NBA 2025-26 Season Preview: The Top 4 Storylines of the NBA Season
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Spread Astaire
- July 28, 2025
The NBA season never stops, and right now is a perfect time to look at the top stories heading into the upcoming season. The NBA offseason is full of dramatic moves and trades which drastically shake up the landscape of the league.
Let’s break down some of those moves, their potential impact this year—and how we can turn that knowledge into winning NBA picks at top sportsbooks.
2025-26 NBA Finals Odds
1: Los Angeles Lakers
Let’s face it, the Los Angeles Lakers will usually be at the top of the list when it comes to the league’s top stories. Fortunately for the league’s media partners, this year there is a reason for them to be at the top of the list.
Along with acquiring Luka Doncic last season, the Lakers made two huge moves this offseason in order to address their lack of size, athleticism, and defense. The Lakers added DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart.
DeAndre Ayton is a former number one overall pick who has the size and athleticism to be a star. Ayton has failed to show the work ethic needed to become a top player in the league. However, he is surrounded by one of the league’s hardest working superstars in LeBron James. James can have many detractors, but no one can doubt his work ethic or commitment to the game of basketball.
Back in Business: The Lakers Reload
If James can impart this plan of action upon Ayton, then DeAndre has a chance to make a career resurgence and be a part of an NBA Finals team like he was in 2021. DeAndre Ayton has the chops, but he just needs the proper mental attitude.
Marcus Smart is the addition that I really like for the Los Angeles Lakers team. Smart is a gritty defender who will bring a sense of attitude and toughness to the court. This helps because sometimes Lakers star LeBron James and Luka Doncic can be “too cool for school”.
Smart’s intensity should fire up the whole team, especially where they need it, on the defensive end. With Smart, the team has a certified ball stopper who can make big three pointers when needed. This was a huge addition for the Los Angeles Lakers and moved them into the conversation of true contenders in the Western Conference.
When looking at this, we see a clear path for an award for one of the Lakers top players. If the Lakers are able to be a top three team in the West again and Luka Doncic is able to put up the same stats that he did in Dallas, the media circus around the team in Los Angeles will propel him to the top of the MVP standings. We can get a great price right now, that Luka Doncic will win the MVP.
2: New York Knicks
As stated earlier, the NBA is an entertainment property first and foremost and will focus on its largest market teams. The New York Knicks are worthy of this attention because they are one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.
After injuries to Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers sit atop the odds to win the Eastern Conference based on their strong showings last year. Which team will rise to the top?
Will these teams be able to fight off challenges from rising up-and-coming contenders such as the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic? The Eastern Conference is wide open, and the New York Knicks figure at the center of the storm.
The Knicks have yet to make a splashy move this offseason. Yet simply returning the core that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season gives them a great opportunity.
The Knicks also moved to a younger coach, Mike Brown, who should be able to connect with the players and will also use his bench more generously than previous coach Tom Thibodeau
The New York Knicks have an excellent opportunity to claim the top mantle in the East. However, I think there are better teams to bet on when looking at the current odds in the Eastern Conference.
Eastern Conference Odds
3: Which rising team will emerge out of the East?
Number one picks in this league are so important, and Paolo Banchero and Cade Cunningham are showing exactly why. The two top candidates this season to emerge and make the next huge step in the Eastern Conference are the Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons.
The Orlando Magic are led by number one former number one overall pick Paolo Banchero who’s smooth scoring and ability to create in the half court has helped the Magic. Combined with being one of the top defenses in the league, the Magic are poised to make a move.
The Magic knew that they were ready to take the top of the league by acquiring Desmond Bane. Bane is an excellent shooter. He should help the Magic space the floor and provide more offensive crunch. Will it be enough to overcome the Knicks and the Cavaliers? While that is yet to be determined, at the current prices, the Orlando Magic is a much better bet than the Knicks or the Cavaliers.
Don’t Sleep on Detroit
Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons, and his squad pushed the New York Knicks to the limit. The Detroit Pistons winning that series was definitely plausible. Plus, the Pistons have made moves to improve this off season.
One of the most important factors for the Pistons is not a roster acquisition but simply a player coming back from being injured. The Detroit Pistons need extra offensive creation and that’s where the return of injured point guard Jaden Ivey comes in.
Ivey is one of the fastest players in the league and his ability to create in half court as well as push the ball in transition is exactly what the Pistons need to be a more potent offense. Ivey’s return will put less pressure on Cade Cunningham in half court settings and allow the team to be more balanced offensively.
The Pistons almost beat the Knicks last season and with more experience and a healthier roster, the Pistons could make the push. Once again, the Cavaliers and Knicks are more likely to win, but at the current odds at BetOnline, the Detroit Pistons are also a much better bet than the two favorites in this conference.
4: Did the Nuggets do enough to return to the top of the Western Conference
I know that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the MVP, however, in my mind, Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the league. The Denver Nuggets almost ousted the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs (7 game series) last season, and of all the contending teams Denver Nuggets improved the most.
By trading Michael Porter Jr, who was an excellent scorer but unreliable on the defensive end, for Cam Johnson, a top tier defender, the Nuggets got better at two of their weaknesses, athleticism and defense.
The Nuggets also jettisoned Russell Westbrook to reacquire Bruce Brown, who was crucial for the team in the year that they won the title. The Nuggets continue to improve, and it’s impossible for us to ignore the fact that this roster is much more well rounded this season.
Although the Oklahoma City Thunder are the rightful favorites, the Denver Nuggets offer a much better price to make a bet right now. Bet the Denver Nuggets to win the NBA Finals.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
