Bold Prediction for All 30 Teams

Daniel Waddleton

Oct 17, 2025

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Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

Bold Prediction: Derrick White wins Most Improved Player

Boston’s offense will be unhinged this year -- threes flying at unheard of rates -- and White projects to be a beneficiary. Expect him to be asked to scale up his offensive primacy; 22-24 points and seven assists per game isn't a crazy expectation in that system. If the Celtics rack up wins, voters could give him the 2024 Maxey-style MIP nod.

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New York Knicks

Bold Prediction: Karl-Anthony Towns gets traded after the season

The Knicks have the look of a contender, but I don’t see them conquering this watered-down East. My prediction is the blame lands on Towns, who can’t anchor the defense at the five, and at the four, he’s a diminished version of himself offensively. Combine that with a $57 million cap hit next year, and New York will have no choice but to pull the plug and move on from KAT next summer.

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Philadelphia 76ers

Bold Prediction: Quentin Grimes averages 20 points again

When Grimes came over at the deadline and averaged 21.9 points per game, most dismissed it as “good stats on a bad team.” Yet, both the film and numbers showed real offensive growth. With Philly’s stars back, his touches will dip, but I don’t see him fading completely into the background. And given the likelihood of more injury absences, Grimes will have plenty of chances to scale up again. Another 20-a-night season is absolutely in play.

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Brooklyn Nets

Bold Prediction: Michael Porter Jr. disappoints greatly as a first option

Injuries have made the once top recruit with a high school mixtape for the ages a far cry from his present day self. Denver’s system -- wired specifically by Jokic’s brilliance -- was able to hide MPJ's weaknesses and accentuate his strengths. As Brooklyn’s top option, those flaws get exposed: he’s not a good ballhandler, lacks really any playmaking feel, and will lose out on a ton of those clean catch and shoot looks.

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Toronto Raptors

Bold Prediction: The starting five posts a negative net rating

Quickley, Barrett, Ingram, Barnes, and Poeltl together sounds good in theory, but there’s a ton of redundancy in that lineup. Last year, the 4-man lineup without Ingram (who didn’t play) had a -8.4 net rating over 292 possessions. Adding another high-usage, mid-range hunting wing in Ingram doesn’t solve the redundancy issue; it probably worsens it. Toronto’s starting five will have name value but little chemistry.

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Central Division

Chicago Bulls

Bold Prediction: Matas Buzelis becomes the best player on the Bulls

The Bulls are stuck in purgatory, and somebody needs to jolt them forward. How about that starts with Buzelis, this 6’9 wing with real scoring pop, defensive instincts, and a competitive edge that’ll make your grandpa excited about the NBA again. I think he’ll outshine the old guard around here in Chicago and give fans a reason to care again.

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Cleveland Cavaliers

Bold Prediction: Lonzo Ball leads the team in plus-minus

With Garland set to miss time early, Lonzo’s pace, playmaking, and defense will hold Cleveland together in his absence. He also quietly helps fix their age old problem of playing too many weak defensive guards. If he stays healthy (admittedly a big if) expect every Cavs run to start with Lonzo on the floor.

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Detroit Pistons

Bold Prediction: Ausar Thompson makes the All-Star team

Thompson is already one of the league’s premier defensive players. The next step is offensive clarity, and I think Detroit is ready to tailor this thing more around his strengths. The jumper may never get there, but if he leans into screening, cutting, crashing the glass, and finishing through contact, the numbers will come. By midseason, he’ll be the heartbeat of a top four seed in the conference, and a deserving All-Star.

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Indiana Pacers

Bold Prediction: Indiana misses the postseason

Replacing Tyrese Haliburton’s 18.6 points and 9.2 assists in the aggregate misses the true detriment of his injury. No one in the league can orchestrate that controlled chaos the way he does. Without him, the Pacers lose their engine, their tempo, and their rhythm. Rick Carlisle will keep them competitive, but scaling up Nembhard’s playmaking and hoping for the best won’t recreate what made them special. In a soft East they’ll hang around, just not long enough to make the playoffs.

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Milwaukee Bucks

Bold Prediction: Giannis gets traded at the deadline

The Bucks are basically on their fourth mortgage trying to keep this relationship alive around their perennial MVP, and having another kid isn’t going to save the marriage. Myles Turner might’ve brought a short-term spark, but the problems aren’t going away: no financial flexibility, limited assets, and glaring roster holes. Everyone expects a breakup next summer, but I’ll go a step further. This thing implodes early, and Giannis gets moved at the deadline.

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Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

Bold Prediction: Make the Conference Finals

This roster checks every box of a great team: top-end talent, two-way depth, lineup versatility, and an excellent coach. Say what you want about Trae Young, but his +8.1 career offensive rating differential proves he can drive good offense, and this is the best supporting cast he’s ever had. The East is wide open, and Atlanta has the horses to crash the party.

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Charlotte Hornets

Bold Prediction: Ryan Kalkbrenner will end up the team’s starting center

I think Kalkbrenner is the best center on this roster, and could go down as one of the steals of the 2025 draft. The Creighton big man slipped due to concerns about scheme versatility, but with a 7’1” frame, 7’5” wingspan, and elite defensive discipline and timing, he projects as a high-level drop big man. I'll buy his high floor on offense as well, he’s an elite screener with soft hands and great touch around the rim, and maybe even has a three-point shot in his future.

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Miami Heat

Bold Prediction: Miami finishes as a top-five seed

Once again, Miami’s been buried -- this time after trading Jimmy Butler -- and that’s exactly where the Zombie Heat like to be. I loved the Norman Powell addition, I believe in Ke’lel Ware as a real guy, and Spoelstra has a way of squeezing out more wins than the roster says he should. I’m not calling for another Finals run, just a classic Miami overachievement when everybody least expects it.

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Orlando Magic

Bold Prediction: Their offense still finishes in the bottom half of the league

Following the Desmond Bane trade, people are expecting the Magic to finally break through offensively, specifically finish in the top half of the league for the first time since 2012. I’ll hold off for now. Until I see Jamahl Mosley shift from “Paolo ball” to a more egalitarian, movement-based attack, Orlando will keep playing behind the eight ball, even with the improved spacing.

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Washington Wizards

Bold Prediction: They won't finish last in net rating

Call it dumb if you want, but Washington was -12.2 last year, nearly three points worse than anyone else, so just not finishing 30th is a real leap. Luckily for the Wiz, there’s sneaky competence here. If veterans like CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton stay healthy early, they can stabilize the offense long enough for the young guys to find their footing. Washington won’t be great, just not historically bad again.

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Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets

Bold Prediction: Win the NBA Finals

This is the best roster of the Jokic era, full stop. When a once-in-a-generation player meets an ideal supporting cast, the outcome is simple, titles. If Denver stays healthy, expect them to be the last team standing in June.

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Minnesota Timberwolves

Bold Prediction: Anthony Edwards averages 30 points per game

Every year Edwards adds another layer to his game. His biggest flaw last season was the lack of an in-between game with his heat map consisting of all rim and threes. This limited him in the Western Conference Finals compared to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s polished midrange and post work. Edwards says he’s added that missing piece, and if that’s true, 30 a night feels inevitable.

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Oklahoma City Thunder

Bold Prediction: Chet Holmgren makes the All-Star team

Before a hip injury derailed his regular season, Holmgren was flashing real offensive growth in year three. A full, healthy offseason to add strength and polish his skill set should take him to another level. Combine that with his all-league defense, and Holmgren could be a candidate to join Shai and Jalen Williams at the All-Star Game for a team that projects to win a lot of games.

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Portland Trail Blazers

Bold Prediction: Make the Play-In Tournament

The Blazers are flying under the radar. If Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe takes an offensive leap, their defense can handle the rest. They finished top five in defensive rating over the second half of last season and doubled down on that identity by adding Jrue Holiday and moving Donovan Clingan into the starting lineup. This group has surprise-team energy written all over it.

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Utah Jazz

Bold Prediction: Ace Bailey finishes second in Rookie of the Year voting.

Utah head coach Will Hardy’s a sharp offensive mind, and I trust him to put coveted Jazz lottery pick Ace Bailey in positions to thrive. Especially if Lauri Markkanen is moved, Bailey should see all the usage he can handle. With his shotmaking ability and defensive upside, he has the tools to outshine most of this rookie class -- including his former Rutgers teammate, Dylan Harper.

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Pacific Division

Los Angeles Clippers

Bold Prediction: Win 55 games

I’m not sure what the postseason ceiling for this team is, but they do project as a regular-season juggernaut. Even at 36, James Harden remains one of the best 82-game offensive engines ever, they will be a top five defense again, and the Clippers’ depth allows them to withstand injuries and adapt to any schematic matchup night to night.

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Golden State Warriors

Bold Prediction: The starting lineup finishes top-3 in net rating

Nobody knows how often they share the floor given the age and health concerns, but when they do, that group will print winning minutes. Curry-Podziemski-Butler III-Draymond-Horford has the perfect blend of offense, defense, IQ, and championship pedigree. While I don’t buy this roster as a contender due to durability and depth concerns, that starting five in their minutes together will be nails.

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Los Angeles Lakers

Bold Prediction: Luka Dončić wins MVP

The Lakers will have to rely heavily on offense to offset a shaky defense, and an in-shape/motivated Luka will be the one driving that charge. With strong offensive personnel around him -- including adding a vertical threat in Deandre Ayton to pair with in the two-man game -- Luka should put up video-game numbers. Add a little Lakers bias to the mix, and his first MVP feels like a solid bet.

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Phoenix Suns

Bold Prediction: Win 37 games, Booker makes All-NBA

Beating their over-under by six wins counts as bold for a team most people have written off completely. The Suns have enough talent to compete, and Devin Booker finally has complementary pieces around him again, the kind of structure that can get him back to All-NBA form. I’m not saying they shock the league, just that they stabilize and look like a formidable team again.

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Sacramento Kings

Bold Prediction: Domantas Sabonis gets traded

I’m expecting another underwhelming season from Sacramento despite a roster full of recognizable names. At some point, the Kings will have to admit the Sabonis experiment has peaked. The “Light the Beam” run was fun, but Sabonis’ defensive limitations -- and his underwhelming lone playoff showing -- make him the obvious trade chip given he still has positive value around the league.

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Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks

Bold Prediction: Anthony Davis gets traded

Dallas is in a far better spot than anyone expected just seven months after trading one of the most brilliant offensive players in league history. Still, I’m not sold on the roster fit despite the talent. Anthony Davis feels like an awkward piece on a team where most key players are best suited at the four or five. With his value still sky-high, I think Dallas eventually leans into a Cooper Flagg–centered timeline and cashes in big on a Davis trade.

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Houston Rockets

Bold Prediction: Become the first team ever to post an offensive rebound rate above 40%

It’s never been done -- the closest was the 1991–92 Nets at 39.1% -- but god, the Rockets are going to try. Houston believes it’s found a market inefficiency and doubled down, extending Steven Adams and adding Clint Capela. Lineups with Sengun and Adams posted a +30.0 net rating per 100 possessions last year with a ridiculous 50.3% offensive rebound rate. Throw in Amen Thompson or Tari Eason, and that rebound number somehow climbs even higher. Without Fred VanVleet, expect Houston to embrace second-chance points like no team ever in the modern era.

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Memphis Grizzlies

Bold Prediction: Make the playoffs without the play-in

Memphis is a playoff team hiding in plain sight. Trading Desmond Bane for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and draft capital looked like a step back, but a KCP bounce-back feels likely. This group was second in the West as late as February before collapsing and firing Taylor Jenkins. They still have a strong defensive group, (hopefully) healthy seasons from Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. coming, and a steady backup point guard back in the mix. This team has a similar roster anatomy they’ve used for years to punch above their weight, and it should get them back into the top six.

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New Orleans Pelicans

Bold Prediction: Joe Dumars gets fired after one season

When you make reckless decisions, the worst-case scenario usually finds you. The Pelicans traded an unprotected 2026 first for Derrick Queen, a massive gamble for a team that isn’t close to contending. In a loaded West, I see New Orleans missing the playoffs and that pick miraculously landing in the top four of a loaded draft via the lottery. That outcome would be the nail in the coffin for Dumars tenure before it ever really started.

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San Antonio Spurs

Bold Prediction: Miss the play-in

The Spurs hype has gotten out of hand, and I’m going to zag. Wembanyama’s rise to superstardom is happening, but the West is loaded, and San Antonio’s biggest weakness -- shooting -- could hold them back. The spacing will be clunky, and poor shooting usually spells regular season doom unless they’re elite elsewhere. Fourteen of last year’s 16 playoff teams ranked in the top half of the league in three-point shooting. The Spurs feel a year away from joining the spring dance.