The Central Division is one of the most stacked in the NBA, featuring a 60-win team, a conference finalist, and an NBA Finals runner-up from 2025, all of whom are gearing up for contention in 2027.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Additions: Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja, Cam Whitmore, Meleek Thomas (34th pick in 2026 Draft)
Subtractions: Max Strus, Dean Wade, Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, Larry Nance Jr.
Other: Re-signed James Harden, Extended Donovan Mitchell to a supermax, Re-signed Thomas Bryant
Outlook: The Cavaliers finally broke through to the Conference Finals last year only to get swept in unceremonious fashion by the eventual champion New York Knicks. Despite all the public attention being on the perceived flaws of the “Core Four” of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, the real issues with the Cavs in the playoffs was that nobody else on the roster looked remotely ready for the moment on an even semi-consistent basis. Those guys all have real flaws and limitations, but the lack of a fifth option that could be relied upon for big minutes was the biggest downside to the team. As a response, the Cavs went out and acquired Peyton Watson (just last week) from the Nuggets on a big deal to fill that last starting spot. They also turned over much of their bench, looking for internal development from guys like Jaylon Tyson, Craig Porter Jr., Tyrese Proctor, and second-round rookie Meleek Thomas to replace the departures in the rotation. The depth could be an issue, but the top 5 should be good enough to carry the Cavs to yet another 50+ win season.
Prediction: 51-31 (Last year predicted 58-24, actually 52-30)
Detroit Pistons
Additions: John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince, Gary Harris, Ebuka Okorie (18th pick in 2026 Draft)
Subtractions: Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Caris Levert, Marcus Sasser, Bobi Klintman
Other: Jalen Duren remains a restricted free agent, Re-signed Javonte Green, Re-signed Kevin Huerter
Outlook: The Pistons were one of the best stories of the 2026 season, securing the 1 spot in the Eastern Conference with room to spare. The Pistons won a playoff series for the first time since the 2000s, and saw star guard Cade Cunningham get down-ballot MVP buzz. It was objectively a huge success for the franchise, even with a disappointing second-round loss to the Cavaliers. However, the offseason has been a bit shakier, with two pillars of the revamped Pistons culture (Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart) departing, and breakout big man Jalen Duren still in a standoff with the Pistons in restricted free agency over his next contract. This outlook could change completely if Duren is not on the team next year, or is sign and traded for someone else, but all signs are that he will be back on the team in some capacity. Even with somewhat lesser depth, the combination of Cade, Duren, and Ausar Thompson will likely anchor an excellent defense and decent offense. The question is whether their offense is enough to make a deep playoff run, and the answer right now seems like no. Still, I’d expect the Pistons to once again be quite good in the regular season.
Prediction: 50-32 (Last year predicted 49-33, actually 60-22)
Indiana Pacers
Additions: Kelly Oubre, Larry Nance Jr.
Subtractions: Micah Potter, Taelon Peter
Other:
Outlook: I’m not sure any team in the NBA made fewer offseason moves than the Pacers, who only really added one player (Oubre) in free agency and did not make a first-round draft pick selection. The reason they did not have a first round pick was, of course, because of the Ivica Zubac trade; the Pacers’ offseason move was really made at the trade deadline. It’s hard to know where to place the Pacers. As good as Zu is, he’s a very different player and fit than the Pacers’ previous starting center (Myles Turner), and it might take the Pacers a while to adjust their playstyle to adjust for a non-shooting big. Combine that with Tyrese Haliburton coming off a lost year due to Achilles injury and you have a team that might need some time to gel, despite much of the roster being the same as their 2025 Finals squad. It’s hard not to imagine their offense being very good, the questions will come on defense – Pascal Siakam is two years older than the 2025 version, and he was really their lynchpin on defense. I think the Pacers will be pretty good in the regular season, and could be very scary once again in the postseason if Haliburton has fully rounded into shape by then.
Prediction: 46-36 (Last year predicted 40-42, actually 19-63)
Chicago Bulls
Additions: Caleb Wilson (4th pick in 2026 Draft), Norm Powell, Nic Claxton, Dailyn Swain (15th pick in 2026 Draft)
Subtractions: Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, Guerschon Yabusele, Nick Richards
Other: Hired Bryson Graham as lead front office executive, Hired Tiago Splitter as head coach, Re-signed Zach Collins
Outlook: The Bulls finally, finally were bad enough last season to get a good draft pick (they still had to jump up in the lottery to do so) and got rewarded with Caleb Wilson at pick four. I don’t know if Wilson will be helpful to winning right away (most rookies aren’t) but he should be exciting and produce highlights in a way that the Bulls have not had in a long, long time. I also liked the Swain pick at 15, even though he was awful in Summer League. Bulls fans weren’t super happy with the Norm Powell signing or Nic Claxton trade, but I think both guys will help stabilize the starting lineup and make life easier for their youngsters. The Bulls probably won’t be very good this season (especially on defense), yet this is the best I’ve felt about the direction of their franchise since the early Derrick Rose days well over a decade ago. Wilson, Swain, Matas Buzelis, and Noa Essengue is a legitimately interesting young core. Now they just need to develop and continue providing hope of one day being the core to an actually good team.
Prediction: 26-56 (Last year predicted 30-52, actually 31-51)
Milwaukee Bucks
Additions: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez, Kasparas Jakucionis, Brayden Burries (10th pick in 2026 Draft), Nate Ament (13th pick in 2026 Draft), Caris Levert, Bogoljub Markovic
Subtractions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr., Cole Anthony, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince, Cam Thomas
Other: Hired Taylor Jenkins as head coach, Re-signed Gary Trent Jr., Re-signed Ousmane Dieng, Re-signed Jericho Sims
Outlook: The Bucks finally ended the Giannis era this offseason, moving him for a massive haul of players and picks from the Miami Heat. Honestly, I thought their return was solid considering Giannis’ age, injury history, and clear desire to be traded, but the Bucks’ roster is now a complete mishmash of Giannis-era holdovers, the newly acquired players, and freshly drafted youngsters. The best player on the roster is probably Tyler Herro, followed by Ryan Rollins, and that makes for a bad, bad team in the rejuvenated Eastern Conference. Rookie guard Brayden Burries looked terrific in Summer League, but he is behind those two veterans for now, and I was not a fan of the Nate Ament pick at all. If the Bucks’ young guys look good, that will be a far bigger success for the franchise than the team being competent in the regular season. I’d expect the Bucks to be one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, one of the few true “easy wins” in an NBA that has made tanking less profitable.
Prediction: 22-60 (Last year predicted 43-39, actually 32-50)
