NBA 2025-26 Preview: Thunder, Jokic, Embiid — One Word

Merlin sees Grant Hughes’s preseason shorthand: every NBA team gets one telling word to sum up an offseason of trades, injuries and strategy shifts — from Atlanta as "poison" for the Knicks to Boston leaning harder into "three is more than two." The write-up highlights the real movers: health (Embiid, Haliburton, Jokic rest), roster fit and bold experiments (Brooklyn’s pass-first draft) that will shape who rises and who stalls. Merlin notes the lesson beneath the labels: identity beats talent when chemistry or availability falters. Expect margin-heavy teams (Celtics’ 3s) and depth plays (Valanciūnas giving Jokic rest) to produce surprises. The usual contenders remain favorites if healthy, but those who commit to a clear plan — and survive early bumps — will be the season’s true alchemists.