The countdown to the start of the NBA season is quickly approaching! Preseason games are in full swing and roster decisions are being made. We are taking a look at each division in the NBA and highlight the biggest question going into the season. Up next is the Southeast Division.
Atlanta Hawks – Can the new guys defend?
Often when teams go into rebuild mode, it takes years to get out of. Tanking doesn’t always cure your teams’ ailments either. However, the Hawks have done a great job of rebuilding on the fly through the draft.
The past few drafts they have hit on offense-minded players. Snagging both John Collins and Kevin Huerter at pick 19 in back-to-back drafts will make any GM look like a genius. TraeYoung wowed crowds with his ability to pass the ball and score, however, he remained one of the leagues worst graded defenders.
Things may change this season with the additions of wings, De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish. The NBA is a league dependent on versatile wings who can do things on both ends of the floor. Both of these guys showed in college that they have what it takes. However, can they do it at the next level that the Hawks are going to need to be able to?
Charlotte Hornets – Do fans have any hope?
This isn’t a jab at a franchise going through a big transition, but where are they going exactly? They lost their only all-star from last season, they don’t have too many promising young players, and at least for this season, they are some unfavorable contracts to deal with.
If they were in this situation heading into last season, you could at least sell your fans on the prospect of drafting Zion Williamson. However, that ship has sailed. So the big question is going to be, what will motivate fans to show up for games, or at the very least, watch games from their home?
The front office is going to have to find ways to acquire assets and keep fans engaged. They can possibly move on from some of their contracts to acquire talent, Bismack Biyombo, Marvin Williams, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will make over $45 million combined this season as expiring deals, surely they can put those to good use, right?
Miami Heat – Is Jimmy Butler capable of being a leader?
The Miami Heat is going to be an interesting team to watch in the Southeast Division. Jimmy Butler didn’t feel the pressure of teaming up with another star player, he decided to be his own man. Which is probably good for him, and for all the other teams he might have considered joining.
In what will be remembered in NBA folklore, just a few seasons ago Butler and four end-of-the-bench guys aggressively dominated Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins in practice. He infamously yelled out to the Timberwolves GM during the scrimmage, “You F—-ing need me, Scott. You can’t win without me.”
On the Heat, he will again be surrounded by young talent in need of a leader. Will Butler be able to handle the spotlight in Miami, while leading the promising young talent around him? If the Heat find a way to trade Chris Paul, as they’ve long been rumored to, can he co-exist with another leader who butted heads with his teams too?
Orlando Magic – Which Markelle Fultz do they have?
Markelle Fultz is getting another shot at redemption. He once dazzled fans in college, which is exactly why he went number one overall in the 2017 draft to the 76ers. Then, everything got weird.
Fultz had a suspicious shoulder injury that allowed him to only play in 14 games his rookie year. During his recovery, his shooting mechanics came under scrutiny, and he appeared to lose the confidence he carried over from college. He only played in 19 games his sophomore season when things got weird again.
There were more rumors of an injury resurfacing, more rumors of awkward shooting mechanics, and quite a bit of uncertainty regarding his future in the NBA. If he can return to form, the Magic may have just what they need to win the Southeast Division. They have talented big men but lack a true star to facilitate the offense and score from the perimeter. A revitalized Fultz could be their answer.
Washington Wizards – What happens with Bradley Beal?
The John Wall and Bradley Beal backcourt were one of the best in the NBA. They routinely put the Wizards in a position to contend for the Southeast Division title. John Wall slipped and fell in his house, rupturing his Achilles, and ending the dream of the Wizards moving forward.
Currently, Wall looks to be out the entire year. He’s going to be making a ton of money over the next few seasons too. What makes this situation even tougher for Wizards fans, is that they had Tomas Satoransky leave this offseason and they watched the front office trade Otto Porter last season. If they could have kept both of those players, given what we know now. They could possibly still compete against the other teams in this division.
Beal has been rumored as a trade target for many teams. And rightly so, he’s only 25-years old while last season scoring 25.6 points a night, to go along with 5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per night. Will the Wizards try to sell high on Beal and acquire valuable assets in return, or will they see how Wall recovers from his injury and give it another go?
