Hawks fans finally have a pivot point for the upcoming season: Kristaps Porzingis should space the floor and protect the rim, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels add two-way versatility. If Jaylen Johnson can stay healthy, Atlanta’s defensive identity could finally lead the way, turning last year’s near-miss into a playoff surge in a wide-open East. Porzingis’s health is the wild card, but even 50-60 games unlocks a higher ceiling and more lineups Trey Young can thrive behind.

Beyond Atlanta, the pod recaps two other playoff pivots. Dallas bets on frontcourt defense and Cooper Flagg’s ascent to supplement Kyrie Irving and a healthier Anthony Davis–D’Angelo Russell pairing in L.A., with Porzingis watching from ATL as a contrasting path. Philadelphia’s path hinges on Tyrese Maxi’s growth supplementing Embiid and Paul George’s fit if healthy. San Antonio leans into Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper to push back toward the postseason, making the West’s chase even more crowded.

Tyrese Haliburton’s season-ending Achilles injury triggers a bold Pacers rework, elevating Andrew Nembhard, Benedict Mathurin, and Aaron Nesmith into bigger roles while Obi Toppin steps in as a versatile finisher and target in the post-Haliburton era. Pascal Siakam becomes the primary playmaker and closer, driving the offense and demanding higher usage, while Miles Turner’s departure compounds the shift at center. Indiana’s depth is tested as Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard gain chances to contribute, with Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson jockeying for minutes behind a reshaped frontcourt.

From a fantasy lens, the reshuffle opens multiple value avenues. Nembhard’s playoff-level play suggests real late-season potential as a steady facilitator, while Mathurin’s starter’s workload could surge his counting stats. Nesmith’s shooting impact remains key, and Siakam’s dual role as scorer and initiator elevates him as a focal fantasy asset. Center rotation becomes a marquee narrative: Jackson’s athletic upside vs Huff’s spacing and efficiency, with Toppin’s rim protection and scoring off the bench adding further intrigue.

Ultimately, expect Pacers to push for play-in contention even without Haliburton and Turner. The fantasy landscape shifts toward Nesmith, Nembhard, Mathurin, Siakam, and the center contenders, with Walker and Sheppard offering opportunistic streams. The season promises more minute-by-minute volatility, but also tangible breakout paths for several players as Caris LeVert-era depth becomes a license for upside rather than a safety net.

Brooklyn’s roster reshaping menaces fantasy clarity as they chase a high-draft finish while balancing player value. The Nets traded veterans and core scorers to maximize draft capital, leaving Nick Claxton as the obvious on-court anchor and Cam Thomas as the primary scoring engine. The plan hinges on developing a rookie guard corps—Jagord Deman and Nolan Troy Ben Saraf—while Day'Ron Sharp and Noah Clowney push for meaningful minutes behind Claxton. Expect a tank-friendly arc with volatile March/April rotations, where Thomas can carry scoring nights, but overall efficiency and supporting cast will determine standout fantasy weeks.

Claxton’s job security is real—a near-$100M extension keeps him anchored as a starter with elite defensive value, yet questions linger about offensive ceiling and fit with a parade of rookies. Porter Jr.’s arrival provides a splash of scoring depth, but the trio of Sharpe/Clowney and the on-ball versatility of Ben Saraf and Deman creates a crowded backcourt/forward mix. Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith add wings who can unlock spacing, though their roles may fluctuate with evolving lineups. For fantasy managers, the Nets’ season será a lab: track health, usage splits, and how the rookies’ development translates into concrete minutes and box-score impact.

Cleveland’s core faces a season where health and minutes shape fantasy value. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley look primed for bounce-back years after top-tier usage, while Darius Garland’s health and minutes will influence everything from Mitchell’s ceiling to Allen’s block-and-field-goal impact. Jared Allen’s durability anchors the frontcourt, and the Cavaliers’ rotation could feature Lonzo Ball and Ty Jerome as late-year depth if injuries pop. The over/under 55.5 wins invites caution, but the AAC-level depth of the Cavs’ lineup offers late-round upside as health realigns roles.

Mobley’s expanded role, Garland’s return-to-form potential, and Allen’s steady floor keep Cleveland’s fantasy narrative strong, even if the team isn’t the juggernaut of last season. As depth pieces like DeAndre Hunter or Max Strus surface in potential short-term gaps, managers should target the Cavs’ stars early and then chase value with careful backcourt depth and injury contingency plans.