With the NBA season a little more than a month away, the defending champion New York Knicks have their eyes set on one goal: going back-to-back.
But the Eastern Conference is as wide open as it has been in years. With the Knicks looking to defend their throne, which teams present the biggest threat heading into the 2026-27 season?
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers faced the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, but after making two drastic additions, they could potentially have the best-constructed roster in the NBA.
Philadelphia brought in arguably the greatest player to ever touch a basketball in LeBron James, while also acquiring Jaylen Brown, a former NBA Finals MVP. Pairing those two with former MVP Joel Embiid, who, when healthy, remains one of the best players in the NBA, and Tyrese Maxey, an All-NBA selection in 2026, makes the 76ers look nearly unstoppable on paper.
The roster does not stop there. Philadelphia has surrounded its stars with proven veterans and promising young players, including VJ Edgecombe, who was in the running for NBA Rookie of the Year in 2026. First-year general manager Mike Gansey has assembled an incredibly talented group.
The biggest concern could be whether all of Philadelphia’s high-usage veterans can successfully mesh with a group that showed promising signs of continuity a season ago. There are also lingering questions surrounding former championship-winning coach Nick Nurse. If the 76ers fail to reach at least the Eastern Conference finals, Nurse could find himself on the hot seat.
Still, Philadelphia has one of the most talented starting lineups assembled in recent NBA history, making the 76ers one of the biggest threats to knock off the reigning champions.
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers endured a disastrous 2026 regular season, going 19-63 and setting a franchise record for losses. However, that season came without their leader, Tyrese Haliburton.
If Haliburton returns fully healthy and leads the charge in 2026-27, the Pacers could once again become one of the Knicks’ biggest problems in the Eastern Conference.
Indiana defeated New York in the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025, establishing itself as something of a kryptonite for the Knicks. Now, with Haliburton potentially returning to full health, the Pacers are bringing back the majority of the core that reached the 2025 NBA Finals.
Pascal Siakam remains one of the league’s most proven players in big-game situations. Alongside Haliburton, a talented group of wings and championship-winning coach Rick Carlisle, Indiana has the pieces to become a dangerous team in the East.
The biggest question is whether the Pacers are relying too heavily on continuity rather than making a major acquisition. Is Ivica Zubac capable of being a third option on a championship-contending team, and how will he adjust to a full season in a Pacers uniform?
With a group that already has plenty of experience playing together, Indiana has the potential to be one of the Eastern Conference’s most overlooked contenders.
Boston Celtics
After the Knicks won the 2026 championship, it became increasingly unlikely that their longest-tenured player, Mitchell Robinson, would remain in New York because of salary-cap concerns. Robinson signing with the Boston Celtics made his departure even more significant.
A fully healthy season from Jayson Tatum, who has already proven he can be the first option on a championship-contending team, could do wonders for Boston after the Celtics were eliminated in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season.
Without Jaylen Brown, however, Boston will need other players to take significant steps forward. Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta are expected to take on larger roles within the Celtics’ system, while newly acquired veteran Paul George provides experience and leadership.
With Joe Mazzulla, one of the league’s most notable young coaches, leading the team, it is difficult to count out a franchise that won the NBA championship in 2024.
There are still significant questions. Who will be the Celtics’ second option? Can anyone outside of Tatum develop into an All-Star-caliber player?
Still, Boston’s history with New York and the rivalry between the two franchises make the Celtics one of the Eastern Conference’s most intriguing teams heading into 2026-27.
Detroit Pistons
For much of the 2026 regular season, the Detroit Pistons had the Knicks’ number. At one point, Detroit looked like the favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
However, the Pistons’ inexperience became apparent during the postseason, when they fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Cade Cunningham showed last season that he has the potential to become one of the future faces of the NBA. With Cunningham entering his prime, the time could be now for Detroit to take the next step.
The biggest question is who will surround him.
Ausar Thompson remains one of the league’s intriguing perimeter defenders, while Jalen Duren provides Detroit with a traditional presence in the frontcourt. Both struggled during the postseason, however, and the Pistons ultimately could not capitalize on their strong regular season.
With J.B. Bickerstaff and a roster filled with players who fit the team’s style of winning basketball, Detroit still has the firepower to compete for the top of the Eastern Conference.
If Duren can regain his All-NBA-level form and the bench develops into one of the league’s deeper units, the Pistons could once again give the Knicks plenty of problems throughout the regular season and postseason.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals last season, so they naturally belong on the list of teams capable of giving New York trouble. They may have even gotten better.
Coach Kenny Atkinson and general manager Koby Altman have continued to build around a core featuring Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Cleveland lost Max Strus during the offseason but replaced him with Peyton Watson, who brings another combination of scoring and defensive ability to the roster.
The biggest concern remains depth in the frontcourt, an issue that hurt the Cavaliers during the Eastern Conference finals.
Still, Cleveland possesses an experienced core with plenty of familiarity. The Cavaliers have the talent to once again contend with the Knicks in the East and potentially avoid the same result they experienced a season ago.
The question is no longer whether Cleveland has the tools to compete.
Can the Cavaliers finally convert that talent into an NBA Finals appearance?
