Overview

• Indiana elevates Andrew Nembhard to full-time starting point guard after Tyrese Haliburton’s season-ending Achilles injury, with Bennedict Mathurin tasked to scale his scoring.
• Houston hands Amen Thompson lead-guard duties following Fred VanVleet’s season-ending ACL tear, raising his playmaking and workload projections.
• Chicago’s youth pivot after trading Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine places Matas Buzelis at the center of an expanded role on the wing.
• Portland reconfigures roles with Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton departing, positioning Shaedon Sharpe as the primary perimeter scorer and Donovan Clingan as the starting defensive anchor.
• Memphis’ deal sending Desmond Bane to Orlando creates a scoring vacancy that Jaylen Wells is poised to pursue, while Washington projects Alex Sarr as its frontcourt anchor in year two.