The NBA's most intriguing positional battles heading into training camp

NBA training camps begin in a few short weeks on Sept. 28, with rookies and offseason acquisitions joining their new teams for the first time in an organized fashion. For most teams, there’s an established order, but for rosters with more turnover, some things still need to be settled between the lines. Before some franchises can compete as a team against the rest of the league, they must first compete amongst themselves to decide the playing hierarchy. 

Let’s take a look at the five most intriguing positional battles heading into training camp, and what they might tell us about those teams this season.

5. ORLANDO MAGIC: POINT GUARD

The Orlando Magic underwent a major midseason renovation (or teardown, if you like) which, combined with numerous injuries, left a lot of minutes for young players to soak up in the Orlando backcourt. This season they’re looking at an unbalanced roster, with a plethora of small guards and center types, but few wings. 

The battle for point guard will be fierce. Markelle Fultz is injured, which temporarily takes him out of the running, but that still leaves Cole Anthony, RJ Hampton, and Jalen Suggs. While it’s a good bet that Suggs secures the starting job by the All-Star break, new Magic coach Jamahl Mosley might consider taking a page out of the Charlotte Hornets’ playbook. While LaMelo Ball ultimately became the starter in his rookie season, they made him earn it over time. And by all accounts, it was a move that paid dividends for Ball as well as the rest of the team.

Even if Suggs does start, there will be stiff competition between Hampton and Anthony. Anthony struggled in Summer League, and his somewhat redundant skill set might leave Hampton the early favorite over him.

4. BROOKLYN NETS: POWER FORWARD

The Brooklyn Nets are a lavishly talented team, and unlike some contenders, they are also an incredibly deep one. To wit, they are likely looking at a choice between three veteran former All-Star players for their starting power forward spot: Blake Griffin, Paul Milsap, and LaMarcus Aldridge.

3. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: POWER FORWARD

The Cleveland Cavaliers locked up three frontcourt players for the long haul this offseason. The steady former Net Jarrett Allen at center, Lauri Markkanen at power forward, and No. 3 pick Evan Mobley, who will dabble at both spots. But who will start at power forward for the Cavaliers?

First things first, despite being owed $60 million over the next two years, it will not be Kevin Love. He is no longer part of the long or short-term vision of the team. 

If the Cavs were purely prioritizing development it would be an easy call, with Evan Mobley the obvious choice. But Summer League made it apparent that Mobley does not yet have the offensive skills to play four yet, without seriously cramping the court alongside Allen.

Markkanen can’t guard his position and has been an inconsistent offensive player. Still, he’s shown flashes as an outside shooter, but the Bulls were a tire fire during his time there, so it’s difficult to know how good he actually is.

Expect Mobley to start at the four, but the fit is ugly enough that the Cavaliers might want to experiment until they find a frontcourt pairing that works.

2. SACRAMENTO KINGS: GUARD ROTATION

The Sacramento Kings have what one calls a good problem. They suddenly seem to have too many good young options at the guard position. De’Aaron Fox’s position as the starting point guard is unquestioned, but after that, it gets a bit murky.

Buddy Hield is their reliable 3-point shot creator, Tyrese Haliburton was in Rookie of the Year consideration last season, and incoming rookie Davion Mitchell turned heads for his ball-hawking defense at Summer League. They simply don’t have the minutes or complementary players to give them all the requisite run.

There will be a camp competition to prove both who gets to start alongside Fox, as well as who gets to run the show whenever he sits. With all three options bringing a different facet of the game, Luke Walton will be saying something about his coaching philosophy whatever combination he goes with.

1. NEW YORK KNICKS: CENTER

While the New York Knicks were one of the healthiest teams in the NBA last year, they were missing a key piece for most of the 2020 campaign. Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks' 23-year-old starting center, missed time first with a broken hand then later with a broken foot. 

Robinson won the starting job against newcomer Nerlens Noel during last season’s training camp, despite indications early on that Noel had made more of an impression on head coach Tom Thibodeau. Noel then anchored the Knicks' defense through a wildly successful season, so he may be in the driver’s seat when camp begins. Furthermore, the Knicks handed Noel a lucrative new contract and declined to make Robinson a restricted free agent despite having the opportunity to do so. If the tea leaves are worth reading, they all seem to be pointing in one direction.

If Noel wins the starting job in camp, it may be the first sure sign that the Knicks are trending away from a future with Robinson on the team.