BY: DONOVAN HOLDEN
#5 MAGIC
2019-20 Season Record: 33-40
The Orlando Magic took an early exit from the NBA Playoffs a season ago, but they should not be hanging their heads about it because they put up quite a fight against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Magic had a shortened roster and still competed in an unfavorable matchup where they found themselves going up against the 1 seed as they sat at the 8 seed.
The Magic do not have a true identity for themselves just yet, but they do have good young talent in Jonathan Issac and Markelle Fultz, who both recently just signed juicy contract extensions (Fultz: 3-years/50 Million, Issac: 4-years/80 Million). They also selected point guard Cole Anthony out of North Carolina with the 15th pick in the draft.
Jonathan Issac is expected to miss possibly the entirety of this upcoming season with a knee injury he suffered in the bubble. But the big men this team has been relying on over the past few years should continue to produce for this team. Nikola Vucevic who is time and time again overlooked in the NBA as both a scorer and all-around player, and Aaron Gordon whose game seems to improve every season. Aaron Gordon on a team where the ball can be in his hands a lot, really has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Blake Griffin. Griffin was once just a solid big who was very explosive, but every year he improved his handle, playmaking, and now even his outside shot. Orlando fans should note that Gordon is talented enough to do the same with his career.
The only big loss for this squad was losing their veteran point guard DJ Augistine. But this is why you draft a player like Cole Anthony, and re-sign the former number 1 pick in Markelle Fultz. Fans can anticipate a similar finish to a season ago, but possibly with a worse outcome considering the improvements in the entire Eastern Conference.
#4 HORNETS
2019-20 Season Record: 23-42
This offseason the Hornets acquired soon to be rookie phenom LaMelo Ball, who has been taking the basketball world by storm since his middle school days. Ball was drafted number 2 overall in the NBA Draft, and has already started to showcase his skills in this team’s preseason games. He’s been throwing effortless highlight reel passes, and exhibiting his confidence from behind the 3-point line.
The Hornets also acquired former All-Star Gordon Hayward on a deal worth 4-years/$120M. The Hayward era didn’t really work out in Boston, and he now looks for new beginnings on a team where the ball should be in his hands more often than not. With this signing to go along with drafting LaMelo, the Hornets clearly have already become more relevant than a season ago.
The questions this franchise faces are, who will step up? Who will be the third option, or the next person who can make game-winning plays? Devonte Graham is coming off a stellar second season with the Hornets where his total for points per-game went from just under 5, to 18. There is also Miles Bridges who LaMelo seemed to have a speedy connection with in their preseason ball games, linking up on multiple alley-oops.
If only Covid-19 didn’t exist… otherwise the Hornets would fill a lot more seats in their arena than they had in years past. They should be flashy, exciting, and all-around fun to watch. It is unknown what this team’s success rate will be, but things are looking up.
#3 WIZARDS
2019-20 Season Record: 25-47
It seems wrong to only have this talented Wizards group listed as #3 in this Division, but it’s likely that will be the case. The addition of former MVP Russel Westrbook appeared to be close to an even swap between himself and John Wall, but this Westbrook addition could really help unlock a new level of new back-court teammate Bradley Beal.
Just a season ago Bradley Beal showed the league how great of a scorer he actually is. With Westbrook being so explosive and able to move the ball effectively in the halfcourt, and transition could really elevate Beal’s game. It is pretty obvious this duo will be super electric for fans, and hopefully move this team in a winning direction.
Take these two superstars, and combine that with their young talent in Rui Hachimura and Davis Bertans and you have yourself a team that could really turn some heads this year. The Wizards were able to retain Davis Bertans on a 5-year/$80M deal. Bertans was being targeted by many teams for his size and ability to shoot from just about everywhere.
Washington should be fighting for a playoff spot at the bottom half of the east, but it is anyone’s best guess what happens with the Westbrook and Beal duo even if it looks great right now.
#2 Hawks
2019-20 Season Record: 20-47
Talk about an incredibly successful offseason. The Hawks did so well in this extremely strange times between seasons. Both in free agency and the NBA Draft. In free agency they added guards Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo, and Kris Dunn. They also added forwards Danilo Gallinari and Tony Snell. In the draft Atlanta selected big man Onyeka Okongu with high hopes that he will be able to dominate the painted area alongside Clint Capela, and John Collins.
Although they did not have a good record, the Atlanta Hawks were starting to show flashes a season ago with just Trae Young and John Collins alone. Now they have one of the deepest rosters in all of the NBA. They truly are a sleeper team, and not enough people are talking about it.
Trae Young is already one of the best young point guards in the league, and now he has seasoned veteran in Rajon Rondo to mentor and play alongside him. He also has Kris Dunn behind him now on the depth chart. The Hawks point guard depth just makes things a whole lot easier for coaches on this staff.
Shooters can be found literally all over this roster as well. Kevin Huerter can shoot the ball at a high clip, Cam Reddish is knockdown, Bogdanovic is a bucket, Gallinari is a 7-foot forward who can stretch the floor, and the list goes on. Not to mention the man who shoots from the logo on the regular, Trae Young.
It sounds crazy but the Hawks could legitimately be fighting for one of the top spots in the Eastern Conference this season.
#1 HEAT
A team that made it to the finals with a crazy run in the NBA Bubble, and it does not look like they are going away anytime soon. The Miami Heat and their players got as hot as the Miami sun in the playoffs and unfortunately came up just short to the LeBron James led Lakers in the finals.
Led by the oh so determined Jimmy Butler, this team exceeded expectations and are now just as equipped to make another run. Allegedly Jimmy Butler is “more determined” (that is scary), and their young shooters Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro are now a bit more mature, and experienced than they were before.
The Heat added veterans Avery Bradley and Maurice Harkless while they parted ways with Jae Crowder and Derrick Jones Jr. If we are being realistic here, the Heat did not really have to make many moves this offseason in order to feel confident for next year. Their thoughts are, let’s run this thing back!
Possibly the most important player on this team is Bam Adebayo who is most recently known for his legendary game-saving block on Jayson Tatum in the Eastern Conference Finals. Bam continues to improve his game, and is really starting to look like a baby Anthony Davis in the making.
Lets not forget the Miami Heat are still in heavy conversation with the Houston Rockets about acquiring James Harden. Not much has to be explained if this team would somehow be able to pull off a big three that consisted of Harden, Butler, and Adebayo. So while you anticipate the Heat leading this division and possibly the Eastern Conference, you should also keep an eye on this Harden situation.