National Basketball Association

NBA: Previewing the Southeast Division

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:42 a.m. ET

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May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Joe Johnson (2) defends during the first half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA’s Southeast Division was close last season, as three out of the five teams made the playoffs. Looking ahead to the 2016-17 season, one of the NBA’s greatest players has left the division, but there is still plenty watch for this season.

The Southeast Division was interesting last year. No teams in the division hit the 50-win mark, but three teams made the playoffs. And, oddly enough, all three of those teams finished with identical records.

The Miami Heat went 48-34, good enough for the No. 3 seed in the East. The Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets also went 48-34, good for the No. 4 and No. 6 seeds, respectively.

Miami and Charlotte met in the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs, as the Heat advanced after winning the series 4-3.

Outside of the three playoff teams, the Washington Wizards had a .500 season at 41-41, and the Orlando Magic came in at 35-47.

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The Wizards, with their talented back court, still have high expectations. And the Magic, with their retooled coaching staff and newly acquired talent, are hoping to take a step forward this season, as well.

Dwyane Wade, who departed the Miami Heat after 13 seasons, will not be returning to the division. Wade signed with the Chicago Bulls, which signified a new era in Heat basketball. The Heat still have expectations of reaching the postseason, but they will have to do so without Wade for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

As a whole, this figures to be a division worth watching. There are many questions across the board: How will Miami fare without Wade? How will Atlanta fare without Al Horford? Can John Wall and Bradley Beal take Washington to the next level? Will Charlotte feel the effects of their offseason losses? What should be expected of the Magic in the first season of their new era?

In no particular order, here is a preview of each team in the Southeast division.

Orlando Magic

May 23, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel is introduced as the new head coach as he talks with media during a press conference at Amway Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic have hit the reset button, in more ways than one.

Former Magic coach Scott Skiles resigned in May, meaning the team had to search for an immediate replacement. The Magic quickly found their new coach, as just a week later they struck a deal with former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel.

The Pacers fired Vogel on May 5, and on May 20 he accepted the Magic’s job.

Vogel is coming off of six seasons as Indiana’s head coach. The Pacers, by most accounts, were successful during Vogel’s tenure. Indiana reached the postseason four straight years, from 2011-2014, and in 2016 as well. However, Vogel never got the Pacers, with a talented roster, over the hump. As a result, Indiana moved in a different direction, and Orlando has their new coach.

Vogel’s presence should excite Orlando’s fanbase. He is a well-known coach who has had success, and can be successful in Orlando. Vogel, however, will have a slightly different roster than Skiles had.

In their biggest move of the offseason, the Magic traded Victor Oladipo to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal for Serge Ibaka. It was a bold move by the Magic, which they hope will pay dividends this season. Ibaka is a proven player who will bring a force to Orlando’s front court. However, it is worth noting that Ibaka is in the final year of a four-year, $49 million deal. He will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Other than Ibaka, Orlando’s roster is full of young, intriguing players. Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, and Mario Hezonja are all reasons for optimism in Orlando. Ibaka will also be joined in the front court by Nikola Vučević.

The Magic will have a new look this season, and their fans should be excited.

Charlotte Hornets

Apr 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) reacts after a basket in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Charlotte Hornets are coming off of a playoff season. There should be reason for excitement and optimism in Charlotte. And there is. But there are also a few question marks.

The Hornets awarded Nicolas Batum with a five-year max deal, worth $120 million. Batum is a good player, but he averaged 14.9 points and 5.8 assists per game last season. If the Hornets are going to be able to compensate for their losses overall, Batum is one of the players who will have to try to produce more.

The Hornets lost Al Jefferson to the Indiana Pacers, and Jeremy Lin to the Brooklyn Nets. Both are significant losses. Lin served as a pivotal guard for Charlotte, and Jefferson’s presence cannot be understated, as well.

However, Charlotte still has their most important piece, point guard Kemba Walker. As long as Walker is on the roster, the Hornets will be expected to make the playoffs.

The Hornets added Roy Hibbert this offseason, who improved his stock after a stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. Charlotte also has an intriguing forward, Frank Kaminsky, who is still developing as a young player in the NBA.

The Hornets were the sixth seed in the East last season, and should once again find themselves in playoff position this season.

Atlanta Hawks

Apr 1, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Hawks are one of a few teams in the division with a different look going into the 2016-17 season.

Jeff Teague, who is now with the Indiana Pacers, is gone. As is former face of the franchise Al Horford, who signed a max deal with the Boston Celtics. In their places, the Hawks will rely on Dennis Schröder as well as former Brooklyn Net Jarrett Jack at point guard, and former Houston Rocket Dwight Howard at center.

The Hawks, in what turned out to be the final seasons for both Horford and Teague, earned the No. 4 seed in the East last year. Now, the team is in a bit of a transition state. Schröder, who played in 80 games last season but started just six, will be relied on more than in the past. Schröder is entering his fourth NBA season, but he is still just 23 years old. The Hawks will hand him the keys as the starting point guard, and let him go to work.

After an up-and-down stint with the Rockets, Howard returns home to the Atlanta area to join the Hawks. Once Horford chose Boston, Atlanta moved quickly to sign Howard. After his Lakers stint ended unimpressively and the Rockets failed to win a championship, Howard has seen his reputation, at least with fans, take a hit. While Howard has been in the NBA for 12 seasons, he’ll turn 31 midway through the season.

Howard should still have a few years — at minimum — of good basketball left in him. The Hawks are banking on it and despite their roster turnover, they still have expectations of making the playoffs.

Washington Wizards

Mar 27, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) is congratulated by Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) after scoring a three pointer against the Charlotte Hornets during overtime at Verizon Center. The Wizards won in double overtime 110 – 107. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Wizards will once again rely on their two best players, guards John Wall and Bradley Beal, to propel them. With a new head coach in place, the Wizards are hoping to make the playoffs after going 41-41 last season.

The Wizards’ roster features intrigue outside of their backcourt, as they have Kelly Oubre Jr. and Otto Porter, as well as big man Marcin Gortat.

But make no mistake, the Wizards will go as their backcourt goes.

Beal is in the first season of a five-year, $127 million deal that will pay him $22 million this season. Beal has yet to reach All-Star status, but he is certainly a solid and ascending player in the NBA. His biggest hindrance to this point has been his ability to stay on the floor. In four seasons, Beal has yet to appear in all 82 games, with his career-high being 73. Last season, Beal played in 55 games, making 35 starts. If Beal can stay healthy and stay on the floor, he should be able to take his game to new heights in the future.

The Wizards are in the first season of the Scott Brooks era. The former longtime Oklahoma City Thunder head coach takes over in the nation’s capital after six full seasons as the head coach of the Thunder. Brooks may not have the duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook that he once had, but Wall and Beal are both talented guards whom the Wizards are hoping can lead them to the playoffs.

Miami Heat

Jan 19, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) celebrates against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Duyos-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Heat had an eventful offseason, which should lead to an interesting season. The most significant move was Dwyane Wade leaving the Heat after 13 years to join the Chicago Bulls.

Once Wade signed in Miami, it officially became a new era in Miami, that will be led by Hassan Whiteside, and depending on his health, Chris Bosh as well.

Miami signed Whiteside to a four-year deal, worth a max of $98 million this offseason. Miami also opted to match a $50 million offer sheet on Tyler Johnson. Johnson, a restricted free agent, signed the offer sheet with the Brooklyn Nets, but Pat Riley opted to bring Johnson back.

The Heat, of course, still have talented small forward Justise Winslow, and added Dion Waiters as well. Just recently, Miami received bad news as guard Josh Richardson was diagnosed with a partially torn MCL in his right knee. Richardson had a chance to start in the spot that Wade occupied for over a decade, but he’ll now miss six to eight weeks.

The Heat have endured transitions before. Signing LeBron James and Bosh to join Wade in 2010. Losing LeBron James in 2014. But through it all, Wade was the constant. Now, Wade is gone. Sure, he’s dealt with injuries over the years, but at the very least his presence was a mainstay.

Now the Heat are in a new era, and they will rely on a mix of young players and veterans to create a new identity after parting ways with Wade.

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