We’ve passed the first-quarter mark of the NBA season, and by now, we largely know each team’s strengths, weaknesses, what’s missing and what could help going forward.

With the unofficial start of trade season around the corner (Dec. 15 is the first date many players who signed contracts this offseason are eligible to be traded), The Athletic asked its NBA staff: What is each team’s biggest need?

The answers ranged from outside help to draft capital to returns to form for All-Star-caliber players.

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

One more wing: The Celtics don’t have many weaknesses, but wing depth stands out as a potential weak link. Behind Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, they haven’t found any perimeter bench player to trust consistently. The problem doesn’t matter when the roster is fully healthy but pops up as an issue when they’re a bit short-handed. An answer could come from within. Drew Peterson has given the Celtics solid minutes in important spots, and Jordan Walsh continues to develop. Rookie first-round pick Baylor Scheierman has had some big games in the G League, though he hasn’t shown much during his few chances with the Celtics. Whoever it is, Joe Mazzulla needs to find one more wing. It’s not a pressing concern for now but could become one if the Celtics deal with a long-term injury or two. — Jay King

Brooklyn Nets

Offload their vets: The Nets are in a fascinating quandary right now. Brooklyn is a team that absolutely should be tanking but somehow is the No. 8 seed. The Eastern Conference is bad enough that a losing streak would quickly put the Nets toward the top of the lottery, so there is plenty of time to offload valuable veterans like Cameron Johnson, Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith (and maybe even Cam Thomas, who did not agree to an extension before the season). They have been central to establishing a winning culture under new coach Jordi Fernández, and the front office won’t want to diminish that crucial progress, but they didn’t trade back for their own pick this year to not draft a franchise cornerstone. — Jared Weiss

New York Knicks

Elite on-ball defender: The Knicks are on pace to have one of the best offenses in NBA history, but the defense is lagging far behind. The issue primarily lies at the point of attack, where offseason acquisition Mikal Bridges has struggled at times against elite ballhandlers. Part of New York’s thinking in trading multiple first-round picks for Bridges was that he’d be able to take on the opposing team’s lead playmaker, which would allow OG Anunoby to do what he does best: Defend bigger wings, be a disruptive help defender and roam around causing havoc. Anunoby has done that for most of the year, but New York has still had low points defensively because of teams attacking Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson. — James L. Edwards III

Philadelphia 76ers

Just. Stay. Healthy: The Sixers’ plight is not complicated. They aren’t good without their best players. But they are 4-2 in their past six games, with one loss coming in overtime to the red-hot Rockets and then a short-handed loss to the Magic, which they avenged in a rematch the next game. It doesn’t matter how bad they were for the first 20 games. There are five months left in this season, and if Joel Embiid’s knee swelling can stay under control and Paul George can stay on the floor, they can build back up into the team everyone expected. They have to find their rhythm, establish consistent rotations and get some of their cold shooters up and running. But as long as they can manage their star players’ health, they don’t have to panic. — Jared Weiss

Toronto Raptors

Future considerations: Spoiler: The Raptors won’t be meaningful buyers in the trade market. If anything, they could look to sell, with pending free agents Bruce Brown and Chris Boucher certainly available and Jakob Poeltl potentially attainable for a really strong offer. The Raptors are openly rebuilding, and that means give them more picks or players on their rookie deals. If those players are wings with some shooting upside or developmental big men, all the better. — Eric Koreen

GO DEEPER

Scottie Barnes’ injury keeps RJ Barrett in the middle of things with Raptors

Central Division

Chicago Bulls

Defense: This team’s biggest issue is its defense, and the root of the Bulls’ problem is their dreadful perimeter coverage. It’s not just the guards — though the Bulls clearly set themselves up for trouble by starting Josh Giddey, Coby White and Zach LaVine. Chicago fails to communicate and rotate and has almost no rim protection to deter attacks in the paint. With all these issues combined, it’s no surprise the Bulls are one of the league’s worst defenses. — Darnell Mayberry

Cleveland Cavaliers

Interior physicality: When we last did this exercise, I said I had no concerns with the Cavs. At this writing, they are 21-4, so I can’t say my worry level is super high with them right now, but after some conversations with league scouts, a concern circulating is Jarrett Allen’s physicality against big bruisers like the Knicks, Celtics, Heat and, I’d add, Magic. It’s not a new concern. The Knicks dominated Allen and his teammates in the playoffs two years ago, and last year, Allen was hurt early in the postseason and couldn’t play. He is a rim protector and scoring threat in the post, so it would be hard to get back what he does and add what he doesn’t by acquiring a new center. The Cavs’ best bet would be for him to show he can handle those matchups. — Joe Vardon

Detroit Pistons

Perimeter defense: With Ausar Thompson only playing in five of Detroit’s first 25 games, the Pistons have been without a formidable perimeter defender they can count on to consistently cut off other players’ water. Detroit ranks last in the league in steals, 28th in opponent 3-point percentage, 28th in deflections and 22nd in opponent 3-pointers made. This season alone, the Pistons have also allowed eight players to score at least 35 points in a game and two players to score at least 40, and Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 on Detroit. — Hunter Patterson

Indiana Pacers

Big two guard or wing: The Pacers are again terrible defensively and on the glass, where as of this writing they rank 29th and 26th in the NBA, respectively. They have Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner (probably in that order) as the likely three pieces they won’t change (unless they can move Turner), and Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin are about the same size, in the 6-5, 6-6 range. So long as the two are playing together, the Pacers are going to be undersized on the wing — bad when considering the team is not strong defensively overall. Nembhard has been limited to 11 games due to injury, and in that small sample size, he’s seen a massive regression to his statistical mean after exploding last season in the playoffs. — Joe Vardon

Milwaukee Bucks

Health: For the past five years, the Bucks have been looking for wings who can shoot and play defense on minimum or rookie contracts to fill out their top-heavy roster. With the emergence of AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr. and the signings of Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince, the Bucks have found a group of wings that can get some things done on both ends. Now they need their big three to stay on the floor so they can build chemistry together under Doc Rivers, as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton have played only 11 games together with Rivers at the helm. They desperately need to play more together to build continuity, so those three can reach their highest ceiling come playoff time. — Eric Nehm

Khris Middleton warms up before the NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Magic in Milwaukee. (Benny Sieu / Imagn Images)

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

Backup point guard: Quin Snyder told you the answer to this question when he opted to DNP Kobe Bufkin and play 6-8 Vit Krejčí in the non-Trae Young minutes in a recent win over the Lakers. While Bufkin has had his moments, the second-year pro hasn’t clearly staked his claim to the job, and the other options are clearly wanting. Trading either little-used third center Larry Nance Jr. or DNP-chillin’-at-home Cody Zeller for a steady hand in the backcourt would seem to make some sense. — John Hollinger

Charlotte Hornets

More picks: The Hornets’ first season under Charles Lee is going fine enough. They’re not good, but they’re not embarrassing. This is a bridge year to something better, or maybe the first of a few bridge years. To get there, they’ll need more young talent, and they’ll likely need to do that through the draft. The franchise has a few veterans it could ostensibly trade. The front office has already done well enough this past offseason to get extra second-round picks. We’ll see if they can add more picks of any sort ahead of the trade deadline. — Mike Vorkunov

Miami Heat

Better rebounding: On the season, the Heat rank 19th in rebound rate (49.6 percent), but they’re tied for eighth in that category since Nov. 18. Miami has the NBA’s seventh-best record in that span (7-3) while sporting its sixth-highest net rating (plus-7.1). The Heat have been successful with Bam Adebayo and Kevin Love on the court (plus-13.4 net rating), but rookie center Kel’el Ware yet breaking into Erik Spoelstra’s rotation could warrant searching for size to help Miami (28th in pace) better collect and maximize possessions. — James Jackson

Orlando Magic

Better health: Paolo Banchero played in only the Magic’s first five games before he suffered a torn right oblique. Franz Wagner suffered a torn right oblique on Dec. 6. It’s amazing the Magic thrived without Banchero (and thrived despite long-range shooting woes). But few, if any, teams could even tread water without their two best players for an extended stretch. The hope is that Banchero will return before Christmas, and that will help the team withstand Wagner’s absence. — Josh Robbins

Washington Wizards

Noise-canceling headphones: It’s no secret the Wizards have many significant on-court needs. That’s why they’re 3-19. But more important to the long-term health of the franchise is for team officials to stick to their rebuilding plan. No one enjoys losing. Losing is awful. But as more losses pile up, outside noise will increase about how historically bad this team may be. While accurate, it’s important for everyone within the team — players, coaches and executives alike — not to internalize that noise. For the players and coaches, keep trying to get better. For the executives, don’t deviate from the plan now. — Josh Robbins

GO DEEPER

Even the Wizards are surprised they’re losing like this

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets

2023 Jamal Murray: Entering Friday, Murray is averaging 17.8 points per game and shooting 33 percent from 3-point range. Those are some of the worst splits of his career. The Nuggets need the Murray who is capable of playing with any guard in the league, and they haven’t gotten that version of him this season. It’s a big reason they are 12-10. — Tony Jones

Minnesota Timberwolves

Another rim protector: The Timberwolves defense is starting to come around after a terrible start, but they could still use another big off the bench who can protect the rim. When Rudy Gobert sits, the opposing team attacks the paint at will, exploiting the Naz Reid–Julius Randle pairing that so often is there. Reid does have some rim-protecting capability, but he is undersized, and rebounding can be a challenge when he is playing minutes at center. Randle has not played with consistent energy and intensity on that end of the floor. The Wolves need a guy who can lock down the paint and prevent opponents from running layup lines. — Jon Krawczynski

Oklahoma City Thunder

To start getting a better whistle: For whatever reason, the Thunder can’t win the free-throw game. Maybe they’re more difficult to officiate. Or maybe they just aren’t doing a capable enough job getting to the line. The Thunder are an active, high-turnover defense, one that’s bound to commit a few extra fouls, but the differential is extreme. They are dead last in the NBA in free-throw attempt rate on offense and third to last on defense. Their opponents take 6.1 more free throws a game than they do, the largest spread in the league. Surely, they would like to narrow that gap. — Fred Katz

Portland Trail Blazers

Figuring out Scoot Henderson: It’s becoming more clear that Scoot Henderson likely isn’t the “transcendent talent” GM Joe Cronin thought when he took the point guard No. 3 in 2023. Now, the next question becomes whether Henderson is even the point guard of the future for the Blazers. Figuring out the answer should be at the top of Portland’s to-do list. Although Henderson is averaging 26 minutes per game, having him come off the bench while Anfernee Simons plays 30 minutes seems counterproductive. Bump up Henderson’s playing time, pair him with clear-cut long-term pieces Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija and see whether he is indeed the right player to be heading this rebuild. — Jason Quick

Utah Jazz

The trade deadline: The annual deadline should be interesting for this Jazz team, considering they have multiple veterans who are playing really good basketball. John Collins has been a revelation this season. Has he been good enough that the Jazz can find a premium asset for him? We are going to find out in the next couple of months. — Tony Jones

John Collins rises for a two-handed dunk against the Trail Blazers. (Soobum Im / Imagn Images)

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors

Reliable second scorer: There’s a reason the Warriors were so involved in the Paul George and Lauri Markkanen conversations this summer. There’s an internal understanding that they are a second established scorer away — at least — from true contention. Stephen Curry needs someone to alleviate some pressure, and this offense needs someone else who can go and get two points at the tensest moments. In the near term, Jonathan Kuminga will get a test drive to prove he can emerge into a legit option in that role. The trade market could also provide help, either on a small-scale (Dennis Schröder) or through a bigger swing, like Jimmy Butler, though that comes with some risky and complicated financial aspects. — Anthony Slater

LA Clippers

Kawhi Leonard: The Clippers are always trade participants, if not necessarily at the deadline. But this isn’t the trade deadline. It’s December. And before the Clippers can determine what they need to trade, they need to see their full team on the floor. The return of Leonard would have a domino effect on and off the floor that allows the Clippers to fully evaluate their short- and long-term needs and goals. — Law Murray

Los Angeles Lakers

A big 3-and-D wing: This has been the Lakers’ greatest need for years. Ever since they traded away Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma and lost Alex Caruso in free agency, the most glaring deficiency on the roster has been its lack of two-way perimeter talent. More specifically, Los Angeles desperately needs a big forward who can defend wing scorers and space the floor around Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The Lakers have several other notable needs — a better backup center, more backcourt athleticism and more two-way talent in general — but upgrading the frontcourt is a must. — Jovan Buha

GO DEEPER

What’s wrong with the Lakers? The biggest questions and concerns answered

Phoenix Suns

Return to form for Devin Booker: A healthy Kevin Durant cures a lot of Phoenix’s issues. Durant has missed 10 games because of calf muscle and ankle injuries. The Suns have gone 1-9 without him, which is jarring. Bradley Beal also has missed time, which hasn’t helped. But the Suns need Booker to be, well, Devin Booker. Coming off a strong summer Olympics, during which he was praised for his all-around play, Booker has struggled to find his All-Star form. His scoring (24.9 points per game) is down more than two points from last season. His effective field goal percentage is down five points to 50.2. Phoenix needs to find ways to make it easier for Booker, but Booker also needs to play better. — Doug Haller

Sacramento Kings

Physical rotation wing who spaces the floor: The Kings don’t have many plus defenders in their rotation, and as a team, they’re currently ranked 21st in 3-point percentage. Keegan Murray has turned into their best defender, but his accuracy from deep has dropped from 41.1 percent as a rookie to 35.8 to a concerning 29.2 in his third season. They need him to rediscover that catch-and-shoot jumper at a respectable rate. They need Kevin Huerter (after a brutal slump) to stay as hot as he’s been the past week. They signed Jae Crowder and could use the version of him from five years ago. It would also help them to find someone on the market who fits that 3-and-D prototype, perhaps a Cameron Johnson from Brooklyn. — Anthony Slater

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks

Power forward depth: The Mavericks are one of the NBA’s more complete teams. There was proof of that last month, when they went 5-1 in games Luka Dončić missed. Dallas is one of three teams in the top eight in offense and defense and had won 11 of 12 games before hitting a speed bump Tuesday in an NBA Cup knockout-round loss to Oklahoma City. Mavericks forward P.J. Washington didn’t play in that game because of an illness. That dropped their record to 1-5 when Washington sits this season. Washington gives the Mavericks defensive versatility and rebounding, and he can be a release valve when the team’s star guards get pressured. He is high on the list of the Mavericks’ most invaluable players. The Mavericks could use two of him. — Christian Clark

Houston Rockets

Movement shooter: The Rockets, who rank 22nd in made 3s per game and 26th in 3-point percentage, are not a good outside shooting team. Houston has attained success this season by defending at a high level, rebounding well and being a dangerous transition unit, but the difference between a feel-good campaign and the quasi-legitimate run being internally discussed is quality floor spacing. Given how tight Ime Udoka’s rotation is, internal improvement is the most logical solution, but the more you watch this team, the more someone like a Cameron Johnson or Julian Champagnie makes so much sense. — Kelly Iko

Memphis Grizzlies

Starting center: What “need” are we supposed to say here? A witch doctor to make sure last year’s injury bug doesn’t return? But if we must nitpick and look ahead to the playoffs and potential upgrades around the Ja Morant–Jaren Jackson Jr.–Desmond Bane core, you’d choose either an elite 3-and-D wing or a starting center who can shoot. Every team in the league wants the former, but the latter is more Grizzlies specific. They have three rotation-caliber centers right now, but it’s not clear if any of them would hold up in May. — John Hollinger

New Orleans Pelicans

Consistency: It’s been a revolving door in New Orleans all season with the constant injury woes that have decimated this team. Through the first 25 games, the Pelicans went through 17 starting lineups, and none of those lineups had more than three games together. After Brandon Ingram’s ankle injury on Saturday night, New Orleans has to adjust to life without Ingram and Zion Williamson indefinitely as the two stars continue their repeated battles with the injury bug. The thought of reaching the playoffs is probably over with already, but what this team needs more than anything is an opportunity to see what it looks like with a consistent lineup on the floor to gain a better understanding of how these pieces fit together. — William Guillory

GO DEEPER

Trade Zion Williamson and start a rebuild? Assessing Pelicans’ options

San Antonio Spurs

Solidified backup big: Zach Collins’ minutes have sneakily been on the decline — in concordance with fourth-year big Charles Bassey getting an uptick in playing time — but the Spurs need a long-term solution in their non-Victor Wembanyama minutes moving forward. According to PBP Stats, San Antonio is a minus-8.6 when Wembanyama sits, and while Bassey’s recent 16-point, 12-rebound, four-block showing against New Orleans was incredibly intriguing (he also had a pair of strong outings in late November), a nailed-down spot is optimal. It’s not happening, but a Jay Huff-type (or the recently returned Kelly Olynyk) would be perfect. — Kelly Iko

Sign up to get The Bounce, the essential NBA newsletter from Zach Harper and The Athletic staff, delivered free to your inbox.

(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; top photos: Christian Petersen, Matthew Stockman / Getty Images; Melissa Tamez / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; Jevone Moore / Icon Sportswire)