are questions regarding the team heading into next season. Rumors suggest the team could be open to moving on from Ball for the right offer, in addition to other players. Unfortunately whether or not they have Ball, the Hornets are still very far from championship contention, even with the East at its weakest point in years.

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls would finally take some steps towards a new roster, moving on from DeMar DeRozan in the 2024 offseason before trading Zach Lavine days before the 2025 trade deadline. Coby White would take forward without Lavine and DeRozan while Josh Giddey proved to be a reliable distributor for the team in a contract year. Rookie Matas Buzelis had a strong second half of the season as he looks to become a permanent starter next season. The Bulls are expected to move on from veterans like Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball as the team shifts in a younger direction. With there being rumblings team were interested in Coby White, the team may make some moves this offseason. Finishing as the 10th seed and losing in the play-in, Chicago is still a couple of seasons away from being a true contender in the Conference.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The most complete team in the East heading into next season, the same Cavaliers team is expected to be back. The team that led the conference with 64 wins, the Cavs were a regular season powerhouse. They would make quick work of the Miami Heat in the first round of the of the playoffs before losing in five to the Indiana Pacers in the second round. Despite the team looking most likely to come out of the East if healthy, rumors suggest the team may doubt their ability to come out of the Conference. Recent rumors suggest the Cavs offered guard Darius Garland in a trade for Kevin Durant. With free agency right around the corner, the Cavs may have to make some tough choices with their role players.

Detroit Pistons

The surprise of the 2024-25 season, the Detroit Pistons would jump from 14 wins the season before to 44 wins last season. Cade Cunningham would land his first All-Star nod while veterans Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley would be key contributors to the team both on and off the court. Ausar Thompson would take the next step in his sophomore season and Jalen Duren would continue to be the defensive anchor for the team. Jaden Ivey would miss most of the season following a leg injury but is expected to be back for the 2025-26 season. If they continue on the same trend they hit last season, the Pistons could be a serious team to watch late in the season and playoffs.

Indiana Pacers

Despite a slow start to the season, the Pacers would have the second-best record following the beginning of the calendar year. The Pacers would go on an all-time playoff run, eliminating the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, upsetting the Cavaliers in the second round and beating the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. With nobody giving them a chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they would take OKC to seven games before losing Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles tear in the first quarter. Haliburton is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season, with the team left in the hands of veteran players like Pascal Siakam and T.J. McConnell. Without their number one option, they are expected to take a step back next season.

Miami Heat

The first half of the 2024-25 season would see the Miami Heat dominated by the Jimmy Butler trade saga. The team would struggle in the immediate aftermath of the Butler trade but would make a push at the end of the season, becoming the first 10th seed to make the playoffs through the play-in tournament. They would be swept by the Cavs in the first round, with there being questions about the team’s contending future. They would be linked to Kevin Durant but would miss out on the superstar, not wanting to part ways with young talent include Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware. Many would question Pat Riley’s decision making not parting ways with their player for KD, with it unlikely that the Heat find a third star this offseason to put next to Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Miami has never been known for tanking and they aren’t going to tank next season, but they are going to struggle to compete in the East next season.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are the closest to purgatory they have been in many years. The team would start slow but finish strong despite losing Damian Lillard to blood clots. He would return in the playoffs but would suffer a torn Achilles shortly after his return. Giannis Antetokounmpo would not be able to lead his team against the Indiana Pacers alone, facing their third first round playoff exit in a row. Despite rumblings this offseason could finally be the offseason Antetokounmpo requests a trade with numerous teams linked to him, reports now suggest Antetokounmpo will remain with the team. With Dame expected to miss most of, if not the entire season, the Bucks do not have a championship team around Giannis. They have no true tradable assets, raising questions of if they’ll be forced into a Giannis trade. Despite everything, Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a top 3 player in the league and could easily lead his team on a deep playoff run.

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks were just two games from the 2025 NBA Finals. When they lost to the Indiana Pacers, the first decision they made was to fire head coach Tim Thibodeau. Jalen Brunson would face some criticism for playing hero ball in late game situations while Karl-Anthony Towns would face his own criticism for his defensive lapses in the conference finals. OG Anunoby and Josh Hart would both disappear at times while the bench was not utilized until the very end of the series. The Knicks would embarrass themselves calling about nearly every head coach in the league and being denied each time. They have still not landed a head coach heading into free agency with coaching being their biggest question heading into next season. If they can find the right head coach, they could very well be back in the Eastern Conference Finals next season.

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic would have a strong 2023-24 season but would struggle last season due to numerous injuries. Paolo Banchero would suffer from a torn oblique early in the season and Franz Wagner would suffer from the same injury not too long after. Jalen Suggs would miss small chunks of the season due to injuries and Mo Wagner would tear his ACL. Despite all that, they would make the playoffs and put up a fight against the defending champion Boston Celtics. The Magic would make the first big move of the offseason, trading a package of players and picks for Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane. While the Magic are going to be paying a hefty bill for the stars in the coming years, the 2025-26 season could see the Magic be a legitimate championship contender at the perfect time.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers were without a doubt the most disappointing team to play in the East this season. They would have one of the worst starts and would finish missing the playoffs completely. Joel Embiid would play only 19 games after an offseason that saw him avoid surgery. Paul George would prove to have the worst contracts in the league after signing his four-year, $208 million deal. George would play just 41 games, averaging his lowest scoring output since his sophomore season. Tyrese Maxey would have another strong season but would not be able to carry the team himself. Rookie Jared McCain would look like the Rookie of the Year but would tear his ACL early in the year. There is no telling if Embiid will still be a top tier player next season or if he’s nearing the end of his prime. Despite rumors suggesting PG could be on the move, it’s likely the team will remain the same heading into next season. If the team was healthy, they could be a strong contender, but if history has shown anything, that is a strong if.

Toronto Raptors

Despite a few seasons of sitting near the bottom of the conference, the Toronto Raptors could be nearing their turnaround. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickely would both have strong first full seasons with the Raptors while Scottie Barnes would take a small step back. They team would make a trade for New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram before the trade deadline, but he would not play a game for them due to injury. Reports around the league suggested the team was linked to several big-name stars including Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. There are questions of if this team can compete with the roster they have, but if they can land a big-name player, they could jump from play-in contender to championship contender.

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards would have another sub-20-win season, winning just 18 games. Kyle Kuzma would have another down year before being traded for Khris Middleton around the trade deadline. Jordan Poole would average a career-high in points on a career-high 37% from three, but there would be questions about his role and leadership qualities in Washington. Early in the offseason, he would be traded to the New Orleans Pelicans for CJ McCollum. A team boasting several other veterans including Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon in addition to young pieces Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington, the Wizards are taking steps in the right direction but are still far away from any kind of contention. While the 2025-26 season may not be their year, they are set to have an absorbent amount of cap space in the summer of 2027 when the contracts of several veterans expire.How Open is the Eastern Conference for the 2025-26 season?