The winter is spent in the throes of NBA trade season, the spring is pockmarked with teams evaluating for the draft and the summer features free agency. But the autumn is when teams see what changes emerged from all of the offseason player movement and training camps.

Tuesday was an opportunity for NBA teams to pause after an eventful 14 days. Outside of the James Harden trade collateral, teams are locked in with how they think they want to approach the season as far as lineups and rotations are concerned.

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Below, we’ll look at how all 30 teams have changed how they’re lining up compared to the rosters that finished last season. I made projections on each team’s starting five in September as part of the NBA position group rankings, but now we have actual data to review.

(Editor’s note: Stats are as of Wednesday morning. Lineups listed are teams’ projected starters when fully healthy.)

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

Last season’s starters: M. Smart/D. White/J. Brown/J. Tatum/A. Horford
This season’s starters: J. Holiday/D. White/J. Brown/J. Tatum/K. Porziņģis

The Celtics have allowed only 88.7 points per 100 possessions in their new starting lineup that upgraded the team at point guard and center. Plus, 17-year NBA veteran Al Horford can now anchor a thinner second unit after being a starter his entire career.

Brooklyn Nets

Last season’s starters: S. Dinwiddie/M. Bridges/C. Johnson/D. Finney-Smith/N. Claxton
This season’s starters: B. Simmons/S. Dinwiddie/M. Bridges/C. Johnson/N. Claxton

The Nets haven’t been able to fully utilize their new starting lineup due to injuries to Cameron Johnson and Nic Claxton, but the return to health of Ben Simmons changes how Brooklyn lined up since acquiring former Suns Mikal Bridges and Johnson and former Mavericks Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith. Johnson might not have a starting job when he comes back since the only player averaging more field goal attempts (21.6) than Cam Thomas is All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell.

New York Knicks
Last season’s starters: J. Brunson/Q. Grimes/R. Barrett/J. Randle/M. Robinson
This season’s starters: J. Brunson/Q. Grimes/R. Barrett/J. Randle/M. Robinson

The Knicks have the same rotation they had in the postseason, except newcomer Donte DiVincenzo has replaced the traded Obi Toppin off the bench. The starters have allowed only 95.5 points per 100 possessions, so don’t expect any changes despite a slow start offensively.

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Philadelphia 76ers
Last season’s starters: J. Harden/T. Maxey/T. Harris/P. Tucker/J. Embiid
This season’s starters: T. Maxey/D. Melton/K. Oubre Jr./T. Harris/J. Embiid

New head coach Nick Nurse never got to coach James Harden, but the inclusion of P.J. Tucker in that trade allowed the 76ers to go from a starter who averaged only 3.5 points per game last season to Kelly Oubre Jr., who averaged 20.3 points per game last season. The new lineup is bleeding points defensively though, allowing an astronomical 132.6 points per 100 possessions in 61 minutes.

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Toronto Raptors
Last season’s starters: F. VanVleet/S. Barnes/O. Anunoby/P. Siakam/J. Poeltl
This season’s starters: D. Schröder/S. Barnes/O. Anunoby/P. Siakam/J. Poeltl

New coach Darko Rajaković has the same starting lineup, only with free agent Dennis Schröder replacing 2019 champion Fred VanVleet. The new Raptors lineup has been great defensively, allowing only 101.1 points per 100 possessions in 86 minutes.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White grabs a rebound against the Utah Jazz. (Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today)

Central Division

Chicago Bulls
Last season’s starters: P. Beverley/Z. LaVine/D. DeRozan/P. Williams/N. Vučević
This season’s starters: C. White/Z. LaVine/D. DeRozan/T. Craig/N. Vučević

Patrick Williams began the season as a starter, but free agent Torrey Craig has already taken the power forward spot. The Bulls replaced Patrick Beverley with Jevon Carter while retaining Ayo Dosunmu, but Billy Donovan is going back to Coby White as the starting point guard for the first time since Lonzo Ball’s knee injuries. Neither lineup with Williams nor Craig has done well on either end of the floor, but the Craig lineup has been outscored by 43.6 points per 100 possessions in 47 minutes.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Last season’s starters: D. Garland/D. Mitchell/I. Okoro/E. Mobley/J. Allen
This season’s starters: D. Garland/D. Mitchell/M. Strus/E. Mobley/J. Allen

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The Cavaliers signed Max Strus to replace Isaac Okoro as a starter, and Jarrett Allen’s ankle injury kept the team from debuting the new look until last weekend. The early returns have been solid, with Cleveland allowing only 100.0 points per 100 possessions in 22 minutes.

Detroit Pistons
Last season’s starters: K. Hayes/J. Ivey/B. Bogdanović/I. Stewart/J. Wiseman
This season’s starters: C. Cunningham/K. Hayes/A. Thompson/I. Stewart/J. Duren

New coach Monty Williams benefits from the return of Cade Cunningham, though starter Bojan Bogdanović has yet to play this season due to a calf strain. This offense could use Bogdanović back, as the turnover rate is way too high for a lineup that also doesn’t get to the free-throw line like last year’s team.

Indiana Pacers
Last season’s starters: T. Haliburton/A. Nembhard/B. Hield/A. Nesmith/M. Turner
This season’s starters: T. Haliburton/B. Brown/B. Mathurin/O. Toppin/M. Turner

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle got Bennedict Mathurin ready to start at the end of last season once Indiana fell out of the postseason hunt, sending Buddy Hield to a bench role. Signing 2023 champion Bruce Brown and acquiring Obi Toppin via trade sent both Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith to the bench as well, making Indiana a much deeper team than a year ago. The Pacers have been good offensively with their current starters (114.5), but the offense reaches another level when Haliburton plays with the former starters (132.5 in 18 minutes).

Milwaukee Bucks
Last season’s starters: J. Holiday/G. Allen/K. Middleton/G. Antetokounmpo/B. Lopez
This season’s starters: D. Lillard/M. Beasley/K. Middleton/G. Antetokounmpo/B. Lopez

New coach Adrian Griffin got an upgrade at point guard with the acquisition of Damian Lillard, though the new lineup is off to a very slow start offensively (only 102.2 points per 100 possessions) due to a lack of free-throw attempts and rebounds.

Atlanta Hawks forward Saddiq Bey shoots past Washington Wizards forward Danilo Gallinari. (Brett Davis / USA TODAY Sports)

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks
Last season’s starters: T. Young/D. Murray/D. Hunter/J. Collins/C. Capela
This season’s starters: T. Young/D. Murray/D. Hunter/J. Johnson/C. Capela

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The John Collins trade has led coach Quin Snyder to use a platoon system at power forward. Saddiq Bey started the first two games, and the Hawks have scored 120.2 points per 100 possessions with Bey and the rest of the starters. But Jalen Johnson has started four of the last five games and has allowed the Hawks to be better defensively, as Atlanta allows 106.4 points per 100 possessions with Johnson and the rest of the starters.

Charlotte Hornets
Last season’s starters: L. Ball/T. Rozier/G. Hayward/P. Washington/M. Williams
This season’s starters: L. Ball/T. Rozier/G. Hayward/P. Washington/M. Williams

The Hornets starters have been average offensively but a full-blown tire fire defensively, allowing 127.3 points per 100 possessions.

Miami Heat
Last season’s starters: K. Lowry/T. Herro/J. Butler/C. Martin/B. Adebayo
This season’s starters: K. Lowry/T. Herro/J. Butler/H. Highsmith/B. Adebayo

The Heat replaced Kyle Lowry at point guard after the All-Star break with Gabe Vincent, but Vincent left in free agency and the Heat failed to acquire Lillard. Kevin Love was the starter for most of post-break last season and began this season as the starter, but he has since been replaced by Haywood Highsmith. Love has been out of the rotation, while Caleb Martin has been injured. The Highsmith lineup is averaging 133.9 points per 100 possessions in their first 30 minutes of the season.

Orlando Magic
Last season’s starters: M. Fultz/G. Harris/F. Wagner/P. Banchero/W. Carter Jr.
This season’s starters: M. Fultz/J. Suggs/F. Wagner/P. Banchero/W. Carter Jr.

Jamahl Mosley’s big decision this season was to start 2021 lottery pick Jalen Suggs over veteran Gary Harris. In 78 minutes, the new starting lineup has allowed only 95.1 points per 100 possessions. Markelle Fultz (knee) and Wendell Carter Jr. (hand) have injuries that have forced usual third-stringers lottery rookie Anthony Black and Goga Bitadze into starting roles.

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Washington Wizards
Last season’s starters: M. Morris/B. Beal/K. Kuzma/K. Porziņģis/D. Gafford
This season’s starters: T. Jones/J. Poole/D. Avdija/K. Kuzma/D. Gafford

The separate trades of Bradley Beal (Jordan Poole), Kristaps Porziņģis (Tyus Jones) and Monté Morris (Deni Avdija) opened up three starting roles. Morris and Beal have been relatively replaceable, but the loss of Porziņģis has made a more average-sized Washington team the worst defense in the league.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić grabs a rebound over Chicago Bulls guard Jevon Carter. (Ron Chenoy / USA TODAY Sports)

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets
Last season’s starters: J. Murray/K. Caldwell-Pope/M. Porter Jr./A. Gordon/N. Jokić
This season’s starters: J. Murray/K. Caldwell-Pope/M. Porter Jr./A. Gordon/N. Jokić

The starting lineup is the same for the defending champs, and they are still dominating teams offensively (120.2 points per 100 possessions). The departures of key reserves Bruce Brown and Jeff Green — and Jamal Murray’s hamstring injury — means holdovers like Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson have to play more, along with rookie wing Julian Strawther.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Last season’s starters: M. Conley/A. Edwards/J. McDaniels/K. Towns/R. Gobert
This season’s starters: M. Conley/A. Edwards/J. McDaniels/K. Towns/R. Gobert

The Timberwolves are another team hoping for more games from their starting unit after the midseason acquisition of Mike Conley Jr. and the return to health of Karl-Anthony Towns, and the offense has taken care of the ball and gotten good shots. Free agent Shake Milton and holdover Nickeil Alexander-Walker have taken the reserve minutes vacated by Austin Rivers and Jaylen Nowell, while free agent Troy Brown Jr. is out of the rotation while replacing Taurean Prince.

Oklahoma City Thunder
Last season’s starters: S. Gilgeous-Alexander/J. Giddey/L. Dort/Jal. Williams/Jay. Williams
This season’s starters: S. Gilgeous-Alexander/J. Giddey/L. Dort/Jal. Williams/C. Holmgren

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The return to health of Chet Holmgren, who missed his rookie year due to foot surgery after being the second pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, sends Jaylin Williams to the second unit. The new lineup has done well offensively (115.1) while taking care of the ball and getting good shots, but it has been terrible on the glass on both ends of the floor.

Portland Trail Blazers
Last season’s starters: D. Lillard/A. Simons/M. Thybulle/J. Grant/J. Nurkić
This season’s starters: S. Henderson/A. Simons/M. Thybulle/J. Grant/D. Ayton

The Trail Blazers traded Lillard and, in that same deal, swapped out starting center Jusuf Nurkić for Deandre Ayton. Lillard’s departure cleared the way for rookie Scoot Henderson to start, though Henderson’s sprained ankle has given trade acquisition Malcolm Brogdon an opportunity. Anfernee Simons tore a ligament in his thumb, so 2022 lottery pick Shaedon Sharpe has started in his place. The instability has made Portland the worst offense in the league and one of the worst rebounding teams.

Utah Jazz
Last season’s starters: T. Horton-Tucker/J. Clarkson/L. Markkanen/K. Olynyk/W. Kessler
This season’s starters: T. Horton-Tucker/J. Clarkson/L. Markkanen/J. Collins/W. Kessler

The Jazz acquired Collins from Atlanta, a transaction that moves former starter Kelly Olynyk to the second unit. The new starting lineup has been awful on both ends of the floor in an 84-minute sample size, getting outscored by 22.1 points per 100 possessions. Utah probably won’t fix the defense, but it can put better offensive lineups on the floor.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and guard Chris Paul high five. (Alonzo Adams / USA Today)

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors
Last season’s starters: S. Curry/K. Thompson/A. Wiggins/D. Green/K. Looney
This season’s starters: S. Curry/K. Thompson/A. Wiggins/D. Green/K. Looney

The Warriors have the same starting lineup as last season despite some posturing about starting Chris Paul with a fully healthy roster. Paul is coming off the bench for the first time in his career as a replacement for Jordan Poole. Golden State’s starters are off to an awful start defensively, though, allowing 132.1 points per 100 possessions in 67 minutes.

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LA Clippers
Last season’s starters: R. Westbrook/P. George/K. Leonard/M. Morris Sr./I. Zubac
This season’s starters: R. Westbrook/J. Harden/P. George/K. Leonard/I. Zubac

The Clippers committed to shifting Paul George and Kawhi Leonard from the wings to the forwards spots when naming Terance Mann a starter after the preseason in Marcus Morris Sr.’s old spot, telegraphing plans for a potential (and now realized) James Harden trade. Harden replaces Eric Gordon from last season’s roster, while P.J. Tucker replaces Nicolas Batum. The first game of Harden’s debut was a turnover fest that saw the Clippers bleed points in transition, but even including that game, the Clippers have outscored opponents by 22.4 points per 100 possessions with Russell Westbrook, George, Leonard and Ivica Zubac sharing the floor together.

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Los Angeles Lakers
Last season’s starters: D. Russell/A. Reaves/J. Vanderbilt/L. James/A. Davis
This season’s starters: D. Russell/A. Reaves/T. Prince/L. James/A. Davis

Austin Reaves spent most of last season coming off the bench behind players such as Lonnie Walker IV and Malik Beasley, but the Lakers trading Westbrook for new starters D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt enabled Reaves to eventually emerge as an optimal fit. Now, Vanderbilt has been injured to begin the season, allowing free agent Taurean Prince to establish a starting role next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It hasn’t gone well on either end of the floor, with the Lakers regularly blitzed in first quarters and the new starting lineup getting outscored by 17.1 points per 100 possessions in their first 65 minutes of the season together.

Phoenix Suns
Last season’s starters: C. Paul/D. Booker/K. Durant/T. Craig/D. Ayton
This season’s starters: B. Beal/D. Booker/K. Durant/K. Bates-Diop/J. Nurkić

The Suns have dealt with injuries to backcourt mates Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, so they have only started together in preseason. Booker’s injuries in particular have exposed Phoenix’s lack of a traditional point guard, despite the presence of free agent Eric Gordon (Cameron Payne’s replacement) and upgrading to a better passing center in Nurkić from the superiorly talented Ayton. New coach Frank Vogel started the season with Josh Okogie as the starting small forward, but he has already been replaced by bigger free agent Keita Bates-Diop.

Sacramento Kings
Last season’s starters: D. Fox/K. Huerter/H. Barnes/K. Murray/D. Sabonis
This season’s starters: D. Fox/K. Huerter/H. Barnes/K. Murray/D. Sabonis

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Same starting lineup for the Kings, though De’Aaron Fox’s ankle injury opens up Sacramento to more lineup adjustments than the team had to deal with a season ago. Sacramento’s new second unit includes Chris Duarte (replacing Terence Davis II), Sasha Vezenkov (replacing the injured Trey Lyles) and JaVale McGee (replacing Chimezie Metu). The starters have held up defensively with Davion Mitchell starting for Fox, but the offense goes from elite with Fox (120.4) to the basement with Mitchell (92.4).

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving drives to the basket against Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze. (Mike Watters / USA Today)

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks
Last season’s starters: L. Dončić/K. Irving/T. Hardaway Jr./R. Bullock Jr./D. Powell
This season’s starters: L. Dončić/K. Irving/D. Jones Jr./G. Williams/D. Lively II

None of Luka Dončić’s new co-starters were with the Mavericks when February began. Kyrie Irving was re-signed after being acquired from Brooklyn before last season’s deadline. Lottery pick Dereck Lively II eventually sent Dwight Powell to the second unit. Tim Hardaway Jr. also is in the second unit to make room for a better defensive fit in free agent Derrick Jones Jr. Grant Williams was acquired to replace Reggie Bullock Jr. as a starter. The defense has improved, but Dallas’ starting offense is horrible even with Dončić and Irving in the game, so look for Josh Green to possibly replace Jones Jr. at some point.

Houston Rockets
Last season’s starters: K. Porter Jr./J. Green/K. Martin Jr./J. Smith Jr./A. Şengün
This season’s starters: F. VanVleet/J. Green/D. Brooks/J. Smith Jr./A. Şengün

New coach Ime Udoka took over a Rockets team that replaced Kevin Porter Jr. and Kenyon Martin Jr. with veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. Porter is out of the league, while Martin has been traded twice since last season ended. The result has been a powerful starting lineup that performs well on both ends of the floor, outscoring foes by 16.8 points per 100 possessions in 109 minutes.

Memphis Grizzlies
Last season’s starters: J. Morant/D. Bane/D. Brooks/J. Jackson Jr./S. Adams
This season’s starters: M. Smart/D. Bane/Z. Williams/J. Jackson Jr./B. Biyombo

Ja Morant is suspended until December, so we’re looking at the lineup the Grizzlies are rolling with until then. Dillon Brooks wasn’t retained in free agency and Steven Adams’ knee responded poorly in the preseason and required season-ending surgery. In their stead have been trade acquisition Marcus Smart, 2021 lottery pick Ziaire Williams, and post-Week 1 signing Bismack Biyombo. Memphis started Xavier Tillman Sr. at center coming into Week 1, and even though Biyombo replaced Tillman just in time for Memphis to become the final team to win a game this season, the Grizzlies are going to have a whale of a time scoring until Morant comes back.

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New Orleans Pelicans
Last season’s starters: C. McCollum/H. Jones/B. Ingram/Z. Williamson/J. Valančiūnas
This season’s starters: C. McCollum/H. Jones/B. Ingram/Z. Williamson/J. Valančiūnas

Injuries to All-Star Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram left the Pelicans relying on their second unit last season. Now, that second unit has been hit with injuries to Trey Murphy III, Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado. CJ McCollum’s lung condition further thrusts players such as lottery rookie Jordan Hawkins, lottery picks Dyson Daniels and Kira Lewis Jr. and two-way contract Matt Ryan into the rotation. New Orleans’ starting offense had been bad enough with McCollum (98.9) that it is fair to wonder if that lineup gets another chance when McCollum is healthy to return.

San Antonio Spurs
Last season’s starters: T. Jones/D. Vassell/K. Johnson/J. Sochan/Z. Collins
This season’s starters: J. Sochan/D. Vassell/K. Johnson/V. Wembanyama/Z. Collins

San Antonio winning the draft lottery and selecting Victor Wembanyama first overall allowed the Spurs to upgrade at power forward, while also creating arguably the largest starting lineup in the league with Jeremy Sochan moving to point guard, sending incumbent starting point guard Tre Jones to the bench. Starting Sochan has been what coach Gregg Popovich deemed San Antonio’s “experiment” for this season, and the offense has been terrible with this starting five, averaging only 83.0 points per 100 possessions in 48 minutes.

Related reading

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Amick: From Lakers to Wolves, early-season concerns and celebrations

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(Top photo of James Harden and Donte DiVincenzo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images)

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