Eastern Notes: Nichols, Wizards, Hawks, Pistons, Bulls

The Wizards promote Amber Nichols HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports that he has moved from his current role as director of fan evaluation to become the team’s new vice president of basketball operations and personnel (via Twitter).

According to Mark Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link), art Mavericks made an unsuccessful attempt to hire Nichols this summer before she received a promotion from the Wizards. Nichols was previously the general manager of Washington’s G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go’s.

We have more from the Eastern Conference:

• The Hawks will travel to Nashville, Tenn., for this year’s training camp, according to Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Link to Twitter), who hears that Atlanta’s camp will be held at Vanderbilt University’s Practice Center. The training camp will be held from September 29 to October 2. Last year’s gathering was held at the University of Georgia in Athens, Williams notes.
• Several NBA insiders from ESPN summarize Pistonsoff-season and see what could be in store ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. Detroit’s offseason appears to be incomplete as the team remains in extended mode contractual confrontation with a restricted free agent center Jalen Durennotes Vincent Goodwill. Zach Crum hasn’t been a fan of the moves the Pistons have made so far, giving the front office a “C-” grade for the trade Isaiah Stewart and essentially a replacement Tobias Harris and Karis Levert with John Collins and Isaiah Joe. According to Crum, Collins is Detroit’s biggest X-factor this season.
• The Bykov had an eventful offseason, reshuffling the front office and coaching staff and making several roster changes, most notably the draft Caleb Wilson fourth overall in June, for which several insiders are writing ESPN.com. Krum questions whether Chicago made the best use of its cap room this summer and thinks the veteran center Nick Claxton — a trade add-on purchased through the kep-room is the main X-factor of the team. As Crum points out, Claxton was one of the best rim protectors in the NBA in 2022-23, but his defense has declined in recent seasons.