New Deputy In Dallas - A Dallas Mavericks 'Chise

[GM Rizzo]

2026-2027 Projected Starters Around the League

[marshdaddy]

Damn, Risacher having a dream glow up for the Hawks. Santos as the starting PF for the Dubs is wild. Kerr clearly gave up on Dray (or did he leave and I just missed it?).

Portland looks well-positioned for a glow-up season, or at least a very competitive one. Feels like the West is going to be OKC, San Antonio, Denver and Minnesota, maybe Houston, at the top. Tough to break in there.

I'll be curious to see what Washington does. On paper, not a bad roster at all. Now, if they can stay healthy is a completely different thing, but they're fascinating. The Hornets I think could be a big surprise jumping up the standings.

[GM Rizzo]

Damn, Risacher having a dream glow up for the Hawks. Santos as the starting PF for the Dubs is wild. Kerr clearly gave up on Dray (or did he leave and I just missed it?).

Portland looks well-positioned for a glow-up season, or at least a very competitive one. Feels like the West is going to be OKC, San Antonio, Denver and Minnesota, maybe Houston, at the top. Tough to break in there.

I'll be curious to see what Washington does. On paper, not a bad roster at all. Now, if they can stay healthy is a completely different thing, but they're fascinating. The Hornets I think could be a big surprise jumping up the standings.

The Hawks are pretty good, but they did lose Kuminga to the Nets for nothing.

Draymond is still in GS but an OVR point below Santos so I’m sure AI will start Santos over him.

Portlands looks strong and still has Dame off the bench. They’ve got plenty of fire power for sure.

West is scary tough. No idea how we will ever find ourselves in the top-4.

The Wiz also have Cam Booze on the bench. Team is dripping with talent. If they stay healthy, they could for sure surprise along with the Hornets.

[redsox907]

The Wiz also have Cam Booze on the bench. Team is dripping with talent. If they stay healthy, they could for sure surprise

its Washington, just being competitive is a surprise for them

like you said, West is stacked. It's a dog fight every game, which is fun but also frustrating

Keyonte at an 87?

what am I doing wrong

[RoyalTy]

Love that my Knicks won the title (though I've never been the biggest KAT fan)

So few rookies breaking into starting lineups is interesting, in terms of the depth these teams think they have. Health is going to be huge. Wasn't a lot of money thrown around in the off-season.

- It's still a three team race in the Atlantic
- I like Charlotte to surprise in the Southeast but honestly 2K is going to love the Wizards
- Is Giannis potentially on the move? Hard to read the Central Division, Tyrese coming back for Indiana puts them back in the mix
- Houston & San Antonio are still the big bads in the Southwest
- If Clingan lives up to his All-Defense nod from last season, Portland could be interesting. The Northwest could be a very tight race, at least in the first half of the year
- In the Pacific, Golden State is starting to age out, & this might be Kawhi's best remaining shot with the Clippers

[GM Rizzo]

KOC's 2026-2027 Title Tiers

[GM Rizzo]

The Wiz also have Cam Booze on the bench. Team is dripping with talent. If they stay healthy, they could for sure surprise

its Washington, just being competitive is a surprise for them

like you said, West is stacked. It's a dog fight every game, which is fun but also frustrating

Keyonte at an 87?

what am I doing wrong

Obviously, Washington in real life is a much different situation than Washington in 2k. I think that with Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr in the front court, there's plenty of defensive prowess to help with Trae Young and Tre Johnson in the backcourt. They still have Bilal Coulibaly coming off the bench who is a great defender in his own right. If Boozer can step in and give legit production right away, the Wizards could easily threaten for a top-6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Keyonte's glow-up is definitely bananas, but you have to remember I started this 'chise after the All-Star break in real life. His overall at launch was a 78 and has steadily increased up to the 87 he's currently at.

Either way, do better at talent development!

Love that my Knicks won the title (though I've never been the biggest KAT fan)

So few rookies breaking into starting lineups is interesting, in terms of the depth these teams think they have. Health is going to be huge. Wasn't a lot of money thrown around in the off-season.

- It's still a three team race in the Atlantic
- I like Charlotte to surprise in the Southeast but honestly 2K is going to love the Wizards
- Is Giannis potentially on the move? Hard to read the Central Division, Tyrese coming back for Indiana puts them back in the mix
- Houston & San Antonio are still the big bads in the Southwest
- If Clingan lives up to his All-Defense nod from last season, Portland could be interesting. The Northwest could be a very tight race, at least in the first half of the year
- In the Pacific, Golden State is starting to age out, & this might be Kawhi's best remaining shot with the Clippers

RoyalTy - I really appreciate you checking in on my 'chise, but cannot say that I love seeing your Knicks win the title (lifelong Celtics fan here).

I was shocked at the lack of true fireworks in free agency as well. I would say 90% of the money spent was on re-signing with their current teams. To me, the only real free agency move of note and importance was Austin Reaves heading to Chicago for 4-years and $107m. Kuminga to Brooklyn was only 3 years for $55m, so nothing too crazy.

If I remember correctly, the only rookie in a starting lineup right now would be Darryn Peterson. Boozer is stuck behind Sarr and Davis in Washington and while I flirted with the idea of putting Dybantsa in the starting lineup, we really need Christie's shooting to spread the floor. AJ can play the 2 and the 3 behind Christie and Cooper Flagg, so he will get plenty of run off the bench.

I know that the AI is not great at working rotations - and I'm not sure if I want to commit the time needed to setting 29 other depth charts - but it may be worth considering. A team like Sacramento, who took Keaton Wagler 2nd overall, probably should have him in the starting rotation or at least the 6th man behind LaVine.

Rapid fire through your bullets:
- Knicks, 76ers and Celtics are definitely tops in the Atlantic, but Toronto is still legit and Brooklyn with Peterson, MPJ and Kuminga seems like a bitch to slow down.
- Charlotte's starting five is so nice I find it hard for them to struggle. Coby White re-signed as well so him playing microwave off the bench is tough too.
- The Bucks are certainly in trouble and I think it may be best if Milwaukee explored Giannis deals
- In 2k, Amen Thompson is about as scary as it gets at point guard. His height, length, speed and athleticism is borderline unstoppable. For me to have to battle Houston and Wemby just in our division makes things very difficult.
- The Northwest already has three title contenders - OKC, DEN and MIN - but Portland is no slouch like you said and the Jazz have a ton of talent (though I don't like their fit together).
- The Pacific is arguably the worst division in the entire league. It's basically the Old Age Dubs, Luka, Booker, the Kangz and a solid Clippers squad, so my default Kawhi might have the best team in the division.

[GM Rizzo]

Kai Roberts Previews the 26-27 Mavs Roster

[six7]

love these past few updates. BK looks sooo interesting wow

[GM Rizzo]

love these past few updates. BK looks sooo interesting wow

Thanks! While the temptation to just blow through the postseason and offseason was certainly there, taking it slow and documenting the entire thing has really given me a good sense as to what is happening across the league. Definitely helps with my immersion.

Brooklyn is a very interesting team for sure. I know I hinted at a potential MPJ trade this season, but if they come out the gate coming maybe they are buyers instead? I can’t wait to see Peterson play because he looks like the real deal. Dybantsa has some shame to his game, but I have to imagine Peterson is even more dynamic with the ball in his hands.