TITLE: Key Storylines for Every NBA Team Ahead of the 2025-26 Season
SLUG: key-storylines-2025-26-nba-season
CONTENT:
The new NBA campaign tips off in less than a month, and most of the league wrapped up media day on Monday. A turbulent summer of trades, injuries and contract disputes has left every team with at least one burning question as training camps open. Below is a club-by-club look at the most pressing issues for all 30 franchises entering the 2025-26 preseason, listed in alphabetical order.
Atlanta Hawks
Can Trae Young turn an upgraded roster into an Eastern Conference contender? Atlanta added Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard to stretch the floor for the league’s reigning assist leader. With Jalen Johnson healthy after shoulder surgery and youngsters Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and Zaccharie Risacher progressing, Young has his deepest supporting cast while he seeks a four-year, $229 million extension.
Boston Celtics
What is Boston’s objective without Jayson Tatum? Tatum’s torn Achilles, plus cost-saving trades that sent Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis elsewhere, have forced the Celtics to decide whether Jaylen Brown and Derrick White will chase a playoff berth or whether the club takes a gap year.
Brooklyn Nets
Is there enough offense to satisfy Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr.? Thomas accepted a $6 million qualifying offer after hamstring trouble limited him to 25 games, while Porter arrived from Denver seeking a larger role than the 13.6 shots per game he averaged with the Nuggets.
Charlotte Hornets
Can LaMelo Ball stay healthy and lead? Ball has logged only 105 games over three seasons. He averaged 25.2 points, 7.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 47 outings last year but must prove durability and defensive growth alongside Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel.
Chicago Bulls
Will any young Bull become a star? Post-DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, Chicago is banking on Josh Giddey (22), Coby White (24), Matas Buzelis (20) and Noa Essengue (18) to rise beyond play-in purgatory.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Can Cleveland clear its postseason hurdle? A 64-win regular season ended with a humbling series loss to Indiana. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen return under pressure to deliver a deeper playoff run.
Dallas Mavericks
When will Kyrie Irving be back, and can Dallas hold the fort? Irving said his ACL rehab is “incredibly well,” opening the door for a possible January return. Until then, Anthony Davis must anchor both ends, and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg is expected to handle the ball often.
Denver Nuggets
Is added depth and better defense enough for another run? Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown bolster a bench behind peak Nikola Jokic, but last season’s No. 21 defense (115.1 points allowed per 100 possessions) must improve.
Detroit Pistons
Where does Jaden Ivey fit after injury and Ausar Thompson’s rise? Ivey fractured his left fibula after shooting 45 percent on catch-and-shoot threes. Thompson’s defense thrived in his absence, leaving Detroit to decide whether Ivey starts or becomes a sixth man as extension talks loom.
Golden State Warriors
Will Jonathan Kuminga’s contract dispute spill into the season? A compromise could keep the 22-year-old wing engaged or make him movable to reinforce an aging core. A qualifying-offer standoff would hurt rotation depth, flexibility and locker-room chemistry.
Houston Rockets
Are the Rockets still contenders after Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL? With Kevin Durant and a deep young roster, Houston believes so. Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday are first in line to replace VanVleet’s minutes, though cap restrictions block outside signings.
Indiana Pacers
What are realistic expectations minus Tyrese Haliburton? A Game 7 Finals loss was followed by Haliburton’s Achilles tear and Myles Turner’s free-agent exit. Andrew Nembhard takes on more playmaking and four centers will audition to fill Turner’s spot during a possible gap year.
LA Clippers
How will an NBA investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s contract shape the season? Allegations of cap circumvention hover over a veteran roster featuring Chris Paul (40), Brook Lopez (37), James Harden (36) and Leonard (34). With a rebuild looming, the club cannot waste what may be its last title shot in this era.
Los Angeles Lakers
Could this be LeBron James’ final Laker season? L.A. went 15-8 when James and Luka Doncic shared the floor but exited in five games against Minnesota. How the duo fares in a tougher West may influence whether the 40-year-old superstar finishes the year in purple and gold.
Memphis Grizzlies
Does an offseason reset set up long-term success? New head coach Tuomas Iisalo replaces Taylor Jenkins, and Desmond Bane was traded to Orlando for picks used to draft Cedric Coward. The rotation around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. now includes Ty Jerome and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Miami Heat
Can Miami bounce back after a rocky split with Jimmy Butler III? Butler was dealt to Golden State, and Cleveland swept the Heat in Round 1. Norman Powell, Simone Fontecchio and rookie Kasparas Jakucionis add offense, but Tyler Herro is sidelined eight weeks following left-foot surgery.
Milwaukee Bucks
Can Milwaukee reopen its championship window around Giannis Antetokounmpo? Despite an MVP-caliber season and 67 appearances, the Bucks lost a third straight first-round series. The front office has retooled annually in an effort to maximize Antetokounmpo’s prime.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Are Minnesota’s youngsters ready to extend the rotation? After back-to-back conference-final defeats, coach Chris Finch wants to play deeper. Prospects Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark, Leonard Miller and rookie center Joan Beringer must prove they belong behind Anthony Edwards and the established core.
New Orleans Pelicans
Can the Pelicans finally stay healthy? Zion Williamson played 30 games last season, Dejounte Murray 31 and Herbert Jones 20. Additions Jordan Poole and rookie Jeremiah Fears intrigue, while Saddiq Bey returns from an ACL tear. An unprotected 2026 first-round pick owed to Atlanta raises the stakes.
New York Knicks
Will new coach Mike Brown tweak the starting five? Mitchell Robinson started the final four games of last spring’s conference finals, pushing iron-man Josh Hart to the bench. Brown’s decision on whether to keep Robinson with Karl-Anthony Towns up front will be scrutinized.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Will a championship hangover appear? The defending champs return every rotation player, and their stars—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27), Jalen Williams (24) and Chet Holmgren (23)—are still ascending. The challenge is maintaining motivation after a short summer.
Orlando Magic
Can Desmond Bane push Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to the East’s summit? Orlando surrendered four unprotected first-rounders plus a swap for Bane. Health is paramount after Banchero played 46 games, Wagner 60 and Jalen Suggs 35 last year. Veteran Tyus Jones adds point-guard depth.
Philadelphia 76ers
Will Joel Embiid be healthy? Philadelphia’s contention hopes rest almost entirely on the former MVP’s availability. A second straight injury-marred year would cast doubt on whether Embiid can recapture peak form.
Phoenix Suns
How will the rebuild influence Devin Booker’s future? Jordan Ott becomes Booker’s eighth head coach in 11 seasons. Following a Finals trip in 2021, Phoenix was swept in 2023 and missed the 2024 playoffs, leading to the breakup of the Booker-Kevin Durant-Bradley Beal trio. Booker turns 29 next month.
Portland Trail Blazers
Can Scoot Henderson ascend before Damian Lillard returns? Henderson’s third season is delayed four to eight weeks by a hamstring tear. Coach Chauncey Billups, mentor Jrue Holiday and rehabbing Lillard aim to accelerate his growth at point guard ahead of Lillard’s final chapter in Portland.
Sacramento Kings
Can elite offense mask defensive shortcomings? A lineup featuring Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk must offset a defense that ranked 22nd last season (115.3 rating). A top-10 attack is likely necessary for Sacramento to overachieve.
San Antonio Spurs
Will limited three-point shooting hinder Victor Wembanyama’s impact? San Antonio could lean on downhill guards De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper while Wembanyama’s spacing pulls bigs from the paint. Fox and Wembanyama shared only five games together last year.
Toronto Raptors
What will a full roster finally look like? Brandon Ingram arrived in February but never played because of an ankle injury. Since Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett joined two years ago, they’ve logged just 724 minutes together. Coach Darko Rajakovic’s rotations may define his tenure.
Utah Jazz
Can the Jazz take the next step in their rebuild? Coach Will Hardy signed a multiyear extension after guiding the league’s youngest roster. Veterans Kyle Anderson, Jusuf Nurkic, Kevin Love and Georges Niang join Lauri Markkanen, but progress hinges on backcourt development.
Washington Wizards
Will the young core translate development into competitiveness? After 64- and 67-loss seasons, Washington moved on from Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole, clearing opportunities for Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington and others. With more than $80 million in cap space projected next summer, mentors CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton are tasked with teaching the group how to stay in games after 25 losses by at least 20 points last year.
Each question will start to be answered when preseason play begins in 22 days, but for now, uncertainty hovers over every corner of the league.
Source: ESPN
