2025-2026: Around the League

[eyriq]

BPI projects 38 wins and the 9th seed for the Suns, 12th pick in the draft.

[cedric76]

BPI projects 38 wins and the 9th seed for the Suns, 12th pick in the draft.

As long as they dont have a top 8 pick, i m happy with that trade

[Idiosyncratic]

BPI projects 38 wins and the 9th seed for the Suns, 12th pick in the draft.

This makes me very happy. I know the trade is done and no point of looking over our shoulders, but still lol..

They are clearly better than the tanking teams and that is great. That being said we just saw the Mavs get the #1 pick so who knows. Good thing is the Wizards have first swap rights so it can't actually be pick 1 anyway.

[eyriq]

BPI projects 38 wins and the 9th seed for the Suns, 12th pick in the draft.

This makes me very happy. I know the trade is done and no point of looking over our shoulders, but still lol..

They are clearly better than the tanking teams and that is great. That being said we just saw the Mavs get the #1 pick so who knows. Good thing is the Wizards have first swap rights so it can't actually be pick 1 anyway.

Agreed on the motivation to root for them lol.

[Idiosyncratic]

Kon Knueppel ROY favorite? Can't believe how good he has been. I had my doubts about him, but still liked him as a legit lottery pick, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't question the Hornets taking him 4th.

Jeremiah Fears is amazing for a guy that just turned 19 years old too. 19 points 8 steals tonight. Pelicans rookies are super fun at least. Not sure if it makes up for trading potentially two top 5 picks away, but it's something

[pepe1991]

Kon Knueppel ROY favorite? Can't believe how good he has been. I had my doubts about him, but still liked him as a legit lottery pick, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't question the Hornets taking him 4th.

Jeremiah Fears is amazing for a guy that just turned 19 years old too. 19 points 8 steals tonight. Pelicans rookies are super fun at least. Not sure if it makes up for trading potentially two top 5 picks away, but it's something

Among young Pelicans young players, MIssi is guy i like the least. I think he got really overrated among fans last year.

Still no excuses for what they did with pick. They suck.

[basketballRob]

I think the Hawks went 5-0 on a west coast swing. They are a better team with big guards and Trae injured.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[eyriq]

What are we buying and selling so far this season?

I think I'm buying:
1. Hornets/Nets/Pacers/Wizards are tanking
2. Pistons as a top 4 team

I'm selling:
1. Hawks as a top 4 team
2. Magic outside the top 4
3. Raptors as a top 6 team

[thelead]

just saw Giannis grab his groin after an awkward fall and pulled himself right out the game

[thelead]

What are we buying and selling so far this season?

I think I'm buying:
1. Hornets/Nets/Pacers/Wizards are tanking
2. Pistons as a top 4 team

I'm selling:
1. Hawks as a top 4 team
2. Magic outside the top 4
3. Raptors as a top 6 team

Atlanta is 9-5. We're 7-7. You're selling Atlanta being a top 4 team and buying us being in the top 4... am I reading that right?

[SOUL]

What are we buying and selling so far this season?

I think I'm buying:
1. Hornets/Nets/Pacers/Wizards are tanking
2. Pistons as a top 4 team

I'm selling:
1. Hawks as a top 4 team
2. Magic outside the top 4
3. Raptors as a top 6 team

Atlanta is 9-5. We're 7-7. You're selling Atlanta being a top 4 team and buying us being in the top 4... am I reading that right?

Huh? are you saying 2 games is insurmountable?

I mean not that there's much "data" to prove otherwise so far, but I don't see what's crazy about it, albeit being a homer.

Bulls were just in 1st at 5-0 and now are 11th.

[thelead]

What are we buying and selling so far this season?

I think I'm buying:
1. Hornets/Nets/Pacers/Wizards are tanking
2. Pistons as a top 4 team

I'm selling:
1. Hawks as a top 4 team
2. Magic outside the top 4
3. Raptors as a top 6 team

Atlanta is 9-5. We're 7-7. You're selling Atlanta being a top 4 team and buying us being in the top 4... am I reading that right?

Huh? are you saying 2 games is insurmountable?

I mean not that there's much "data" to prove otherwise so far, but I don't see what's crazy about it, albeit being a homer.

Bulls were just in 1st at 5-0 and now are 11th.

ANYTHING can happen but they're 2 games ahead of us and if they trade their star PG for an actual difference maker, watch out. Meanwhile, we're teetering between pretty good and the world is falling... yet he's buying his team and selling the, currently better, regional rival? Yup, no biases here

That said, you could call their schedule soft with their only good win against the Lakers. I could buy that argument.

[SOUL]

That said, you could call their schedule soft with their only good win against the Lakers. I could buy that argument.

I mean that's what predictions are for! All logic goes out of the window lol. I mean, maybe it's not between Atlanta or Orlando but I'm sure you can make a "crazy" proclamation of two teams right now switching and be right, even though it wouldn't really feel like it makes sense at the moment.

A lot of the East teams seem to be along the same tier right now ,oddly outside of Detroit. Meaning a lot of stuff to "like" but equal amounts worry and panic once they lose a few games.

Atlanta definitely has more avenues to work towards getting better with Trae and that NO pick next year. Better positioned than us unless Franz/Paolo take another leap.

[eyriq]

What are we buying and selling so far this season?

I think I'm buying:
1. Hornets/Nets/Pacers/Wizards are tanking
2. Pistons as a top 4 team

I'm selling:
1. Hawks as a top 4 team
2. Magic outside the top 4
3. Raptors as a top 6 team

Atlanta is 9-5. We're 7-7. You're selling Atlanta being a top 4 team and buying us being in the top 4... am I reading that right?

You are as good at reading comprehension as you are at evaluating contract value lol

[pepe1991]

East is mess, but Cavs and Pistons are best teams.

Somewhat healthy 76ers with returning George & Embiid are probably better than majority of other pretenders.

Team i'm selling are Bucks. I just can't see them being anywhere near 48 wins or so. I think this is last season of Giannis with Bucks. Downfall is inevitable.

Scary thing is, Hawks have more than enough to add Giannis. As for current Hawks, they are better off Leprechaun. My long lasting hatred toward him is finally paing off.

Spoiler:

No, joke aside, Hawks aren't bad team. They are more compact without Young, they have best "backup" C in nba in Okongwu, Jalen Johnson is very good, Risacher is useful. And they have Porzingis, Trae, picks as potentially tradable assets.


btw it's in Bucks best interest to make trade with Hawks since 2027 pick will be swapped between Pelicans and Hawks, as Bucks will get least favorable one, with Pelicans getting most favorable one.

But Bucks are delusional and most of their fans enable such rackless behavior because Giannis won them chip.

[GelbeWand09]

East is mess, but Cavs and Pistons are best teams.

Somewhat healthy 76ers with returning George & Embiid are probably better than majority of other pretenders.

Team i'm selling are Bucks. I just can't see them being anywhere near 48 wins or so. I think this is last season of Giannis with Bucks. Downfall is inevitable.

Scary thing is, Hawks have more than enough to add Giannis. As for current Hawks, they are better off Leprechaun. My long lasting hatred toward him is finally paing off.

Spoiler:

No, joke aside, Hawks aren't bad team. They are more compact without Young, they have best "backup" C in nba in Okongwu, Jalen Johnson is very good, Risacher is useful. And they have Porzingis, Trae, picks as potentially tradable assets.


btw it's in Bucks best interest to make trade with Hawks since 2027 pick will be swapped between Pelicans and Hawks, as Bucks will get least favorable one, with Pelicans getting most favorable one.

But Bucks are delusional and most of their fans enable such rackless behavior because Giannis won them chip.

Sad thing is, Jalen Johnson is currently a better player than Paolo. Like Franz, he is a great 2 way player with better playmaking than Paolo. Probably not a real No.1 option but with Paolo's eff. he isnt either.
I remember that you liked him pre draf. I was fan too but was deterred by the non skill stuff, that he was called a difficult character/head case.

[Skybox]

East is mess, but Cavs and Pistons are best teams.

Somewhat healthy 76ers with returning George & Embiid are probably better than majority of other pretenders.

Team i'm selling are Bucks. I just can't see them being anywhere near 48 wins or so. I think this is last season of Giannis with Bucks. Downfall is inevitable.

Scary thing is, Hawks have more than enough to add Giannis. As for current Hawks, they are better off Leprechaun. My long lasting hatred toward him is finally paing off.

Spoiler:

No, joke aside, Hawks aren't bad team. They are more compact without Young, they have best "backup" C in nba in Okongwu, Jalen Johnson is very good, Risacher is useful. And they have Porzingis, Trae, picks as potentially tradable assets.

I have to disagree with you Pepe...I think ORL has the best backup C in the league - unfortunately, he is starting

I think WCJ in limited minutes off the bench would be a monster (time at PF too)...but I really think we need more of a monster in the middle to take the next step.

[eyriq]

BPI win projections:

1. Cavs: 54
2. Knicks: 51
3. Pistons: 51
4. Hawks: 50
5. Sixers: 49
6. Heat: 46
______________
7. Raptors: 46
8. Magic: 45
9. Celtics : 44
10. Bucks: 41
______________
11. Bulls: 38
12. Hornets: 28
13. Pacers: 21
14. Nets: 19
15: Wizards: 14

[GelbeWand09]

BPI win projections:

1. Cavs: 54
2. Knicks: 51
3. Pistons: 51
4. Hawks: 50
5. Sixers: 49
6. Heat: 46
______________
7. Raptors: 46
8. Magic: 45
9. Celtics : 44
10. Bucks: 41
______________
11. Bulls: 38
12. Hornets: 28
13. Pacers: 21
14. Nets: 19
15: Wizards: 14

When they doesnt have homecourt and lose again in the 1st round, the Bane trade gets even more questionable, because they probably only have this and next year with this core til they have to make trades to cut salary.

[eyriq]

BPI win projections:

1. Cavs: 54
2. Knicks: 51
3. Pistons: 51
4. Hawks: 50
5. Sixers: 49
6. Heat: 46
______________
7. Raptors: 46
8. Magic: 45
9. Celtics : 44
10. Bucks: 41
______________
11. Bulls: 38
12. Hornets: 28
13. Pacers: 21
14. Nets: 19
15: Wizards: 14

When they doesnt have homecourt and lose again in the 1st round, the Bane trade gets even more questionable, because they probably only have this and next year with this core til they have to make trades to cut salary.

If you were 50/50 on the Orlando 50.5 over in the preseason you are 40/60 now after this 7-7 start. The model started lower than 50/50, I think it was projecting 49 wins, so it's slightly more pessimistic than this 50/50 fan.

Personally, I was a believer before and am a believer still. A 7-7 start hardly eliminates us from the 51+ win club.