2025-2026 NBA Preview: Southeast Division

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – APRIL 15: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives on Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Kia Center on April 15, 2025 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. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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The 2025-2026 NBA season is less than a month away, so let’s get into some division previews.

Today, it’s the Central Division.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have added significant size around Trae Young, acquiring 7’3 Kristaps Porziņģis, and pairing him with 6’9 multi-tool forwards Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher. This should bode well for their record in the regular season, pending health.

And that will be the biggest focus point this season. How do the Hawks avoid a bundle of injuries, especially when leading up to the postseason? Neither Johnson nor Porziņģis are pillars of health, meaning the organization could prioritize saving those players during the dead months of the season.

As for another element to track is the contractual status of Young, who can become an unrestricted free agent next summer if he chooses. The two sides appear to be some ways apart on a new deal. Will that spill over, and onto the floor?

Charlotte Hornets

Not unlike the situation in Atlanta, health will be a major element for these Hornets, who saw LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Grant Williams all miss considerable time last season.

If the team’s primary core can keep healthy, do they have enough raw talent to make a push towards the play-in? It can’t be ruled out, but they’ll need a strong start to the season, and at least a certain baseline of production, which we’ve yet to see with this incarnation of the roster.

The team still lacks size, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise if they’re actively shopping for a center near the February trade deadline.

Miami Heat

No one seems to fully understand what their plan is, nor what they’re trying to achieve. They have in-prime players who can produce, such as Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, and Andrew Wiggins, but they also have young players on the bench, waiting their turn.

Is now the time for Miami to pivot into something new, or will the franchise keep the status quo by never tanking, and just seeing where they end up by putting their best foot forward?

It doesn’t seem like much of a plan, and half the fan base also seem confused as to what they should root for this season. If they do decide to pivot, they could ask for quite a haul for both Herro and Adebayo.

Orlando Magic

This should be the best team in the division this season, as the team has two multi-tool stars in Paolo Banchero, and Franz Wagner, while also having acquired Desmond Bane, and Tyus Jones during the offseason.

For a team that needed shooting, they’re not completely out of the woods yet, but having players who can now bend defenses while off the ball will add a new dimension to their offensive strategy, which is entirely necessary.

All eyes should be on Banchero, however. The 6’10 dynamo has proven to be a bit of an odd duck in terms of how to build around him, but if he manages to make some solid improvements – particularly as a shooter – that would go a long way.

Washington Wizards

It’s unlikely the Wizards win a ton of games, but that isn’t part of the plan anyway. This team is fully onboard the rebuild train, and have applied themselves well this summer.

Their acquisitions of both Malaki Branham and Cam Whitmore, which cost them virtually nothing, are no-risk moves that can’t even be considered a gamble in any way.

The Wizards, after years of ineptitude, have finally gone about roster construction the right way, by opting for young players, and flanking them with formidable locker room guys in shape of Khris Middleton, and CJ McCollum. That’s a strong start.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.