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The Oklahoma City Thunder appeared poised to become the first team to repeat as NBA champions since 2018 before injuries took their toll.

And it was the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City’s newest rival, who were ready to capitalize.

But now it’s a new season for the Thunder, who have most of their core returning for what should be another push for a title. Much of that will depend on two-time consecutive Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. But for the Thunder to get back to the NBA Finals, role players will have to do their part, too.

Here's a breakdown of the Oklahoma City Thunder's offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Oklahoma City Thunder offseason review

• Record last season: 64-18 (1st in Western Conference)
• Playoff finish: Eliminated in Western Conference finals (3-4, against Spurs)
• Coach: Mark Daigneault (seventh season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +260 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record: 65-17
• Offseason grade: B+

Key roster additions

• C Aday Mara (NBA draft)
• G Bennett Stirtz (NBA draft)

Key roster losses

• G Luguentz Dort (trade)
• G Isaiah Joe (trade)
• G Aaron Wiggins (trade)
• C Branden Carlson (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

With the Spurs still lingering, can the Thunder reclaim dominance in the West?

In what’s becoming the best rivalry in the NBA, the Spurs had Oklahoma City’s number last year, beating the Thunder four of the five times they played in the regular season. Then, in the Western Conference finals, a brutally physical series went seven games. Injuries played a crucial role for the Thunder, as both Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell — key offensive threats — missed significant time. That put immense pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, significantly restricting Oklahoma City’s offense. Now, the Thunder rotation will look a little different, after tough decisions needed to be made to stay under the apron. That also means younger players — ones like Mitchell, Cason Wallace and Jared McCain — will need to step up.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• G Cason Wallace
• F Jalen Williams
• F Chet Holmgren
• C Isaiah Hartenstein

Rotation players

• G Jared McCain
• G Ajay Mitchell
• G Alex Caruso
• C Jaylin Williams
• F Kenrich Williams
• G Bennett Stirtz
• G Nikola Topić
• C Thomas Sorber

What to expect in 2026-27 season

Expect one of the best teams in the NBA to have a laser focus on returning to the top of the league. Even though they paid their top stars, the Thunder are still built to compete with the NBA’s very best. Gilgeous-Alexander is a perennial Most Valuable Player candidate, the Thunder play a smothering brand of defense that has led the league in rating the last two seasons and they have an established culture in which players selflessly embrace their roles. Despite that, some of Oklahoma City’s supporting stars, players like forward Chet Holmgren, have disappeared in the playoffs. With plenty of elite teams, that can no longer happen. The Thunder were the most dominant team for large parts of the last two seasons. Will they be able to return to championship form? As long as they stay healthy, there’s no reason to expect them not to.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oklahoma City Thunder season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Atlanta Hawks last season, a career year that came together as the franchise stopped trying to build around anyone else.

The Hawks were 19-21 and ninth in the East when they dealt Trae Young to Washington. They went 27-15 the rest of the way and took the eventual champion Knicks to six games, the only team in the postseason to beat New York twice.

So Onsi Saleh, Atlanta's president of basketball operations, left it alone.

The Hawks made no move this summer for a starter. They shopped the clearance rack instead, taking Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins off a Thunder team drowning in luxury tax, at a cost of five second-round picks between the two deals. Wiggins alone cut $61 million off Oklahoma City's tax bill. Atlanta stayed at No. 8 in the 2026 NBA Draft and selected Houston point guard Kingston Flemings, brought back CJ McCollum for one year and $21 million and declined Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3 million option.

Here's a breakdown of the Atlanta Hawks' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

ATLANTA HAWKS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Atlanta Hawks offseason review

• Record last season: 46-36 (6th in Eastern Conference)
• Playoff finish: Eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks
• Coach: Quin Snyder (fifth season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +6600 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record : 43-39
• Offseason grade : B+

Key roster additions

• G Luguentz Dort (trade)
• G Aaron Wiggins (trade)
• G Devin Carter (trade)
• G Kingston Flemings (draft, No.8)
• G Ryan Nembhard (trade)
• F/C Zuby Ejiofor (draft, No.23)
• C Henri Veesaar (draft, No.52)

Key roster losses

• F Zaccharie Risacher (trade)
• F Jonathan Kuminga (free agency)
• G Gabe Vincent (free agency)
• G Keaton Wallace (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

Who scores in a playoff half court?

• Atlanta got outscored by 51 points in the closeout game against New York, the version of this team nobody in the building wants to talk about. Johnson is the engine, Dyson Daniels finished as runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker just won Most Improved Player after averaging 20.8 points as a starter. But, none of them has ever been the guy a defense builds its game plan around in May. McCollum, who turns 35 this month, was that guy three teams ago.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G CJ McCollum
• G Dyson Daniels
• G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
• F Jalen Johnson
• C Onyeka Okongwu

Rotation players

• G Luguentz Dort
• Aaron Wiggins
• Kingston Flemings
• Ryan Nembhard
• F Asa Newell
• C Jock Landale

What to expect in 2026-27 season

Atlanta is going to be miserable to play against. Daniels and Dort on one roster gives Snyder two of the five best on-ball defenders alive, and Okongwu and Jock Landale can both shoot enough at center to keep the lane open for Johnson.

The shooting behind them is a real question. Atlanta gave up 116.0 points a game last season, and an offense that lives on drive-and-kick needs shooters standing in the corners. The Hawks also have more players than roster spots and will have to cut somewhere before opening night. Fifth seed feels about right in a conference that got considerably heavier at the top.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta Hawks season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the LeBron James sweepstakes this offseason before having to pivot to other options to maximize their championship window. But after being swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the pressure is mounting on this Cavaliers core.

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are back with new contracts to lead the Cavaliers, and Peyton Watson arrives on the wing via sign-and-trade after a breakthrough season with the Denver Nuggets. The continued pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen inside gives Cleveland a potent lineup capable of competing with the NBA's elite.

But the Cavaliers can't prove much else in the regular season at this point. They're banking on Mitchell's long-term viability as a premier scorer, internal improvement and Watson's potential to turn this conference finalist into a real contender once the playoffs start again.

Here's a breakdown of the Cleveland Cavaliers' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Cleveland Cavaliers offseason review

• Record last season: 52-30 (4th in Eastern Conference)
• Playoff finish: Lost to Knicks in Eastern Conference Finals
• Coach: Kenny Atkinson (3rd season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +2500 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record: 44-38
• Offseason grade: C-

Key roster additions

• G Meleek Thomas (No. 34 pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
• F Peyton Watson (trade)
• F Mario Hezonja (free agent signing)
• C Khalifa Diop (No. 39 pick in 2022 NBA Draft)

Key roster losses

• G Max Strus (trade)
• G Dennis Schroder (trade)
• G Keon Ellis (free agent)
• G Lonzo Ball (free agent)
• F Dean Wade (free agent)
• F Larry Nance Jr. (free agent)

Biggest question entering training camp

Can Donovan Mitchell be the best player on a championship team?

• Though concerns about Mitchell's capabilities as a No. 1 option in the playoffs aren't new, they were amplified by the Cavaliers' disappointing exit from the playoffs and the massive contract extension he signed this offseason. Mitchell's four-year, $273 million deal ties him to the Cavaliers for the foreseeable future, but will also limit the front office's flexibility given the restrictive NBA salary cap rules.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G James Harden
• G Donovan Mitchell
• F Peyton Watson
• F Evan Mobley
• C Jarrett Allen

Rotation players

• G Tyrese Proctor
• G Sam Merrill
• G Meleek Thomas
• G/F Jaylon Tyson
• F Mario Hezonja
• F Nae'Qwan Tomlin

What to expect in 2026-27 season

The Cavaliers gave up some of their depth in order to add Watson to the fold and re-sign Mitchell and Harden, but they should have one of the best records in the Eastern Conference again if their core stays healthy. The challenge remains the playoffs, where Watson's help on the wing won't fix that the team's title hopes still ultimately hinge on Mitchell and an aging Harden.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cleveland Cavaliers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

The New York Knicks, for the past three months, have been on top of the NBA world.

The franchise snapped a 53-year championship drought during a historic run that concluded with the dispatching of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, in five games. New York City erupted and fêted the Knicks with a celebration that is still lingering any time one of the team’s players makes a public appearance.

But. now it’s time to turn the page.

The Knicks did suffer some roster losses this offseason, but the core remains in place. Another thing that remains in place are expectations. And now that this fan base has tasted a title, it’s clear Knicks faithful will want another — and soon.

Here's a breakdown of the New York Knicks' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

NEW YORK KNICKS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN: Vows to fix 'mistake in our pricing' after Knicks fans condemn ticket costs

New York Knicks offseason review

• Record last season: 53-29 (3rd in Eastern Conference)
• Playoff finish: NBA champions (4-1, over Spurs)
• Coach: Mike Brown (second season)
• 2026-27 title odds: +900 (per BetMGM)
• Projected record : 52-26
• Offseason grade : B

Key roster additions

• C Andre Drummond (free agent signing)

Key roster losses

• C Ariel Hukporti (free agency)
• C Mitchell Robinson (free agency)
• F Jeremy Sochan (free agency)

Biggest question entering training camp

Will there be a post-title hangover?

• The roster is returning nearly all its key contributors, with Robinson being the lone departure of the core rotation. So, after New York celebrated a championship all summer, where does this team go from here? The NBA hasn’t seen a repeat champion since 2018, so the Knicks have a tall task. Players have publicly said all the right things about maintaining their desire to compete and their hunger to win, but that is much harder in practice, especially when they’re just months removed from an emotional championship run. A bit of a hangover or letdown might be in order, if not expected. But with the roster boasting the best continuity in the NBA, perhaps fans won’t have to wait that long for another banner.

Projected starting lineup and rotation

Starters

• G Jalen Brunson
• G OG Anunoby
• F Mikal Bridges
• F Josh Hart
• C Karl-Anthony Towns

Rotation players

• G Miles McBride
• G Landry Shamet
• G Jose Alvarado
• G Tyler Kole
• G/F Jordan Clarkson
• C Andre Drummond
• C Mohamed Diawara

What to expect in 2026-27 season

In short: a highly competitive team, looking to capitalize on a shrinking window to win championships. The Knicks, aside from the offseason coaching change over the summer of 2025 that ushered in Mike Brown, have been the roster with most continuity in the entire NBA. The problem for New York, however, is that it’s incredibly challenging to win a title in the NBA, and it’s even more difficult to do so in consecutive seasons. We are in an era of parity in the league that has failed to produce back-to-back champions since the Golden State Warriors did so in 2018. So, the odds are indeed somewhat against the Knicks to repeat. Either way, the facts remain: New York has a star guard and closer in Jalen Brunson, a nightmare matchup in center Karl-Anthony Towns and role players who understand their respective duties. The Knicks may not win another championship, but they should be elite competitors.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Knicks season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.

I think we all remember rookie Jae’Sean Tate as one of the few bright spots of the 2020-2021 season, but now, six seasons later, his role looks very different, so what can we expect from the captain of The Stay-Ready Crew this year?

Throughout his Rockets career, Jae’Sean has frequently struggled with injuries, but when he has been available, he has demonstrated consistency. You are aware of what Jae’Sean Tate will give you. You won’t see Tate whining about not receiving playing time, and Ime Udoka won’t ever have to bench him for lacking consistent effort. He had the option to leave the Rockets in free agency, but he made the decision to see the process through to the end, which he and the rest of us hope will result in an NBA title. The ultimate “Ime Udoka Guy” is him.

Last season, Tate barely saw playing time, and only played more than 20 minutes in a game during the last game of the NBA season where the Rockets took on the Grizzlies. Jae’Sean Tate did, however, score 13 points and 6 rebounds in that game, but it was mostly due to the Rockets having rested their starters. Tate did also see some playing time post all star break, but again that was likely due to the season-ending injury of Center Steven Adams.

As usual, Tate’s health will be crucial to helping the Rockets achieve their goal of a championship. He will have opportunities if he can stay healthy. With Kevin Durant turning 38, Steven Adams recovering from a season-ending ankle injury, and Fred VanVleet recovering from an ACL rupture, there will unavoidably be more ailments that give Tate more playing time, which is why having him on the team is such a luxury.

So if Tate somehow happens to be reading this, I recommend lots of yoga, stretching, and, if it calls for it, a nice ice bath to get those joints loose.

That’s all we have for today, but for more Rockets player season previews, make sure to check back here at The Dream Shake.

I play in dozens of fantasy basketball leagues every year, and my favorite format is the 9-cat head-to-head (H2H) league. Some experts call it a psycho format because of the weekly volatility, but it's where I've always had the most success. Building a winning 9-category roster is like solving a puzzle: you need players who contribute in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, 3-pointers, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers. Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, here are my top 9-cat fantasy draft strategies, mid-to-late-round stat-stuffers to target and inefficient scorers to fade, plus why punting categories is usually a mistake.

9-Cat Strategies

Don't Punt

If you've read any articles about 9-cat leagues, you've surely seen writers talk about punting. It's something you should only do if a draft completely falls apart, because punting a category is usually a poor decision. Imagine starting every week needing to win five of the remaining eight categories just to squeak out a 5-4 victory. That strategy can put you in a major hole, and it's a flawed way to build a team.

Target Stat-Stuffers

This one's obvious, but rostering players who contribute across the board is a major asset in a 9-cat league. Some of you might be thinking of a guy like Nikola Jokic, but low-end stat-stuffers can help round out a roster too. The most important factor is finding guards who won't kill you in field-goal percentage and big men who won't hurt your free-throw percentage. We also love guards who rebound and big men who dish out assists or hit 3-pointers. Being above average in any of those areas from a position where you don't expect it can be a major boost.

Limit Your Losses

Every fantasy manager is going to lose some weeks in 9-cat leagues, but limiting the damage is key. You'll undoubtedly face a juggernaut who goes off on you, but keeping that to a 3-6 loss instead of a 1-8 blowout can make the difference over a season. You can do this by streaming or targeting specific categories in a given week. Mastering that skill is one of the most important factors over a long season, because digging out of a 1-8 hole can set you back for a month.

9-Cat Targets

It would be easy to recommend 9-cat studs like Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kawhi Leonard and Jalen Johnson, but let's look at some stat-stuffers you can find deeper in drafts.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Utah Jazz

Jackson played only 48 games last season, which was a surprise given that he averaged 70 games per season over the previous four. That track record of reliability is a big part of JJJ's fantasy profile. The big man has one of the most diverse stat lines in the NBA, averaging 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 2.0 blocks and 1.8 3-pointers over the last five seasons. He has almost no holes in a 9-cat format, especially since he also shoots 46 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans

Murray missed most of last season with an Achilles injury, but he's been a 9-cat stud throughout his career. The Pelicans' primary playmaker has averaged 19.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.8 3-pointers over the last five years. Some managers might be worried about him coming off an Achilles injury, but his per-minute numbers last season were close to those averages. It's also nice to have a guard who can flirt with 50 percent from the field while stuffing the stat sheet like that.

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Green goes late in drafts, but he's been a 9-cat staple throughout his career. The All-Star has never lit up the scoreboard, but he's averaged 9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 3-pointers since 2014. He's slipped a bit recently, but it's rare to find a player this deep in drafts who's a net positive in almost every category outside of scoring.

9-Cat Fades

These are all good basketball players, but they're simply impossible to trust in a 9-cat league. And trust me, I have no bias against left-handers, even though all three of these guys are southpaws!

Julius Randle, Brooklyn Nets

Randle was actually one of Minnesota's best players last season, but his lack of stat-stuffing and poor efficiency make him a tough sell in 9-cat leagues. He's averaged 18.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.1 3-pointers across his 12-year career, while shooting 47 percent from the field, 77 percent from the free-throw line and 33 percent from 3-point range and committing 2.7 turnovers per game. Those numbers are decent, but he has too many deficiencies to justify a high pick in 9-cat leagues, especially since his efficiency could dip as one of Brooklyn's primary playmakers.

Miles Bridges, Phoenix Suns

Bridges is essentially a poor man's Randle. The issue is his lack of across-the-board production: he averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks per game last season. Scoring is the only real positive there, and even that looks worse given that he's shot 45 percent from the field over the last two years. Limited production outside of scoring paired with poor shooting for a forward is a recipe for disaster in a 9-cat league.

RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

Barrett might be the worst-shooting scorer I've ever seen. That might sound contradictory, but his inefficiency is terrifying. The lefty has averaged 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks on 45 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free-throw line throughout his career. It's one thing to provide little outside of scoring, but doing it with minimal defensive stats and poor shooting is inexcusable. A "scorer" who shoots 70 percent from the line is hard to manage, and his role could shrink even more now that Toronto has acquired Kawhi.

Why Warriors might hold competitions in training camp to determine starting five originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors can enter the 2026-27 NBA season with the same starting lineup as they closed last season. 

Should they? Some spots already are set in stone. At least two others might be more in pencil than pen going into training camp at BYU-Hawaii and throughout the preseason. 

Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porziņģis rounded out the Warriors’ first five on the floor in a season that included 43 different starting lineups. Those five gave a bit of everything to beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA play-in tournament to keep their playoff hopes alive. Curry scored 35 points with seven threes, Green’s defense down the stretch was as good as it gets, Porziņģis and Santos both scored 20 points, and Podziemski added 17. 

But two days later in Phoenix, the Warriors fell short of the playoffs for the fourth time in the last seven seasons. 

A tired squad saw Curry struggle to find his shot, scoring an inefficient 17 points. Green had as many turnovers (five) as points and was called for one more foul, including an ejection. Instead of each scoring 20 points, Porziņģis (11) and Santos (nine) combined for that much. Podziemski was the Warriors’ best player and the only to reach the 20-point mark with 23. 

Before looking at last season, we first have to look at how this even became the Warriors’ starting lineup. Santos was part of it because of his emergence after Jimmy Butler’s season-ending torn ACL. Podziemski’s part in the starting lineup was twofold: Curry missed two months to runner’s knee, and Moses Moody ruptured his left patellar tendon with 11 games left in the regular season. 

Will Steve Kerr turn to continuity as he calls the Warriors a team in a transition phase? There’s no point in mentioning Curry and Green as part of this exercise. Curry is still Steph, and Green’s spot remains secure until told otherwise. Porziņģis started the final 10 regular-season games he played, as well as both play-in games, and he provides the most advantages on both sides of the floor among Warriors centers. 

Re-signing De’Anthony Melton again can create competition between him and Podziemski to start next to Curry in the backcourt. Santos also could feel competition from a rookie Yaxel Lendeborg after the Warriors used their top pick in the draft to select a pro-ready forward who is only three months younger than him.

Either way, all four figure to be high on Kerr’s pecking order of minutes. There will be games where one starts and the other closes. Who begins next to Curry always is the bigger question, especially years removed from the Splash Brothers of Curry and Klay Thompson. 

Podziemski played 43 games and 601 minutes alongside Curry last season, and the two produced a 115.4 offensive rating. Melton didn’t make his season debut until Dec. 4, playing 250 minutes with Curry in 25 games, and producing an almost identical 115.2 offensive rating. The difference lies on defense. 

A Curry-Podziemski tandem tallied a 110.3 defensive rating. A Curry-Melton duo was much better with a 106.3 defensive rating. That always has been the argument for Melton to start next to Curry, and it’s his best case to secure a starting spot this upcoming season. 

Curry has called Melton a “prototypical” starting shooting guard. His 6-foot-8.5 wingspan and defensive acumen make it less likely for a team to pick on Curry. Podziemski can’t be questioned for his effort, but he isn’t the same point-of-attack defender as Melton. 

Podziemski does have a higher offensive upside than Melton, which could be used to make an argument for him to start — or for him to lead the second unit. That brings us to Lendeborg’s chances to start from Day 1. 

After starting two games his first two years in the NBA, Santos started 30 games last season as one of the best breakout stories in the league. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as a starter with a 49.2 field goal percentage. But he also shot a lowly 33.8 percent from three in those 30 starts with a 110 offensive rating, 118 defensive rating and a 1.45 assist-to-turnover ratio, compared to a 1.86 ratio coming off the bench. 

It wouldn’t be fair to underplay Santos’ ascension last season. The truth also is somewhere in the middle. Santos established himself as someone who has a permanent spot in the rotation, but Lendeborg’s potential is higher, and hopes for the future rest on his shoulders as opposed to the other way around. 

Lendeborg will make mistakes, and the Warriors’ coaching staff will have to live with them. He and Santos are probably better served at the four than the three defensively, and power forward might be his long-term position while Green’s Golden State career winds down. But there’s a glaring hole at the three right now, and the Warriors don’t have time to hold Lendeborg’s hand and slowly bring him into the fold. 

Like Melton and Podziemski, Santos and Lendeborg both will receive ample playing time. And all four could find themselves competing for a spot in the starting lineup to open the season. The way the grind of an 82-game season goes, and with the Warriors’ ages and injuries, they’ll each find their names in the starting five a large number of times.

The Warriors aren’t who they once were, and they aren’t pretending to be. Competition is king, and it’s the fuel this team could need to quiet all the doubt coming from outside their orbit.

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