studbucket
MVP
OVR: 8
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 3,786
2024-25 NBA Season Preview: Southeast Division
The Southeast division is a giant pile of “what ifs”. If this were a Bill Simmons podcast, he’d make this its own episode full of “what ifs”and “sliding doors”. What if Jerry Sparks becomes the best 4 in the NBA? What if the move for JJJ unlocks Charlotte’s potential? What if the Grizzlies can get back to their 2022 form? What if Trae Young finally leads his team to real success? What if the young Magic just needed Dejounte Murray to unlock everything else for them? What if the Heats rebuild finally ends?
We won’t know the answers for 6 months, but we know the journey will be intriguing.
44-38 last year (8th in East). Swept by Milwaukee in round 1.
Key additions: Jaren Jackson Jr (C, 84 ovr, from Grizzlies), Dan Vignale (PG, 82 ovr, from Thunder), DeMar DeRozan (SF, 80 ovr, from Hawks), Gilson Mulholland (PG, 79 ovr, from Raptors), Otto Porter (SF, 77 ovr, from Heat), J.B. McCroskey (SF, 76 ovr, from Hartford), Darius Lovelace (C, 76 ovr, from Univ of Washington)
Key losses: Zach Lavine (SG, 85 ovr, to Nets), Lonzo Ball (SF, 83 ovr, to Grizzlies), Bobby Portis (C, 81 ovr, to Grizzlies), Richaun Holmes (C, 80 ovr, to Nets), Kris Dunn (PG, 76 ovr, to free agents), Georges Niang (PF, 76 ovr, to free agents), Malik Beasley (SG, 76 ovr, to Pelicans)
Why the Hornets are a championship contender
Because they overhauled their roster, shipping out some quality pieces but replacing them with players who are more defensive-minded, savvier veterans, and better complement their two stars: Jerry Sparks and De’Aaron Fox. Sparks is already a star, and putting a true stopper and rim protector behind him in Jaren Jackson Jr is huge. The Hornets have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league the last few seasons and shipping out Lavine, Portis, and Holmes (defensive liabilities) and adding Jackson and Vignale will do wonders for their team defense. They haven’t proven it yet, but they could be the most talented team in the East.
Why the Hornets may miss the playoffs
Because Sparks isn’t quite ready to carry a team and all the roster turnover means it’ll take a season for this group to settle and gel.
Projected record and finish: 49-33 (5th in East)
42-40 last year (9th in East).
Key additions: Lonzo Ball (SF, 83 ovr, from Hornets), Bobby Portis (C, 81 ovr, from Hornets), Dewan Hernandez (C, 82 ovr, from Knicks)
Key losses: Jaren Jackson Jr (C, 84 ovr, to Hornets), Yante Maten (PF, 82 ovr, to Heat), Moritz Wagner (C, 78 ovr, to Clippers), Jrue Holiday (PG, 76 ovr, to Nuggets)
Why the Grizzlies are a championship contender
Because Ja Morant is a superstar and they are only 2 seasons removed from losing in 7 in the NBA Finals. JJJ is a talented player, but they think Clark is just as good and Lonzo Ball provides great defense and a distribution option alongside Morant. If a few of the other wings can step up and start hitting threes regularly, this is a very scary team.
Why the Grizzlies may miss the playoffs
Because they struggled in their first year in the East and it’s debatable if their team is better than it was last year – and the East got better.
Projected record and finish: 41-41 (9th in East)
46-36 last year (5th in East). Swept by Boston in round 1 of playoffs.
Key additions: Josh Richardson (SG, 81 ovr, from 76ers), Al Horford (PF, 77 ovr, from 76ers)
Key losses: John Collins (PF, 85 ovr, to 76ers), DeMar DeRozan (SF, 80 ovr, to Hornets), Patrick Beverly (PG, 78 ovr, to Pacers)
Why the Hawks are a championship contender
Because they shook up their starting rotation just enough to better complement Young’s game, giving him a defensive sidekick in the backcourt who can make threes – Richardson complements him much more than DeRozan and Horford provides the type of leadership this team desperately needs.
Why the Hawks may miss the playoffs
Because they can’t seem to put together two straight good years and it’s not clear if Trae Young is more interested in winning or getting stats. They lost Collins and DeRozan and replaced them with Richardson and Horford, which is a step down.
Projected record and finish: 41-41 (10th in East)
21-61 last year (16th in East).
Key additions: Dejounte Murray (PG, 86 ovr, from Suns), Kevon Looney (C, 79 ovr, from Knicks), Angelo Braswell (PF, 77 ovr, from UNLV), Darryl Mitchell (SF, 77 ovr, from Lakers), Trey Lyles (PF, 77 ovr, from free agents)
Key losses: Gary Clark (PF, 81 ovr, to SuperSonics), Tim Hardaway Jr (SF, 79 ovr, to Spurs), Angelo Braswell (PF, 77 ovr, injured), Monte Morris (PG, 79 ovr, to Wizards)
Why the Magic are a championship contender
Because Dejounte Murray brings experience and leadership to a team that is on the cusp of greatness. With him at the helm, Reaser turns into a Jarrett Pressley-like floor general off the bench, and we see Jameer Trammell become a 25 ppg scorer.
Why the Magic may miss the playoffs
Because they are just 1 year away from maturing into a playoff contender. Many of their pieces still haven’t fully proven themselves and injured Angelo Braswell was certainly the missing piece they need, but he’s going to be out the entire season.
Projected record and finish: 38-44 (12th in East)
27-55 last year (14th in East).
Key additions: Yante Maten (PF, 82 ovr, from Grizzlies), William Howard (SF, 79 ovr, from Pacers)
Key losses: Otto Porter (SF, 77 ovr, to Hornets), Jarrell Brantley (SF, 76 ovr, to Spurs), Antonius Cleveland (SG, 78 ovr, retired)
Why the Heat are a championship contender
Because SGA and late-bloomer Jawun Evans make up what is arguably the best backcourt duo in the league and their young players are finally ready to step up and become the kinds of players we thought they were when drafted.
Why the Heat may miss the playoffs
Because Evans and SGA play too similarly and don’t complement each other, and none of the Heat’s young players have seemed to develop into anything more than a 7th guy on a good team.
Projected record and finish: 29-53 (13th in East)
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