2025-2026 NBA preview part 2

The second part of the NBA preview is upon us and will feature the teams from the Central Division in the Eastern Conference. Enjoy!

Chicago Bulls

PG: Josh Giddey | Tre Jones | Jevon Carter | Yuri Kawamura 

SG: Cody White | Ayo Dosunmu | Dalen Terry | Caleb Grill 

SF: Isaac Okoro | Kevin Huerter | Julian Phillips | Emanuel Miller 

PF: Matas Buzelis | Patrick Williams | Noa Essengue | Mouhamadou Gueye 

C: Nikola Vucevic | Jalen Smith | Zach Collins | Lachlan Olbrich 

The Chicago Bulls have been quite average for a while now. They have not won a playoff series in a decade. They’ve had some solid teams that were able to challenge for a playoff series win, but haven’t been able to get over the hump. The other part of this is that the front office has been horrendous in its management and direction of the franchise. The roster is at a peculiar point where the front office makes it seem like they want to win, but the actual talent on the floor suggests they cannot. The Bulls' biggest move this offseason was signing Josh Giddey, an unrestricted free agent who was seeking more than $30 million in annual salary before agreeing with the franchise on a four-year, $100 million contract. The Bulls also added Isaac Okoro through a trade with the Cavaliers that sent Lonzo Ball to Cleveland. Outside of the trade, not much has been done to the roster in Chicago. I suspect the Bulls, who made a trade at the deadline last year for the first time in forever, will look to move Nikola Vucevic this year. The Bulls will put their hopes and dreams into Buzelis, who showed some nice pop as a rookie last season. 

Cleveland Cavaliers 

PG: Darius Garland | Lonzo Ball | Craig Porter | Killian Hayes

SG: Donovan Mitchell | Sam Merrill | Tyrese Proctor | Jaxson Robinson 

SF: De’Andre Hunter | Dean Wade | Luke Travers | Tristan Enaruna 

PG: Evan Mobley | Larry Nance Jr. | Jaylon Tyson | Chaney Johnson 

C: Jarrett Allen | Thomas Bryant | Nae’Qwan Tomlin | Norchad Omier 

Injuries: Max Strus

The defending regular-season champions in the Eastern Conference will enter the season trying to make up for the loss last season in the second round of the Eastern Conference semi-finals. The Cavs pulled the trigger on a trade for Lonzo Ball to make up for the loss of Ty Jerome to free agency. The Cavs choose to re-sign Sam Merrill and fill out the rest of the roster through minimum deals to try and stay out of the second apron. However, the start of the season will feature two of their more important players starting on the shelf with injuries. Max Strus broke a bone in his foot that needed surgery, and Darius Garland will miss the start of the season due to knee surgery that was needed during the postseason and caused him to miss parts of the series against the Pacers. Much of the roster returns from the team that won 64 games a season ago. 

Detroit Pistons 

PG: Cade Cunningham | Caris LeVert | Marcus Sasser | Daniss Jenkins 

SG: Jaden Ivey | Ron Holland | Javonte Green | Brice Williams 

SF: Ausar Thompson | Duncan Robinson | Chaz Lanier | Colby Jones 

PF: Tobias Harris | Isaiah Stewart | Tolu Smith | Dawson Garcia 

C: Jalen Duren | Paul Reed | Bobi Klintman | Charles Bediako 

The Detroit Pistons made the postseason last season for the first time since 2018-2019 with their successful regular season. The team that was supposed to facilitate trades last year at the deadline, due to the cavernous amounts of cap space the franchise had, had other plans in mind. Cade Cunningham made his first All-Star team and All-NBA team last season and first-year head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was able to provide a sense of stability to the franchise. Much of the offseason was primed around replacing Malik Beasley, who was named in a gambling investigation by the FBI before the start of free agency. The Pistons decided to replace him with a sign-and-trade with the Heat to acquire Duncan Robinson and added ball handling in Caris LeVert after Dennis Schroder left for the Kings. The franchise signed Javonte Green to a deal and will get back Jaden Ivey after he suffered a broken leg during the season last year, which forced him to miss a majority of the season. The Pistons will be looking for leaps from Ivey, Ausar Thompson, a popular pick for most improved player, and Jalen Duren. It should be fun in Detroit this season. 

Indiana Pacers 

PG: Andrew Nembhard | TJ McConnell | Monte Morris | RayJ Dennis 

SG: Benn Mathurin | Ben Sheppard | Kam Jones | Taelon Peter

SF: Aaron Nesmith | Obi Toppin | Johnny Furphy | Quentin Jackson 

PF: Pascal Siakam | Jarace Walker | James Wiseman | Gabe McGlothin 

C: Isaiah Jackson | Tony Bradley | Jay Huff | Jalen Slawson 

Injuries: Tyrese Haliburton 

The Pacers will be looking to capture the lightning in a bottle that they had last season, as they seemingly stole a playoff game in each of the 4 series they participated in last season. The reigning Eastern Conference champions will be without their best player in Tyrese Haliburton, who will miss the entire season due to an Achilles injury. The Pacers will look to have Andrew Nembhard take a step forward with his ability to play make and score from the point guard position. Benn Mathurin will also look to take a step forward in becoming an efficient scorer for the team as well. The franchise added Jay Huff through a trade with the Grizzlies and added Monte Morris through free agency. The Pacers also return Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman from injury; both missed a majority of last season with Achilles injuries. The Pacers lost Myles Turner after he and the franchise were unable to agree on a new contract. It’ll be an interesting season in Indiana as the expectations remain as a weird medium between building for 2026-2027 and regaining where they left off last season. 

Milwaukee Bucks 

PG: Ryan Rollins | Kevin Porter | Andre Jackson | Jamaree Bouyea 

SG: AJ Green | Cole Anthony | Gary Harris | Mark Sears | Cormac Ryan 

SF: Kyle Kuzma | Gary Trent Jr. | Chris Livingston | Amir Coffey 

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo | Taurean Prince | Thanasis Antetokounmpo | Pete Nance 

C: Myles Turner | Bobby Portis | Jericho Sims | Tyler Smith 

The Bucks spent much of the offseason trying to upgrade a roster to try to win in the future, but also to keep their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo happy.  The move, and likely the most shocking move of the offseason, was waiving and stretching Damian Lillard’s remaining $113 million he owed over the next 2 seasons. This allowed the franchise to sign Myles Turner to replace an aging Brook Lopez and recoup some of the defensive anchor they had in the prime years of Lopez. The franchise also added Cole Anthony to try to buff up the backcourt for the Bucks. The leap for Ryan Rollins will need to happen for his shooting and defensive playmaking. The Bucks also re-signed Kevin Porter, Gary Trent Jr., and Taurean Prince. The Bucks also added Gary Harris in free agency. There’s a good likelihood we start seeing more Giannis at the point. We got glimpses of it last year, as he went on a tear while Damian Lillard missed time with a blood clot in his calf. Milwaukee will be the center of NBA talk over the next  8-9 months with the potential of a Giannis trade looming. Oh, and how could I forget they re-signed Thanasis this offseason, too.