Overview

• The season tips off Tuesday with Oklahoma City raising its banner against Kevin Durant’s Rockets, while the Lakers host the Warriors.
• Team executives’ survey results show 80% picking the Thunder to repeat, with Cleveland and Denver a distant second at 7%.
• Reigning MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s scoring leader at 32.7 points, says repeating is the team’s new focus.
• Several stars face long layoffs with Achilles injuries, including Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and Dejounte Murray.
• Big-name moves reshaped rosters, highlighted by Durant to Houston, Bradley Beal to the Clippers, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to the Lakers, with LeBron James sidelined to start and Cleveland adding Lonzo Ball as New York hires Mike Brown and Orlando lands Desmond Bane.