What happened: Houston could reconsider its roster if the club falls short in 2026-27, while Dallas faces pressure to build around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg. Irving is returning from a torn ACL, and Durant has two seasons left on his contract.

Why it matters: LeBron James committing to the Philadelphia 76ers removes a free-agent holdup for other transactions. Late-September training camps leave teams roughly two months to reshape their rosters.

What to watch: Watch Houston's early results and Irving's return as teams assess possible in-season offers.