What better way to kick off the NBA playoffs, division by division, than with the Atlantic Division of the reigning champions Boston Celtics
Welcome to the 2024-25 NBA seasonThe opening date of the next season will be on October 22, but it’s time to dive into what happened in the summer with the franchises. Who arrived? Who left? What is each team’s purpose?
We will analyze, Division by Division, what is coming in the best league in the world. Today will be the turn of the Atlantic Division.
Celtics center Al Horford greets fans in the final minutes of Game 5 against the Mavericks of the NBA Finals in Boston, Massachusetts, June 17, 2024. Boston defeated Dallas to win the Championship. EFE/EPA/AMANDA SABGA SHUTTERSTOCK OUT
Fasten your seatbelts.
It’s time to take off.
BOSTON CELTICS
Renewals
Acquisitions
Departures
Editorial Selections
2 Related
Great candidate to repeat the championship. Jayson Tatum’s curse was broken and Jaylen Brownand finally lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy after beating the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals. With Kristapz Porzingis healthy and an even better roster with the arrival of Lonnie Walker IV, the Boston Celtics of Joe Mazzulla They are the favorites to be champions in the NBA season that will begin in October.
The newbies joined Baylor Scheierman y Anton Watsonbut the big news is the signing of Tatum’s supermax, the return of White to the team (both with gold medals in Paris 2024, as well as Jrue Holiday) and the return of Hauser, a shooting specialist in the prime of his life. There are no major problems in Boston, only the danger of the potential sale of the franchise led by partners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca, something that brings some uncertainty for the near future.
BROOKLYN NETS
Renewals
Acquisitions
Departures
Mikal Bridges’ departure from the team proposes a new rebuilding scheme for the Brooklyn Nets. We could say that they have spent the last few years building, destroying and rebuilding the house of cards. This time, we are in the presence of an unknown team: Dennis Schröder y Ben Simmonsfor example, will play their own redemption seasons in Brooklyn. The arrival of Ziarie Williams and Killian Hayes are promising, and we want to see if Bojan Bogdanovic is the one who dazzled with the Pistons or the one who fell flat with the Knicks.
Nic Claxton is emerging as one of the key players in the young Spanish coach’s team Jordi Fernandezwho will make his first steps as an NBA head coach. Now, one of the fundamental questions for the Nets is whether Cam Thomas can finally make the leap and compete for the greatest progress in this League. In short, there are too many questions to be resolved and very few answers. The logical thing would be for them to sail through insignificance and, if they have a great season, reach the play-in.
2:16
How much do the Knicks and Nets make from trading Mikal Bridges?
Sebastián Martínez Christensen and his analysis of the trade involving two players and five first-round picks.
NEW YORK KNICKS
Renewals
Acquisitions
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Mikal Bridges joins in a trade with the Nets
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Keita Bates-Diop agrees in a sign-and-trade deal with the Nets
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Cameron Payne agreed for one season
Departures
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Bojan Bogdanovic leaves in a trade with the Nets
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Alec Burks signed in free agency with the Miami Heat
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Mamadi Diakite leaves in a sign-and-trade deal with the Nets
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Isaiah Hartenstein He left in free agency to the Oklahoma City Thunder
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Shake Milton left in a sign-and-trade deal to the Nets
The people’s team. That’s how I called it in the last playoffs and Jalen Brunson confirmed it by signing, as leader, a four-year agreement giving up money. Brunson, the William Wallace of these days, is the team that is the people’s team. New York Knickswants to bring a championship to the franchise from the Big Apple and will do everything in his power to achieve it. Among the many good news, there are the renewals of OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa -in that order-, the arrival of Mikal Bridges as a balance man, the recovery of Julius Randle and the signing of Cameron Payne as a backup point guard. Also, of course, the fact of continuing to count on Josh Hart on the roster.
The only big, bad news is the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein, who had a great 2023-24 postseason, who will play for the Thunder. Thibs He demands sacrifice, imposes defensive logic, and his players respond. Now, healthy and without as many injuries as last season, they must take the next step. They are, along with the Philadelphia 76ers, the only ones who can challenge the Celtics’ reign in the East.
0:54
Knicks-Celtics, spectacular start to the season
Chiney Ogwumike said she was excited about the opening matchup of the next NBA season.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Renewals
Acquisitions
Departures
The team that moved the most (and the best?) in the market during the break. The arrival of Paul George brings a third sword to the franchise to fight for the championship. You can’t think smaller than this in these lands. George thus joins the rise of Tyrese Maxey in the perimeter and the always MVP candidate, Joel Embiidin painting.
It’s not just about the starting five, but about the depth that has been gained Doc Rivers. It’s true, Nicolas Batum, Mo Bamba, Buddy Hield and Paul Reed are gone, but the renewals of Kelly Oubre Jr. in the balance and Kyle Lowry as a veteran backup point guard, added to the arrivals of a center like Andre Drummond, two forwards like Guerschon Yabusele and Caleb Martin, and two veteran guards like Reggie Jackson and Eric Gordon, put the Philadelphia 76ers as one of the favorite teams to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
TORONTO RAPTORS
Renewals
Acquisitions
Departures
Los Toronto Raptors They still pay, on the sporting level, for the departures of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby to the Indiana Pacers and Knicks respectively. There is one mission in Canada: to make Scottie Barnes, 22, who made his first All-Star appearance in 2023-24, feel like the big star to develop in the franchise.
The renewal of Immanuel Quickley may have been perhaps a little expensive for the team, a situation that can be modified depending on the performance in the next season. RJ Barrett y Bruce Brown on the perimeter and the combo of internal players made up of Jakob PoeltlKelly Olynik, Chris Boucher and new signing Bruno Fernando complete the structure of a franchise that, if it reaches the play-in positions, will be above the expectations placed beforehand.
