Achilles tendon injuries from
postseason have created major changes in Central Division
[October 16, 2025]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Two of the Achilles tendon injuries that shook up
the 2024-25 postseason also reshaped the NBA Central Division
landscape for the upcoming regular season.
Not only did Indiana lose two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton
for the season after he tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the
NBA Finals, the Pacers saw Myles Turner leave for division rival
Milwaukee in free agency. The Bucks gained the ability to fit Turner
into their salary cap by waiving Damian Lillard, who tore his
Achilles tendon during Milwaukee’s first-round playoff loss to
Indiana.
The unavailability of Haliburton and the loss of Turner create major
obstacles for Indiana in its bid to repeat its success from last
season.
“There will be some adjustments as we start and keep moving
forward,” said Indiana’s Rick Carlisle, who needs seven wins to
become the 11th coach in league history with 1,000 coaching
victories. “Tyrese is really such an unusually important player to
us on the one hand. On the other hand, our core principles we want
to keep the same. Most of it begins with hard play and fast, hard
play, so we’ll make adjustments.”
Indiana’s upheaval leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers as clear favorites
to win a second straight Central Division title. Two-time All-NBA
guard Donovan Mitchell leads a team that went 64-18 to lead the
Eastern Conference.
The next step is to make a deeper postseason run after two straight
second-round exits.
“We’re here with renewed energy because we know the talent we have,”
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We know we’re in that group of
four to six that have a chance at winning this thing.”
Milwaukee’s addition of Turner is part of a roster overhaul that has
occurred since last season’s trade deadline as the Bucks look to
bounce back from three straight first-round playoff losses.
“I think ultimately we’re a faster, more athletic, more versatile
offensively and defensively suited team,” Bucks general manager Jon
Horst said.
Here’s a look at each Central Division team in predicted order of
finish:
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are one of the favorites to win the East with their
core four of Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett
Allen. Garland will be sidelined for at least the first two months
after toe surgery, while Max Strus will also be out at least one
month due to foot surgery.
Mobley, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, had career
highs in points (18.5) and assists (3.2) per game last season while
expanding his perimeter game to go along with his drives to the
lane.
Cleveland was confined by the salary cap, but it did add some
valuable bench pieces in Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr. and Thomas
Bryant. Atkinson says Ball has been a valuable resource in
discussing some strategies on offense and defense.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks want to replicate what worked for them when they surged
late last season while Lillard was out with deep vein thrombosis in
his right calf. That means surrounding two-time MVP Giannis
Antetokounmpo with shooters, attempting more 3-pointers and playing
at a faster pace.
Milwaukee wants the ball in Antetokounmpo’s hands as much as
possible as he builds on the playmaking role he adopted when Lillard
was hurt.
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Myles Turner (3) looks for an opening past
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of a
preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Miami. (AP
Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The Bucks believe Turner’s combination of rim
protection and 3-point shooting ability makes him an ideal
complement to Antetokounmpo and provides what they lost when
7-footer Brook Lopez signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are learning to regroup without Turner or Haliburton, who
will miss the entire season. Indiana also won’t have backup point
guard T.J. McConnell for most of the first month due to a hamstring
injury.
That will test Indiana’s depth, which was the Pacers’ biggest
strength during their run to the NBA Finals.
Turner’s absence doesn’t just hurt Indiana from a defensive
standpoint. It also takes away a stretch-5 3-point shooter.
Haliburton ranked third in the NBA in assists last season after
leading the league in that category in 2023-24.
Without those two players, the Pacers will need another big season
from Pascal Siakam, who led the Pacers in scoring (20.2) and
rebounding (6.9) last season.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons surprised the NBA with their turnaround last season
after having the league’s worst record the previous two years.
They won’t sneak up on anyone this season.
Cade Cunningham leads the way, bouncing back from an injury-stunted
start of his career after Detroit drafted him No. 1 in 2021.
The Pistons didn’t attempt to sign or keep high-priced free agents
or to acquire expensive veterans in trades because they don’t know
if Cunningham’s surrounding cast will be part of the team’s
long-term future.
It’s a big year for center Jalen Duren and guard Jaden Ivey because
they’re eligible for contract extensions.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls opted to stand pat rather than go bold this past summer
despite finishing 39-43 for the second straight season and missing
the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years.
Their most notable moves were re-signing Josh Giddey, trading Ball
to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro and drafting Noa Essengue out of the
French Basketball League with the No. 12 pick, yet executive vice
president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas continues to
preach patience. That’s a tough ask for a frustrated fan base.
The Bulls have just one playoff appearance since Karnisovas was
hired before the 2020-21 season, and they’ve been knocked out of the
play-in tournament by Miami the past three years.
___
AP Sports Writers Larry Lage, Michael Marot, Joe Reedy and Andrew
Seligman contributed to this report.
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