The trade deadline on February 8th is getting closer and closer. To mark this occasion, we will be taking a closer look at all 30 NBA teams in the coming days: Where does improvement need to be made? Which trades are conceivable? First up is the Southeast Division.
Here we take a closer look at the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic with the Wagner brothers, the crisis-hit Atlanta Hawks and the two basement children from Charlotte and Washington.
Miami Heat (24-19, 6th place in the East)
Miami Heat: Future first-round draft picks
- Own picks: 2024, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
- Pick Swaps: –
- Picks traded: 2025 (to OKC, top 14 protected, then unprotected in 2026)
- Picks Received:-
Miami Heat: The Finances
- Roster costs: 186.1 million. Dollars
- Luxury tax: Yes ($15.0 million over)
- Second Apron: No ($28,000 below)
Things aren’t really going well for last year’s finalists at the moment. However, if you look at the forecasts before the start of the season, the Miami Heat are once again doing better than expected, even if the offense in particular has faltered recently (only 26th place in the last two weeks). In general, the past few years have shown us that this team is always a force to be reckoned with! Last season’s finals made one thing clear: Miami is missing another star on the team who can create when things aren’t going well offensively. Recently, the Heat have repeatedly been linked to Atlanta’s Dejounte Murray, who could potentially solve these problems.
But what also transpires is that Miami is not making any “aggressive moves.” With Tyler Herro, they finally have another scorer in their ranks who was missing in the crucial playoff phase in 2023 due to injury. But is it the solution?
However, one problem for Miami next year will be at the point guard position. Kyle Lowry, who currently earns almost $30 million on the payroll and hardly ever takes part in the game, has an expiring contract and is basically just a big trade chip.
The Heat will look for stars again, after all they still have the package available, which Portland wasn’t enough for Damian Lillard. In addition to Murray, the names of Donovan Mitchell (Cavs), Zach LaVine (Bulls) and DeMar DeRozan (Bulls) also keep buzzing through the orbit. You can see a trend here: Miami needs a dynamic scorer, then maybe a surprise is possible again in these playoffs, even if Jimmy Butler (34) isn’t getting any younger.
Miami Heat: The squad at a glance (salaries in million dollars)
Orlando Magic (23-20, 8th place in the East)
Orlando Magic: Future first-round draft picks
- Own picks: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
- Pick Swaps: –
- Picks Submitted:-
- Picks received: 2025 (from Denver, top-5 protected), 2026 (Phoenix or Washington)
Orlando Magic: The Finances
- Roster costs: 136.0 Mio. Dollars
- Luxury tax: No ($34.3 million below)
- Second Apron: No ($48.2 million below)
After the first half of the season, the Orlando Magic are certainly one of the winners! The Florida team convinced its critics, particularly in the early stages of the season. The team benefited from its defensive stability for a long time. But now a weakness is bothering Orlando more and more.
We’re talking about throwing threes. In 42 games this season, the Magic only hit 34.1 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc – 30th place! Their average of 10.7 three-pointers made per game is also the lowest in the league. Opposing teams are getting better and better at adapting to this, which is a key reason why they have only been able to win eight of the last 21 games. Orlando has had to struggle with injuries from time to time, most recently Franz Wagner (ankle).
The Magic could still be one of the most interesting teams at the deadline. They have plenty of draft capital, an upcoming All-Star in Paolo Banchero, and plenty of other talent that should only get better over the years. In addition to the topic of shooting, the point guard personnel also remains hot. Fultz is injury-prone and can’t throw, and rookie Anthony Black can’t throw either. So it can be argued that the Magic could take another big leap with a good playmaker. But is this player available? A Malcolm Brogdon (Blazers) would help in the short term, but that only does so much for Orlando.
If a star guard isn’t available, Orlando will keep its feet still. A smaller move is more realistic to bring more shooting into the team. Fultz is a trade candidate here, and Wendell Carter Jr. has also been mentioned several times recently. You should also keep an eye on Moritz Wagner; after Carter Jr.’s return, the Berliner lost his place in the rotation and could be expendable for the Magic. It cannot be ruled out that the big man will be traded for the third time in his career, and his contract is tailor-made for that.
Orlando Magic: The squad at a glance (salaries in million dollars)
Atlanta Hawks (18-24, 10th place in the East)
Atlanta Hawks: Future first-round draft picks
- Own picks: 2024, 2028, 2029, 2030
- Pick Swaps: 2026 (Spurs receive higher pick)
- Picks given up: 2025, 2027 (each unprotected to San Antonio)
- Picks Received: 2024 (from Sacramento, top-14 protected, then top-12th, then top-10)
Atlanta Hawks: The Finances
- Roster costs: 155.6 million. Dollars
- Luxury tax: No (almost $10,000 less)
- Second Apron: No ($22.3 million under)
Where are the Atlanta Hawks headed? After the draft of franchise player Trae Young, a steady upward trend was observed. With the trade for Dejounte Murray in 2021, the east coast even wanted to dare to attack in the playoffs. But the shot backfired. The hoped-for dynamic guard combo of Young and Murray never worked out as desired, which was also due to the lack of personnel around them.
It’s been no secret for weeks now, that the Hawks want to pull the plug. Murray is expected to be traded in exchange for multiple first-round picks. This begs the question: Is Atlanta about a complete rebuild or should that draft capital be reinvested straight away?
Actually it can only be the second option because Trae Young is simply too good for a fresh start despite difficult odds. But even from his camp there has recently been talk of a willingness to trade. The Hawks have tried a lot of things, changed the personnel around Young and brought in a respected coach in Quin Snyder. And yet Atlanta can’t get out of mediocrity with this expensive team.
That’s why it’s not just Murray who is at issue. Saddiq Bey and De’Andre Hunter don’t meet the highest standards on the wing, Clint Capela has declined massively and should sooner or later be replaced by the younger Okongwu. However, Hunter and Capela’s contracts are quite generous, and Bey will become a restricted free agent.
Atlanta Hawks: The squad at a glance (salaries in million dollars)
Charlotte Hornets (9-31, 13th place in the East)
Charlotte Hornets: Future first-round draft picks
- Own picks: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
- Pick Swaps: –
- Picks traded: 2024 (to San Antonio, top 14 protected until 2025)
- Picks Received:-
Charlotte Hornets: The Finances
- Roster costs: 134.7 million. Dollars
- Luxury tax: No ($30.6 million below)
- Second Apron: No ($47.6 million below)
The Hornets simply can’t get off the ground and they can no longer avoid being deep in the lottery next season. Ultimately, with the exception of three players (LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams), all other players should be available if the price is right. The hottest name is that of Terry Rozier, which could certainly help one or two contenders. His contract is still justifiable, as Rozier has already shown during his time with the Celtics that he can have an impact on both ends of the field.
Gordon Hayward, on the other hand, will hardly be tradeable (31.5 million), his deal expires in the summer, which is why there are already rumors about a possible buyout. Another candidate is Miles Bridges, who is likely to leave in the summer. However, it is questionable whether a team would want to burn its fingers with its reputation.
The Hornets remain in a difficult situation. The new deal for Ball, who is now in his fourth year in Charlotte, starts in the summer. It feels like we haven’t moved since then, even if injuries were a factor again this season. Charlotte will be a seller and then try to rebuild this team in the summer.
Charlotte Hornets: The squad at a glance (salaries in million dollars)
Washington Wizards (7-35, 14th place in the East)
Washington Wizards: Future first-round draft picks
- Own picks: 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
- Pick Swaps: –
- Picks traded: 2024 (to New York, top-12 protected, then top-10, then top-8)
- Picks Received: 2030 (from Warriors, top 20 protected)
Washington Wizards: The Finances
- Roster costs: 145.6 million. Dollars
- Luxury tax: No ($19.7 million below)
- Second Apron: No ($30 million under)
The Wizards are still at the beginning of their rebuild, and it would be surprising if the Capitals didn’t release more veterans by February. First and foremost, of course, is Kyle Kuzma, who signed in the summer for four years and $90 million. But his salary is getting lower every year, in the last season it wasn’t even 20 million – that’s definitely team-friendly.
And Washington also put Kuzma in the showcase, the forward scores 22 points on 19 shots per game! Other candidates include Landry Shamet, Tyus Jones and Delon Wright, who could play a few minutes here and there for playoff teams. Jones is a solid backup, Shamet is one of the better shooters and Wright could bring guard defense as a specialist.
At least Kuzma could get a few first-round picks, which is the Wizards’ goal. The trade for Bagley has already shown that you will also borrow money in the long term if necessary. Winning is secondary for now, instead we rebuild slowly and carefully.
Washington Wizards: The squad at a glance (salaries in million dollars)
2024-01-22 08:19:00
#Trade #Deadline #Preview #Southeast #Division #Orlando #Magic #Moritz #Wagner #worry #place
