Who will help out Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee? Is Deandre Ayton the Los Angeles Lakers’ missing piece? Can the Memphis Grizzlies count on Ja Morant to return to form?

The Athletic Staff

Analysis

The Athletic asked its NBA staff for one burning question facing each team ahead of the beginning of the regular season next week, and those were just a few of the enticing storylines we heard about in response. Here are the other big questions we have before the action starts.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta Hawks

Is Zaccharie Risacher a playoff-level starter?

It was one thing to let the top pick in the 2024 draft start all season and take his lumps as a mediocre Hawks team tried to find its way. It’s quite another to have him penciled in as the starting small forward in Year 2 — with no

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