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NBA preseason takeaways: What we've learned about all 30 teams so far

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With the NBA regular season right around the corner, it’s a great time to absorb the basketball we have seen in the preseason. This is the time of year where teams are laying the foundation, understanding what they are trying to achieve and what they believe will get them there.

There are few things better in the NBA than getting off to a good start. Every year we see a team have surprising early-season success, gain more buy-in and sustain success all year long. So, what are teams trying to establish? What do they need to work on? And how much should you believe in your team (or yell at me for believing in your team)? Let’s dive into what we’ve seen so far.

East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards

West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz

The task for the Hawks is going to be figuring out how to build on their post All-Star break run from last season. My eyes go directly to Jalen Johnson and what another leap looks like. There is a poise and composure to his game in the half-court. As important as his drives have been, watching him work to get to his spots feels like the next evolution. Developing confidence in that in-between game, being willing to mix in pull-up 3s. It will be key for him to draw more attention from defenses, but he’ll have to be able to score even when they don’t bring help and force the defense’s hand. Also, you can yell at me about spacing, but go watch Lu Dort and Dyson Daniels play defense at the same time.

From an on-court perspective, the move to trade Jaylen Brown felt like Boston doubling down on the formula it’s built. There’s a clear desire for the Celtics to get into actions quicker and make sure they have ball and player movement. It helps to have a healthier Jayson Tatum, who once again looks decisive. Paul George’s ability to be moved around the board (and Boston’s seemingly endless supply of young wings) helps. Having a defense that is this active also makes a lot of the offense easier. Aggressive nail help is one thing, but if you try to get into the paint, you’ll be greeted by multiple Celtics defenders. (I can’t wait for Joe Mazzulla to play Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta together; you know it’s going to happen, you just know.)

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The youth movement continues to live on in Brooklyn. Mikel Brown Jr. scored five points in his first two minutes of preseason action. Nolan Traoré is shooting all of the materials off the basketball. The 3s have stood out, but he’s shown an ability to change speeds and turn the corner. Egor Dëmin has traded some of last year’s 3-point shooting for a willingness to get downhill and attack in transition. Noah Clowney continues to show activity on both ends of the floor while knocking down 3s. Day’Ron Sharpe is rolling (and also letting it fly from 3). And, what’s that? Another drive-and-kick from Julius Randle to Michael Porter Jr.? Got it. Before you laugh, just know both have dove on the floor in the preseason (hustle!). Randle should stabilize things in the half-court; his drives and playmaking should open up opportunities for those around him. Nine assists in a half has to mean something!

There’s a depth to the Hornets that fits the vision of building on last year’s success. When you look at the roster and watch them play, you see hoopers. How they use them will be key. Naz Reid being able to drive in space and beat switches is interesting. Brandon Miller showing a certain level of determination and certainty on his drives feels important. We’ve seen his drives, we’ve seen the scoring, is the next step having a command to do both? The activity of Moussa Diabate always stands out on both ends of the floor. Charlotte will just have to work to create offense in a league that won’t be surprised by its efforts.

There have been several times this preseason where I have watched the Bulls and wondered to myself, “Did they run out of tall people?” That aside, it’s been fun to watch the Bulls tinker with their personnel. Tiago Splitter has wasted no time putting his stamp on this Bulls offense, using different screening angles to open things up. Staggered backscreens near half-court to try and get Norman Powell or Caleb Wilson downhill. Buddy Hield planted in the middle of the paint and flying off a baseline screen to the corner. Jalen Smith at the 5 opening up some five-out spacing and driving lanes for Matas Buzelis and Wilson (who may not have the strength but absolutely has the will). And, hey, have you seen what Leonard Miller has been doing?

The shot-making may not have arrived from Peyton Watson, but the defensive potential has been on display. There’s a trust with his ability to switch and contain specific matchups that takes pressure off the Cavaliers defense. His weakside defense, whether it is a stunt or swipe at the elbow or an ability to rotate into the paint, has also been noteworthy. On offense, there’s been an effort from the Cavs to get to more elbow action, mixing up where Donovan Mitchell or James Harden catch the ball and how they get to pick-and-roll. More of their lineups now tend to have more size (see Hezonja, Mario) once they stagger their bigs. And James Harden is taking midrange jump shots. Again.

It feels like there has been a strong emphasis on spacing and cutting in the half-court when Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving share the floor together. One thing to note is how often the Mavericks have tried to have actions take place on both sides of the court, putting defenses in a scenario where they have to (in theory) deal with both of them. Tapping into Irving and Flagg’s ability to read defenses off-ball and playing off it, and finding a way to structure an offense where both can be themselves, is something they can build off of. I’m curious to see how much they tap into smaller lineups to take advantage of the amount of wings they can throw on the floor.

The preseason has been a reminder of how good Denver’s starting lineup can be and the push and pull the Nuggets will have to navigate this season. You can write down the impact of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić in marker (the man threw a behind-the-back pass from one corner to the other). It’s easy to forget just how good (and important) Aaron Gordon’s offensive growth was last season. Cam Johnson has another year under his belt to understand where, when and how he can attack and impact the game (making shots helps). I’ve enjoyed the moments where DeMar DeRozan is able to just find a play or a bucket with the second unit. They just need to find a comfort.

The Pistons added more shooting to their roster and we’ve seen them work through ball movement and player movement, working to get to more pindowns, flares and handoffs. The idea is to keep things moving on offense, and make quicker decisions in the half-court to get to the next action, working to build a base around the attention Cade Cunningham will draw from defenses and finding a way to make them pay. Ausar Thompson is showing a confidence to get to the spots he wants on the court versus purely taking what defenses are offering.

Yaxel Lendeborg has shown he can impact the game each time he’s stepped on the court. His drives add a different element to this Warriors attack. His confidence to let it fly from 3 either via catch-and-shoot or off the dribble has me intrigued. His willingness to dive on a loose ball to save a possession so the Warriors can hit a 3 can’t be taught. If he can find a level of consistency defensively, that will boost this Warriors team. Golden State has the power of Stephen Curry and the jazz he plays with Draymond Green. But it will have to find a way to evolve in a way that brings regular-season success with hopes of a playoff payoff.

Marcus Smart feels like a tremendous fit for what Houston needs. His ability to operate on-ball should allow Reed Sheppard to feel less pressure to playmake and play off-ball within second units. Fred VanVleet’s return should help keep things in order in the half-court, too. It’s been interesting to see the Rockets willing to get up and down the floor more, willing to let it fly from 3. There is a push and pull because the quicker they play, the less they can control tempo. But it’s clear they understand they have to put more pressure on teams with their offense and have more movement. Amen Thompson’s continued comfort combined with Alperen Şengün making quick decisions could be key. And they still have Kevin Durant, who can and will absolutely impact the game.

Tyrese Haliburton is back and so is the flow, movement and attack of the Pacers offense. Haliburton’s ability to process the floor and initiate Indiana’s counters to defensive pressure has been missed. It’s clear Ivica Zubac will impact this team on both ends of the floor. His ability to screen, roll and pass within what the Pacers want to do on offense is key. Defensively, keep an eye on how much they want him at the level, how much they want him dropping back and how he can nail the nuance of disguising each coverage. If the Pacers can stay consistent with their rotations, they may be off to the races.

It’s a shame that injuries have continued to knock on the door of this Clippers team. Darius Garland appears ready to exceed his previous form; there is just no hesitation from him offensively. The key is going to be what they can add to that and around that. The defensive base is not quite the same. Is it Keaton Wagler riding the highs and lows offensively? Is there enough of a mix for him on- and off-ball? Maybe we just enjoy the Brook Lopez drives and the Kris Dunn defense.

We’ve seen an inkling of movement with Luka Dončić before he gets to pick-and-roll adding a layer of pressure. Austin Reaves has looked even more confident in his playmaking and ability to break down defenses. Sandro Mamukelashvili has been deployed at the 4 and the 5 and used to space the floor and unlock movement. Walker Kessler’s debut showed that the Lakers’ activity on defense can feel even stronger when they are funneling to a rim protector with timing. And don’t sleep on how Kessler’s screening ability can be used offensively. There is a belief from JJ Redick in this roster that you can see each time the Lakers play. The lineups the Lakers deploy when it is one of Luka or Reaves on the floor show they believe they have the personnel to defend.

The execution of the Grizzlies’ offense feels much more natural with this group than last year. It’s clear what they want to accomplish and how they want to attack. The versatility of Cameron Boozer has continued to stand out. When he’s at the 4 and teams want to switch, he has shown zero hesitation to get in the post. If he scores and teams show help, the passing ability pops. If he’s at the 5, they can still run him off flares, but he has a great feel for screening and rolling, forcing an over and getting right to the pocket. Ty Jerome is going to decel and stepback way into your favorite basketball person’s heart.

Giannis Antetokounmpo with space is not a new concept, but it’s a significant one for Miami. One of the biggest things he brings to the table is a pressure point, someone who will consistently draw the attention of defenses. Being able to mix that into what Miami established with drive-and-kick and cutting last year helps both sides. You still have a base when Giannis is not on the floor, but it’s stronger when he is there. Being able to use him as a screener on-ball is great, but the pindowns for Klay Thompson with Giannis rolling to an empty side are underrated. Andrew Wiggins really looks to be profiting from the shots that are being generated. How Miami mixes in switches, drop and zone will be key going forward.

As of this writing, 137 of the Bucks’ 275 field-goal attempts have come from the 3-point line. That’s today’s game, but part of me wonders if that’s fully by design or if those are the shots they can easily generate. The journey for the Bucks is going to be to find a way to put pressure on teams and generate offense for each other. A new team has to find an identity and, if the offense is slow and the defense has breakdowns, it can be hard to see where to build the base. I have enjoyed the aggression Brayden Burries has shown and the energy from Nate Ament before his ankle injury. Taylor Jenkins is going to have to find out what this team has and get the most of it.

The comfort and vibes of the starting lineup have been a shining light for the Wolves. Talking about tempo as an issue for this team feels like it’s off the menu. The playmaking from LaMelo Ball always felt like it would help, but the speed of his passes adds a different element to this attack. Anthony Edwards being used more off-ball, in dribble handoffs, pindowns or floppy actions allows him to do what he does while carrying less in the backpack. Jaden McDaniels has not stopped being aggressive, with plenty of room for him to continue to get reps and grow. He’s just a functional part of their offensive attack. Jonathan Kuminga’s effort defensively has stood out. The chemistry may come together sooner than some imagine.

All offseason I have believed that there is too much talent on this roster for it to fall short. The question remains how exactly will it come together? Is there a focal point? Are you able to get defenses to guard multiple actions? Do you have enough defense to bring it all together? By surrounding Zion Williamson are you taking away the part that makes him Zion Williamson? Is there more you can do to tap in to Trey Murphy III’s talent? There are fun players and fun lineups, but I am wondering if they can extend that through 48 minutes.

Winning a championship means you just answered a lot of questions, so the Knicks’ preseason has felt a lot like reestablishing their base on both ends. I’m sure there will be an evolution, but they have been working to play through movement, flow and cutting once again. Reading the defense, working to play outside of the first action and get into the next. Defensively, they’re reestablishing the principles they worked through all last year. That should set up the second unit for success out of the gate; that’s been a mixed bag, but Andre Drummond has done his job defensively and has had no problem operating in handoffs.

The feeling I’ve had watching the Thunder is that Jalen Williams is back. The drives, the cuts, the all out effort on defense. It also clear when watching Aday Mara and Jared McCain that OKC once again has young players ready to take advantage of an opportunity. When it comes to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, there’s clear move to get him off the ball more. That opens up more movement for OKC, but also more sudden attacks for SGA. The other thought is, what if we live in a world where Shai has added another level to his passing? We know he’ll draw attention; if these reads become automatic, that opens up another layer.

We are once again believing in the Orlando Magic and their attempt to play with quicker tempo, make quicker decisions and move the ball. Preseason has been full of early offense, working to keep both wings clear and allowing Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to work together to find advantages. Some of the concepts (matchups, inverted P&R) have not changed, but the idea has. Often guards are diving from the perimeter into Stack P&R for one of their wings. Working to go side to side with a guard (or a big) stepping up from the corner to set a screen. Outside of helping their stars, should help build a base for everyone else to contribute. Beyond Year 2 of Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs, you’re seeing a rise in belief from Tristan da Silva and Jase Richardson. The main thing is the defense will have to elevate back to top tier for this to stick.

The sample size for the Sixers’ starting lineup is extremely small at the moment, but it did give a glimpse into the attempt. The first thing that jumped off the page was “this is a lot of space for insert player.” Working to play through LeBron James (and his playmaking) at the elbow or top of the key can unlock movement. His ability to get the ball to Joel Embiid on the short roll should pay off. It’s also key for getting Tyrese Maxey off-ball and allowing him to unleash his speed and scoring in a different way. If you’re wondering about pace, throwaheads to Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown were there. LeBron and Embiid feel like the anchors of the half-court. There are a lot of pressure points they can hit; they just need to build and find a nuance defensively.

The question for Phoenix is, how can the Suns elevate what they did last year? More involvement for Jalen Green feels like a good idea. Is his balance of scoring and playmaking what the Suns need to keep pressure on teams? It feels like he’s at his best when he’s on the move, getting a dribble handoff or working in pass-and-cut actions.

The Damian Lillard return and fit has continued to stand out. There is plenty of room for Dame to be Dame, but it never feels like he’s overtasked. No matter the guard combination, he can be used off-ball, which opens up movement for Portland and lightens his on-ball load. And when he does have the ball in his hands, he will still draw attention in pick-and-roll. Watching Micah Nori shuffle through the combinations between Dame, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson has been fun. Ja has showcased his trademark burst and given the effort defensively. Scoot continues to display a feel for how his game (and jump shot) have grown. No matter what it feels like Portland will have 48 minutes of great guard play. I’ll be intrigued to see how willing they are to go to three-guard lineups (because there isn’t much Jrue can’t do on the court).

Darius Acuff Jr. is going to have all of the room to showcase his ability to put the ball in the basket. Domantas Sabonis is going to set all the screens and deliver all of the handoffs to make that happen. Ben Simmons is back, looking not only spry but confident. (It’s me, the person who will always go for the spin move and occasional stepback from midrange. It’s still real to me, darnit.)

We finally got to see the Spurs start Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper together. My intrigue is if they can all elevate offensively at the same time. Harper has shown zero hesitation when given any space in the preseason. Castle has always wanted to get downhill, but his ability to draw help and fire skip passes remains underrated. Fox likely will want to silence the noise from the Finals. There’s an element of size they can sprinkle in throughout various lineups. Also, I just saw Victor Wembanyama get an outlet off a made basket, dribble four times up the court and end up dunking with his left hand. The simple question might just be, what do we do if he got even better?

Kawhi Leonard is back and can open the playbook for the Raptors. Having him off come off pindowns or be an off-ball screener can put pressure on defenses within the Raptors attack. More importantly, the business is true: the Raptors are going to bring the smoke defensively. You can try to keep Scottie Barnes and Kawhi out of an action, but one of them is ready to help at the elbow, and the other is waiting on the block. High activity, ball pressure, communication and rotations to keep teams out of rhythm have been on display. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett have been more than willing to “do their job” on both ends. Keep an eye on Collin Murray-Boyles and his growth as a 3-point shooter.

Will Hardy has empowered his personnel offensively. That feels like a great starting point for a young team full of talent and versatility. Lauri Markkanen’s ability to be moved around the board has been a solid base. Combine that with the brewing chemistry between Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson and their ability to attack. Jaren Jackson Jr. should have more space and opportunity to remain aggressive with his drives from the perimeter. The real fun is when the Jazz go with George, Peterson, Ace Bailey, Markkanen and Jackson. How much pressure can they put on teams? Remember, this is a team that started the preseason playing zone defense. I believe they are here to ruffle some feathers.

Folks, I think the Wizards are fun. Trae Young and Anthony Davis have either A) played like they have something to prove or B) played like they do not care how they are perceived. It’s a luxury for this young Wizards team to go from trying to figure out how to generate offense to casually starting a possession with a Trae/AD pick-and-roll. And to Young’s credit, he has been getting downhill and looking to pass the basketball at will. If he is able to draw attention, that’s an untapped source for this Wizards group. AJ Dybantsa has a certain level of ruthless aggression to him, always trying to find a crease or an opportunity to attack. Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly provide a certain level of energy that gives a lift. The younger players have a clearer opportunity to “just do this” versus just getting up and down the court.

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