- Atlanta Hawks -

There is good news and bad news for the Hawks this season.  The good news is that they finally stepped to the plate to make a trade for an above-average point guard, sparked an 11-4 record down the stretch to capture the final playoff spot in the East, took the eventual champion Boston Celtics to seven games in an electric first round classic, restored pride and reduced violence in the city of Atlanta over a month-long span, and enter this season with one of the strongest starting fives in the East.  

The bad news is that they lost their spark-plug sixth man and key cog to their success for absolutely nothing, and then they fired the GM who built this youthful team because he secretly wanted to fire the head coach.

NBA Draft Picks:  none

Key Additions: Randolph Morris (Free Agent ? New York), Maurice Evans (FA ? Orlando), Flip Murray (FA ? Indiana), Thomas Gardner (FA ? Chicago), Othello Hunter (FA)

Key Losses: Josh Childress (FA ? Greece), Salim Stoudamire (FA ? San Antonio), Jeremy Richardson (FA ? Orlando)

There is no beating around the bush with this team.  They blew a chance to be a special up-and-coming team this year by foolishly letting Josh Childress head overseas.  Then they alienated Josh Smith by refusing to make him an offer ? ultimately waiting for the Memphis Grizzlies to sign him to an offer sheet, to which the Hawks immediately, and rightfully so, said ?Match!! Match!!? at a discounted price.  The bigger problem is that the Hawks enter this season down one of their best six players and added little depth outside of the marginal Mo Evans, which will be a major problem if they suffer an injury to a starter or if they start to realize that Josh Smith?s former AAU buddy Randolph Morris is all they?ve got coming off the bench in a pinch.

Burning Questions

- How will they replace Childress?
- Will Mike Bibby?s presence all year make a difference?
- Is Josh Smith annoyed that he had to sign an offer sheet to get a contract from his hometown Hawks?
- Will fans come to the games to start the season the way they did in the playoffs?
- Is Joe Johnson an All Star this year?
- Will Al Horford get even better?

Person on the Hot Seat: Atlanta Spirit, LLC, Atlanta?s Ownership Group

It?s about time for Michael Gearon Jr. and the embarrassing Atlanta Hawks' management group to get their act together.  They finally had a team that the people of Atlanta liked and then they went ahead and potentially ruined it ? not over dollars and cents, but by stupidly not showing loyalty.  No wonder no free agents rarely want to play in Atlanta.  Josh Childress was sick of waiting around for a deal and didn?t want to play games with offer sheets so he left for Greece.  Even their best player Josh Smith ? a kid who grew up in Atlanta! ? had to waste the Memphis Grizzlies? time by getting them to ink him to a pointless offer sheet.  Then conflicting reports over GM Billy Knight and Head Coach Mike Woodson eventually led to the dismissal of Knight, the man who put this team together.  If this team takes a step backward after stupid offseason handlings, the only finger for Atlanta fans to point will be at this seemingly incompetent circle of owners.

Team Outlook

The East is vastly improving every year, and this year we may be privy to its best action in a decade.  While the Hawks reached the postseason a year ago with 37 wins, that may no longer be possible.  While they will have Bibby for the entire season, unlike last year, they are also an injury away from a guaranteed lottery selection.  But if all goes to plan and Randolph Morris can turn into a player, we could see the Hawks sneaking into the postseason?s backdoor once again this season.

- Charlotte Bobcats -

The Bobcats were sent into a tailspin before last season began that they were never able to recover from.  Sean May and Adam Morrison were lost for the season before playing a single game.  The team tried to build around their newly acquired prolific shooting guard but were unable to develop any consistency.  They showed flashes of breaking out with big-time wins across the season and once again enter this year with plenty of talent and high hopes.  Throw in a new Hall of Fame head coach and there is reason to believe in North Carolina.

NBA Draft Picks: D.J. Augustin (No. 9), Alexis Ajinca (No. 20)

Key Additions: Shannon Brown (FA ? Chicago)

Key Losses: Earl Boykins (FA ? Italy), Derek Anderson (FA ? unsigned), Othella Harrington (FA ?unsigned), Kyle Weaver (Drafted No. 38, traded to Oklahoma City)

The selection of D.J. Augustin with the ninth overall selection was quite puzzling.  With broad-shouldered Brook Lopez sitting in the Green Room and the Bobs having no big man that could score at will in the paint, this seemed like a dream scenario for Charlotte.  But no, instead they made Raymond Felton feel 100% insecure about his future with the team by selecting an undersized distributing point guard out of Texas ? a sure sign that Larry Brown loved what he saw and wanted to ?Stephon Marbury? Felton by eventually forcing him into the backup two-guard spot.  On the bright side, this team didn?t really lose anybody worth mentioning, and adding Alexis Ajinca to their NBDL affiliate Sioux Falls Skyforce will be a hilarious storyline to follow all season long.

Burning Questions

- Why did they draft Augustin at No. 9?
- Will Sean May come back and remain healthy?
- Will May bully Augustin to ensure his UNC buddy Ray-Felt will keep his PG job?
- Is Emeka Okafor happy he finally got paid?
- Did Larry Brown realize he had a UNC point guard on his roster before recommending to draft another lottery point guard?
- Can we finally say that Adam Morrison was the worst pick in the history of this young franchise?
- Is it ironic that now its Morrison?s employers who are crying instead of Mr. Tears himself?

Person on the Hot Seat: D.J. Augustin

While it may seem more logical to place Raymond Felton in this slot because of Augustin?s highly touted draft selection and the inherent pressure placed upon Felton to retain his job, I think it will be the other way around.  LB loves UNC guys, and Felton won a title for them.  Throw in Sean May and his UNC title, and there are two guys for LB to immediately trust over the rookie point.  Then recall that LB has a penchant for sitting rookies and secretly hating them for no reason (see Darko ? okay, so maybe he/everyone had a reason).  Add a little bit of ?Hey, is this short bench guy the same guy we picked over Brook Lopez?  The same Brook Lopez who is quietly putting up 17 points per game in Jersey while we have Nazr Mohammad sleep-walking through 90% of each game?? from the fan perspective.  And finally, you are going to have Augustin feeling like he is alone on an island with Adam Morrison as the only person who will talk to him ? which is a feeling that no man should have to suffer through.

Team Outlook

They have the talent, but will they have the health?  While the team immediately improves with the health of May and possibly Morrison, they still won?t have what it takes to make a dent into the league this year.  They are too slim in the big man department, and their backcourt doesn?t have enough to carry them.  Plus, we all saw how Larry Brown did the last time he was a head coach.  Expect the same type of 30-35 win season for the third straight year.

- Miami Heat -

Talk about a turnaround.  Just two years removed from their NBA Finals championship after being down 0-2 to the Mavs, the 2007-08 Miami Heat were one of the worst teams in NBA history.  They only won a franchise record-tying total of 15 games and were actually negative levels of fun to watch ? except when Blake Ahearn was on the floor.  They traded Shaq to Phoenix, D-Wade was nowhere to be found for half the season ? like that mattered, and they watched James Posey walk away and be a key contributor to the Boston title immediately.  I mean, they actually lost to the Knicks three times last year ? yes, the New York Knicks.

NBA Draft Picks: Michael Beasley (No. 2), Mario Chalmers (No. 34 ? traded from Minnesota)

Key Additions: Shaun Livingston (FA ? L.A. Clippers), James Jones (FA ? Portland), Jamaal Magloire (FA ? Dallas), Yakhouba Diawara (FA ? Denver), David Padgett (FA ? undrafted), Jason Richards (FA - undrafted), Eddie Basden (FA), Omar Barlett (FA)

Key Losses: Jason Williams (retired), Ricky Davis (FA ? L.A. Clippers), Earl Barron (FA ? Italy), Stephane Lasme (waived), Alexander Johnson (waived), Bobby Jones (waived), Matt Walsh (waived)

Despite the sorrows of last season, there is actually more optimism in South Beach than in most NBA cities for this season and beyond as Michael Beasley landed in their laps with the second pick.  Then they watched as Kevin McHale and the Timberwolves were too giddy to sustain normal life after making two great selections on Draft Night, landing USC stud O.J. Mayo and NCAA title game hero Mario Chalmers.  Miami then sat back and waited for McHale to realize he hadn?t made a mistake yet and immediately pounced on McHale, offering nothing of real value for Kansas? perfect big game point guard.  (Even funnier is that McHale later traded Mayo to Memphis for Kevin Love and Mike Miller and immediately regretted his decision to trade Chalmers and went from adding two great young guard prospects to having none.)  Anyway, add in a recharged Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion in a contract year to the Beez and Chalmers at the Beach, and all of a sudden Miami has a strong nucleus.  Throw in the low risk, high reward pickup of Shaun Livingston, the steady Udonis Haslem, the streaky Daequan Cook, and the bench work of James Jones, and this team could make some moves this season.  

Burning Questions

- Is Dwyane Wade ready to play how he played in the Olympics this year?
- Will Shawn Marion be the perfect compliment to Wade and Beasley?
- Will fans still sport their home white Blake Ahearn jerseys now that the star point is gone?
- How will Livingston respond to increased activity on his knee?
- Is Chalmers the starter after the first month?  On opening night?
- Will Jamaal Magloire average 13 and 10 like he did in 2003-04?

Person on the Hot Seat: Dwyane Wade

Many people argue about whether or not to classify D-Wade in the same context as LeBron.  Sure, Wade has a ring while LeBron doesn?t, but he also had Riley, Shaq, Posey, Zo, Payton, etc. against Dirk?s pushover troops while LeBron?s best wingman was Big Z against the mighty Spurs.  After last season, when the dreaded Heat finished 15-67 overall and 8-43 with Wade, the answer was clearly ?No.?  Could you ever see a LeBron-led team going 8-43, regardless of whomhis supporting cast is?  Not anymore.  But after these past Olympics, we may be singing a different tune this season.  Wade was a force for USA and will have to bring that type of tenacity to the floor for his teammates in Miami.  With loads of talent surrounding him, another season in the lottery would be unacceptable and seal his fate a level below King James.

Team Outlook

This team should make the playoffs.  They have two All Star players, and potentially a third with the most talented player in the Draft.  They have plenty of role playing bench guys who will make immediate invaluable contributions.  The only real problem is the rookie coach and the lack of a bona fide starting point guard, assuming Livingston?s knee still isn?t 100%.  Either way, if Wade wants to prove himself this season, he will get them back to the playoffs.

- Orlando Magic -

The Magic took giant steps last season under Coach Stan Van Gundy.  Dwight Howard elevated his post game with the help of assistant coach and former paint legend Patrick Ewing.  Orlando won a playoff series and put up a decent fight against the seasoned Detroit Pistons.  But their biggest problem was depth up front and not enough at the point.  Did they improve over the summer?  Let?s take a look?

NBA Draft Picks: Courtney Lee (No. 22)

Key Additions: Mickael Pietrus (FA ?Golden State), Anthony Johnson (FA ? Sacramento), Dwayne Jones (FA ? Cleveland), Jeremy Richardson (FA ? Atlanta), Mike Wilks (FA ? Seattle)

Key Losses: Keyon Dooling (trade ? New Jersey), Maurice Evans (FA ? Atlanta), Carlos Arroyo (FA ? Isreal) , Pat Garrity (retired), James Augustine (waived)

The Magic made some questionable moves this offseason and might have shaken the pot too much without actually improving themselves.  Gone are three valuable guard rotation guys in Evans, Dooling, and Arroyo.  In to replace them are Mickael Pietrus, Anthony Johnson, and Courtney Lee.  But did they actually improve?  And where does this leave J.J. Redick?  They immediately get an upgrade because Tony Battie figures to be back and healthy this year ? so that helps their big man situation.  But behind Dwight and pseudo-PF Rashard Lewis sits Battie, Adonal Foyle, and maybe Brian Cook.  That is still very, very weak.  Also, Jameer Nelson has been criticized for not being a top flight point who is capable of leading this team, so they go out and get a career backup like the timeless Anthony Johnson?  The jury is still out on whether this team took a step forward or took a step back.

Burning Questions

- Will Dwight Howard continue to develop his offensive game?
- Is this the year the Magic get a true point guard to lead them?
- Will Courtney Lee build off his surprising run in the NCAA tourney and play a factor for Orlando this season?
- Is Redick done in Florida?
- Will Hedo Turkoglu walk after this season if he continues to play out of his mind?
- Is Pietrus any better than Evans?  
- How is Adonal Foyle still making money? From two teams!? (Warriors will pay him nearly $7M this season to play with Howard)

Person on the Hot Seat: Jameer Nelson

In his fourth season in the league, Jameer took a step back from scoring and finished the season with a career-high 5.6 assists per game.  This was an inevitable trend after Rashard Lewis was brought in to take advantage of Nelson?s ability to slash through the paint and find an open shooter.  However, Nelson?s scoring numbers were down to 10.9 points per game, his lowest since averaging 8.7 his rookie season.  While Nelson improved his assist numbers, he really isn?t pulling his weight as the team?s point guard.  His 5.6 assists were good for 20th best among point guards, behind the likes of Sebastian Telfair (5.9) and just ahead of Anthony Carter (5.5).  For the Magic to have that many shooters spreading the floor and a roaming big man capable of alley-ooping nearly any pass in his direction, a guy like Chris Paul could easily triple the output of assists that Nelson is providing for the team.  Is it fair to compare Jameer to CP3?  No.  But if he wants to remain the point guard for Orlando in 2009-10, he needs to make  a statement of his worth here in 2008-09.

Team Outlook

The Magic had a monster year with 52 wins last season, but I don?t foresee similar results.  While they have taken a baby step backward, other teams in the conference have improved.  The Heat will no longer be four pushover games, and the Wizards hope to come to the floor healthy and prepared this year.  Orlando had bragging rights on the division last year but will have to battle to earn those rights again this year.

- Washington Wizards -

Injuries.  That?s the storyline of these Washington Wizards of recent years.  They have a gamut of talent, superstars on the floor, promising young role players, an exceptional coach, and yet ? injuries keep nipping this team in the heel.  With Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison re-upping for HUGE deals this past offseason to remain in DC, there are some high expectations for this surging franchise?if they can stay healthy.  And after Jamison had to be helped off the floor in the Tuesday?s first preseason game with a sprained right knee, Washington fans can only cross their fingers and hope for the best this season.

NBA Draft: JaVale McGee (No. 18)

Key Additions: Dee Brown (FA ? Utah), Juan Dixon (FA ? Detroit), Linton Johnson (FA ? Phoenix), DerMarr Johnson (FA ? San Antonio), Taj McCullough (FA)

Key Losses: Roger Mason (FA ? San Antonio)

The good news for the Wiz that doesn?t show up in the Key Additions section is that big man Etan Thomas is back and ready for action this season.  His presence immediately makes their big man rotation stronger.  With an already stacked starting five, and a bevy of talent on the second team ? Antonio Daniels, Nick Young, Dominic McGuire, and Andray Blatche ? the Wizards could afford to draft for the future by taking a flier on the raw big man out of Nevada, JaVale McGee.  Scouts I talked to at the Draft indicated that he could become a force if he can add 20-30 lbs of muscle ? much like Amir Johnson has done for Detroit over the past three years ? or become the next best NBDL star.  While the loss of Roger Mason to the Spurs will hurt, the Wizards acted fast and replaced him with longtime DC favorite Juan Dixon.

Burning Questions

- Will The Washington Big Three get to play 30 games together this year? 50? 5?
- Will Nick Young elevate his game to the next level?
- Is JaVale destined for a life in the NBDL?
- Will Dee Brown crack the rotation?
- Will DerMarr Johnson survive camp?
- How will the loss of Brendan Haywood for six months hurt their inside game?

Person on the Hot Seat: Gilbert Arenas

Agent Zero is finally gettin? paid!  He was given the $111M deal he wanted and is now set to blog away his tears of joy.  So now that Washington held up to its end of the agreement and paid their enigmatic star the money he ?deserves?, how will he overcome his recent string of injuries and put his team into the second round of the playoffs?  And beyond?  Superstar players get their team deep into the playoffs while overpaid, selfish, prima donnas don?t.  Just ask Tracy McGrady.  Does Gilbert want to be remembered as the most overpaid blogger in history with a flair for hitting buzzer beaters and ultimately coming up short?  Or does he want to be remembered as the guy who not only put the Wizards back on the map but also built them into a championship caliber team?

Team Outlook

Once again, it all depends on injuries.  This team has an extremely talented team on paper and three guys who can carry the team for weeks at a time.  If they can play together and have a season without turmoil and avoid frequent dissension in the locker room, the Wizards can reign not only above their division foes but also atop the conference.

Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions.