The question heading into the 2019-20 NBA season is; was the Orlando Magic worthy of their playoff run or a by-product of a terrible division? One out of these five teams one must win the Southeast Division. Can the Magic repeat as division champs or will they be surprised by the upstart Atlanta Hawks or the new-look Miami Heat?
The Washington Wizards will be without John Wall for a stretch while dealing with rumors of a Bradley Beal trade. The Charlotte Hornets lost Kemba Walker and not even their coach knows the identity of his starting five. Very easily, a struggling team in the Southwest will make the playoffs.
5- Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets will enter their 2019-20 season possibly looking for more trades. Their current roster is not playoff-bound and the high contacts for second-tier players must be moved if their rebuild is to work. The loss of Kemba Walker was huge as they had a face of the franchise and a selling point.
Will Terry Rozier be able to lead the team and is this the season where Malik Monk becomes more than an afterthought? The Hornets will struggle offensively, but the defense will win them a few more games than expected. This season is all about dropping dead weight and setting a foundation for the future.
4- Washington Wizards
The Wizards have the NBA on standby. Are they standing pat or ready to clean house? Will it be John Wall or Bradley Beal on the move? As it stands, it may be Beal but the truth is, that makes no sense. With Wall stuck recovering, why move your best player in Beal? During the offseason, the Wizards did nothing to add a reliable supporting cast around Beal and Wall.
The frontcourt will be the biggest question mark for the Wizards in 2019. Can they rely on CJ Miles for production? They will place a rookie at PF with Rui Hachimura and hope that Thomas Bryant is ready to take charge in the paint. On the defensive end, they will have to do much better than their 29th ranking in 2018.
3- Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are putting their franchise in the hands of two youngsters. Last season, Trae Young and John Collins both took huge steps in making basketball in Atlanta relevant again. What will their encore season bring? If Cam Reddish, even as a rookie can provide solid perimeter scoring, the Hawks could find themselves in contention for the division.
It’s the second unit that must step up. The Hawks are loaded with young talent, however, their reserves are loaded with veterans. In order for their playoff dreams to become reality, Chandler Parsons, Vince Carter, and Evan Turner will need to be assertive. The Hawks will improve on the 29 wins they had last season. With the division up for grabs as no team is clearly superior, this could be the season where the Hawks become the next Orlando Magic.
2- Miami Heat
With the addition of Jimmy Butler, the Heat are expected to be contenders. The issue here is that Butler can do but so much on his own. Defensively, the Heat will cause problems for teams. However, it’s on the offensive end where Butler is really needed. In 2018, they ranked 26th in points scored.
If Miami can get Butler to become the next Dwyane Wade, then the playoffs are a lock. They will also need Goran Dragic to stay healthy. In the paint, the loss of Hassan Whiteside was big, however, if Bam Adebayo can crash the boards and continue to protect the rim, they should be solid. The Heat’s second unit should be able to hold a lead with Justin Winslow, James Johnson, and Meyers Leonard.
1- Orlando Magic
Last season, the Magic were the only team to make the playoffs out of the Southeast Division. Could that happen again? Yes. What have the Magic lost this offseason that will say otherwise? The frontcourt is still led by the high-flying Aaron Gordon and the ultra-consistent Nikola Vucevic. Now, they have added a bit of depth with the addition of Al-Farouq Aminu to pair with Jonathan Isaac.
For the Magic to repeat as division champs, their backcourt will need to step up. While having a veteran presence such as DJ Augustin has provided them a voice, they need someone a facilitator. Will Markelle Fultz be ready to show why he was chosen with the No. 1 pick? Last season, Evan Fournier made great strides but can he take it to another level this season? The Magic can take this division again, but moves will have to be made to shore up a shaky offense.
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