Jaylen Brown (right) looks to step up big for the Boston Celtics next season with Jayson Tatum out with injury.
With the NBA season right around the corner, fantasy basketball drafts are about to heat up. It’s a great time to get a leg up on your competition by taking a closer look at the Eastern Conference. Which teams are ready to take the next step, and which players are poised for a breakout season? We’ll break down all 15 teams, including the key players to target and the potential sleepers who could lead your fantasy team to a championship.
Central Division
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls’ 2024-25 campaign was split in two halves, as Zach LaVine was traded to the Sacramento Kings in early February in exchange for Zach Collins, Tre Jones, and Kevin Huerter. Following the trade, the squad put together an impressive run to close the season, finishing with a 39-43 record, before being eliminated in the play-in for a third consecutive year. Despite failing to make it into the playoffs, the Bulls showed impressive determination and established a good foundation for a future built around a young core of Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Matas Buzelis. Additionally, Ayo Dosunmu, Collins, Jones, and Huerter fit well with the timeline, and their abilities to contribute across the board will be critical.
Key Players
Over the last couple of years, Coby White has shown flashes that he can shine as one of the most electric guards in the East. He averaged a career-high 20.4 points per game last season, including reaching the 25-point mark in 21 games, and notching a season high of 44 points. He faces an ideal opportunity to step into the role of offensive leader for his team and is certainly a player to watch in the coming season. Matas Buzelis is also an exciting young player, as his offensive versatility at 6-foot-9 makes for a tough cover. He averaged 13.2 points on 49.2% shooting, including 41.5% from 3-point range over the final 20 games last season and is likely to take a significant step forward in a dedicated starting role.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs stifled the competition through the 2024-25 season, averaging a league-high 121.9 points per game and holding opponents to the league’s third-lowest field-goal percentage, on their way to a conference-best 64-18 record. However, they met their match against the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs, marking their second consecutive season losing in the conference semi-finals. The Cavaliers head into the new season without making any large changes, which is very reasonable after their success last season. Still, they bolstered their backcourt depth by trading for Lonzo Ball, who averaged 10.3 points while shooting 38.9% from 3-point range across 70 games played between two seasons with the Bulls.
Key Players
Donovan Mitchell led the charge last season, averaging team highs of 24.0 points and 1.3 steals per game. It marked his sixth consecutive season averaging at least 24.0 points per game, and he remains in place to prosper among a well-balanced and familiar lineup. Meanwhile, Darius Garland played a career-high 75 games through 2024-25, delivering 20.6 points on 47.2% shooting, with 6.7 assists per game. Additionally, the Cavs’ frontcourt duo consisting of reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen are poised to continue to dominate the interior and should help pave the way for another top-tier finish for the club.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are coming off their best regular-season record dating back to 2016, while they also appeared in the postseason for the first time since 2019. However, the success was short-lived as they were eliminated by the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. Nonetheless, the squad is primed to keep pushing in the right direction thanks to a strong core centered around Cade Cunningham, who earned his first career all-star appearance last season, and Jalen Duren, who has averaged a double-double in each of the last two seasons. They also retain the veteran leadership and consistent play of Tobias Harris, and impactful wings Ausar Thompson and Ronald Holland II, who can cause problems for opponents on the defensive end. Finally, new additions Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson should provide a notable boost to the bench rotation.
Key Players
Cunningham averaged career highs with 26.1 points, 9.1 assists and 0.8 blocks per game last season and heads into his fifth NBA campaign well-established as one of the best stat-sheet stuffers in the league. At just 23 years old he also still has plenty of room for continued growth heading into 2025-26. Moreover, a healthy Jaden Ivey would provide a boost for the squad, but his timeline for return is not yet totally clear, and he will also need time to get up to speed. Overall, the Pistons have a good shot at another postseason run, with a familiar core and youth being advantageous factors in their favor.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory, as they finished with their best regular-season record since 2014, and made the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years. The squad’s postseason success was largely unexpected, as they knocked off highly-regarded competition each step of the way, beginning with the Bucks in the first round, the conference-leading Cavaliers in the second, and the stacked Knicks in the conference finals. The Pacers made it all the way to Game 7 of the Finals, before their hopes came to an unfortunate end, as Tyrese Haliburton suffered a season-ending injury to his Achilles, which was too devastating of a blow for the team to overcome at that late stage.
Key Players
Haliburton was a major factor in the team’s achievements last season, and his absence will result in a significant challenge for the upcoming campaign. Nonetheless, the Pacers have the depth to confidently approach the new season, as Andrew Nembhard is expected to take on the main point-guard role, while Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, and Pascal Siakam can each provide scoring and well-rounded play within the starting lineup. The departure of Myles Turner leaves a void to be filled at the center position, where Isaiah Jackson and Tony Bradley will likely be first in line to compete for minutes. Without Haliburton, the Pacers are unlikely to find the same success as they did last season, but they are also the same team that defied most expectations just months ago and therefore cannot be counted out.
Milwaukee Bucks
As long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is at the core of the Bucks’ lineup, lofty hopes and expectations will remain for the club. Although he had a strong season individually and the team finished fifth place in the East with a 48-34 record, their inability to rally for a deep playoff run made their 2024-25 season feel less than satisfactory. However, a major factor in the team’s lack of postseason success was the injury to Damian Lillard, as he was shut down after an Achilles injury in the first round.
Key Players
The squad opted to take on a new look for the upcoming season, as they parted ways with key figures Lillard and Brook Lopez. Alternatively, Kevin Porter Jr. and Cole Anthony are up for significant roles in leading the backcourt, while Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green and Kyle Kuzma will be looked to for supplementary scoring around the dominance of Antetokounmpo’s play. Finally, the Bucks made a splash by acquiring veteran center Myles Turner, who is set to replace Lopez in the starting lineup and gives them another great rim-protector that can also shoot the long ball. With new faces in key positions, it may be a slow start for the Bucks in 2025-26, but with Antetokounmpo in the driver’s seat, they should have what it takes to at least be in the conversation for another shot at the postseason.
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
The Celtics finished with a 61-21 record last season and looked like they were on course to compete for a second straight championship, until Jayson Tatum went down with an Achilles injury in the second round of the playoffs. The squad faces a significant challenge ahead, as Tatum could be sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season, but they should remain competitive, considering an 8-2 in regular-season games without him last year. The Celtics also picked up Anfernee Simons, who is a high-level scorer and will give them another dimension with added flare in the backcourt. The trio of Simons, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown will account for the bulk of the offense and largely determine how far the team can go without Tatum in the lineup.
Key Players
Additionally, the departure of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Luke Kornet leaves the Celtics with slightly less experience and depth compared to last season. Payton Pritchard remains the top option off the bench and should continue to deliver impactful play at every opportunity. Baylor Scheierman will have a chance to define a more notable role, while Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman could compete for big minutes in the frontcourt.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets finished with a 26-56 record last season, as they were unable to gather much momentum through a campaign troubled by injuries and disrupted by a couple of trades. Most notably, Cam Thomas was off to a great start, averaging 24.7 points on 46.1% shooting over his first 17 appearances, before injuries kicked in and kept him sidelined for most of the rest of the year. Thomas has yet to re-sign with the team and remains a free agent at this point in the offseason. The Nets let go of Cameron Johnson, who was one of their most effective players last season, as part of a trade that brought Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn. Porter averaged 18.2 points per game on 50.4% shooting, including 39.5% from 3-point range last season. Although he was a critical part of the Nuggets’ championship run, Porter always played as a second, third or fourth scoring option. Now, he will have a new opportunity to expand his game with the Nets, as he is set to be a solidified first or second option for the offense.
Key Players
Nic Claxton heads into his seventh season with the team and should remain solid in his role, as he is averaging 11.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks over the last three seasons. The Nets also look forward to the debut of Egor Demin, a 6-foot-8, 19-year-old, rookie point guard, who finished with 12 points, four assists and four rebounds in his last Summer League outing.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are coming off one of their best seasons in a long time, as they had their best record since 2012-13, and they made it to the conference finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Looking ahead, they are primed to challenge their own achievements from last season, as the entire starting five are set to return. They also added good depth to the backcourt with the acquisition of Jordan Clarkson, while Guerschon Yabusele will bolster the frontcourt.
Key Players
The Knicks could hardly ask for more than they got from the starters last season, especially Jalen Brunson, who averaged team highs of 26.0 points and 7.3 assists per game during the regular season, on his way to also winning the KIA Clutch Player of the Year award. Karl-Anthony Towns was the squad’s second-leading scorer with 24.4 points to go with a team-high 12.8 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges provide excellent supporting play at the wing, impacting the game defensively and knocking down big shots. The Knicks should remain one of the most fearsome teams in the East through 2025-26, as the loaded group is heading into their second full season together and should only benefit from the continuity.
Philadelphia 76ers
Things could hardly have been more frustrating for the 76ers last season, as they had hoped to enjoy the potential of a big-three consisting of Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid. However, luck was not on their side, as the trio was only able to play a handful of games together, mostly on the account of George and Embiid being significantly limited by injury trouble. On the bright side, Maxey continued to show an elite ceiling, as he delivered a career-high 26.3 points per game across his 52 appearances on the season. At 24 years old, he has proven himself as a capable offensive leader, and he should continue to flourish in a major role for the upcoming season.
Key Players
On the other hand, there is still some uncertainty about both George and Embiid’s ability to open the season at full strength, which means guys like Quentin Grimes, Jared McCain and Kelly Oubre Jr. will have to continue taking on larger roles to help power the offense. Third overall pick from the 2025 draft, VJ Edgecombe, is also expected to be a key contributor and should have room to explore his game, as the club will likely be open to experimentation early in the season. Edgecombe finished with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block in his last summer league game.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are coming off a season to forget, as they finished 11th in the East and failed to top 30 wins for the second straight campaign. However, things may not be as bad as they seem for the franchise north of the border, as their troubles began when Immanuel Quickley suffered an injury in just the second game of the 2024-25 season and went on to appear in only three games before January. Their anticipated leader, Scottie Barnes, was also hit with the injury bug within the first month of the season, which contributed to initial hopes veering off course from the jump.
Key Players
As a result, the team elected to give more opportunities to their young players and avoided pushing their top guys too hard. Looking ahead, the Raptors could come with a much different energy to start the new season, especially thanks to the addition of Brandon Ingram, who gives them a major boost on the offensive end. Ingram should be able to shine as a go-to scorer, allowing Barnes to focus on his all-around impact, while RJ Barrett and Quickley will be able to provide consistent supplementary scoring. The Raptors also have good depth from the bench, making them look like they are built for a run at the postseason, if all goes to plan.
Southeast Division
Orlando Magic
Orlando showed a lot of promise last season finishing 7th in the East at an even 41-41. The backcourt has seen a significant makeover, one that certainly has the potential to result in incremental improvement and keep Orlando in the running for another division title.
Key Players
Desmond Bane‘s addition via trade – a transaction that saw Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope head to Memphis – gives the Magic that key third front-line piece to complement Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Additionally, a healthy Jalen Suggs, who was putting together a career-best season in the 2024-25 campaign before being shut down in March due to a knee injury, would certainly make Orlando’s first unit even more potent. Tyus Jones‘ presence represents valuable veteran insurance.
Miami Heat
The Heat’s shockingly poor 2024-25 season didn’t lead to wholesale changes this offseason, with Norman Powell‘s addition via trade qualifying as the most noteworthy move. However, the re-signing of Davion Mitchell, who enjoyed his best stretch of play with the Heat since his rookie 2021-22 campaign in Sacramento after being acquired from the Raptors on Feb. 6, is also expected to pay dividends by providing the second unit with a dynamic presence on both ends of the floor.
Key Players
Meanwhile, Tyler Herro, Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Bam Adebayo form a potent veteran first-unit quartet. Versatile seven-footer Kel’el Ware is expected to take the next step in his second season after drawing 26 combined regular-season and playoff starts as a rookie.
Atlanta Hawks
After another playoff disappointment for Trae Young and co., the Hawks were aggressive this offseason in their quest to get back to making deep postseason runs. The addition of Porziņģis via a blockbuster three-team trade grabbed the most headlines and provides Atlanta a dynamic frontcourt duo in combination with the surging Onyeka Okongwu.
Key Players
The return to full health of Jalen Johnson, who was authoring a career-best season before a torn left shoulder labrum shut him down in January, and the Young-Dyson Daniels backcourt tandem will give the Hawks one of the East’s most dynamic first units. Though, Porziņģis’ perennially shaky health will bear monitoring.
Charlotte Hornets
Dismal as their 2024-25 season was, the Hornets seemingly carry about as wide a range of potential outcomes into the new season as any team in the Eastern Conference. LaMelo Ball, whose availability will naturally be key to any significant success Charlotte might enjoy, had wrist and ankle surgeries this spring, pressing the reset button health-wise yet again.
Key Players
If Ball can play over 50 games for the first time since the 2021-22 season, the Hornets could make an incremental leap, considering the rest of the first unit consists of 2023 No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller, rookie fourth overall selection Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges and the returning Mason Plumlee. Then, the additions of Collin Sexton and Spencer Dinwiddie give the Hornets the luxury of starting-quality backcourt depth that could prove especially valuable.
Washington Wizards
The cellar-dwelling Wizards fittingly focused on adding some quality youth in the offseason that could pay dividends in coming years, but Washington also acquired a talented veteran in CJ McCollum via trade with the Pelicans. Malaki Branham and Cam Whitmore might be poised to make the biggest impact among the new arrivals, considering the playing experience they’ve garnered early in their careers with the Spurs and Rockets, respectively.
Key Players
Washington has an interesting mix of veterans and high-upside up-and-comers elsewhere. 2024 rookie first-round picks Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington could see noteworthy boosts in their sophomore NBA campaigns, while Bilal Coulibaly could be ready to blossom into an All-Star in his third season.