Orlando Magic
Predicted 2024 record: 50-32
Last season: 47-35, 5th in NBA Eastern Conference. Lost 4-3 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.
The last time: Orlando advanced past the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs was 2009-10. The Magic have made the postseason just five times since, exiting early in each case.
FanDuel championship odds: +4000
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Draft Options:
No. 18, SF Tristan da Silva, Colorado
DEPARTURES: Markelle Fultz, Joe Ingles, Chuma Okeke
VETERAN ADDITIONS: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cory Joseph
Big picture: There’s a lot to like about the Magic, who were part of a jumble of contenders for the No. 2 seed in the East last season. Talented youth tops the list, as Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs are 22 or younger in 2023-24. Add veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to that trio and a deep, young bench and stuff from a deep playoff run could be in place. If the Caldwell-Pope intangibles are to be believed, the postseason could even flirt with June. His efforts as an established role player on a young club have helped the Lakers and Nuggets to titles over the past five seasons. Orlando can score and defend and coach Jamah Mosley is on the rise, but the Magic need to improve their ball control to keep going.
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SF Tristan da Silva
After helping Colorado to its first NCAA tournament appearance in three seasons, da Silva came to a Magic team with many breakout stars. He gets a chance to be one of them, but he has to develop the will to overcome the physicality of the pro game while creating an identity. At 6-foot-8, he can be a force at the rim and mix his ability from the midrange and beyond the arc.
–Miami Heat
Predicted 2024 record: 48-34
Last season: 46-36, 8th in NBA Eastern Conference. Lost 4-1 to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
Last time: Bam Adebayo finished outside the Top 5 in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2018-19, his second season in the NBA.
FanDuel championship odds: +5000
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Draft Options:
No. 15, C Kel’el Ware, Indiana
44, SG Pelle Larsson, Arizona (acquired from Rockets)
DEPARTURES: Caleb Martin, Patty Mills, Orlando Robinson, Delon Wright
ADDITIONAL VETERANS: Alec Burks, Nassir Little
Big picture: Miami relied on aggressive defense last season, limiting opponents to 111.5 points per 100 possessions to boast the fifth-ranked defensive efficiency in the NBA. While center Bam Adebayo anchored ‘D,’ the Heat will need him and another mainstay of the little-changed roster, namely Jimmy Butler, to step up in an offense that is in the bottom third of the league in offensive efficiency. Butler has recovered from a sprained right MCL he suffered in the play-in tournament but must overcome questions about durability and that pesky thing known as age. He hasn’t played 65 games in a season since joining Miami in 2019-2020 and turned 35 last month. The Heat can go far if Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier and Butler stay healthy along with Adebayo, but that’s the last “if.”
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C Kel’el Ware
Of course, it will be difficult for Ware to shine behind the dominant Adebayo, but the preseason has shown his willingness to do a lot with a little. Ware started his way to the Summer League first team with 13 points, five boards and four blocks in 17 minutes in his preseason debut. With Heat coach Erik Spoelstra citing the need for offensive inventiveness this offseason, look for some lineups with Ware holding down the fort at the 4 alongside Adebayo.
–Atlanta Hawks
Predicted 2024 record: 39-43
Last season: 36-46, 10th in NBA Eastern Conference. Lost to the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament.
The last time Atlanta allowed 145 points or more in a game was a 157-115 loss at Indiana on April 14. The regular season finale marked the league-worst sixth time the Hawks allowed the most points.
FanDuel championship odds: +35000
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Draft Options:
No 1, SF Zaccharie Risacher, France
No. 43 SG Nikola Djurisic, Serbia (acquired from Heat)
PARTTURES: Saddiq Bey, Bruno Fernando, Trent Forrest, AJ Griffin, Wesley Matthews, Dejounte Murray, Dylan Windler
ADDITIONAL VETERANS: Dominick Barlow, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., David Roddy, Keaton Wallace, Cody Zeller
The big picture: Atlanta traded DeJounte Murray, Trae Young’s high-scoring running mate, to the New Orleans Pelicans shortly after the draft, which could have a positive impact in both the short and long term. It may not improve the team’s outlook as a play-only contender, but veterans landing Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., and Cody Zeller provide the type of leadership both sides of a solid defensive team need to change their identity. So it will be No. The season of the Hawks may not depend on how Risacher develops on both ends of the floor, but the ability to defend a lot of rapport with Young allows the Hawks to enjoy the chance to escape playoff purgatory sometime soon.
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SF Jalen Johnson
Injuries have dogged Johnson in his first three seasons, but he has a chance to become the frontcourt starter in 2023-24. After making just six starts in his first 92 career games, Johnson started in 52 of 56 appearances last season while averaging 16.0 points and 8.7 rebounds. Johnson also has great range and the ability to defend the paint. He will take on an additional role in the offense with Murray out.
–Charlotte Hornets
Predicted 2024 record: 29-53
Last season: 21-61, 13th in NBA Eastern Conference
Last time: LaMelo Ball played in more than half of the Hornets’ games in 2021-22, when he started 75 games. Injuries have limited Ball to 58 games the past two seasons.
FanDuel championship odds: +100000
Phone roll list
Draft Options:
No. 6, PF Tidjane Salaunn, France
No. 42, PG KJ Simpson, Colorado
OUT: Davis Bertans, Bryce McGowens, Aleksej Pokusevski, JT Thor
ADDITIONAL VETERANS: Charlie Brown Jr., Taj Gibson, Josh Green, DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr.
The big picture
The familiar new faces on the bench (coach Charles Lee) and the front office (executive vice president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson) knew the narrative in Charlotte before they even came aboard. Many young people, less minutes. LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams have been great to lead the Hornets from the recesses in the East but injuries and inconsistency often stunted the pursuit. Still just 23, Ball has played in 58 games since earning an All-Star selection in 2021-22 because of an ankle injury. Williams is a former first baseman with durability concerns of his own. Leading scorer Miles Bridges is back and Brandon Miller hopes to improve the franchise’s outlook after a promising rookie season. He could form a powerful combo on the wing with the Hornets’ latest lottery pick, Tidjane Salaun.
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F Brandon Miller
The Alabama product made 68 starts and 74 appearances as a freshman, averaging 17.3 points per game not far behind Bridges’ 21. He has the talent to break it down, but could be even more powerful if Ball can stay healthy as a distributor at the point. guard. Miller can also play and create off the dribble while starring as a shooter. The ceiling is high.
–Washington Wizards
Predicted 2024 record: 22-60
Last season: 15-67, 14th in NBA Eastern Conference
The last time: The Wizards had the second overall pick in the NBA Draft in 1968, when they were known as the Baltimore Bullets and selected future Hall of Famer Wes Unseld out of Louisville.
FanDuel championship odds: +100000
Phone roll list
Draft Options:
No. 2, PF Alex Sarr, France
No. 14, PG Bub Carrington, Pittsburgh (acquired from Trail Blazers)
No. 24 SG Kyshawn George, Miami (acquired from Knicks)
DEPARTURES: Deni Avdija, Jules Bernard, Hamidou Diallo, Tyus Jones, Eugene Omoruyi, Landry Shamet
ADDITIONAL VETERANS: Saddiq Bey, Malcolm Brogdon, Jonas Valanciunas
The big picture
Already bracing for turmoil in the election year, Washingtonians should not look to the Wizards to escape too often this season, unless they do not mind imagining changes. The reconstruction is real, if not spectacular, but still gives reason for excitement. In addition to tracking Sarr, who suffered a calf injury at the end of preseason after playing well in the first two games, there is keeper Bilal Coulibaly. The No. 7 pick in 2023, Coulibaly averaged 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds as a rookie. With Brogdon (thumb surgery) out injured to start the season, it’s likely that point guard Jordan Poole will have multiple options in the offense, which still features veterans Corey Kispert and Kyle Kuzma and added Jonas Valanciunas as post experience.
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PF Alex Sarr
Another season, another French 7-footer as NBA Rookie of the Year? Sarr seems like a good choice to follow San Antonio leader Victor Wembanyama, although he will do so with less hype. However, like his compatriots, Sarr came to the retooling team with ample opportunities for minutes early in his career. Although his preseason shooting percentages proved a bit Sarr-y (what’s “rimshot” in French?), his potential as a versatile shooter, rim attacker and defender offers plenty of intrigue.
–Field Level Media