The next division in my 2026 NBA preview is the Central Division, probably the strongest overall division in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Additions: Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr., Tyrese Proctor (49th pick in 2025 Draft)
Subtractions: Ty Jerome, Isaac Okoro, Tristan Thompson
Other: Re-signed Sam Merrill
Outlook: The Cavaliers have had three straight impressive regular seasons followed by playoff disappointments, marring the Donovan Mitchell era to this point. Still, after winning the East last season (in the regular season) by a wide margin, the Cavs (probably smartly) decided to not adjust their roster much, bringing back largely the same team. Lonzo is a good upside swing compared to the limited Okoro, but losing Ty Jerome (the best backup guard in the NBA last year) hurts. The Cavs have an incredible top four, a solid supporting cast, and a very good head coach. They are a lock to be a top team in the East barring injury disaster, and this is their best chance yet to make a deep playoff run considering the injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. Maybe they finally break through.
Prediction: 58-24 (Last year predicted 51-31, actually 64-18)
Detroit Pistons
Additions: Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson, Chaz Lanier (37th pick in 2025 Draft), Javonte Green
Subtractions: Malik Beasley, Dennis Schroder, Tim Hardaway Jr., Simone Fontecchio
Other: Re-signed Paul Reed
Outlook: I was more off on the Pistons last year than any other team – after years of being too high on them, I went low, and was resoundingly wrong. In fact, the Pistons were probably the best story in the NBA last year after the championship-winning Thunder, winning an incredible 30 more games than the prior season. The Pistons did lose some of the key pieces to their playoff push, especially Malik Beasley, who was the second-best shooter in the league last year, but did bring in a couple helpful veterans in LeVert and Robinson. More importantly, the Pistons have one of the best young cores in the NBA: star ballhandler Cade Cunningham, athletic freak Jalen Duren, defensive whiz Ausar Thompson, secondary scorer Jaden Ivey, and energetic swing man Ron Holland are just the best of the bunch. In an Eastern Conference with only three true playoff locks, there’s no reason the Pistons can’t be a top-four seed this year given some internal improvement – and I think they will be.
Prediction: 49-33 (Last year predicted 20-62, actually 44-38)
Milwaukee Bucks
Additions: Myles Turner, Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Subtractions: Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton
Other: Re-signed Bobby Portis, Re-signed Gary Trent Jr., Re-signed Ryan Rollins, Re-signed Taurean Prince, Re-signed Kevin Porter Jr., Re-signed Jericho Sims, Re-signed Chris Livingston
Outlook: The Bucks were one of the three teams (along with the Pacers and Celtics) that were devastated by torn Achilles to star players in the playoffs. Unlike the other teams, the Bucks jettisoned their injured star, waiving and stretching Damian Lillard’s contract to clear cap space to sign Myles Turner. It was a bold move for a team that seemed completely without options to really improve, and Turner is an excellent fit as a Brook Lopez replacement. However, the Bucks really didn’t sign anyone to replace Dame himself, and it’s tough to see a similar Bucks roster to last season win as many games considering the drop-off from Dame to Cole Anthony or Kevin Porter Jr. A healthy Giannis plus a deep-ish roster of veterans is enough for a low-level playoff berth, but not much more – the Bucks’ second-best player is Turner, and their third is one of Bobby Portis or Gary Trent Jr., who are sixth-man level talents. Unless one or two of the Bucks’ precious few young guys really make strides, this is a team with a limited ceiling.
Prediction: 43-39 (Last year predicted 52-30, actually 48-34)
Indiana Pacers
Additions: Jay Huff, Kam Jones (38th pick in 2025 Draft)
Subtractions: Tyrese Haliburton (out with Achilles tear), Myles Turner, Thomas Bryant
Other: Re-signed Isaiah Jackson, Re-signed James Wiseman
Outlook: The Pacers were one game away from winning the NBA Championship. Unfortunately for them, Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the Finals, they subsequently lost to the Thunder, and now their short-term future is in doubt. Letting Myles Turner walk might be a smart play in the long-term, but it hurts in the medium-future, forcing the Pacers to replace the two most important spots in the starting lineup. Pascal Siakam is a star-level player, Andrew Nembhard is good and can continue to improve, and Rick Carlisle is a top-tier coach – the Pacers will certainly be competent. But without Haliburton on offense and Turner on defense, it’s tough to see them being more than a play-in squad, maybe a low-tier playoff team at the absolute best. Their best bet is that young guys like Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker seize the opportunity for minutes and step up in a big way.
Prediction: 40-42 (Last year predicted 48-34, actually 50-32)
Chicago Bulls
Additions: Noa Essengue (11th pick in 2025 Draft), Isaac Okoro
Subtractions: Lonzo Ball, Talen Horton-Tucker
Other: None
Outlook: The Bulls continue to flounder in no-mans land. Rather than accepting the writing on the wall and going into a tank in a good 2025 draft, the Bulls fought their way to yet another play-in berth and inevitable loss before the playoffs proper. I like the Noa Essengue pick, and Matas Buzelis showed quite a bit of promise last year down the stretch of the season. Outside of that, the Bulls’ roster is pretty grim, especially if they cave to Josh Giddey and overpay him in restricted free agency (I believe almost none of his stretch run play is legitimate). There’s enough talent to keep the Bulls out of the cellar, but not enough for them to be even a remote threat in the Eastern Conference. Maybe they finally trade Nikola Vucevic and Coby White and embrace the tank, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Prediction: 30-52 (Last year predicted 28-54, actually 39-43)
