{"id":815708,"date":"2026-08-19T13:00:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T13:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/815708\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T13:00:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T13:00:29","slug":"nba-southeast-division-offseason-reset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/815708\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Southeast Division Offseason Reset"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AtlantaAtlanta Hawks<\/p>\n

Luxury Tax$3.9 million under<\/p>\n

First Apron$11.3 million underFirst-apron hard cap<\/p>\n

For a second summer in a row, the Hawks continued to tinker with their roster. Atlanta was the beneficiary of both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Sacramento Kings needing to move off some salary. The Hawks picked up Aaron Wiggins in one trade with the Thunder, then Lu Dort in a subsequent deal. Atlanta also added Devin Carter in a deal with the Sacramento Kings.<\/p>\n

Wiggins and Dort are established rotation-level players for a championship level team, as they proved with Oklahoma City. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder has to be salivating at the idea of unleashing Dort, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker as perimeter defensive trio. Wiggins should provide Atlanta with consistent wing scoring off the bench.<\/p>\n

Carter is more of a flyer. He was highly thought of as part of the 2024 draft class. It never quite came together for Carter with the Kings, but as a developmental project, the Hawks are in a good spot here.<\/p>\n

Atlanta did give up on Zaccharie Risacher, but it was clear the team\u2019s improved wing group was going to be hard for Risacher to crack. Normally, it\u2019d be a bad look to trade away a former first-overall pick this early. However, given Risacher landed in between Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg as the top pick, most just seem to empathize with the Hawks. That deal also brought in Dort, so it might have been best to sell while Risacher still had at least neutral value.<\/p>\n

As of this writing, Jonathan Kuminga\u2019s status is still unresolved. He could return to Atlanta, but that seems unlikely. Don\u2019t write off the Hawks getting something valuable for Kuminga in return for helping to facilitate a sign-and-trade.<\/p>\n

At the draft, the Hawks added three interesting prospects in Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar. Flemings should be a part of the guard rotation right away and will likely be the team\u2019s long-term starting point guard, should he develop. The defensive skills are there, and despite poor shooting in Summer League, that\u2019s not really a worry for Flemings. A year or two of apprenticing under C.J. McCollum will do him well.<\/p>\n

Ejiofor is a do-everything, defensive-minded player. The 6-foot-9 forward can guard up against bigger players because he plays so hard and is long and athletic. He\u2019s also quick enough to defend out on the perimeter. The biggest question with Ejiofor is his jumper. If he starts knocking down outside shots, Atlanta has a major steal.<\/p>\n

The Hawks ended up winning a bit of a bidding war for Veesaar after he slipped in the draft. Atlanta jumped the Los Angeles Lakers to snag the 7-footer late in the second round. The opportunities are there for Veesaar to play right away. If he can give the team a stretch element on offense, with some rim protection on defense, that\u2019s a win.<\/p>\n

The Hawks have a couple of waivers to make, but there aren\u2019t any no-brainer cuts looming. Buddy Hield seems the most likely, but his $9.6 million contract could be a nice piece of salary-matching in a trade. Mouhamed Gueye is someone the Hawks like quite a bit, but his contract is non-guaranteed and he\u2019s likely to miss the start of the season due to a broken foot. Keep an eye on trades here too, as Atlanta may prefer to send someone out to get something back, rather than just waiving a player.<\/p>\n

On the extension front, the big names to watch are Onyeka Okongwu and Lu Dort. Okongwu has two years left on his current deal, so this one could end up carrying over to next summer. Dort is on an expiring deal, so his situation is a bit more pressing. Atlanta may choose to see how things go with Dort before locking into a long-term deal.<\/p>\n

The Hawks have a really solid roster. They\u2019ve rebuilt things for the team to orbit around Jalen Johnson, who made the leap last season. Atlanta is lacking a bit of frontcourt depth, but that\u2019s something they can sort out as the season goes along. The Eastern Conference is deeper than it\u2019s been in years, but the Hawks continue to push forward in a big way.<\/p>\n


\nReturning Players (12)
\n <\/p>\n


\nAdditions (8)
\n <\/p>\n


\nSubtractions (6)
\n <\/p>\n

Roster Status
\n
\nThe Hawks are two players over the regular season maximum of 15 players on standard contracts <\/p>\n

Remaining Exceptions
\n
\n$5.5 million of Bi-Annuel Exception
\n$4.5 TPE (expires 9\/16\/26 – Kobe Bufkin) <\/p>\n

Extension Eligible Players
\n
\nLu Dort – Veteran Extension
\nMohamed Gueye – Veteran Extension
\nBuddy Hield – Veteran Extension
\nOnyeka Okongwu – Veteran Extension (as of October 1) <\/p>\n

\"CharlotteCharlotte Hornets<\/p>\n

Luxury Tax$20.7 million under<\/p>\n

First Apron$28.8 million underFirst-apron hard cap<\/p>\n

The Hornets had a big offseason, by moving on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges in separate trades. That\u2019s two long-term starters leaving Charlotte. However, the Hornets don\u2019t intend to take any steps back, after making real improvements last year.<\/p>\n

Despite losing Ball\u2019s playmaking, the Hornets added more shooting and scoring. Naz Reid gives the team a long-term answer at the power forward spot. After years of being one of the top backup big men in the league, Reid will be a regular starter for Charlotte this year.<\/p>\n

Grayson Allen and Royce O\u2019Neale were acquired in the Bridges trade. Allen is another good shooter and a better-then-you-think ballhandler and playmaker in the backcourt. O\u2019Neale is a 3&D option to add to the wing\/forward mix.<\/p>\n

In a recent deal, the Hornets added Dennis Schroder for Tre Mann. Schroder gives Charlotte an experienced backup point guard behind the re-signed Coby White. While Schroder won\u2019t be an exact replacement for Ball, he will give head coach Charles Lee a veteran he can rely on. In addition, because White can swing to the off-guard spot, he and Schroder can play together in some lineups.<\/p>\n

At the draft, Charlotte strengthened their depth by selecting Christian Anderson Jr. and Hannes Steinbach. Both players are expected to eventually become key reserves, but with the additions of Reid and Schroder, neither young player should be pressed to play too early.<\/p>\n

The Hornets still have work to do with extensions. Brandon Miller is up for his first extension, but there haven\u2019t been any reports that one is close. Miller has shown considerable promise, and has improved throughout his first three seasons, but injuries have remained an issue. With Victor Wembanyama taking \u201conly\u201d the 25% of the cap max, that could put a ceiling on what Miller – the second overall pick in the same draft – could sign for. Charlotte would like to get Miller extended, as they don\u2019t want to risk dealing with a cap space team throwing a big offer sheet his way next summer, should Miller put together an All-Star type of season.<\/p>\n

Moussa Diabate is also up for an extension, albeit closer to the trade deadline. He\u2019s broken out with Charlotte and become a solid, if undersized, starting center. Neemias Queta\u2019s four-year, $56 million extension with the Boston Celtics sets somewhat of a precedent for Diabate. Queta is more established and his game is more well-rounded, but it still provides some context for what Diabate could be looking for. The Hornets also have to consider the presence of Ryan Kalkbrenner and rookie Hannes Steinbach. If Charlotte sees them as most cost-efficient options, they may play hardball with Diabate.<\/p>\n

The Hornets are set up to continue their climb up the standings. Charlotte just missed out on a playoff spot last year. Despite trading Ball and Bridges, the Hornets have enough talent to make another playoff push this season. Breaking a decade-long playoff drought is the goal for this up-and-coming team.<\/p>\n


\nReturning Players (11)
\n <\/p>\n


\nAdditions (9)
\n <\/p>\n


\nSubtractions (6)
\n <\/p>\n

Roster Status
\n
\nThe Hornets are two players over the regular season maximum of 15 players on standard contracts <\/p>\n

Remaining Exceptions
\n
\n$40.7 million TPE (expires 7\/10\/27 – LaMelo Ball)
\n$8.2 million TPE (expires 2\/4\/27 – Collin Sexton)
\n7.0 million TPE (expires 2\/5\/27 – Tyus Jones) <\/p>\n

Extension Eligible Players
\n
\nMoussa Diabate – Veteran Extension (as of February 8)
\nBrandon Miller – Rookie Scale Extension
\nRoyce O\u2019Neale – Veteran Extension
\nGrant Williams – Veteran Extension <\/p>\n

\"MiamiMiami Heat<\/p>\n

Luxury Tax$2.3 million under<\/p>\n

First Apron$10.8 million underFirst-apron hard cap<\/p>\n

For several years, the Heat have thrown their hat the ring whenever a superstar has been available. This time, they landed one of the biggest ones around. After years of speculated trades, Giannis Antetokounmpo is headed to Miami.<\/p>\n

Getting Antetokounmpo is no doubt an enormous coup. Despite some injuries in recent years, the veteran forward is full-blown superstar who can drive team success almost on his own. That\u2019s good because the Heat roster remains somewhat unfinished.<\/p>\n

The trade for Antetokounmpo cost Miami a lot of their depth. Key rotation regulars Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel\u2019el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis were traded to Milwaukee. In addition, because the Heat added Bobby Portis in the trade, they were unable to re-sign Norman Powell.<\/p>\n

Portis will give Miami a solid three-big rotation with Antetokounmpo and holdover team leader Bam Adebayo. Miami also extended Andrew Wiggins, after he picked up his player option, to give the team an overall very good starting frontcourt.<\/p>\n

In the backcourt, Tim Hardaway Jr. signed on after putting together a terrific season with the Denver Nuggets. Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson both return, as well. Mitchell will start at point guard, while Larsson could start at shooting guard, if the Heat want to keep Hardaway in the sixth-man role that he\u2019s excelled in.<\/p>\n

Simone Fontecchio re-signed to give the team some shooting at the forward position. Miami is hoping this is the year when Nikola Jovic stays healthy and puts it all together. If so, the team\u2019s depth will be better than expected, especially in the frontcourt.<\/p>\n

The Heat roster is still incomplete. The team has three open standard roster spots, of which they\u2019ll likely fill at least two. Expect those spots to go to a backup guard and potentially another wing or a true backup center.<\/p>\n

On the extension front, Antetokounmpo is eligible to extend on October 1, but an extension may be delayed until January, when the trade is six months out. That way Antetokounmpo can extend for up to four-years and $275 million (if he declines his player option for 2027-28). If Antetokounmpo extends when he\u2019s eligible, he can add only two more years to his deal.<\/p>\n

Pelle Larsson is also eligible to extend. The Heat could try to get him locked into a new deal before he reaches restricted free agency next summer. With several teams having cap space, and Larsson having developed into a good rotation guard, he could draw an offer sheet from a team that needs backcourt depth.<\/p>\n

Because they lack depth, Miami is a tier below the best teams in the Eastern Conference. If the Heat can figure out how to add quality backups, they\u2019ll be in the mix to win the conference come playoff time.<\/p>\n


\nReturning Players (9)
\n <\/p>\n


\nAdditions (5)
\n <\/p>\n


\nSubtractions (8)
\n <\/p>\n

Roster Status
\n
\nThe Miami Heat have three open standard roster spots and one open two-way roster spot. <\/p>\n

Remaining Exceptions
\n
\n$8.9 million of Non-Taxpayer MLE
\n$5.5 million BAE <\/p>\n

Extension Eligible Players
\n
\nGiannis Antetokounmpo – Veteran Extension (as of October 1)
\nPelle Larsson – Veteran Extension
<\/p>\n

\"OrlandoOrlando Magic<\/p>\n

Luxury Tax$17.4 million over<\/p>\n

First Apron$10.2 million over<\/p>\n

Second Apron$2.5 million under<\/p>\n

It was a pretty quiet offseason for Orlando, but that was always the expectation. With most of the roster under contract and the team pressed up against the second apron, the Magic weren\u2019t likely to do much.<\/p>\n

Nikola Vucevic returned to Orlando on a veteran minimum contract. He gives the Magic even more depth at the center position, as well as some floor-spacing ability at the five.<\/p>\n

Orlando re-signed Jevon Carter, who has been an ideal fourth guard behind starters Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs, and backup Anthony Black. The Magic also brought back Jonathan Isaac on a veteran minimum deal after waiving him. The team\u2019s been through a lot with Isaac and sees him as someone who can still give them solid defense in the frontcourt.<\/p>\n

The Magic have one open roster spot, but with the team barlely below the second apron, it\u2019s unlikely that they\u2019ll fill it until we\u2019re in-season.<\/p>\n

Desmond Bane and Goga Bitadze are both eligible to sign extensions, but it\u2019s unlikely that either will extend. Bane still has three years left on his deal, so there\u2019s no reason he needs to be extended now. Bitadze has shuffled in and out of the rotation during his time with Orlando. That will likely continue, with Vucevic back in the fold. And, with all the money invested elsewhere on the roster, the Magic don\u2019t need to lock into even more salary for a backup center.<\/p>\n

Locking into more salary with Anthony Black could be a different story. He\u2019s eligible to extend, but Orlando already has nearly $242 million committed to the backcourt of Bane and Suggs over the next four seasons. Black has improved greatly throughout his first three seasons, and he\u2019s deserving of a new contract. But this might be a situation where the Magic have to let things play out to restricted free agency next summer. The finances are tough to support another extension of north of $20 million, which is what Black has earned.<\/p>\n

Orlando is banking on the arrival of new head coach Sean Sweeney, combined with better health across the roster, resulting in a better regular season and deeper playoff run. The talent is certainly there. If Paolo Banchero and Franz Wanger can stay healthy, the team has enough to make a real push this season, even a much deeper Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n


\nReturning Players (15)
\n <\/p>\n


\nAdditions (2)
\n <\/p>\n


\nSubtractions (2)
\n <\/p>\n

Roster Status
\n
\nThe Magic have one open standard roster spot. <\/p>\n

Remaining Exceptions
\n
\n$6.1 million Taxpayer MLE
\nBAE unavailable due to being over the first apron
\n$7.0 million TPE (expires 2\/4\/27 – Tyus Jones) <\/p>\n

Extension Eligible Players
\n
\nDesmond Bane – Veteran Extension
\nAnthony Black – Rookie Scale Extension
\nGoga Bitadze – Veteran Extension <\/p>\n

\"WashingtonWashington Wizards<\/p>\n

Luxury Tax$10.9 million under<\/p>\n

First Apron$19.5 million underFirst-apron hard cap<\/p>\n

The Wizards didn\u2019t have a lot of roster turnover, but they did bring in impactful additions.<\/p>\n

At the draft, A.J. Dybantsa was the first overall pick. Nothing we saw in Dybantsa\u2019s brief Summer League appearance did anything to take away from the excitement about his future. Dybantsa looks like he\u2019ll be a quality starter early in his career and he projects to be an eventual All-Star.<\/p>\n

The rest of Washington\u2019s summer work revolved around veterans. Trae Young opted out and re-signed with the Wizards on a four-year, $213 million contract. It wasn\u2019t a full max deal for Young, but it was close. The Wizards view him as their long-term starting point guard and an ideal fit on a roster that combines veteran talent with high-potential prospects.<\/p>\n

In a pair of deals, the Wizards traded for Deandre Ayton and completed a sign-and-trade to bring back Khris Middleton. Ayton will give Washington a veteran backup center behind Alex Sarr, who is working his way back from offseason surgery for a fractured right foot.<\/p>\n

(As an aside: Sarr made a massive leap last season. He was really good for a Wizards team that didn\u2019t have a lot to play for. Sarr looks like the long-term answer at center for Washington and being an eventual All-Star isn\u2019t out of reach.)<\/p>\n

Middleton was well-liked in his prior stint with the Wizards. The team valued his mentorship for young wings like Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Will Riley. Washington is also excited for Middleton to work with Dybantsa, as there are some similarities in their games.<\/p>\n

Moving forward, the Wizards have possible extensions to work out for Bilal Coulibaly and Anthony Davis. Cam Whitmore is also extension-eligible, but he\u2019s coming off an injury and not likely to be extended.<\/p>\n

Davis and Washington have both expressed that they plan to see how things go before locking into any kind of long-term extension. That means that if Davis is extended in-season, he\u2019ll have to decline his 2027-28 player option. Otherwise, Davis could pick up that option and extend off that salary next summer. Or he could opt out and re-sign, similar to what Young did this summer. First through, Davis has to stay healthy and prove to be a good fit with the young Wizards.<\/p>\n

Coulibaly likely won\u2019t extend, unless the deal is fairly team-friendly. His development has somewhat stagnated, and Washington is now loaded with wing options. Unless an unexpected trade clears out some of that logjam, it\u2019s unlikely the Wizards will want to give a sizeable new deal to Coulibaly this summer. Because Washington can make him a restricted free agent next summer, Coulibaly will probably have to play out the season.<\/p>\n

The Wizards should be a lot better next season. Most of the team\u2019s young players have improved greatly over the last couple of seasons. Having vets like Davis, Young and Middleton around all season will help. Dybantsa is a franchise building block. Making a playoff push might be too big of a step for Washington this season in an improved Eastern Conference. But a rapid ascension like what the Detroit Pistons have done can\u2019t be ruled out.<\/p>\n


\nReturning Players (13)
\n <\/p>\n


\nAdditions (4)
\n <\/p>\n


\nSubtractions (5)
\n <\/p>\n

Roster Status
\n
\nThe Wizards have one open standard roster spot. <\/p>\n

Remaining Exceptions
\n
\n$15.0 million Non-Taxpayer MLE
\n$6.0 million TPE (expires 7\/7\/27 – Jaden Hardy)
\n5.9 million TPE (expires 7\/8\/27 – D\u2019Angelo Russell) <\/p>\n

Extension Eligible Players
\n
\nBilal Coulibaly – Rookie Scale Extension
\nAnthony Davis – Veteran Extension
\nCam Whitmore – Rookie Scale Extension <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Atlanta Hawks Luxury Tax$3.9 million under First Apron$11.3 million underFirst-apron hard cap For a second summer in a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":815709,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3776],"tags":[740,676,208,3874,7,2102,677,6,97663,67,381,3431,25800],"class_list":["post-815708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-atlanta-hawks","tag-analysis","tag-atlanta","tag-atlanta-hawks","tag-atlantahawks","tag-basketball","tag-contract","tag-hawks","tag-nba","tag-nba-southeast-division-offseason-reset","tag-news","tag-report","tag-research","tag-spotrac"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/117122303932146349","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/815708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=815708"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/815708\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/815709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=815708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=815708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=815708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}