NBA Notes: Cavs, Tacko Fall, Frank Jackson, ESPN

ESPN projections put Cavaliers on top in the East: An ESPN panel has the Cavaliers finishing with a conference-best 59 wins in 2025-26.

The Knicks (54-28), Magic (50-32), Hawks (47-35) and Pistons (47-35) round out the top five in the East. That leaves the Bucks, Celtics, Sixers, Heat and Pacers fighting for playoff and play-in seeding.

Out West, ESPN’s model has the Thunder running it back with a 64-win season, followed by the Rockets (54-28), Nuggets (53-29), Timberwolves (51-31), Clippers (50-32) and Lakers (50-32).

Thunder, Cavs projected Finals favorites: In a separate ESPN story, the Cavaliers and Thunder are pegged as the most likely Finals matchup, with Oklahoma City projected to repeat as champions.

The Nuggets received the second-most votes as potential champs, followed by Cleveland, Houston and New York.

Fall, Jackson, Simpson sign in China:  The Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association have added three former NBA players: Tacko Fall, Frank Jackson and Zavier Simpson, per Alberto De Roa of HoopsHype.

Fall, the 7-foot-6 center who played in 37 NBA games with the Celtics and Cavaliers, is a familiar face in the CBA after stints with Xinjiang and Nanjing. He also suited up for the New Zealand Breakers last season.

Jackson, a 2017 second-rounder, has appeared in 214 NBA games and previously played in China for Shanxi and Jiangsu.

Simpson, who got NBA looks with Oklahoma City and Memphis, will play in China for the first time after spending last season in Romania.

ESPN swaps out Burke, adds Legler: In case you missed it, ESPN is shaking up its top NBA broadcast crew. Tim Legler will join Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson as the new Finals trio, replacing Doris Burke, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.

Burke is not leaving the network, though. She signed a multiyear extension and will move to ESPN’s No. 2 NBA team with play-by-play voice Dave Pasch.