The top 10 championship-contending teams each have their own vulnerabilities: the Lakers' weak interior, the Warriors' aging roster, and the Rockets facing two significant challenges.

On August 13, Beijing time, with 10 months remaining until the NBA Finals for the 2025-26 season, the potential roster flaws and vulnerabilities of each championship-contending team have become a point of concern. ESPN analyzed the key issues that are most likely to be overlooked for the top 10 teams in championship odds, with the odds in parentheses —

Oklahoma City Thunder (+225)

As the defending champions, the Thunder have a strong roster continuity, with only rookie Dillon Jones leaving. The core is led by 27-year-old scoring champion and two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with only bench players Caruso and Williams being over 27. However, this young team must cope with the pressure of being champions — becoming the target of the entire league and facing fierce competition from opponents every night, which poses a significant test to the "extraordinary maturity" emphasized by head coach Daigneault.

Denver Nuggets (+700)

The Nuggets improved their roster depth during the offseason by acquiring Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown, achieving the best bench strength since the Jokic era. However, defense remains a core issue: last season, they ranked 21st in defensive efficiency, the worst among playoff teams. Although they upgraded their defense by trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson, the health of Aaron Gordon is crucial — he only played 51 games last season due to soft tissue injuries, affecting his explosiveness, and his condition will directly determine whether the team can return to the average level of the 2022-23 season (15th in defensive efficiency).

Cleveland Cavaliers (+800)

The Cavaliers' four core players (Mitchell, Garland, Mobley, Allen) are all under 30, but injury risks remain. Mitchell has struggled with performance issues in the playoffs due to fatigue over the past two seasons, and the goal of reaching the Finals this season will require him to bear a heavier load; the wing position is particularly injury-prone: Wade frequently misses games, Hunter has played fewer than 60 games in three of his six seasons, and Ball's injury history makes it hard for him to take on significant responsibilities, all of which could become stumbling blocks in the playoffs.

New York Knicks (+800)

New head coach Mike Brown faces two major challenges: whether to adjust the starting lineup that has been losing points in the second half of the season and playoffs, and how to address the defensive vulnerabilities when Brunson and Towns are targeted. Center Robinson, although a starter in the playoffs, excels at rim protection, but his injury history necessitates managing his playing time. Data shows that during the 98 minutes he shared the court with Towns and Brunson, the team allowed an alarming 117.3 points per 100 possessions, making roster integration and time allocation a significant challenge for Brown.

Houston Rockets (+850)

The Rockets face two main challenges: first, the addition of 37-year-old Durant injects firepower into the team, but his durability will be tested by the Rockets' high-intensity playing style; second, while the wing depth is sufficient (Finney-Smith, Eason, Tate), the stability of backcourt offense is in question: VanVleet had a three-point shooting percentage of only 34.5% in the regular season, and whether rookie Shepard can take on a more significant role remains uncertain, while Thompson needs to improve his shooting ability. Finney-Smith (with a three-point shooting percentage over 39.8% over the past three seasons) may provide crucial outside scoring support.

Orlando Magic (+1500)

To improve their league-worst three-point shooting performance, the Magic acquired Bane, but the trade significantly reduced their outside depth — after sending away two guards, they only signed Tyus Jones and lost rotation players like Joseph and Harris. The growth of young players is vital: Black needs to take on more responsibility, DaSilva must elevate his three-point shooting to college level (39.5%), and whether Howard, Richardson, and the injury-prone Isaac can contribute will determine the team's ability to challenge for the top spot in the East.

Los Angeles Lakers (+1600)

The Lakers' weak interior is a clear vulnerability. The newly signed Ayton is cost-effective (two years for $16.6 million), but he has rarely performed in tough games since the 2023 playoffs and has previously missed critical matches due to injury. Backup center Hayes was benched in the playoffs last season, Kleber played only one game due to injury, and Vanderbilt has missed 99 games over the past two seasons, raising concerns about the health and stability of the interior rotation.

Los Angeles Clippers (+1800)

After acquiring Beal and Paul, the Clippers' outside rotation leans heavily toward offense, with only Leonard being a top defender. The defense relies on Dunn and Little, who struggle to share the court without impacting offensive spacing, forcing the team to constantly balance offense and defense. Newcomer Collins needs to enhance his defensive aggressiveness to provide coach Lue with more options that combine both offense and defense; otherwise, defensive gaps may continue to be exposed.

Minnesota Timberwolves (+1800)

After being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive years, the Timberwolves need young players to fill the gaps: Alexander-Walker has left, and 37-year-old Conley saw a drastic drop in playoff performance (averaging 6 points and shooting 30.2%). The 20-year-old Dillingham, 23-year-old Clark, and 25-year-old Shannon are now key players. The continued improvement of core players Edwards and McDaniels will be crucial, but whether the young players can step up in tough situations will determine if the team can break through its limitations.

Golden State Warriors (+2800)

Aging is the biggest challenge: Butler at 36, Green at 36, Curry at 38 (before the playoffs), and Horford at 40 (during the Finals). Although all four performed efficiently last season (Curry made the All-NBA Second Team, and Green ranked third in Defensive Player of the Year voting), managing their stamina over a long season is crucial. The team has often struggled in the playoffs due to sprinting for rankings in previous years; young players need to significantly improve to lighten the load on the veterans and ensure playoff vitality.

Addressing these potential vulnerabilities will directly impact each team's championship prospects for the 2025-26 season.