CAVALIERS

LAST SEASON: 29-53, missed playoffs COACH: David Fizdale (first season, third NBA season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Trey Burke (12.8 ppg), G Tim Hardaway Jr. (17.5 ppg), F Kevin Knox (rookie), F Lance Thomas (4.1 ppg) or Kristaps Porzingis (22.7 ppg), C Enes Kanter (14.1 ppg)

KEY LOSSES: F Michael Beasley, F/C Kyle O’Quinn

KEY ADDITIONS: F Knox, F Mario Hezonja PLAYER TO WATCH: Knox. The No. 9 pick in the draft from Kentucky was one of the best performers in the Summer League, started strong in the preseason and seems to have the skills and confidence to continue to play well once the real games arrive.

OUTLOOK: Porzingis remains out while recovering from a torn ACL and it’s unknown when he will return, so the Knicks begin the Fizdale era without their best player. But they are focused on rebuilding patiently and won’t worry too much about their record or rushing the All-Star forward back before he is completely ready. LAST SEASON: 52-30, lost in Eastern Conference semifinals COACH: Brett Brown (sixth season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Ben Simmons (15.8 ppg), G JJ Redick (17.1 ppg), F Robert Covington (12.6 ppg), F Dario Saric (14.6 ppg), C Joel Embiid (22.9 ppg)

KEY LOSSES: F Marco Belinelli, F Ersan Ilyasova

KEY ADDITIONS: F Wilson Chandler, G Zhaire Smith, G Landry Shamet

PLAYER TO WATCH: Markelle Fultz was the No. 1 pick of the 2017 draft and was expected to team with Simmons and Embiid to form a Big Three nucleus. Fultz instead was a big bust. Fultz’s pitiful rookie year was derailed by a mysterious shoulder injury, a broken shot and confidence issues. He played the first four games, missed 68 games because of injury, then was persona non grata in the postseason. He said he took 150,000 shots this summer.

OUTLOOK: The Sixers underwent their roster-stripping ‘Process’ because they were tired of being mediocre with no realistic hope of improvement. But if Fultz LAST SEASON: 50-32, lost in NBA Finals COACH: Tyronn Lue (fourth season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G George Hill (10.0 ppg), G Rodney Hood (14.7 ppg), F Kevin Love (17.6 ppg), F Cedi Osman (3.9 ppg), C Tristan Thompson (5.8 ppg)

KEY LOSSES: F LeBron James, F Jeff Green, G Jose Calderon

KEY ADDITIONS: Rookie G Collin Sexton, F David Nwaba, F Sam Dekker

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sexton and Osman. The No. 8 overall pick in the NBA draft, Sexton could fill the massive void left when the Cavs granted Kyrie Irving’s trade demand and dealt him to Boston last year. Hill can adequately hold down the fort while Sexton, more of a slasher than shooter, develops. Lue will be patient with Sexton, but it may not take long for him to force his way into the starting lineup. Osman has the misfortune of being the player to take the spot owned by James.

OUTLOOK: Forget the Finals. After four straight June matchups with Golden State, the Cavs will have a tough time even making the playoffs. Love has gone from being the third option, to the second to the first and it will be interesting to see if the All-Star can carry the Cavs the way he carried Minnesota for six seasons. LAST SEASON: 39-43, missed playoffs COACH: Dwane Casey (first season, 10th NBA season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Reggie Jackson (14.6 ppg), G ReggieBullock (11.3 ppg), F Stanley Johnson (8.7 ppg), F Blake Griffin (21.4 ppg),C Andre Drummond (15.0 ppg)

KEY F Anthony Tolliver, F James Ennis III

KEY ADDITIONS: G-F Glenn Robinson III, C Zaza Pachulia

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jackson. The Pistons were off to a nice start last season before

LOSSES:

LAST SEASON: 36-46, missedplayoffs

COACH: James Borrego

(first season)

PROJECTED STARTING

FIVE: G Kemba Walker

(22.1 ppg), G Jeremy Lamb (12.9 ppg), G Nicolas Batum (11.6 ppg), F Marvin Williams (9.5 ppg), C Cody Zeller (7.6 ppg)