As the 2014-15 NBA season approaches, NESN.com will be taking a preseason look at each of the league’s six divisions. This Monday, we’re focusing on the Southeast, where the LeBron James-less Miami Heat are looking more vulnerable than they have in years.
Teams are listed in predicted order of finish (last year’s result in parentheses).
1. Washington Wizards (second)
Key additions: SF Paul Pierce (free agent), C DeJuan Blair (sign-and-trade), PF Kris Humphries (free agent)
Key departures: SG Trevor Ariza
That’s right, for the first time since 2009-10, the champions of the Southeast might not hail from South Beach. The Wizards surprised pundits last season by not only making the playoffs — their first postseason appearance since 2007-08 — but also dominating the Chicago Bulls en route to a first-round upset. Washington’s backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal is one of the NBA’s best, and Nene and Marcin Gorat give the Wizards a formidable duo down low, as well. Ariza is no small loss, but with former Celtics Pierce and Humphries now in the mix, the Wizards look like the real deal.
2. Miami Heat (first)
Key additions: SF Luol Deng (free agent), PF Josh McRoberts (free agent), PG Shabazz Napier (draft), PG Shannon Brown (free agent), SF Danny Granger (free agent), SF Shawne Williams (free agent), SG Reggie Williams (free agent)
Key departures: SF LeBron James, SG Ray Allen, SF Shane Battier
The Heat are not the same without LeBron; that’s a given. Anyone predicting them to be lottery-bound, though, is sorely mistaken. Miami brings back most of James’ supporting cast, with Chris Bosh now assuming the role as “The Man” in Erik Spoelstra’s offense. Deng was a great pickup, and McRoberts could get the starting nod at power forward if he can recover from his toe injury in time for opening night. The Finals seem out of reach for this squad, but the Heat should still have the talent to contend in a weak Eastern Conference.
3. Charlotte Hornets (third)
Key additions: SG Lance Stephenson (free agent), PF Noah Vonleh (draft), SG P.J. Hairston (trade; drafted by Miami), PG Brian Roberts (free agent), PF Marvin Williams (free agent)
Key departures: PF Josh McRoberts
Forget LeBron; Charlotte made the NBA’s biggest offseason move by ditching its dumb “Bobcats” nickname and bringing back the glorious purple-and-teal color scheme. Aesthetics aside, though, the Hornets should be a legitimate team to watch in the East after adding a solid summer haul — headlined by former Indiana Pacers agitator Lance Stephenson — to a roster that earned a playoff bid last season.
4. Atlanta Hawks (fourth)
Key additions: SG Thabo Sefolosha (trade), SG Kent Bazemore (free agent), PF Adreian Payne (draft)
Key departures: None
Your Atlanta Hawks: the NBA’s least interesting team. The Hawks always seem to sneak into the playoffs (they were the No. 8 seed last season) but never seem to do a whole lot once they get there. The roster’s largely the same this season — plus Sefolosha, Bazemore, Payne and a fully healthy Al Horford, who played just 29 games in 2013-14 — and the results should be, too.
5. Orlando Magic (fifth)
Key additions: PF Channing Frye (free agent), SG Evan Fournier (trade), SG Aaron Gordon (draft), PG Elfrid Payton (trade; drafted by Philadelphia), SG Ben Gordon (free agent), PG Luke Ridnour (free agent)
Key departures: SG Arron Afflalo, PG Jameer Nelson
The Magic added several promising pieces this summer, but they clearly remain a step behind their Southeast Division compatriots. The loss of Afflalo, the team’s leading scorer last season, hurts, and it’ll be interesting to see if 2013 first-round pick Victor Oladipo can pick up the slack. One area Orlando should be improved in is defense, as Payton and Aaron Gordon were regarded as two of the stingier defenders in this year’s draft class.
Previously: Northwest Division | Pacific Division | Southwest Division
Up next: Central Division on Wednesday, Oct. 8
Photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
