Detailed Analysis: The Biggest Weaknesses in NBA Rosters for the 2025-26 Season
With the NBA preseason almost over and training camps on the horizon, teams have largely completed their rosters for the 2025-26 season. However, significant questions remain in some clubs. Some rebuilding teams are showing interest in improving their rosters in the short term, due to the limitations imposed by the new and restrictive NBA collective bargaining agreement. Others, like the Golden State Warriors, are awaiting restricted free agency. For title contenders, such as the current champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the absence of obvious problems can be a sign that their rosters are well-built. Alternatively, having a single weakness might not be so detrimental to teams aspiring to reach that level, as long as they can fix it through internal development or a mid-season addition.With this in mind, we will analyze the biggest weaknesses of the 30 NBA teams.
The teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Atlanta HawksMajor weakness: Playmaking in the second unit The Hawks’ offensive efficiency decreased by 10 points per 100 possessions without Trae Young on the court last season. Although Atlanta bolstered its second-unit play with the addition of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, he is not a primary ball-handler. Alexander-Walker, starter Dyson Daniels, and newcomer Luke Kennard could share playmaking responsibilities when Young rests.Boston CelticsMajor weakness: Two-way pivot playBetween Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics had abundant reliable options at the center position in the last two seasons. Now, Boston is starting over. Neemias Queta has shown an ability to protect the rim and finish plays, while the Celtics are confident that Luka Garza’s skill will overcome his defensive limitations. Boston couldn’t rely on either of them to start a playoff game before this season.
Brooklyn NetsMajor weakness: Experience in game creation After finishing with the sixth-worst record in the NBA last season, the Nets seem unwilling to take risks before a first-round pick in 2027. Inexperienced ball handlers are the easiest way to lose games, and after letting D’Angelo Russell leave in free agency, Brooklyn’s point guard rotation will feature teenage rookies Egor Demin and Nolan Traore.Charlotte HornetsMajor weakness: Starting center After trading Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns, the Hornets will likely rely on second-round pick Ryan Kalkbrenner or Moussa Diabate to take on a starting role. Diabate, signed to a two-way contract last summer, quietly dominated offensive rebounding with 60% effectiveness, and Kalkbrenner was very productive at Creighton. Still, both seem better suited for limited roles.Chicago BullsMajor weakness: Defensive interruption The Bulls were second-to-last in forcing turnovers last season and traded their steals leader, Lonzo Ball, who averaged 1.3 steals in just 22.2 minutes. Isaac Okoro, acquired in exchange for Ball, has never averaged a steal per game. Chicago will depend more on a solid defense than on disruption.
As good as the Mavericks’ inside game is with the addition of Anthony Davis, someone needs to pass the ball to those players, the deficiency that placed Dallas in a position to win the lottery and select Cooper Flagg. Until Kyrie Irving returns, the responsibility falls on D’Angelo Russell, who lost favor with the Lakers last season.
Denver NuggetsMajor weakness: Depth in the base position This question became complicated this summer when the Nuggets added Jonas Valanciunas, a proven backup for three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and more shooting. Denver is relying on Jalen Pickett, an insignificant factor in last year’s playoffs, as Jamal Murray’s main backup. But newcomer Bruce Brown could handle those minutes in the postseason.Detroit PistonsMajor weakness: Safe ball handling The Pistons ranked 21st in turnover rate last season, ahead of only two playoff teams (LA Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies), and then lost one of their safest ball handlers, Dennis Schroder, who had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.2 with the Detroit Pistons. With Jaden Ivey as a backup point guard, my SCHOENE projection system estimates that the Pistons will have the second-worst turnover rate.
Greatest weakness: Official contracts
Due to the ongoing restricted free agency saga of Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors find themselves in the unusual position of having only 10 players under contract as training camp approaches. Golden State is expected to sign free agents Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton as soon as Kuminga’s situation is resolved.Houston Rockets
Major weakness: Depth in the base position The Rockets hope that Reed Sheppard, the number 3 pick of 2024, can solve this problem in his second season. Sheppard played only 654 minutes as a rookie, struggling to maintain a regular role in the rotation. Houston can turn to veteran Aaron Holiday, who had a bit more action last year, but the best outcome would be for Sheppard to win the position.Indiana PacersMajor weakness: Two-way pivot play Due to Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tendon injury, starting center Myles Turner agreed to terms with Milwaukee. Jay Huff can provide the shooting that Turner provided, while Isaiah Jackson, who is also recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, is a superior defender. Neither has proven capable of starting regularly.LA ClippersMajor weakness: Young contributors Ty Lue will have many options after the Clippers were reinforced with veterans this offseason, adding Bradley Beal, John Collins, Brook Lopez, and Chris Paul. However, there is a big gap after the Clippers’ top 11 players. Kobe Brown and Cam Christie combined for only 331 minutes last season, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, the number 30 pick, may not contribute immediately.Los Angeles LakersMajor weakness: Defense on the ballAs powerful as the Lakers’ perimeter trio of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves may be, they are defensively limited offensively. Dorian Finney-Smith, now in Houston, served as the Lakers’ perimeter stopper after the deadline. They added Marcus Smart, but at this stage of his career, Smart might be better against big opponents than defending the point of attack.
Memphis GrizzliesMajor weakness: Wing size The Grizzlies were linked to Dorian Finney-Smith last season because they lacked a good matchup for bigger forwards. The hope is that Cedric Coward, the No. 11 pick, a physical 6-foot-6 forward, will change that, although he will probably need time to adjust to the NBA after playing two seasons in the Big Sky and only six games last season at Washington State.Miami HeatBiggest weakness: Getting fouls
After trading away Jimmy Butler III, the Heat’s perimeter-oriented offense struggled to get to the free-throw line. Only the Celtics had a worse free-throw rate after the All-Star break, and Miami attempted just 13.3 per game in a first-round sweep by Boston, the second-lowest in playoff history… ahead of the 2024 Heat (12.0). Adding Norman Powell (4.4 FT per game) should help.
Greatest weakness: New stadium
The inauguration of the team’s new stadium across the street from the Paycom Center, which is scheduled to open in 2028, is planned for the first quarter of 2026. Certainly, that will leave a bigger hole than any in the roster of the current champions, who are getting their entire rotation back.Orlando MagicMajor weakness: 3-point shots It could have given the same answer last year, but with much more urgency. Orlando shot 32% from the three-point line, the worst percentage by an NBA team since the 2015-16 Lakers. Adding Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones should help the Magic drastically, although the 3-point shot remains the biggest weakness in what looks like a competitive roster.
Although the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George is a bigger problem, Philadelphia doesn’t have a clear starter between George, who is 6 feet 8 inches, and Embiid, who is 7 feet. It is very likely that the Sixers will start with George as their tallest non-pivot player, but they are left dangerously small with George out of the lineup.
Phoenix SunsMajor weakness: Base The Suns hope that newcomer Jalen Green will start at the point guard position alongside Devin Booker, returning to the playmaking deficit that plagued them in 2023-24. Phoenix could be better off with Collin Gillespie, who averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 assists in nine starts last season, shooting 47.5% from three-pointers.Portland Trail BlazersMajor weakness: Depth in the base position With Damian Lillard spending his first season back in Portland on the sidelines due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Blazers don’t have ideal options behind Scoot Henderson and newcomer Jrue Holiday. If either of them misses time, Portland could be better off using Deni Avdija as a point forward instead of reclamation project Blake Wesley.Sacramento KingsMajor weakness: Attack zone reserves After trading Jonas Valanciunas for salary reasons, the Kings have many questions behind starters Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. The journeyman Drew Eubanks
