Orlando Magic Daily
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Southeast Division offseason and outlook

By Zachary Bethel

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 23: Ernie Grunfeld and Scott Brooks help introduce Dwight Howard #21 of the Washington Wizards to the media during a press conference at the Capital One Arena on July 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 23: Ernie Grunfeld and Scott Brooks help introduce Dwight Howard #21 of the Washington Wizards to the media during a press conference at the Capital One Arena on July 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Khem Birch, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 3: Khem Birch #24 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on February 3, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The NBA’s Southeast Division is at a crossroads. How did each franchise’s offseason affect their long-term directory and playoff potential?

Now with just one month removed from the NBA preseason, teams are beginning to get an idea of what their rosters may look like on opening night. Players are mostly back in town and workouts will ramp up ahead of training camp starting toward the end of this month — Orlando Magic training camp opens Sept. 25.

As for the Southeast Division, there has been a number of notable offseason moves. How do these moves bode for each franchise in immediate impact and long-term significance?

The Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks are beginning to get their rebuilds underway, each cementing hopeful young players. The Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat currently sit at varying crossroads of their own roster development.

The Southeast Division is not set to make a lot of noise this year, which unfortunately has been the norm in recent seasons. This might be the worst group of five teams in the NBA.

So the Wizards are not bad. But they have only floated around the first round in the playoffs for years now. Coming off losing as the eighth seed in the East, Washington looks better than the team has in recent years. Though the Wizards’ entirely contingent on if they get a healthy and committed John Wall next year.

But where the real interest lies is in all the newness around the division.

The Magic, Hawks, and Hornets have all replaced their head coach. And made plenty of changes themselves to break through.

Thus, the Southeast Division remains like much of the rest of the league, priming to see who can jump into relevance within the Eastern Conference.