A Quick Look At The Atlantic
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2026 10:06 pm
Division Of Former Champions Now The Middest Of Mid
Remember when the Brooklyn Nets were one of the most feared franchises, and the Philadelphia 76ers were a blue chip organization? When the Boston Celtics had the De'Aaron Fox years, and Luka Doncic alone was enough for the New York Knicks? That's all gone now. Mediocrity defines the division so far this season.
Boston Celtics (15-13)
Overall Snapshot
A young team with a resurrected Tyrese Maxey who is somehow still only 25, a raft of point guards, some of the most elite rebounders in the league, and Kaiser Gates, the only player on this team older than 27. That's just how young these Celtics are.
Major Issues
For all its declared commitment to defense, the Cs are allowing 101.3 points a game and are on the - side in +/- points per game. Their best shotblocker, rookie Donovan Clignan, is rotting on the bench when he should be the starting center, because the wings and power forward spots have no one who can turn the ball over, and when you can't force turnovers, that's not a recipe for anything higher than mediocrity. Point guards are primarily quantity over quality - Damion Baugh can't hit a 3 point shot and they're running a Pace & Space offense last I looked, when a PG who can't hit a 3 demands that the offense be Grind or Post, so there's a system issue at play here, too. Why is Franz Wagner starting? Why is he even on this team? He adds nothing of value.
Projected Direction
They have all their picks, so can go any direction (also pick #30 because it's highly doubtful anyone catches the Heat this year).
Trade Block
Only two minor players who aren't going to move the needle. They should be much more ambitious - Maxey, Moneke, and Clignan should be the only untouchables at the moment, with everyone else dealt out for much better fitting pieces around them, or a consolidation move. A PG who can hit the ATB is Priority Item #1 if they're going to continue insisting on P&S.
Philadelphia 76ers (15-14)
Overall Snapshot
Roster churn is the name of the game in the City of Brotherly Love. Blink, and this will look completely different by Day 60 again. Still, no one in the CSL believes more in Terry Taylor than the 76ers, who despite most scouts consider being a one-note player as a rebounder, keeps getting PT and money to play for them.
Major Issues
There doesn't seem to be a real identity after the Simons/Okuo for Alvarado/Tillman deal, and that's not surprising. Every team that has traded or lost Simons has ultimately come to regret it - Minnesota was never a contender again after losing him in FA, New Orleans was stuck in play-in purgatory before appearing to maybe have finally righted the ship this season (though second half swoons are common for the Pelicans, so don't hold your breath just yet).
Projected Direction
Trades, trades, and more trades. They have their own 36 and 38 1sts. The front office hates losing, though, so don't expect an actual rebuild to happen. Look for perhaps more targeted moves to re-establish an identity. A true center that allows Tillman to shift to his natural PF spot would be a top priority, given Darren Holmes II's rookie struggles.
New York Knicks (14-14)
They need a GM. That is all.
Brooklyn Nets (9-17)
Overall Snapshot
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. SGA and Ayton were once the most feared 1-2 punch in the CSL, and they still are, but the wins aren't coming... and a quick look reveals why.
Major Issues
Every single player on this roster not named SGA or Ayton is a bench player at this point in their careers. Not one single player would be even a fifth starter on a contender. Small wonder wins have been hard to come by. It's just a group of mediocre, overall unskilled players.
Trade Block
They're offering everyone except super-raw Ron Holland and SGA. This is a mistake. It will take years to rebuild the roster, and SGA is 29 years old. He should absolutely be moved for a premium package that will help kickstart this rebuild. Ayton is 32 years old and a large expiring. No doubt there will be suitors for his half-season rental, but the return will be nowhere close to what the Nets are hoping for. They can not afford the same depreciation of value that SGA will experience and need to sell now.
Toronto Raptors (4-26)
Overall Snapshot
The annual Atlantic doormats stuck in a long, grinding rebuild. Everyone is pissed off. There's pieces here in Sharpe, The Snail, Emoni Bates, and Mays, but that's about it.
Major Issues
Not a single Raptor is a good rebounder. Goga Bitadze is the only one who's okay. That's forced The Snail to be a center when his best spot is as a stretch 4, and the Post Offense has been terrible for him. There's a lack of rim protection overall - no shotblockers here either, and they're weirdly playing a M2M defensive scheme when they don't have the players to support it. There's enough 3 point shooters in Mays, AA, Jones, Levi, eventually Sharpe, and probably Snail to justify trying a Perimeter or Seven Seconds offense, depending on the distribution of their 3 point shooting abilities. Things certainly can't get any worse.
Trade Block
Their math is slightly off. $21 million in expiring contracts, not $25 million is what we're seeing as a rough estimate. But the right idea is here - expiring contracts for future assets, hanging on to the building blocks while also willing to consider moving Snail in the right situation.
Remember when the Brooklyn Nets were one of the most feared franchises, and the Philadelphia 76ers were a blue chip organization? When the Boston Celtics had the De'Aaron Fox years, and Luka Doncic alone was enough for the New York Knicks? That's all gone now. Mediocrity defines the division so far this season.
Boston Celtics (15-13)
Overall Snapshot
A young team with a resurrected Tyrese Maxey who is somehow still only 25, a raft of point guards, some of the most elite rebounders in the league, and Kaiser Gates, the only player on this team older than 27. That's just how young these Celtics are.
Major Issues
For all its declared commitment to defense, the Cs are allowing 101.3 points a game and are on the - side in +/- points per game. Their best shotblocker, rookie Donovan Clignan, is rotting on the bench when he should be the starting center, because the wings and power forward spots have no one who can turn the ball over, and when you can't force turnovers, that's not a recipe for anything higher than mediocrity. Point guards are primarily quantity over quality - Damion Baugh can't hit a 3 point shot and they're running a Pace & Space offense last I looked, when a PG who can't hit a 3 demands that the offense be Grind or Post, so there's a system issue at play here, too. Why is Franz Wagner starting? Why is he even on this team? He adds nothing of value.
Projected Direction
They have all their picks, so can go any direction (also pick #30 because it's highly doubtful anyone catches the Heat this year).
Trade Block
Only two minor players who aren't going to move the needle. They should be much more ambitious - Maxey, Moneke, and Clignan should be the only untouchables at the moment, with everyone else dealt out for much better fitting pieces around them, or a consolidation move. A PG who can hit the ATB is Priority Item #1 if they're going to continue insisting on P&S.
Philadelphia 76ers (15-14)
Overall Snapshot
Roster churn is the name of the game in the City of Brotherly Love. Blink, and this will look completely different by Day 60 again. Still, no one in the CSL believes more in Terry Taylor than the 76ers, who despite most scouts consider being a one-note player as a rebounder, keeps getting PT and money to play for them.
Major Issues
There doesn't seem to be a real identity after the Simons/Okuo for Alvarado/Tillman deal, and that's not surprising. Every team that has traded or lost Simons has ultimately come to regret it - Minnesota was never a contender again after losing him in FA, New Orleans was stuck in play-in purgatory before appearing to maybe have finally righted the ship this season (though second half swoons are common for the Pelicans, so don't hold your breath just yet).
Projected Direction
Trades, trades, and more trades. They have their own 36 and 38 1sts. The front office hates losing, though, so don't expect an actual rebuild to happen. Look for perhaps more targeted moves to re-establish an identity. A true center that allows Tillman to shift to his natural PF spot would be a top priority, given Darren Holmes II's rookie struggles.
New York Knicks (14-14)
They need a GM. That is all.
Brooklyn Nets (9-17)
Overall Snapshot
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. SGA and Ayton were once the most feared 1-2 punch in the CSL, and they still are, but the wins aren't coming... and a quick look reveals why.
Major Issues
Every single player on this roster not named SGA or Ayton is a bench player at this point in their careers. Not one single player would be even a fifth starter on a contender. Small wonder wins have been hard to come by. It's just a group of mediocre, overall unskilled players.
Trade Block
They're offering everyone except super-raw Ron Holland and SGA. This is a mistake. It will take years to rebuild the roster, and SGA is 29 years old. He should absolutely be moved for a premium package that will help kickstart this rebuild. Ayton is 32 years old and a large expiring. No doubt there will be suitors for his half-season rental, but the return will be nowhere close to what the Nets are hoping for. They can not afford the same depreciation of value that SGA will experience and need to sell now.
Toronto Raptors (4-26)
Overall Snapshot
The annual Atlantic doormats stuck in a long, grinding rebuild. Everyone is pissed off. There's pieces here in Sharpe, The Snail, Emoni Bates, and Mays, but that's about it.
Major Issues
Not a single Raptor is a good rebounder. Goga Bitadze is the only one who's okay. That's forced The Snail to be a center when his best spot is as a stretch 4, and the Post Offense has been terrible for him. There's a lack of rim protection overall - no shotblockers here either, and they're weirdly playing a M2M defensive scheme when they don't have the players to support it. There's enough 3 point shooters in Mays, AA, Jones, Levi, eventually Sharpe, and probably Snail to justify trying a Perimeter or Seven Seconds offense, depending on the distribution of their 3 point shooting abilities. Things certainly can't get any worse.
Trade Block
Their math is slightly off. $21 million in expiring contracts, not $25 million is what we're seeing as a rough estimate. But the right idea is here - expiring contracts for future assets, hanging on to the building blocks while also willing to consider moving Snail in the right situation.
