2019 Southeast NBA Free Agency Primer – The under performing division

With one day until the 2019 NBA Free Agency moratorium begins the Southeast Division enters with the teams in greatest need of roster turnover but little maneuverability in salary.

Only one Southeast Division team made the postseason (Orlando Magic) last year and it took until Game 82 to nail down their seed. Kemba Walker is among the top tier talents in this division although there are a number of next tier talents who’ll impact roster shifts during the 2019 NBA free agency.

Still, barring a team pulling off a blockbuster (read: the Wizards trading Bradley Beal) this division appears to be headed for another season in lottery purgatory.

Of the five teams, two need to get through another season of bad contracts (Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat), one will be massively fun to watch (Atlanta Hawks) and may be the Kings of the East this coming year, one is mired in injury and lack of depth (Washington Wizards) and the final squad (the Orlando Magic) might be just an elite starting caliber point guard away from rising up the ladder to contend for home court.

Suffice to say I expect this division to almost completely emulate last season with a lack of contenders.