East contenders confront major unknowns ahead of 2025-26
embiid-pistons-bucks-east-questions
Key Eastern Conference teams reach the offseason facing vastly different ceilings and floors, largely tied to the health of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, the fit of the Detroit Pistons’ recent lottery picks and the Milwaukee Bucks’ mounting postseason frustrations.
76ers hinge on Embiid’s availability
Embiid has played 58 regular-season games during the past two years. Since his highly scrutinized decision to sit against Denver in 2024, the reigning MVP has appeared in 25 of 121 possible games—roughly 21 percent. Philadelphia’s championship hopes remain intact when he is on the floor, yet the club enters 2025-26 with the conference’s widest gap between potential and reality.
Detroit’s lottery core still untested
The Pistons surged from 14 wins to 44 last season, but their young nucleus has barely shared the court. Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren played together in only two games, totaling five minutes. With No. 5 overall pick Ron Holland now in the mix, the group has yet to log meaningful time as a unit. Veteran turnover continues—Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schröder exit, while Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson arrive—leaving questions about Ivey’s late-season shooting, Thompson and Ivey’s ability to lighten Cunningham’s workload, and Holland’s role after a quiet rookie campaign.
Bucks seek answers after early exits
Since winning the 2021 NBA championship, Milwaukee has captured one playoff series. The Bucks were eliminated in the second round by Boston in 2022, then fell in the first round the next three seasons—first to Miami, then twice to Indiana. Injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton have contributed, but the results stand out for a franchise deep into the luxury tax. That track record framed the organization’s aggressive offseason, aimed at keeping Antetokounmpo in the title chase.
Source: Hoops Wire
