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  • The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – presented by OKX

    The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – presented by OKX

    The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a tough act to follow, but the Baku City Circuit is a fitting successor, offering up its own brand of fast, unpredictable racing on this lightning-fast street track.  

    There are many reasons why we love Baku, not least the short walk from our hotels in the city to the paddock. Set on the shores of the Caspian Sea coastline, the city blends modern architecture with rich history. Cars race beneath an array of eye-catching skyscrapers and modern buildings, and through the Old City, between medieval walls, including a UNESCO Heritage Site. Combining a variety of different types of corners, with long straights, it’s also a great all-round test of an F1 car.  

    Lando and Oscar were back at the McLaren Technology Centre between rounds to debrief and catch up with the team. During their visit, we asked them and Team Principal Andrea Stella for their thoughts on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. We’ve also explained why we love the circuit, highlighted its main challenges, and provided an update on the Constructors’ Championship standings.  

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  • Sunrise silhouettes the world’s largest telescope photo of the day for Sept. 17, 2025

    Sunrise silhouettes the world’s largest telescope photo of the day for Sept. 17, 2025

    Deep in the Chilean desert, the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is currently under construction. Operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the ELT’s design features a 128-foot-wide (39 meters) primary mirror, making it the largest optical and infrared telescope in the world when completed.

    In this image, cranes flank the rising solar disk with Earth still in shadow as the first light silhouettes humanity’s next giant eye on the sky.

    What is it?

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  • Fact check: Viral video does not show schoolgirls in pain after HPV vaccination

    Fact check: Viral video does not show schoolgirls in pain after HPV vaccination

    Multiple users on X on Tuesday shared a video, claiming that it showed schoolgirls falling sick after being vaccinated. However, the clip is of teargas shelling in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and not linked to the current Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign against cervical cancer.

    A day ago, Abdullah Gul, son of former intelligence chief Hamid Gul, shared a video on X showing girls in school uniforms in a hospital ward appearing sick with the following caption:

    “After forced vaccination in schools, several girls fell ill and had to be transferred to the hospital. For God’s sake! Take a clear and firm stance in the matter of your children. All the world’s experiments are always conducted on us poor people. No help for flood victims, but the West is giving free vaccines.”

    The post gained over 290,000 views, 2,700 reactions and 1,800 shares.

    The post did not provide other crucial information, such as the location and date of the video or specify what vaccine was administered.

    The same video was shared with a similar claim by a user on X, who appears to be a PTI supporter based on their past posts and profile picture.

    The user referred to a HPV vaccination campaign in the caption:

    “Big revelation. In Pakistan, the HPV vaccine is being administered to children. Protect your children from this vaccine. Look at the condition of the girls. Share this video with every household.”

    The post gained over 30,000 views

    The same video with similar claims was shared by multiple users on X as can be seen here and here and on Instagram as well.

    A fact-check was initiated to verify the claim due to its virality, keen public interest in vaccine-related matters and to address the harm of such content.

    A reverse image search yielded a YouTube video dated May 9, 2024, with the following title: “Police fired tear gas at girls’ schools in Dadyal”.

    Dadyal is a tehsil in Mirpur district of AJK.

    A keyword search for “tear gas”, “Dadyal” and “school girls” yielded a May 9, 2024, X post by journalist Basharat Raja, who had shared the same video with the following caption:

    “This is also a clip from Dadyal where tear gas was excessively used by police and unidentified individuals dressed in civilian clothes on schools, causing female students engaged in annual examinations to faint.”

    A keyword search to corroborate the incident through credible media outlets yielded a May 10, 2024, news report from leading English publication Dawn titled “Police crackdown in AJK prompts ‘shutter-down strike’ call”.

    The report stated that police fired tear gas shells during clashes, and some landed in a school, affecting several girls. The demonstrations were part of a wider movement against high electricity bills and taxes in AJK.

    A keyword search to determine whether any vaccination campaigns were underway in Pakistan yielded a World Health Organisation (WHO) article dated Sept 16, 2025, titled: “Pakistan joins 150 countries to protect 13 million girls from cervical cancer with WHO-prequalified vaccine”.

    The report stated that the WHO, in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Immunisation (FDI), launched the country’s first-ever HPV vaccination campaign to protect 13 million adolescent girls from cervical cancer, in partnership with vaccine alliance Gavi and Unicef. It added that Pakistan now joined more than 150 countries that include the WHO-prequalified vaccine in their immunisation schedules.

    According to the landing page for the campaign on FDI’s website: “The HPV vaccine is safe, free and effective and girls aged 9–14 years will be vaccinated from September 15-27, 2025, in schools, madrassas and health facilities across Punjab, Sindh, AJK and Islamabad.”

    In its announcement of the campaign, Gavi noted that the vaccine has “mild side-effects”, such as pain in the injected part of the body or a low fever that might occur, adding, however, that this was “similar to other vaccines”.

    Therefore, the fact-check determined that the claim that a viral video shows schoolgirls in pain after being inoculated amid the current HPV vaccination campaign is false. The video shows schoolgirls affected by tear gas shelling in AJK in May 2024, not the HPV vaccine — which is safe and only has mild side effects.

    This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan — a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.

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  • Roku’s First Ever Projector Goes Live

    Roku’s First Ever Projector Goes Live

    Roku started in a stick, spread its wings to your TV, and then your soundbar… and now it wants some space on your wall.

    The San Jose-based streaming specialist has taken the covers off of its first-ever smart projector: the Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1R Cube.

    Built in partnership with Aurzen, a brand that’s been steadily building a reputation for compact and afoordable projectors in the past few years, the D1R Cube weighs just 4 pounds but packs enough punch to blast a 40 to 150-inch HD image onto whatever wall or screen you’ve got handy.

    Unlike the many cheap projectors floating around Amazon, this one comes with the full Roku TV OS on board.

    That means you get the same interface found on Roku-powered TVs, complete with thousands of streaming apps, Roku Originals, and more than 500 live TV channels baked in, so no side-loading Android APKs and all that nonsense to just get Netflix working.

    You’ll also get Roku’s familiar remote in the box, plus the option to control things through the Roku mobile app or voice assistants including Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.

    Hardware-wise, Roku and Aurzen have kept things simple but capable. The D1R Cube runs at 1080p resolution, hits 330 ANSI lumens of brightness, and has auto-focus and auto-keystone correction, so setup shouldn’t be too complicated.

    Sound comes from dual 5W speakers with Dolby Audio, though you can pair it up with Roku’s wireless speakers, soundbars, or subwoofers for a beefier setup.

    Physical connections are all on board too; you’ll find HDMI, USB, and a 3.5mm jack on the D1R if you want to plug extra equipment in.

    Unlike similar models from the likes of Nebula, there’s no built-in battery, so you’ll still need an outlet nearby. So it’s not exactly a campfire projector unless you’ve got a beefy power pack – although Roku states it can be used outside..

    The Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1R Cube is available now on Amazon for $250, though a launch coupon knocks it down to $180 for a limited period.

    Aurzen also sells a matching 120-inch rollable screen for $27 and a vertical stand for $47 if you want the full kit.

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  • New flamingo chicks ‘amazing turnaround’ for Isle of Man park

    New flamingo chicks ‘amazing turnaround’ for Isle of Man park

    Keeper Karin Three grey-feathered flamingo chicks stand and sit in the foreground with adult pink flamingos behind them in an outdoor area with dark mud and sand.Keeper Karin

    Seven flamingo chicks have been born at Curraghs Wildlife Park in 12 months

    The successful breeding of seven Chilean flamingo chicks at a Manx wildlife park represents an “amazing turnaround” for the colony, keepers have said.

    Last September saw the first hatchling of the species at the Curraghs Wildlife Park for 18 years, with a further six hatching since.

    General manager Kathleen Graham said it meant the Ballaugh conservation facility was now home to “the most flamingo chicks of any collection in the British Isles”.

    The species has been described as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

    Keeper Karin One grey-feathered flamingo chick sits on a rocky area. Another sits on the back of an adult pink flamingo. Two other pink flamingos stand nearby in front of a green leafy area.Keeper Karin

    The colony at the wildlife park now has 25 flamingos

    A spokesman for the park said keepers had built an extended beach area on the island within their enclosure, which the birds “seemed to approve” of and had begun to “build volcano-shaped nests almost straight away”.

    They explained that raising the chicks in the first few weeks was “very much the responsibility of the whole colony” and said it had been “lovely” to see how the adults had gathered round to protect the little ones.

    With the population at the park reaching 25, staff were hopeful the “current breeding success” would continue as “the larger the group, the more likely they are to breed”, he added.

    When the chicks hatch they have grey-white down and a straight beak.

    They develop their pink colour over a few years as they eat foods rich in the carotenoid pigments that make some plants, algae and crustaceans red, orange, pink and yellow.

    Keeper Karin One larger grey-feathered flamingo chick flaps its wings. Four other pink flamingos stand nearby in front of a green leafy area.Keeper Karin

    Under human care flamingos can live for about 40 years

    Ms Graham said the team were unsure as to why there had been an influx of chicks.

    “Sometimes you’re left with more questions than answers as to why now,” she added.

    She explained that it could be one of a number of reasons, such as global warming or changes in diet.

    “But to suddenly have two chicks was amazing last year and to see five this year is phenomenal,” she said.

    “It has been an amazing turnaround for our Chilean flamingo colony, we’re very pleased to see them doing so well.”

    “And it’s always nice to have babies, let’s be honest.”

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  • Trump state visit: What we know about the Windsor Castle banquet | ITV News – ITVX

    1. Trump state visit: What we know about the Windsor Castle banquet | ITV News  ITVX
    2. Behind Scenes: The Royal Household prepares for a State Visit  The Royal Family
    3. Palace shows off its castle gardens: Watch  Geo.tv
    4. King Charles office issues update on US guest after Harrys bombshell comments  The News International
    5. Buckingham Palace shares glimpse into royal library and archives  Geo.tv

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  • Gastroenterologist shares 6 early colon cancer symptoms you should never ignore: 'If you're 45 or older…' | Health – Hindustan Times

    1. Gastroenterologist shares 6 early colon cancer symptoms you should never ignore: ‘If you’re 45 or older…’ | Health  Hindustan Times
    2. Alarming rates of bowel cancer prompt calls for slashing of age for screening programme  The Irish Independent
    3. Healthy Living: When to be screened for colorectal cancer  ABC27
    4. With colon cancer rates skewing younger, doctor and patient urge everyone to be proactive  CBS News
    5. Local woman raising awareness about colon cancer  Boston 25 News

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  • Trent Alexander-Arnold: Real Madrid defender could miss six weeks with hamstring injury

    Trent Alexander-Arnold: Real Madrid defender could miss six weeks with hamstring injury

    Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to miss up to six weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Marseille.

    Alexander-Arnold, 26, started Tuesday’s match at the Bernabeu but was forced off in the fifth minute having injured his left leg.

    Real Madrid confirmed the injury following tests on Wednesday morning.

    Sources have indicated Alexander-Arnold will be out for at least a month, with his absence potentially running to six weeks.

    Alexander-Arnold joined Real on 1 June after Liverpool accepted a fee to release the defender early from his contract.

    The full-back was not named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, and is now a major doubt for next month’s games against Wales and Latvia.

    It also leaves him in a race against time to be fit for Real’s visit to Liverpool on 4 November, which would be Alexander-Arnold’s first return to Anfield since his move.

    Alexander-Arnold made five appearances for Real at the Club World Cup over the summer – providing two assists – and has featured five times across all competitions in 2025-26.

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  • ‘We craved external validation, but what’s important has shifted’: Dubai gallery The Third Line celebrates 20 years – The Art Newspaper

    ‘We craved external validation, but what’s important has shifted’: Dubai gallery The Third Line celebrates 20 years – The Art Newspaper

    Though the present moment in the Gulf art scene is portrayed as one of novelty and transformation, many of its key entities have grown into venerable players. Turning 20 this year are the region’s biggest fair, Art Dubai, one of its largest institutional undertakings, the Saadiyat Museums Project in Abu Dhabi, and one of its leading commercial galleries, The Third Line, which celebrates its anniversary this week.

    The Third Line was born out of the anti-Arab sentiment that followed the September 11 attacks against the US in 2001, says Sunny Rahbar, the director of the gallery and one of its three co-founders. She was working at another gallery in New York at the time and was taken aback by the reaction to the event.

    “There was all this hate and blame being directed towards the Middle East, which is where I’m from,” she says. “I’d noticed the lack of representation of artists from the Menasa [Middle East North Africa South Asia] region and it dawned on me that their stories must be told.”

    Rahbar moved back to Dubai and began imagining a platform for artists from the region. With her friend Lisa Farjam, she launched Bidoun, which became one of the key publications for the discussion of art from the region. After two years and trying multiple avenues, she partnered with a new transplant to Dubai, the art consultant Claudia Cellini, to found an independent art space. UAE regulations at the time required an Emirati sponsor in order to start a business. The diplomat Omar Ghobash backed them, allowing them to launch in 2005 with a show of five Iranian photographers.

    The laws also did not strictly allow for non-profit status. They set up with a “framing and novelty trading license”—the same as a craft booth at a mall—and operated somewhere between a commercial gallery and an artists’ space.

    “We had film screenings, performances, book clubs—reading books that had been written in Arabic but had been translated into English, and then comparing each version side by side to see what was lost in translation,” Rahbar recalls. “Anytime we could, we had an artists’ talk. And from day one we were commissioning writers for catalogues, to give people information on what contemporary art is, and why it’s important.”

    The Third Line Doha opened with an exhibition of the photographer Youssef Nabil

    Courtesy of The Third Line

    The commercial side of their project, however, became buoyed in the larger wave of the early 2000s Dubai art world, itself a part of the huge economic boost in the UAE. Oil prices were rising and the new ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, invested aggressively in tourism, construction, and the financial sector. Christie’s moved in with sales in 2006 that consistently exceeded expectations, and in May 2008, The Third Line opened its second branch, in Doha, in collaboration with the collector Tariq Al Jaidah.

    Then, in October, the financial crisis hit. “The phone literally stopped ringing,” Rahbar says. Sales halted as both people and cash left Dubai; The Third Line closed its Doha space less than two years after it launched. And though the UAE rebounded economically by around 2010, the financial crisis left a longer shadow on the art world. Even up to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Rahbar says, sales had not resumed to the volume or level of the pre-2008 days.

    In 2016, The Third Line, which had been one of the first to open in the Al Quoz industrial area, joined the city’s other galleries in the new Alserkal Avenue arts district. It leased an 8,500-square-foot, two-storey space with enough room for simultaneous exhibitions. “In retrospect, the space was too big,” Rahbar admits. Within a few years, in 2022, they downsized to a more a manageable single-storey configuration, though, sales-wise, business has been lifted by the current post-Covid bounce of the country.

    To mark the anniversary, the gallery will stage an exhibition organised by the writer and curator Shumon Basar, who founded the Global Art Forum, a well-regarded talks programme that runs alongside Art Dubai. The Only Way Out Is Through: The Twentieth Line (18 September-7 November) charts the gallery’s history alongside the socio-economic and political developments of the region.

    For the show, Rahbar took Basar to the gallery storage site, by Dubai’s airport, where objects from the last two decades of the gallery’s programmes are held. The show draws fully from these usually unseen works. A series of talks and “48 flash sales” of thematically grouped works from the gallery’s archived inventory will accompany the exhibition.

    Many of The Third Line’s early artists have become stalwarts of the current scene, both regionally and internationally, such as Rana Begum, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, Rokni Haerizadeh, and the late Tarek Al-Ghoussein. These initial shows also reflect lost paths, such as the large presence of Iranian artists. Since the political split between the UAE and Iran has become entrenched, and Iran itself has grown more isolated and economically impoverished, Iranian artists have receded in prominence across the UAE. Conversely the role of Emirati artists has grown, after two decades of investment into education and development programs, and Arab artists have become more represented worldwide.

    “When we started, we craved external validation, like getting into Frieze [London] or having one of our artists show at MoMA,” says Rahbar. “But there is a shift in what is important for the next generation. If they do a show at Mathaf [Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha], that counts just as much for them. Maybe we helped to build this confidence. It came from seeing more of their artists in institutions and being taken seriously, though it wasn’t always like that.”

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  • Where all 30 teams stand as start of training camp nears

    Where all 30 teams stand as start of training camp nears

    Will the Lakers and Warriors be among the contenders in the 2025-26 season?

    • Download the NBA App
    • 2025 Free Agent Tracker
    • Every reported deal for all 30 teams

    Here are the five words that every NBA team, player and fan looks forward to hearing every summer: Training camp starts this month.

    Finally, the time is near.

    It was either a long offseason or a short one, depending on how a specific team finished a year ago or handled its business in the NBA Draft and free agency. A measured amount of optimism follows all 30 teams, yet soon enough, reality will settle in as the regular season strips away layers to reveal the truth about each team.

    There’s much to anticipate in 2025-26: The emergence of new stars, the ability of the old guard to squeeze yet another season of brilliance, and a chance for Oklahoma City to repeat in a league that placed roadblocks on past champs with those ambitions.

    And as always, expect a surprise or three from players and teams that’ll defy all conventional wisdom and projections and do better than expected. Like: How many crystal ballers around this time last year saw the Indiana Pacers not only reaching the 2025 NBA Finals, but forcing a seventh game?

    Let’s assess each team coming off summer and heading into camp:

    Atlanta Hawks

    There’s reason for optimism for the first time since the club reached the conference finals in 2021. The pieces are in place for a playoff appearance at the very least. Trae Young, the league’s most accomplished passer of the last few years, has weapons: Jalen Johnson returns from injury, plus Kristaps Porziņģis on the screen and roll, and Zaccharie Risacher, who rapidly improved to finish off his rookie season. Atlanta’s fate will ultimately be decided by defense, and there’s much to like with reigning steals leader Dyson Daniels joined by Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

    NBA TV takes a closer look Atlanta’s active offseason and where it could land in the fluid Eastern Conference.

    Boston Celtics

    This has “bridge year” scribbled all over the roster and the immediate future outlook, as the Celtics, champs in 2024, wait patiently for Jayson Tatum to recover from Achilles surgery, which could shelve him until next fall. They prepared for such by shedding salary in an effort to reset for 2026-27, shipping Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday, and should have flexibility next summer when Boston will surely reload. That’s not to suggest the Celtics will free-fall this season with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. This will be a crucial year to see how newcomer Anfernee Simons fits, now and also beyond, when Boston is ready to contend again.

    Brooklyn Nets

    Where Brooklyn at? Well, pretty much where it was last season: searching for an identity and a way to emerge as a team with a solid future. This transition is proving tricky, as the rebuilding Nets are still devoid of a potential All-Star unless Michael Porter Jr. blossoms now that he’s away from Denver. The Nets are still debating whether Cam Thomas fits; he’ll be on the roster for this season at least. Otherwise, the Nets will throw their five No. 1 picks — Danny Wolf, Drake Powell, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf and Egor Dёmin — against the wall and see who sticks.

    Charlotte Hornets

    The Hornets are ready to play (mind the pun here) ball again, with LaMelo Ball refreshed and ready to rebound from an injury-ravaged 2024-25. Aside from whether he can stay healthy, which has been problematic lately, the Hornets are missing the talent level required to make playoff noise. Perhaps that’s a bit ambitious, but they can at least tease for the future. We’ll see how Ball meshes with Collin Sexton and Tre Mann and whether Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick, will swish consistently when left open and served up by Ball. Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller should continue producing, but Ball (and his durability) will set the tone.

    Chicago Bulls

    Is this team still spinning its wheels? It appears so, unless a handful of youngsters suddenly go next level. Coby White did just that last season and dropped signs that a future All-Star appearance wouldn’t be out of the question. Actually, if Matas Buzelis surges in his sophomore season, that will be the surest sign that Chicago has at least another rising young talent on the roster. Tre Jones should help and maybe Isaac Okoro will, too. Josh Giddey returns, which helps, but this team seems another year away from being … another year away.

    Cleveland Cavaliers

    This is the first time in the post-LeBron James era that the Cavaliers are strong favorites in the East. Not only did they finish with the best record last season, return a rotation that’s virtually intact, and don’t have any impact player 30 or older, but the competition is weakened with the Celtics and Pacers dealing with potential season-long injuries to their stars. The Cavs need to hold it down while Darius Garland and Max Strus deal with foot injuries to start the season, but otherwise, all is good with Donovan Mitchell and company.

    Dallas Mavericks

    It’s far too premature to shout “Luka Who?” Yes, the scab from the controversial trade is still fleshy, sore and, in the minds of some fans, permanent. In a best-case scenario regarding this team’s biggest question marks — Kyrie Irving’s healthy return and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg’s ability to impact right away — Dallas will be a factor in the West. Oh, one more concern: Anthony Davis and his chances of enjoying a limp-free season. That’s a lot of shrugs regarding the Mavericks here in their first full season without Dončić. Maybe one too many?

    Seth Davis, Brendan Haywood and Damon Stoudamire discuss Copper Flagg’s versatility and team-first approach.

    Denver Nuggets

    This team came a win away from eliminating the eventual champion Thunder and perhaps improved in the offseason. That’s one way to assess the Nuggets as they try to salvage whatever Kia MVP-quality seasons are left in Nikola Jokić and grab another championship while they can. Applaud them for making such an attempt by subtracting Michael Porter Jr and adding Cam Johnson, who’s just as good offensively and better defensively. The Nuggets hope Tim Hardaway Jr. can compensate for the loss of Porter’s deep shooting, that Bruce Brown can return to the solid player he was during their championship run. Adding Jonas Valančiūnas keeps Denver from floundering whenever Jokić takes a breather.

    NBA TV analyzes Denver’s roster after it picked up Jonas Valančiūnas in a trade with Sacramento.

    Detroit Pistons

    Last season’s success will surely plateau this time if only because massive back-to-back leaps are mathematically improbable. Cade Cunningham will keep the Pistons in the hunt for a top-six finish and automatic playoff spot. The core of the unit returns, or at least until Detroit decides what, if anything, to do with Malik Beasley. Just in case, Duncan Robinson was added for 3-point insurance and Caris LeVert will help off the bench.

    Golden State Warriors

    There’s anticipation for the first full season with Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry, and the organization agrees that this is the final push in Curry’s prime. Whether that results in a realistic title run (or a playoff cameo) rests with plenty of factors, among them what will be the final verdict on Jonathan Kuminga’s future. Otherwise, the margin for error here is slim, and if anything sinister happens to the health of Curry, Butler or Draymond Green, all deep into their careers, it’s over.

    Houston Rockets

    After a solid offseason, perhaps the best in the league, the Rockets are ready to rattle the West. Kevin Durant gives them consistent scoring and, even better, a certified No. 1 option when the game gets tight. Dorian Finney-Smith should be more consistent than Dillon Brooks, which means defense shouldn’t be an issue for Houston. Durant’s history suggests his addition will be problem-free and a comfy fit with Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun. A top-three finish in the West is doable.

    Kevin Durant’s trade to the Rockets seems like the cleanest of fits, setting up Houston to build on a strong 2024-25 campaign.

    Indiana Pacers

    Much like the Celtics, the Pacers are mainly trying to keep everything together until their star, in this case Tyrese Haliburton, returns from a one-year injury furlough. Even more, without Myles Turner, the Pacers seemingly aren’t prepared to defend their conference title. Therefore, a respectable season would be to make the playoffs and see growth from their young core; Jay Huff, who’ll replace Turner’s skill set, is included in that group.

    LA Clippers

    Gotta hand it to GM Lawrence Frank, who constantly finds ways to retool this team and keep hope alive here in what’s left of the Kawhi Leonard era. The latest is taking a swing and bringing in Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez and Chris Paul. The result is a very veteran group, which raises concern about stamina and health. Should this team make the playoffs, all that experience will be a big plus.

    Los Angeles Lakers

    The transition from LeBron James to Dončić is ongoing (if not complete) as the Lakers attempt to rebuild around Dončić rather than a 40-year-old. They added Marcus Smart for defense and sass, Jake LaRavia for a youthful injection, and Deandre Ayton for help in the paint. If James holds up once again, the Lakers should make it interesting at the very least come springtime.

    Marcus Smart is one of several new faces to join the Lakers this offseason.

    Memphis Grizzlies

    Did they peak a few seasons ago, before Ja Morant had his troubles? Perhaps, and it’s hard to imagine the Grizzlies getting better in the very competitive West without Desmond Bane, now in Orlando. They’re anxious to see what Ty Jerome can do with a larger role than he had in Cleveland. And yes, of course, Morant needs to stay healthy and recapture the magic of the past if this team has postseason plans.

    Miami Heat

    The first order of business here in the post-Jimmy Butler era is to jump-start Bam Adebayo, who regressed last season, and put him back on an All-Star pace. Everything else is secondary for a team with postseason ambitions. Tyler Herro can’t do it alone. The addition of Norman Powell (21.8 points per game with the Clippers last season) will help with the scoring chores. Miami is also hoping to see improvement by center Kel’el Ware and whether swingman Davion Mitchell can handle increased minutes at the point.

    Milwaukee Bucks

    They’re either getting creative or reckless in their attempt to salvage the MVP-quality stretch of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s career, depending on your view. The strategy of stretching Damian Lillard’s salary to sign Myles Turner gives Antetokounmpo some assurance, given that Lillard wasn’t playing this season anyway. Still, this team’s most persistent issue — the lack of a potential young star — is problematic now and in the near future. However, with the Pacers and Celtics dealing with injuries, the Bucks should be a top-four team.

    Myles Turner sought to ‘remain competitive’ by heading to Milwaukee for the upcoming season alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    Minnesota Timberwolves

    The core of a team that reached the West finals returns, which is mainly good but also questionable. Meaning, the Wolves didn’t improve enough to frighten Oklahoma City, and perhaps not even Denver. Anthony Edwards is starry enough to keep them as a contender, though, especially if he takes a Kia MVP turn. Otherwise, much depends on who’s the point guard by season’s end — an aging Mike Conley, or raw Rob Dillingham?

    New Orleans Pelicans

    The skies seem gloomy for the Pelicans, who gambled heavily on Draft night and sent a valuable future first-rounder to Atlanta to get Derik Queen. That’s an interesting strategy for a team that qualifies as rebuilding in the very deep and rich West, even if Zion Williamson can manage a full season. They’re also banking on Jordan Poole to be consistent offensively and reliable defensively. Trey Murphy III seems ready to take the next step, though.

    New York Knicks

    Will a coaching change make a difference? The switch to Mike Brown needs to pay off quickly, or else. That’s because the Knicks are virtually unchanged otherwise, besides Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele coming off the bench. The Knicks are hoping for better results from Mikal Bridges if only to justify the cost of getting him before last season. All told, the Knicks seem qualified to make a legit run for the conference title, especially with the Celtics and Pacers dealing with injuries.

    Oklahoma City Thunder

    There weren’t many defending champions of the last decade who were prohibitive favorites to repeat, and OKC is now in that very select group. Not only did OKC flex its way through last season with a young group, but this summer the Thunder delivered long-term extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. OKC is at least two seasons away from worrying about cap issues and it might add at least one more title by then.

    After winning their 1st NBA title of the OKC era, the Thunder have plenty of reasons to believe they can keep this going.

    Orlando Magic

    This could be the season Orlando stamps itself as having arrived. All signals suggest the rebuilding era is over and it is time to enjoy the fruits. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are solid foundational pieces and Jalen Suggs returns from missing 47 games with injury. And like most rising teams, the Magic found a missing piece in Bane, who can supply badly-needed outside shooting. In the wide-open East, Orlando could grab a top-four seed.

    Philadelphia 76ers

    Is this team ready to implode or improve? The truth is somewhere regarding the Sixers and a roster makeup that can go north or south, mainly depending on the nightly availability of Joel Embiid. Too many things went wrong last season: Embiid’s health, Paul George’s midlife slump, the loss of rookie Jared McCain after a strong start, and little cohesion. The Sixers will run it back — not that they had much choice — and hope Embiid, George and Tyrese Maxey can succeed together.

    Phoenix Suns

    The Suns finally caved to reality and pushed the reset button on their failed three-star experiment. Better late than never, at least. With Beal and Durant gone (and expectations walking out the door with them), the Suns can make peace and move forward, with incoming young talent, including center Mark Williams, pointing to a better future. It assumes that Devin Booker, even with his new, rich extension, will stick around to be a part of it.

    Portland Trail Blazers

    New ownership, new vision; maybe it was a coincidence, but the Blazers have “new” life after a robust summer on and off the court. Lillard is back, at least in spirit this season, and he’ll wait patiently while a young nucleus looks to take a next step in development. Yet, there’s still work to be done. Portland may reroute Holiday and Jerami Grant, if not by the trade deadline, then next summer.

    Sacramento Kings

    After a few years basking in the beam, the Kings appear ready for a reset already. Perhaps this was inevitable after trading De’Aaron Fox last season. Still, Sacramento must figure out how to surround Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan with the right mix, aside from newcomer Dennis Schröder, and make a playoff run. That’s a tough task in the unforgiving West.

    San Antonio Spurs

    The surge of the Spurs could arrive sooner than expected, now that San Antonio has a full season with Fox and, just as well, Victor Wembanyama. It’s a bonus that the Spurs lucked into the No. 2 pick and came away with Dylan Harper, but given a loaded backcourt, his minutes and production probably won’t make a huge difference right away. Instead, the Spurs hope for reasonable growth among their young core and help from additions Kelly Olynyk and Luke Kornet. If that happens, the playoffs will beckon.

    Can the Spurs make it 3 consecutive Kia NBA Rookie of the Year winners? Dylan Harper has the DNA and the upside to make that happen.

    Toronto Raptors

    There’s a small chance the Raptors could qualify as a surprise team, given the weakened state of the East and a roster with obvious talent. Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley comprise a decent core. But how will those pieces mesh, and will this team play good enough defense to make noise about reaching the playoffs? Otherwise, Toronto will put more distance between the present and the 2019 championship team.

    Utah Jazz

    Another long season lies ahead for the Jazz, who at least acknowledged their fate and got started on the rebuild this summer, shipping out Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and John Collins. It’s all about the youngsters and their growth … as well as what the 2026 NBA Draft, which projects as rich, will bring. Utah should, and probably will, make a long-term commitment to center Walker Kessler, who escaped the summer red-tag sale and appears to be a keeper.

    Washington Wizards

    The Wizards suspect they’re on pace in this rebuild, turning the team over to young players and keeping the salary cap flexible enough to make a move or two next summer that could transform the franchise. The goal is for Bub Carrington, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and others to be more consistent by the second half of the season and give Washington a better idea of what they can offer long-term. It’s all about being patient, setting the table for the future … and taking the lumps, for now.

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    Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.


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