One Question, Every Team: Southeast Division

We're getting close to opening night. So let's hurry up and answer One Big Question for each team in the Southeast division:

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks made a really nice playoff run this summer. And those free agent signings from 2020 have created a deep roster.

If the Hawks are all healthy, who faces a playing time crunch?

In particular, I don't know how Atlanta can give meaningful minutes to all their young wings.  Between De'Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish and rookie Jalen Johnson, there isn't enough floor time to make everyone happy. In Wednesday's preseason loss to the Cavs, Hunter and Huerter started while the veteran Bogdanovic got the night off. Reddish came off the bench for 28 minutes of run and Johnson saw 24 minutes. When the games count, head coach Nate McMillan will go back to starting Bogdanovic, as he did last year.

The Hawks may have a draft day steal with the 6-foot-9 Johnson. If Hunter is truly healthy, his defense is too good to keep out of the starting lineup. I think both Huerter and Reddish could be facing a minutes crunch. Huerter played 32.1 minutes per game when Lloyd Pierce was in charge last season. But when Atlanta replaced Pierce with McMillan, Huerter averaged 29.5 minutes per contest the rest of season. McMillan's hiring coincided with Bogdanvic's return to health. But it was clear the new coach preferred Bogdanovic. Reddish might be a defensive freak, but he can't shoot. He dipped from 38.4% shooting as a rookie to 36.5% last year.

Charlotte Hornets

After many years of running the in mud, this franchise is moving in a positive direction. Forget the Gordon Hayward contract, it's their 20-year-old point guard who is a budding star.

What can we expect from LaMelo Ball in his sophomore season?

It's important to remember that Ball was only 19 years old as a rookie last season. For every Luka Doncic (also 19 as a rookie), there are far more players like Killian Hayes, Patrick Williams, Kira Lewis, James Wiseman and Aleksej Pokusevski who struggle as 19-year-old rookies. It's a man's game. But Ball didn't struggle. He finished 55th in total stats, 8-category production. Ball posted 15.7 points, 6.1 dimes, 5.9 boards and 2.0 stocks per game. It's the steals (1.6) and blocks (0.4) per game that I love. He also drained 1.8 triples a contest. Very useful.

This summer, the Hornets sign-and-traded Devonte' Graham to New Orleans. Team management clearly wanted to create more space for their rising star, Ball. Expect an increase from last year's 28.8 minutes per contest. Most sophomores improve their field goal and free throw shooting. I definitely expect Ball to bump up the 43.6 percent he shot from the field last season, but frankly, that's a fine FG% for a high-scoring guard filling up the stat sheet.

Current RotoWire draft rankings have Ball at 26 for 8-category leagues. His ADP is also in the upper 20ss. Don't let Ball drop in your draft.

Miami Heat

Goran Dragic is gone and fellow old-timer Kyle Lowry has joined a Heat squad that disappointed many last season. But you must wonder…

How much does Kyle Lowry still have left in the tank?

I'm admittedly a big Lowry supporter, which puts me in the minority at RotoWire. I see a veteran leader willing to take big shots, keep the offense moving and sacrifice his body on defense. They see a 35-year-old slowing down and also only played in 46 games last year.

If you were stuck with the lowly Raptors last season, playing all your games on the road (Florida is not their home), you'd lose a lot of motivation, too. I believe his friendship with Butler will push Lowry for one last close-to-All-Star performance. Don't forget, Lowry was All-Star every year from 2014-15 to 2019-20. And he actually improved both his field goal percentage and free throw percentage last year.

But RotoWire has Lowry ranked at 54th this season for 8-category leagues. The parent company is predicting a decline in everything but steals. I respectfully disagree, based purely on Lowry moving on to a quality roster worthy of a playoff run.  Plus someone has to fill the Goran Dragic role.  I put Lowry in the high 40ss, depending on format. We'll see.

Orlando Magic

This squad is all in on its youthful rebuild

Which of these little-known players should you target on draft day?

Can you guess which Magic player has the highest ADP this pre-season?  I'll wait. It's rookie Jalen Suggs, who's in the high 70s. Yikes. RW ranks Suggs at 124. You should always be skeptical about rookies and their inevitable poor shooting.

We have Jonathan Isaac as the highest-ranked Magic player at slot 91. Sure, he's got huge upside, but he's also a big injury risk (missed all of last season due to torn ACL), plus he's unvaccinated, meaning he'll face stricter health and safety protocols. I'll let someone else gamble on Isaac.

For me, the hidden late-round gems are Chuma Okeke (ADP low 150s) and Wendell Carter (ADP mid 90s). The super-low price tag on Okeke screams value. He could see 30 minutes a game, especially when Isaac gets hurt again. How many 30-minute players are available in the 13th round?  Expect Okeke's percentages to all improve during his sophomore season. And this is a Magic squad desperate for scoring. His 7.2 FGAs per game will definitely rise. From late March to late April, Okeke had a run of 12.5 points, 4.9 boards, 2.9 dimes, 1.6 steals and 1.4 triples over 30.9 minutes per game in 17 contests.  Similar numbers are very possible this season.

Washington Wizards

Oh my goodness, suddenly the Wizards have some depth?  That hasn't been true for years. In D.C., things get really interesting at the five…

Is Daniel Gafford ready for a breakout?

RotoWire has loved Daniel Gafford since he was drafted by Chicago in 2019. The 6-foot-10 Arkansas product never received much of an opportunity with the Bulls, despite blocking shots at an amazing rate. Then at the deadline last year he was dealt to Washington, who were still struggling to replace Thomas Bryant. Gafford ended the regular season posting 10.0 points, 5.6 boards and 1.7 blocks (hello!) while coming off the bench for 18.1 minutes per contest over 21 games.

In late September, it was reported that Gafford is expected to start for the Wizards in 2021-22.  Bryant is hoping for a December return from an ugly left knee injury, but that return will probably be gradual. Yes, Washington recently traded for Montrezl Harrell, but he's much better as a reserve due to his defensive liabilities. Gafford could start all year and see north of 25 minutes per game (RW is conservatively forecasting 21 minutes per contest). If he sees 25 minutes a game, we could be looking at 12 points, seven rebounds and 2.5 blocks a contest for Gafford.  At an ADP of 120+, those are some awfully useful stats, especially the blocks.

That's it for our look at the SOUTHEAST.  Here are the "One Question" articles for the other divisions:

• ATLANTIC  
• CENTRAL