2025 Pre-Season: Chamberlain

Back with our pre-season team previews! [ 2025 Russell | 2024 End of Season: Playoff Teams | Toilet Bowl Teams ]

TeamID - Abbrev - Name (2024 Record, 2023 Record)

#9 SQSQ (10-8, 7-13)

It’s been a couple up and down seasons for SQSQ lately, as they’ve built to contend but have been unable to coalesce into championship form, dipping from winning season to seven wins and then back again like a yo-yo. However, during the 2024 playoffs, SQSQ got some serious payback against SCRM, as they pulled off the #8 vs #1 upset, taking out the juggernaut SCRM squad. (Back in 2022, #8 SCRM took out #1 SQSQ in the first round…) That had to feel amazing and even though SQSQ lost in the next round to eventual champion KSKT, the 2025 trophy still made it to the SQSQ/KSKT household as the father helped push the son to the mountain top. Amazing!

Now, for SQSQ to earn a title of their own, they’ll need some serious help from Father Time. LeBron James, DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday, and even arguably Anthony Davis are all past their primes. Recall the huge Giannis Antetokounmpo trade from last season, which has now resulted in Giannis for Davis, DeRozan, Buddy Hield (2024 RD2.2), and Derrick White (2025 RD1.12). This is a win-now squad if we’ve ever seen one—this side of SCRM.

The 2025 draft brought in White, but also RD1.11 Alex Sarr, who has all kinds of physical potential, but may be quite the hit-or-miss prospect, depending on the pundit. It’s just as likely sophomore Julian Strawther (RD5.9) or fellow rookie Kel’el Ware (RD4.8) has as much short term fantasy impact as Sarr. However, Sarr gives this aging team some upside at least, along with last year’s RD1.2, Scoot Henderson, who has goggles now and hopefully a clearer view of the basket. And we can’t overlook the double Bogdanovic pairing of Bogdan and Bojan, which will make for fun vibes at the very least. We assume this is SQSQ’s last year to really push for a title, and we’re excited to see what the front office will do to pursue that goal.

#10 ABCX (0-16, 6-14)

Where is there to go after a winless season? Nowhere but up, right?! Despite recent troubles, ABCX was actually a playoff team just two seasons ago, as the Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball combo looked like an incredible duo. Instead, both have hit upon injury—and off-court related—hard times and ABCX floundered last season, racking up the worst regular season in SlamNation history—Jedi Knights went 0-18-1 in 2017.

Without much in-season of offseason movement, ABCX returns five keepers, with Jaden Ivey replacing Bobby Portis. Critics decried the keeping of Kelly Oubre Jr., but it’s possible he’ll start in Philadelphia. Still, other owners wondered if ABCX should have traded a future pick for a better keeper. We move on however! The return of Morant, Ball, and Bennedict Mathurin should give this team some semblance of competitiveness and scoring punch.

There will be certainly beef inside to help out all these guards, as ABCX elected to keep Jonas Valanciunas—one of the longest running Slam keepers at eleven years and running, and the lone non-All-Star—and then selected Jusuf Nurkic (RD1.8) and Ivica Zubac (RD2.16) to open their 2025 draft. That’s three non-shooting mashers to rebound and defend and while that sounds great for an actual NBA team, we’re worried ABCX isn’t in a position to do anything but aim for upside right now. Aside from arguably Keldon Johnson (RD4.16) and last overall pick 2025 RD6.16 rookie Yves Missi, ABCX is really going for the veteran low ceiling selections.

Maybe just getting a few wins for this team will be a win this season, but for a once proud franchise, something must sell tickets besides the promise of Ja and LaMelo not in street clothes.

#11 BUFF (12-6, 7-13)

What a show BUFF put on last season, as they went from seven wins in 2023 to a Finals berth in 2024. It had been a decade since BUFF last went to the Finals and it looks like they’re raring to go again with a draft heavy on veterans and a new keeper core featuring Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Coby White—a trade acquisition pre-draft. The all offense keeper core maintains their identity and adds almost keeper Klay Thompson (RD1.9), Brook Lopez, Russell Westbrook, Andrew Wiggins, Harrison Barnes, and um, sixth round flier Lonzo Ball—his career is over, right?

Trading off a top-five fantasy NBA player in Anthony Edwards is tough for any fan base to digest, but the Finals appearance and the magic of turning Edwards into Brunson and Bridges makes for a much deeper team. Domantas Sabonis is a beast in the middle, while ex-Lakers Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma are basically sort of the same player now...right?

What does that all add up to for BUFF? To be honest, we’re not really sure. Going this veteran heavy is a staple of BUFF’s drafts, but with everyone minus some of the keeper core on the downsides of their careers, is there enough oomph to power them to another title chase? Believe in Brunson!!!

#12 SOUR (10-7-1, 14-6)

It’s strange to have SOUR so sitting so far outside of the title picture. A ho-hum regular season led to a quick first round exit to eventual champs KSKT and SOUR’s repeat hopes were dashed pretty quickly. Our 2023 title holders are no stranger to change though and have already pulled off two transformative moves: trading for Dejounte Murray pre-draft and then Damian Lillard during the draft, losing Lauri Markkanen and Immanuel Quickley in the process.

With Olympic hero Steph Curry back again, as well as Jimmy “I’m Angry” Butler, on a revenge tour, SOUR is looking to contend again asap. Scottie Barnes is a franchise level Swiss knife, and while Miles Bridges is still a terrible human, he’s a fine fantasy player. The defense for this team will come from the five-D trio of Deni Avdija (RD1.13), rookie Donovan Clingan (RD2.6), Draymond Green, another rookie Ryan Dunn, and Andre Drummond. Actually, is that what GM Trieu is doing? Collecting D-names? Dejounte, Damian, etc.

Whatever SOUR’s strategy, we can look forward to a regular season that won’t find them so far out of the regular season spotlight, as Curry, Lillard, and Butler all have a lot to prove this year, and a title for SOUR is never too far out of reach.

#13 SBUK (10-8, 12-8)

Another title winning franchise that is getting a little long in the tooth, SBUK has slipped from 13-6-1 in their 2022 championship year to 12-8 in 2023, and then a less than enthusiastic 10-8 last season--a record that put them just outside the playoff picture. The core of Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, Kyrie Irving, and CJ McCollum stay the same and there’s plenty of upside for both Franz Wagner and last year’s pre-draft acquisition Desmond Bane. An upset by UFOS in round one of the Toilet Bowl was, well, upsetting, and that left SBUK without one of the top picks in the 2025 draft.

However, it seems like SBUK ownership knows it needs to invest in a semi-youth movement, and they went all upside for their draft, starting with RD1.6 Ausar Thompson, who was selected at the exact same spot in 2024 as well, albeit by TRUO. It’s not often a rookie is cut so fast, but Thompson has a very polarizing game. The hope is that Thompson’ll grow in his sophomore year. SBUK also brought in a trio of bigs to perhaps take over the reins from Embiid and Gobert. Naz Reid, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Nikola Jovic have all shown flashes of being big contributors for their NBA teams, and the hope is they’ll show the same for SBUK.

Adding in Kevin Porter Jr. (RD4.10) and Tre Mann (RD5.7) also gives SBUK some much needed additional scoring. In a semi-transition year, it’ll be interesting to see if SBUK can trend back up for one more push at contention, or if this is the beginning of their team revamp. 

#14 SPDE (13-4-1, 7-13)

What is there even to say about this team? The old, emphasis on “old,” version of SPDE was a consistent threat on paper but they consistently fell short due to health issues. After a spectacular 14-4-1 2020 regular season, SPDE has gone 14-42 since. Well, when you get Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren exploding on the scene, your franchise direction changes abruptly! The two super rookies powered SPDE to almost as many wins in one year as they had the previous three, and now give SPDE the best keeper core in SlamNation.

With Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, and Tyler Herro surrounding the trees in the middle—did we mention Walker Kessler was a keeper as well?—all SPDE needs is some forward types to fill in the gaps for a complete roster. With that in mind, SDPE brought in old standby Tobias Harris (RD2.2) and defensive ace Jadne McDaniels (RD5.15) to fill out the starting roster, and then took in Austin Reaves, Malcolm Brogdon, and Ben Simmons (RD4.2) for additional guard depth. With another center drafted last in Nick Richards, SPDE certainly will be looking to dominate the paint.

It may be too soon to call this a championship caliber team but Wemby and Chet seem capable of scaling any heights. We’ve love to call this the year of SPDE, even if they aren’t the direct favorites for the 2025 title!

#15 ILCN (11-7, 13-7)

With a roster brimming with talent, ILCN continues to be very good, but not great, and the question is when they’ll put it all together for a dominant regular season. Despite having racked up double digits wins in each of the last four seasons, ILCN has never been higher than a fourth seed. In fact, ILCN is still looking for their first playoff win ever—in three tries, minus the aborted 2020 postseason. The franchise’s main claim to fame is getting to a Toilet Bowl finals in 2022—the lone year from that span they didn’t make the playoffs. 

It’s certainly hard to fault the roster, as ILCN is carrying over all their keepers from a year ago and rank as the second-best keeper roster moving forward. Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, and Darius Garland are as complete a backcourt as one can hope to assemble. The emergence of Paolo Banchero solidifies a forward spot, with Jaren Jackson Jr. sort of on-and-off dominating on defense. The wild card, twenty-one year old Shaedon Sharpe, is a fine prospect as well.

The 2025 draft brought in a bounty of riches as well, as ILCN had an extra third and fourth round pick from the 2024 trade off of Walker Kessler and Bradley Beal. ILCN took their own rookie from last year, Dereck Lively (RD1.15), to start things off, and then reeled off Josh Hart, Mark Williams, and fellow sophomore Jaime Jaquez Jr. before most teams had even fleshed out their starting eight.

Using their extra picks to mine for potential sleepers, ILCN then took rookies Matas Buzelis (RD3.12) and Cody Williams (RD5.12), before another sophomore, Noah Clowney (RD4.5) to finish things off—while adding Caris LeVert as a stop-gap in the last round.

While ILCN has always dealt with many injuries, the fanbase is demanding a longer run in the playoffs this season, as Luka and Co. are looking to make an impact in SlamNation aside from enviable roster construction.

#16 SCRM (16-1-1, 15-4-1)

In perpetual championship or bust mode, SCRM is always a thrill ride to follow. Following up their astounding 15-4-1 2023 regular season, SCRM stepped up to the plate in a big way in 2024, acquiring not only Giannis Antetokounmpo but also Kawhi Leonard as well. Both of them have championship pedigree and while they both cost a pretty penny, SCRM showed out with a regular season winning 16-1-1 record last year. Alas, SCRM was upset by eighth-seeded SQSQ in the first round, which left a lot of unfinished business heading into 2025.

Unafraid to make more moves, SCRM was already down a few 2025 early round selections but then sent off another one for Jalen Duren—while recouping a pick by selling off Coby White. The one-two punch of Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are a force to reckon with, and the backcourt of James Harden and Fred VanVleet fit the core very well.

Without a pick unit the fourth round, SCRM drafted Jeremy Sochan (RD4.1) and Khris Middleton (RD4.4) before adding Dyson Daniels and rookie Ron Holland II  (RD6.4). With a roster thin post-draft, SCRM was understandably active at the first waiver wire, grabbing Rui Hachimura, Jalen Smith, Jonathan Isaac, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to round out the roster.

There’s no doubt this team will be a top contender—even without Leonard’s services—and we can’t rule out the possibility that another big move could reshape the team, but SCRM’s time will need to be now if they want to win a long awaited title. We hope they get that shot at a Finals berth in 2025!