1. Orlando Magic
2024-25 report: 41-41, first within the Southeast
Head coach: Jamahl Mosley, fifth season with Magic (144-184 report)
Coming and going: The addition of Desmond Bane from Memphis ought to give the Magic somebody to run the offense they usually added to the inventory at that place by tacking on well-traveled Tyus Jones as properly. Bane’s presence ought to give the backcourt a special vibe with some extent guard intent on distributing but nonetheless arriving with scoring averages of greater than 18 factors in every of the previous 4 seasons. Cole Anthony appeared like a participant to construct round, however the Magic unloaded him after his uneven tenure with the staff.
Numbers to crunch: The Magic have completed first within the division in back-to-back seasons, however they have not received 50 video games since 2010-11.
Season snapshot: Paolo Banchero (25.9) and Franz Wagner (24.2) are established gamers with their finest years nonetheless forward, although they mixed to common 50 factors per recreation final season. Now it is a matter of seeing how the complementary items come collectively.
There’s loads on the plates for Banchero and Wagner as they’ve additionally been among the many staff’s leaders in rebounding and assists. Including Bane makes it a threesome of potent scorers.
2. Atlanta Hawks
2024-25 report: 40-42, second in Southeast
Head coach: Quin Snyder, fourth season with the Hawks (86-99)
Coming and going: With Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker approaching board, there have been immediate strategies that the Hawks could possibly be on a better flight sample. They will depend on Porzingis offering a championship mindset developed from his time with the Celtics. Luke Kennard provides them one other outdoors shooter, averaging 43.8% on 3-pointers in his profession. Porzingis, who averaged 19.5 factors final season, provides Atlanta measurement to steadiness the departure of Clint Capela.
Numbers to crunch: The Hawks have performed past the common season for 4 years in a row, however every time they had been assigned to the play-in portion of the postseason and that makes for a tricky climb.
Season snapshot: Guard Trae Younger is getting into his eighth NBA season and plenty of observers is perhaps leery of his capability to take the Hawks to the subsequent stage. He nonetheless produces at a great clip, main the NBA in assists (a career-high 11.6 per recreation) final season whereas additionally averaging 24.2 factors per outing. However Atlanta and Younger are tabling negotiations towards a long-term contract for now, which props open the door for his potential exit if Atlanta slips out of the gate.
In 2 1/2 seasons with the Hawks, Snyder hasn’t achieved a successful mark although he developed a sample of successful (three 50-win campaigns) throughout his tenure with the Utah Jazz. He could possibly be underneath the microscope if the season is not profitable.
3. Miami Warmth
2024-25 report: 37-45, third in Southeast
Head coach: Erik Spoelstra, 18th season with the Warmth (787-572 report)
Coming and going: It is onerous to find out how offseason strikes will prove given the quantity and the departures of contributors akin to Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, Duncan Robinson and Alec Burks. Norman Powell comes on board with the repute as with the ability to gentle it up from the perimeter. It will likely be worthwhile to watch what the Warmth get out of Simone Fontecchio after his decline in manufacturing final season with Detroit. The Warmth plucked guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the twentieth choose within the draft, however there is no assure he is prepared for a significant influence immediately.
Numbers to crunch: It has been greater than twenty years because the Warmth had back-to-back shedding seasons (2001-02, 2002-03), however that standing could possibly be threatened if they do not get off to a stable begin.
Season snapshot: It will likely be noteworthy to see what Davion Mitchell presents now that he is with the Warmth from the get-go. The backcourt is well-tested with veteran Terry Rozier and ultimately Tyler Herro (team-high 23.9 factors final season), however how issues shake out with out Jimmy Butler – good and dangerous – will likely be telling in figuring out the extent of success the Warmth achieves.
Bam Adebayo is about for his ninth season and is a double-double menace each evening out. Herro will miss the beginning of the season after present process foot surgical procedure in mid-September however is hopeful of returning by December.
4. Charlotte Hornets
2024-25 report: 19-63, fourth in Southeast
Head coach: Charles Lee, second season with the Hornets (19-63 report)
Coming and going: The Hornets will anticipate loads out of first-round draft choose Kon Knueppel, who may need been overshadowed as Cooper Flagg’s school teammate and classmate at Duke. It appears like a sensible transfer to have added Collin Sexton as he gives a possible offensive spark. Heart Mason Plumlee has returned to the Hornets, with extra expertise than his first go-around.
Numbers to crunch: Former first-round draft choose LaMelo Ball has performed fewer than 50 video games in every of the previous three seasons, diminishing the potential influence of averaging greater than 23 factors per recreation in every of these seasons.
Season snapshot: The core of the staff is in place with Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges, however getting all of them on the identical web page and within the lineup on a constant foundation will likely be among the many priorities. All three gamers averaged greater than 20 factors per outing a season in the past.
There was one successful marketing campaign prior to now 9 seasons for Charlotte. A variety of issues must go proper for one to happen this season.
5. Washington Wizards
2024-25 report: 18-64, fifth in Southeast
Head coach: Brian Keefe, third season with the Wizards (26-95 report)
Coming and going: There’s an opportunity that Khris Middleton’s presence will present a gentle hand, however his acquisition final February got here at a price by sending away Kyle Kuzma, who had been a dependable contributor. If expertise means something, bringing on CJ McCollum will likely be a plus. Marvin Bagley III is again for his second go-around with the staff. Jordan Poole and his 20.5 factors per recreation are gone off to New Orleans.
Numbers to crunch: Even within the downtrodden Southeast Division, three groups posted extra victories final season than the Wizards have prior to now two seasons mixed. They’ve received 33 video games in that span.
Season snapshot: The Wizards had been within the NBA cellar in quite a few statistical classes, and had been one of many lowest-scoring offenses at 108 factors per recreation. Whereas there will likely be curiosity and intrigue with AJ Johnson, it is unclear if the second-year professional is able to ignite sufficient offense.
Perhaps Washington will get extra out of veteran Corey Kispert, who has been a double-figure scorer prior to now three seasons and has 179 3-pointers in 4 seasons. McCollum loves firing away from 3-point vary and is simply 11 away from 2,000 for his profession.
–Area Stage Media
