2018-19 NBA Pre-season (Southeast)

Hawks
Out: Damion Lee, Josh Magette, Malcolm Delaney, Isiah Taylor, Andrew White, (the rights to Isiah Cordinier), (2020 2nd rd pick), Jaylen Morris, Antonius Cleveland, Dennis Shroeder, Mike Muscala
I was always kinda dubious on Shroeder as a team leader but he was dangerously talented and considering the Hawks are absolutely not trying to win games this year, it was wise to move him out. Muscala is a nice hard working vet, fan favorite, but not part of the future plans. I'm surprised they weren't able to bring back Delaney, thought he had enough promise to try for another low pressure year. Lee, Magette, Taylor, White, Morris, Cleveland and even Cordinier and a 2020 2nd rd pick were not highly prized assets.

In: Jalyen Adams, Kevin Huerter, Trae Young, Omari Spellman, Jeremy Lin, (2023 pick swap w/ Nets), (2025 Nets 2nd rd pick), Alex Len, Alex Poythress, Justin Anderson, (2020 Thunder 1st rd pick), Daniel Hamilton, Vince Carter, Thomas Robinson, RJ Hunter, Cole Aldrich
Okay, the Young-Huerter-Spellman era begins now. The idea is to remake the Warriors...good luck with that. I was not as high as the Hawks on Young in the NCAA, I don't know Hueter at all and Spellman was nice but you'd really have to squint to see Draymond Green, so I don't have high hopes for this formula. Surrounding them with cast off vets (Vince Carter, Lin, Aldrich) and 2nd chance youngsters (Robinson, Len, Hunter) makes them likely to play without much chance of getting W's, which definitely matches this year's goal of getting high draft picks. The Hawks have the #1 pick on their mind and I think they've got a good shot at getting it.

Re-signed: (none)

All in all
This team is not meant to win and I don't think they will. So...mission accomplished. (Still wouldn't be surprised to see them flip the fun and dangerous Kent Bazemore for the staid and unspectacular George Hill--a backup PG that won't bring W's is what they're looking for, right?) They want that #1 pick (and they have the Mavs and Cavs 1st rounders, too, so they're already looking to the 2019 draft.


Heat
Out: Jordan Mickey, Luke Babbit, Derrick Walton Jr
Okay, not much to see here.

In: Duncan Robinson, Yante Maten, Briante Weber, Jarnell Stokes, Charles Cooke, Deandre Liggins
Okay, not much to see here either.

Re-signed: Derrick Jones Jr, Wayne Ellington, Udonis Haslem, Dwayne Wade
Okay, same old-same old here.

All in all
Man, they got a lot of overpaid, old guys here. And they brought back Haslem and Wade! It wasn't long ago that I really loved where this team was going but that time has past, I don't get any of this roster any more. I still like Coach Spoelstra and I've long been a Goran Dragic fan but unless Josh Richardson, Justice Winslow and Bam Adebato really blow up--all of which are possible--then I don't see the Heat being any higher than 8th overall and I don't see how they compete in the playoffs. (These guys are gonna be in on every trade rumor all year long)


Hornets
Out: Marcus Paige, Treveon Graham, Michael Carter-Williams, Dwight Howard, (2021 2nd rd pick), Mangok Mathiang, Arnoldas Kubolka, Julyan Stone
I'd say this is no big deal but getting rid of Dwight Howard is always a big deal--just ask the last 4 teams that got rid of him!

In: JP Macura, Miles Bridges, Tony Parker, Devonte Graham, (2019 Thunder 2nd rd pick), Bismack Biyombo, Isaih Wilkins, Joe Chealey, Jaylen Barford, Zack Smith, (2019 Magic 2nd rd pick), (2020 Magic 2nd rd pick), (2020 Clippers 2nd rd pick), (2021 Clippers 2nd rd pick)
Bridges and Graham are kinda promising rookies but the Hornets' spotty draft record (they have a great eye for so-so players) does not bode well for them going forward. Tony Parker and (Bobcats legend) Bismack Biyombo are not the big guns Hornet fans are hungering for. Macura, Wilkins, Chealey, Barfield, and Smith are probably G-Leaguers or pre-season castoffs.

Re-signed: (none)

All in all
Man, that's a really expensive roster for a mediocre team. And they're still expensive next year and that's before they re-sign Kemba. Ugh. Oh it's cool: they've got a ton of 2nd rd picks, so no worries. I guess this team could compete with the Pistons and Cavs for the 8th spot, but unless Kemba blows up  in his walk year or Bridges turns into a ROY candidate, I don't see them any higher than that.


Magic
Out: Jamel Artis, Shelvin Mack, Aaron Aflalo, Mario Hezonja, Marreesse Speights, Bismack Biyombo, (2019 2nd rd pick), (2020 2nd rd pick), Rodney Purvis, (the rights to Tyler Harvey)
The Magic are a team going in the wrong direction for a while now and while it might seem necessary to move on from vets like Mack, Aflalo, Speights and Hezonja, uh, I'm not sure getting rid of them makes this team better.

In: Mo Bamba, Isiah Briscoe, Melvin Frazier, Timofey Mozgov, Jerian Grant, Troy Caupain, Braian Angola-Rhodas, Jarrell Martin, Amile Jefferson, (rights to Justin Jackson), (Nuggets 2019 2nd rd pick), BJ Johnson, Devin Davis
Okay, Bamba has great upside but...what are any of these other moves for?

Re-signed: Aaron Gordon, Jonathon Isaac (team option),
I love Gordon and frankly they had to keep him. We haven't seen much of Isaac yet but I'll trust that the Magic like him (though I don't trust that that means anything).

All in all
I dunno, man, I don't see how this team is better than last year--and they were awful last year! Seriously? DJ Augustin is the starting PG? They just drafted Olapdipo and Peyton and now they have a 10 year vet--that was never particularly noteworthy in that 10 years!--as their guy going forward? Jeez, who's running this team? The Hawks have pretty well staked their claim to the #1 pick but I can see Orlando giving them a run for it. I think Aaron Gordon may finally have that breakout year, I'm curious to see Isaac and Bamba but otherwise this will be a long year for the Magic.


Wizards
Out: Marcin Gortat, Mike Scott, Tim Frazier, Chris McCullough
Gortat clashed with Wall but he still could've been useful for them. Scott and Frazier were pretty good role players in small minutes. I always like what I saw in McCullough but apparently his time in the league is done.

In: Austin Rivers, Dwight Howard, Jeff Green, Thomas Bryant, Troy Brown, Chasson Randle, Isuf Sanon, Chris Chiozza, Jordan McRae, Tiwain Kendley, Lavoy Allen
Rivers gives them a conscious-less combo guard off the bench. Howard gives them rebounding (though if Wall didn't like Gortat, is he gonna like Howard?). Green gives them scoring off the bench (once every five games). The rest are just trying to catch on.

Re-signed: Jodie Meeks (player option)
Meeks used to be a solid filler-upper...but, man, that was a long time ago.

All in all
Are you getting pumped Wizards fans? Howard, Green and Austin Rivers? Oh man, that's a lot of grumpy non-production right there. Wall and Beal are still capable of getting better, Oubre and Porter can both still take big jumps forward. But do Rivers, Green and Howard (and Markieff) form a quality backup crew? I think they limp into the playoffs (again) but I can't see them being dominant in any way.