ESPN rolled out its annual NBA summer forecast this week, asking its panel of experts to predict everything from 2026-2027 win-loss records, conference finals champs and champions, award winners and which teams will be the biggest surprises and disappointments.
This yearly forecast, of course, generates considerable conversation across the NBA.
Those who work in the league, many of them back from August vacations, have their own set of reactions -- and aren't afraid to share them.
We're here to hear it. Here are five of our forecasts that generated the most chatter across the NBA.
Jump to: Rookie of the Year | The Wizards?! 50-win teams | Magic/Pacers at No. 9 | A Jazz leap
Rookie of the Year
We talked to a half dozen scouts, executives and coaches about who might win Rookie of the Year and most of them didn't have a quick answer, primarily, they said, because of the impressive talent at the top of the draft.
Most of them, that is.
"Boozer is a winner and he's won things his entire young life," said one Eastern Conference executive, clearly a Boozer fan. "Memphis isn't going to have a good year, but he's going to be the bright spot and he's going to win the award."
Our polling agrees -- but barely.
Boozer was projected just ahead of the Jazz's No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson.
Interestingly, though, Peterson doesn't have much support among the league personnel we contacted for this piece. Mostly because of the supporting cast he'll have on the Jazz.
"Rookie of the Year is an award that's centered on opportunity," a Western Conference executive said. "[Peterson] is going to be great, but on that team I'm not sure how much opportunity he's going to get."
Bulls' top pick Caleb Wilson came in fourth in ESPN's poll, but he's got more support in league circles.
"Wilson looked awesome when we got into the film," an Eastern Conference assistant coach said. "He's got all the tools and I have to assume [Bulls coach] Tiago [Splitter] is going to lean into what he can do."
Not everyone was quite as certain.