Daring predictions for every NBA group in 2024-25: Jalen Brunson MVP? All-NBA Zion Williamson?

The New York Knicks have a brand new star within the Huge Apple after buying and selling for four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Cities. However don’t be shocked if their regular hand within the backcourt — level guard Jalen Brunson — leads the race for the NBA’s prime particular person honor.

That’s simply one in every of The Athletic NBA workers’s daring predictions for the 2024-25 season. Try the remaining:

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

Baylor Scheierman will contribute: The Celtics, who return 13 gamers from a championship group, don’t have a lot area of their rotation and will not be in a spot to prioritize the event of younger gamers. Scheierman, the group’s first-round choose, will nonetheless discover his manner onto the ground. His sharpshooting may draw the headlines, however his fast considering and good play will flip him right into a useful complementary piece instantly. After placing on 10-15 kilos over the offseason to deal with NBA physicality, his protection received’t be unhealthy sufficient to cease him from touchdown alternatives to play. — Jay King

Brooklyn Nets

Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith shall be traded: There’s not a number of suspense with the Nets. They’re nonetheless seeking a clear-cut franchise cornerstone, and they’ll seemingly seek for that within the 2025 draft after a season on the backside of the standings. The logical play is to maneuver Johnson and Finney-Smith to groups that may quit high quality draft belongings and younger gamers with buried upside. The Nets are a little bit of a clean canvas with all of the room to offer developmental initiatives an opportunity to develop, to allow them to rely on Johnson and Finney-Smith to assist set up a constructive tradition earlier than finally sending them to successful alternatives. The Nets acquired their choose again from the Houston Rockets this summer time, to allow them to gear up for the Cooper Flagg tankathon, however they’ve two extra first-rounders incoming. They’ll get artistic in how they handle their belongings, whether or not they wish to place for a large commerce within the subsequent 24 months or simply transfer up within the draft. — Jared Weiss

New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson will win MVP: Brunson has gotten higher each season. He averaged 28.7 factors final season on good effectivity with generally unhealthy spacing, and now he has the most effective spacing lineup he’s ever had. Till I cease seeing him enhance, I’m anticipating him to take one other bounce. New York shall be good. The offense needs to be top-of-the-line within the league. Brunson is the group’s finest offensive participant. All of that very nicely might add as much as an MVP award. — James L. Edwards III

Philadelphia 76ers

Ricky Council IV will begin by midseason: The Sixers had an in depth makeover this summer time to load the roster with veteran perimeter gamers, opening up a sequence of lineups Nick Nurse can fill in round newcomer Paul George and the group’s two incumbent stars. Kelly Oubre is coming off a season during which he confirmed some defensive enchancment and located a viable offensive position. Caleb Martin arrives from Miami with the power to fit in wherever, however he tends to undergo ebbs and flows. With all of the offensive expertise within the beginning lineup, Council’s defensive prowess might give him an opportunity to interrupt by and ship one in every of Martin and Oubre to the bench. Philadelphia wants somebody to be tenacious on the level of assault, and George, Philadelphia’s finest perimeter defender except for Council, will get overworked if it’s all on him. Council shot 42 % from 3-point vary throughout summer time league, displaying he might be a viable choice to area the ground after which dominate on the opposite finish. — Jared Weiss

Toronto Raptors

Raptors will end backside 4 within the East: Everybody has penciled within the Nets, Bulls, Hornets, Pistons and Wizards as the underside 5 of the Jap Convention. Nonetheless, the Raptors badly want some cost-controlled expertise so as to add to Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. It wouldn’t take a lot — perhaps a commerce of Jakob Poeltl — for the Raptors to lose their defensive basis and, due to this fact, a number of video games. I anticipate they’ll discover a manner. Imagine. — Eric Koreen

Central Division

Chicago Bulls

Bulls will make the Play-In: For the third straight season, the Bulls will problem for the playoffs however fall brief. They’ll exceed expectations, whereas spooking their loyal however long-suffering fan base into believing the top-10 protected choose owed to San Antonio shall be forfeited. However concern not. The Bulls will retain their choice. However they’ll do all they’ll to make it fascinating. — Darnell Mayberry

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cavs will commerce one in every of their ‘core 4’: And it received’t be Donovan Mitchell. Look, the Cavs are getting into this season with their rotation items solely unchanged. It is a good group and an costly one, however there’s ample proof the items don’t match collectively for greatness. Maybe new coach Kenny Atkinson makes them match higher, but when he can’t, a commerce will materialize to maneuver both Jarrett Allen or Darius Garland to offer Cleveland a unique, maybe extra dynamic, look heading into the playoffs. — Joe Vardon

Detroit Pistons

Pistons will make the Play-In: Hear me out … Sure, the Pistons have 31 mixed wins during the last two seasons. And, sure, it is vitally, very uncommon for a group to make a 10-plus win bounce in a single season with out main upgrades. Nonetheless, the underside of the East goes to be unhealthy. Cade Cunningham had a strong season final season, and he’s now surrounded by spacing for the primary time in his younger profession with the additions of Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. For those who inform me the Pistons are higher than the Wizards, Bulls, Nets, Hornets, Raptors and even the Hawks, I wouldn’t be surprised. — James L. Edwards III

Indiana Pacers

Pacers will end prime 4 within the East: I don’t understand how I really feel in regards to the Pacers within the postseason. I like Boston, New York and Philadelphia because the East’s top-three groups, however within the scrum for fourth, I’ll purchase Indiana. Pascal Siakam is a good match, Tyrese Haliburton continues to emerge as a prime level guard (and participant), they’ll be higher with a wholesome Bennedict Mathurin, and I like Andrew Nembhard with this group. Oh, they usually nonetheless have Myles Turner. Their efficiency within the East finals as a wounded No. 6-seeded group was admirable. And this season, they’ll show what we noticed final spring was actual. — Joe Vardon

Milwaukee Bucks

One other MVP for Giannis: Antetokounmpo was spectacular final season. He was the primary participant in NBA historical past to common not less than 30 factors and 10 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures over 60 % from the sphere. If the Bucks handle to safe a top-two seed in a top-heavy East, the Bucks can have the group success wanted to place Antetokounmpo within the MVP dialog, and he’ll nearly definitely have the person numbers to tug it off. — Eric Nehm

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

Jalen Johnson will common 20 factors per recreation: With Dejounte Murray’s 26.6 % utilization price gone and no incoming gamers able to absorbing these additional possessions, Johnson is more likely to have way more shot-creation duty than a season in the past. Even with only a 19.1 utilization price, he averaged 16.0 factors per recreation in his breakout third season. With Johnson, the closest factor the Hawks should a second star subsequent to Trae Younger within the beginning lineup, anticipate his workload to ramp up significantly … and anticipate him to have the ability to deal with it. — John Hollinger

Charlotte Hornets

Hornets will win greater than 30 video games: It might not sound spectacular, however you might not be conversant in the Hornets’ historical past. They’ve received 30-plus video games simply twice prior to now 5 seasons. In the event that they win 31, it will be a 10-win enchancment on final season. The Hornets appear to be taking the best steps ahead with a brand new head of basketball operations and a brand new head coach. They even introduced again Kemba Walker (as an assistant coach). LaMelo Ball is wholesome once more, and Brandon Miller was the most effective rookie within the league underneath 7-feet final season. There definitely shall be rising pains, however Charlotte might pack somewhat extra sting than anticipated. — Mike Vorkunov

Miami Warmth

Bam Adebayo will develop into a professional 3-point menace: Adebayo began displaying final season how efficient he might be as soon as he steps exterior of the 3-point line, and the Warmth want extra methods to open issues up offensively. Adebayo has mentioned he expects to try 100-plus 3-pointers this season, and his time with Erik Spoelstra on the Olympics proved to his head coach that Adebayo is able to increase his recreation. If Adebayo begins flattening these exterior pictures constantly, he could find yourself having the most effective offensive season of his profession. That may open up the ground for a Miami group that has struggled to search out some pop on offense, even when Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro have been wholesome. — Will Guillory

Orlando Magic

The three-point taking pictures shall be higher: Lengthy-distance taking pictures was Orlando’s Achilles’ heel final season, particularly within the playoffs when the group struggled to hit open 3s in its sequence in opposition to Cleveland. The addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was one of many league’s finest offseason signings, and he’ll get a number of open 3s from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner drive-and-kicks. Rookie Tristan da Silva has an opportunity to develop into a key position participant and ground spacer earlier than playoff time. However will the additions be sufficient to propel the Magic past the playoffs’ first spherical, and even keep away from the East’s Play-In? That can rely on Wagner bouncing again from a career-low 3-point share and on level guard Jalen Suggs solidifying his important taking pictures positive factors from final season. — Josh Robbins

Washington Wizards

Jordan Poole’s counting stats will enhance: In his first Wizards season, Poole struggled earlier than the All-Star break, averaging 15.6 factors per recreation on 40 % taking pictures from the sphere. After the break, with the ball in his arms extra usually and taking part in much less alongside Tyus Jones, he averaged 20.9 factors on 43 % taking pictures. This season, there’s no query Poole shall be Washington’s main initiator, and with Brian Keefe as coach, Washington will look to play at a good sooner tempo. Which means extra possessions, extra shot makes an attempt and extra possibilities for assists. Whether or not Poole shall be environment friendly is one other story, however the counting stats will rise. — Josh Robbins

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets

Michael Porter Jr. will make his first All-Star Recreation: The Nuggets have by no means wanted extra from Porter Jr. than they want now. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray have to ease again their regular-season utilization. Porter Jr. is greater bodily and extra able to deal with the grind of the season. He’s beginning to spherical into the prime of his profession. My guess? He goes for 22 factors an evening, the Nuggets are a top-three group out west, and Jokić lastly has his first all-star teammate. — Tony Jones

Minnesota Timberwolves

Wolves can have a greater offense in 2024-25: One would assume buying and selling Karl-Anthony Cities would make the offense worse. However as nice individually as Cities is, it didn’t add as much as a fantastic offense final season. The Wolves had been ranked seventeenth in offensive effectivity. Including Donte DiVincenzo’s taking pictures and Julius Randle’s playmaking, and growing the roles for Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid will assist the Wolves climb greater as a collective offense this season. — Jon Krawczynski

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

Jalen Williams will win NBA Most Improved Participant: Williams hit one other stratosphere a season in the past when not many had been watching regardless of Oklahoma Metropolis’s run to the highest of the West. Now he enters 12 months 3 — and needs to be getting into All-Star conversations. Williams wasn’t simply one of many NBA’s best shooters final season; he additionally took over video games along with his playmaking, particularly when coach Mark Daigneault would use him with the second unit. The passing improved all through the season, as did Williams’ pick-and-roll smarts. The Thunder handed him more and more bold defensive assignments. Once they performed the Spurs, it wasn’t Chet Holmgren guarding 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama; it was Williams. If he continues on this trajectory, an environment friendly 25-point common with top-notch protection and secondary playmaking will arrive finally. Possibly that point is quickly. — Fred Katz

Portland Path Blazers

Shaedon Sharpe turns into a family title: On this third season, the 21-year-old taking pictures guard will win the slam dunk contest at All-Star Weekend (e-book it) and can lead the Blazers in scoring. Even with final week’s setback — the Blazers introduced Sharpe will miss four-to-six weeks with a tear in his left shoulder — he ought to return in November and have loads of season to show his taking pictures and leaping abilities. Sharpe final season was beginning to blossom in December, compiling consecutive video games of 29, 25, 26, 24, and 27 factors earlier than creating an abductor pressure that led to surgical procedure in January and restricted him to solely 32 video games. Even with high-volume shooters Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant as teammates, the 6-foot-6 Sharpe has the expertise to be the No. 1 choice and is able to pop onto the scene and validate why the Blazers took him seventh within the 2022 draft. — Jason Fast

Utah Jazz

Cody Williams will make a run at NBA Rookie of the 12 months: The Jazz are going to play their younger guys this season. That a lot has been made clear. Williams is as gifted because the day is lengthy. He can shoot, move and dribble. He can play and defend each wing positions. His ability set goes to get him on the ground. Utah’s need to make a run for the highest choose within the 2025 NBA Draft will get Williams the runway to be impactful. The expertise will do the remaining. — Tony Jones

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors

They’ll make a major commerce: In a barely upgraded kind, the Warriors have the identical drawback as a season in the past. They’ve loads of rotation-level NBA expertise however not sufficient top-end scoring or creation subsequent to Stephen Curry. I think about they’ll win sufficient video games to remain within the playoff combine, tick off a few succesful gamers who’re buried within the rotation after which, as soon as January or February nears, discover a consolidation commerce that higher balances the roster and rotation.

They’ve the first-rounders, versatile contracts and younger expertise to get a deal achieved. They are saying they’ll be aggressive. Curry will exert some well mannered leverage if he is aware of there’s an improve on the market that’s moderately accessible. One other facet to observe is Jonathan Kuminga’s contract talks. If he extends in October, collective bargaining settlement guidelines make him almost inconceivable to commerce till subsequent summer time. If he doesn’t (my present guess), he stays an apparent and interesting commerce piece. — Anthony Slater

LA Clippers

A starter shall be traded: The Clippers can’t tank this season with their first-round choose being a doable swap with the Thunder. And they’ll by no means tank underneath Steve Ballmer, who’s opening up a brand new area this season. President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank is happy with the group’s 13-year streak of successful seasons, the longest energetic streak within the league. However he by no means goes a season and not using a commerce, along with his first huge one being the January 2018 Blake Griffin deal. Relying on what the Clippers appear to be on the flip of the calendar yr, nobody needs to be thought-about untouchable. That features Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. — Legislation Murray

Los Angeles Lakers

Anthony Davis will end prime 5 in MVP voting: Davis final completed within the prime 5 in MVP voting within the 2017-18 season, when he positioned third as a 24-year-old for the Pelicans. He’s coming off arguably his finest season as a Lakers participant and a summer time as the most effective large on the U.S. Olympic group. The excitement in Lakers coaching camp is that coach JJ Redick goals to make use of Davis as a playmaking hub across the elbows and above the 3-point arc. If Davis can keep wholesome and the Lakers can construct upon their 18-6 document with their starters — two notable ifs — Davis needs to be within the combine for each NBA MVP and Defensive Participant of the 12 months (with the latter award extra seemingly). — Jovan Buha

Phoenix Suns

Suns will end prime 4 within the West: The primary season of Phoenix’s large three didn’t go nicely — 49 wins, first-round flameout, teaching change. Nevertheless it’s a mistake to write down off the Suns in 12 months 2. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker stay elite. Bradley Beal needs to be higher. Level guard Tyus Jones is an ideal match. New coach Mike Budenholzer doesn’t have an ideal roster — and well being is all the time a priority — however he’ll maximize what he has and make Phoenix a contender. — Doug Haller

Sacramento Kings

Season will come right down to crunchtime(s): A glut of groups within the West ought to land someplace within the 44- to 50-win vary. The highest facet of that may seemingly imply a playoff spot. The underside facet could be the eleventh seed. Just a few swing ends in clutch, tight convention video games might be the distinction between season success and large failure. The Kings now make use of De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan. Fox led the league in clutch factors final season, and DeRozan completed second in clutch factors the final two seasons. A part of the Kings’ perception in what might be a difficult DeRozan match is a confidence that Fox and DeRozan will energy them house within the midrange on the finish of a handful of 50-50 video games. Whether or not they’re appropriate might outline their season. — Anthony Slater

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks

Mavs end exterior the highest 4: The defending Western Convention champions ending exterior the highest half of the convention? Possibly it’s not as loopy because it sounds. The West shall be stacked; chaos is to be anticipated when it’s packed so densely with good groups. Dallas was a fantastic second-half group final season, however the Mavs nonetheless had simply the fourth-best internet score after the All-Star break. Luka Dončić performed the second-most video games of his profession final season. They added Klay Thompson, however he turns 35 in February. And except for their very own draw back dangers, there’s all the time a group or two that surprises. Dallas might win 50 video games once more, however it might land it exterior the highest 4 as soon as extra. — Mike Vorkunov

Houston Rockets

Rockets will end prime six within the West: Name me loopy, however I don’t suppose the Rockets have even scratched the floor of their defensive ceiling underneath head coach Ime Udoka. Houston’s coaching camp focus has been cleansing up a few of final season’s errors, and a stronger, faster and extra skilled Alperen Şengün — together with the addition of Steven Adams — could be the distinction between a top-10 and top-three defensive unit. — Kelly Iko

Memphis Grizzlies

Scotty Pippen Jr. shall be within the rotation: Pippen is the league’s solely two-way participant who has a significant likelihood of cracking his group’s full-strength prime 9. The undrafted Vanderbilt product was arguably the most effective participant in summer time league after impressing in a late-season cameo that included the league’s second-highest steal price (3.3 thefts per 100 possessions). He’s additionally the one level guard on the roster behind starters Ja Morant and Marcus Sensible (who seemingly will guard elite wings). Pippen might be energetic for 50 video games earlier than Memphis has to improve him to a full roster spot, though it might achieve this sooner. — John Hollinger

New Orleans Pelicans

Zion Williamson will make an All-NBA group: All indicators level to Williamson coming into this season in about pretty much as good a spot mentally and bodily as he’s been in his profession. He ended the 2023-24 season taking part in the most effective basketball of his profession earlier than his unlucky harm within the Play-In Match in opposition to the Lakers. We already know he’s a pressure on the offensive finish. But when he focuses on taking part in with the identical effort and tenacity on the defensive finish that we noticed from him in March and April, there’s little doubt he’ll be capable to solidify himself as one of many prime 15 gamers within the NBA. — Will Guillory

San Antonio Spurs

Wemby, CP3 lead approach to Play-In: Victor Wembanyama’s stellar Olympic run led to a bitter defeat to Staff USA, a loss he’ll maintain with him for a really very long time. Take into account it his origin story. He’s in all probability a shoo-in for NBA Most Improved Participant, and the addition of Chris Paul, even at age 39, ought to reverse the Spurs’ dismal 13-28 document in clutch-time conditions. Harrison Barnes will maintain down the floor-spacing fort till Devin Vassell returns, and coach Gregg Popovich pulls yet another magic trick out of his hat. — Kelly Iko

(Illustration by Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; prime photographs: Patrick Smith, Michael Reaves, Elsa / Getty Photographs)