The NBA has finally released its schedule for the 2025-2026 season! We can now dissect each team’s schedule to see which one has the best chance of finishing at the top of the Eastern Conference this season.
Injuries, Trades, and New Favorites
There will be a lot of differences in the Eastern Conference this year. Ultimately, Jayson Tatum won’t be around much for the Boston Celtics this season. The same thing goes for Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. Both were injured in the playoffs and might not even return this season.
Additionally, Damian Lillard will also miss a significant amount of time next season. Originally, he was on the Bucks, but now, he was traded to the Blazers. He’s no longer in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks will rely heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo, but I’m not sure he’s got the supporting cast to win the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics remain competitive, but have traded away several key pieces, with Tatum currently unavailable. Meanwhile, the Pacers are still deep and a playoff team. But without Haliburton, it’s hard to imagine they’ll win the Eastern Conference.
Therefore, it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Orlando Magic who are the front-runners to win the Eastern Conference Finals. Let’s talk about all three below.
Latest Eastern Conference Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers (+240)
The Cleveland Cavaliers were easily the best team in the Eastern Conference last season. However, they faltered in the playoffs and didn’t play their best when it mattered the most. They should have a chip on their shoulder now.
The starting lineup will look familiar. Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen are still with the Cavaliers. In addition, De’Andre Hunter and Max Strus are also with the team, along with Sam Merrill.
Beyond that, the Cavaliers added Lonzo Ball as some depth at point guard. He’s at a really good spot and, if healthy, could be a huge x-factor for the squad. The Cavaliers also added Larry Nance Jr. and drafted Tyrese Proctor out of Duke.
This is a complete roster and one that can take advantage of a weak Eastern Conference.
New York Knicks (+280)
The New York Knicks are another team without many changes. The starting lineup will stay the same behind Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Perhaps the Knicks will start Mitchell Robinson over Josh Hart, but the top six players on the squad remain the same.
The Knicks also have a developed Miles McBride and brought in a couple of key pieces to make a run this year. Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele were terrific additions and really fit the Knicks’ culture.
The Knicks have scoring options off the bench, which is something they lacked last season. After all, the Knicks probably had a better bench than people want to give them credit for. But the reality is, many of the starters for the Knicks play an insane amount of minutes, and it caught up to them by the playoffs.
Orlando Magic (+500)
The Orlando Magic made a splash in the offseason, acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. He’ll be a key piece for the Magic, along with Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Paolo Banchero.
Over the last two seasons, the Magic have been a difficult out in the playoffs. Look for that to continue this season.
The Magic is also deep. They’ve got Jonathan Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, and Mo Wagner all returning. They’ve also brought in Tyus Jones to be a backup point guard. He’s really good at facilitating offense and will play with a lot of really good shooters and playmakers. The Magic roster will get the best out of Jones, and it’ll likely really work.
Who Should You Pick?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the most surefire team in the Eastern Conference. This team was dominant all season last year and is likely to remain so this year. I’d expect the Cavaliers to be the No. 1 seed. So at +260 at BetMGM, the Cavaliers are a good look.
That said, the New York Knicks made some really good additions to their roster. They’ll be deeper than last season and will play with a new head coach in Mike Brown. They’re more of a mystery, but the team is simply better than it was last year.
Still, if you’re looking for a high-value play, the Orlando Magic is it. The Magic have already been a top-five team in the Eastern Conference. It’s just that injuries have derailed their hopes in the playoffs. If they stay healthy, the Magic at +550 at Caesars is the absolute best bet to win the Eastern Conference before the season begins.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
