ESPN predicts Eastern Conference records: Cavaliers 59 wins, Knicks 54 wins, Celtics only 43 wins or possibly playing in the play-in tournament

On August 28th Beijing time, well-known US media ESPN forecasted the Eastern Conference standings for the new season, projecting the Cavaliers to finish first with a 59-23 record. The Knicks and Magic are the other two Eastern teams expected to reach at least 50 wins. Below is the detailed forecast of records, rankings, and analysis—

Championship Contenders

1. Cavaliers: 59 wins and 23 losses

2. Knicks: 54 wins and 28 losses

3. Magic: 50 wins and 32 losses

4. Hawks: 47 wins and 35 losses

5. Pistons: 47 wins and 35 losses

The Cavaliers retained the core lineup from last season’s 64-win team and strengthened their defense during the offseason by acquiring Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. Additionally, two major divisional rivals suffered season-ending injuries to key players (Tatum, Haliburton), weakening their competitiveness.

The Knicks also remain formidable—they reached the conference finals last season and further improved their roster depth by signing Clarkson and Abusheleh on highly cost-effective contracts during the offseason.

However, when people describe the East as “wide open” (a phrase likely to be heard often in the coming months), it implicitly expresses doubt about the Cavaliers. This skepticism is not unfounded: the Cavaliers have underperformed in the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Although injuries contributed to those losses, their core roster has remained largely unchanged.

The Magic decisively added Bane during the offseason, giving them a real chance to challenge the top team; similarly, the Hawks made aggressive moves by acquiring Porzingis from the Celtics and signing Alexander-Walker. Experts believe these two teams will improve their Eastern Conference rankings this season but are unlikely to surpass the elite teams just yet.

Play-in Tournament Contenders

6. Bucks: 46 wins and 36 losses

7. Celtics: 43 wins and 39 losses

8. 76ers: 40 wins and 42 losses

9. Heat: 39 wins and 43 losses

10. Pacers: 39 wins and 43 losses

The major shift in the Eastern Conference landscape this season largely stems from injuries and player departures. During last season’s playoffs, three players suffered Achilles tears, drastically altering their teams’ trajectories: the Bucks parted ways with Lillard after his first-round Achilles injury; the Celtics dismantled their championship core after Tatum’s similar injury in the second round; and the Pacers’ promising outlook stalled following Haliburton’s Achilles tear in the finals. As a result, these three former division champions are predicted to be mid-tier teams this season, struggling to avoid the play-in tournament.

The Heat reached the Eastern Conference finals two years ago, but after trading Butler, it remains uncertain if they can exceed expectations again. The 76ers may be the hardest team to predict in the East—Embiid’s health status is very uncertain. All teams in the play-in group face significant questions this season, which contributes to their lower rankings compared to the top Eastern teams.

Bottom Five Teams

Bulls: 36 wins and 46 losses

Raptors: 33 wins and 49 losses

Hornets: 26 wins and 56 losses

Nets: 23 wins and 59 losses

Wizards: 20 wins and 62 losses

These five teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference can be categorized into three groups based on their season objectives:

The first group includes teams with potential to reach the play-in tournament—the Raptors. They signed Ingram to a contract extension worth over $100 million. For a team facing luxury tax payments, being predicted at the bottom clearly falls short of expectations.

The second group consists of teams at a crossroads—the Bulls and Hornets. Both have near-prime core players (Bulls’ Josh Giddey, Kobe White; Hornets’ LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller) along with promising young talents with long-term potential (Bulls’ Buzelis, Noah Esseng; Hornets’ Sarang, Knupel). However, their roster strength this season likely falls into a gray area between competing for the play-in and fighting for a lottery pick.

The third group is comprised of teams clearly tanking—the Nets and Wizards. Their primary goal is to secure a top-four pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (which is expected to feature a strong class of elite rookies). This season, they will focus on developing young players and accumulating future assets through trades, fully aiming for a favorable outcome in next May’s lottery draw.