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2025 NBA Season Preview: Atlantic Division
My preview of the 2025 NBA season continues with the Atlantic Division, home of the defending champion Boston Celtics and two other hopeful contenders in the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston Celtics
Additions: Baylor Scheiermann (30th pick in 2024 Draft), Anton Watson (two-way)
Subtractions: Oshae Brissett, Svi Mykhailiuk
Other: Signed Jayson Tatum to a 5 year $315M extension, Signed Derrick White to 4 year $126M extension, Signed Sam Hauser to a 4 year $45M extension, Re-signed Xavier Tillman, Re-signed Luke Kornet, Re-signed Neemias Queta
Outlook: There’s not a ton to say about the defending NBA champs. The Celtics brought almost their whole team back, losing some third-stringers and adding a couple replacements via the draft. They were the best team in the NBA last year, by far, winning the most games in the regular season and then going 16-3 in the postseason with a massive margin of victory. Kristaps Porzingis’ injury and the age of Al Horford and Jrue Holiday could result in the Celtics being somewhat worse this season, but the rest of their rotation is in their prime and remarkably injury-free. They have to be title favorites right now, even with a stronger Eastern Conference.
Prediction: 58-26 (Last year 64-18, predicted 52-30)
New York Knicks
Additions: Mikal Bridges, Cam Payne, Keita Bates-Diop, Pacome Dadiet (25th pick in 2024 Draft), Tyler Kolek (34th pick in 2024 Draft), Kevin McCullar Jr. (two-way), Ariel Hukporti (two-way)
Subtractions: Isaiah Hartenstein, Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks, Ryan Arcidiacono
Other: Signed Jalen Brunson to 4 year $156M extension, Re-signed OG Anunoby to 5 year $212M deal, Re-signed Precious Achiuwa
Outlook: The Knicks finished second in the East in the regular season last year and were one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals. That did not stop them from making a massive trade for Mikal Bridges, going all in on the Villanova squad alongside Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. The Knicks should be very good in the regular season, as they have solid depth at most positions and a coach in Tom Thibodeau who excels at grinding out wins. I’m slightly less high on them in the playoffs, mostly because their center rotation is not great, and becomes downright bad if the injury-prone Mitchell Robinson were to miss time. There’s also the Julius Randle question – he’s not a great fit with Brunson and the new Knicks roster, but probably has more value to the Knicks than other teams. If the Knicks can flip him for a better fitting player, I’d probably like their roster a bit more. Still, the Knicks could absolutely win the East this season.
Prediction: 53-29 (Last year 50-32, predicted 47-35)
Philadelphia 76ers
Additions: Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Guerschon Yabusele, Jared McCain (16th pick in 2024 Draft), Adem Bona (42nd pick in 2024 Draft), David Jones (two-way), Justin Edwards (two-way)
Subtractions: Tobias Harris, Nic Batum, De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, Robert Covington, Paul Reed, Cam Payne, Mo Bamba
Other: Re-signed Kelly Oubre, Re-signed Kyle Lowry, Re-signed KJ Martin
Outlook: I don’t think any team re-did their roster as much as the Sixers, who are bringing only six players total (and four rotation players) back from last year’s roster. The big addition is, of course, Paul George, who slots perfectly between Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid as a big wing who will add shooting, perimeter defense, creation, and firepower. But the Sixers didn’t stop at PG, bringing in multiple other strong depth pieces including Caleb Martin (their presumed starter at PF), Andre Drummond (one of the best backup centers in the NBA), and Kelly Oubre and Kyle Lowry (key players from the prior season). The Sixers’ wing depth is still a little shaky, and Embiid and PG both have injury issues, but they are more prepared for a deep playoff run than they have been since the 2019 team with Jimmy Butler, and should have enough talent to withstand a regular season injury to Embiid. This is the Sixers’ big chance.
Prediction: 51-31 (Last year 47-35, predicted 49-33)
Toronto Raptors
Additions: Davion Mitchell, Ja’Kobe Walter (19th pick in 2024 Draft), Jonathan Mogbo (31st pick in 2024 Draft), Jamal Shead (45th pick in 2024 Draft), Ulrich Chomche (two-way)
Subtractions: Jalen McDaniels, Kira Lewis Jr., Mo Gueye, Jordan Nwora
Other: Signed Scottie Barnes to 5 year $225M extension, Re-signed Immanuel Quickley to 5 year $175M deal
Outlook: The Raptors were yet another team that barely made moves in free agency, instead changing their roster primarily through the draft. While I was not a huge fan of Walter, the Mogbo pick was a good one, and Shead and Chomche are interesting too. Still, the heavy emphasis on young guys suggest the Raptors are not aiming for the postseason this year. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley were both signed to massive new contracts, locking them in as the Raptors core, and while I like both players, I don’t know if they are the basis for a really good team. The Raptors do still have some competent vets around those two – Kelly Olynyk, Jakob Poeltl, and Bruce Brown – and in a miserable bottom half of the Eastern Conference that might be enough to squeak into the last spot in the play-in.
Prediction: 32-50 (Last year 25-57, predicted 37-45)
Brooklyn Nets
Additions: Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton, Ziaire Williams
Subtractions: Mikal Bridges, Dennis Smith Jr., Lonnie Walker, Keita-Bates Diop
Other: Signed Nic Claxton to a 4 year $100M deal, Re-signed Trendon Watford, Re-signed Keon Johnson
Outlook: The Nets finally embraced the tank this summer, moving off Mikal Bridges and reclaiming control of their drafting in the next two seasons in the process. Perhaps no team but the Wizards is embracing the tank as hard as the Nets, who have not picked at the top of the lottery since Derrick Favors in 2010. The Nets do still have some veteran talent on their roster, but its not enough to make them competitive, and players like Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith will probably get moved sooner than later anyway. The Nets will be very bad this season, the question is how bad. Maybe they drop into the teens in wins, but I think they’ll have just enough competence to hit 20.
Prediction: 20-62 (Last year 32-50, predicted 34-48)