NSL Division Preview: Southeast

The Southeast Division, within the Eastern Conference, is poised to have arguably its most successful showing in 2022-2023. As an aggregate, all five teams have no incentive to lose and have built rosters with the intend making the playoffs, at the very least.
Let�s take a closer look at each team, running an eye on their roster, asset portfolio, talent and aspirations for the season ahead.

Charlotte Hornets

Roster:

MVP calibre � Luka Doncic
Great players � Chris Paul, Fred Vanvleet
Good players � Brook Lopez, Chris Boucher, Seth Curry, Will Barton
Role players � Malik Beasley, Frank Kaminsky, Noah Vonleh, Ish Smith, Garrison Matthews, Austin Rivers,
Prospects � David Duke
Fodder � Udonis Haslem

Portfolio:

Firsts: �24, �26
Seconds: -
Rights: Seven players

The team looks primed again to finish right at the top of the Eastern Conference. Luka Doncic�s trajectory to league-MVP is right on track, as the wunderkind turns into a basketball demi-god. The Hornets also boast one of the best second-in-charge players in the league, in Point God Chris Paul. The Hornets arguably have the best playmaking in the entire league, and have done a great job surrounding them with shooting talent. It snuck up on me how much shooting prowess they now boast � Seth Curry, Fred Vanvleet, Brook Lopez, Frank Kaminsky lead the way and are all really good to great shooters. Where the Hornets will struggle is on the defensive end and corralling rebounds. However, their offense is so potent, they will remain amongst the NSL�s elite teams.


Washington Wizards

Roster:

MVP calibre � Joel Embiid, Devin Booker
Great players � Desmond Bane, Kyle Lowry, Victor Oladipo
Good players � Marcus Morris Sr, Danny Green, Rudy Gay
Role players � Xavier Tillman, Javonte Green, Isaiah Roby,
Prospects � Greg Brown, Christian Braun, Naji Marshall, Charles Bassey

Portfolio:

Firsts: �23, �24, �26
Seconds: Two
Rights: Karlo Matkovic

Right on the tail of Charlotte, if not surpassing them, are the Washington Wizards. Joshua and his Wizards have had successful seasons in each campaign, but each have left the fans longing for more. Honourable losses and �hey, at least we made the playoffs� are no longer outcomes this team can accept. They boast a top-five duo in the NSL with two legitimate superstars in Joel Embiid and Devin Booker (and Desmond Bane wants to be the guy for them, too). For all the teams in this division, the Wizards have the most veteran players throughout the roster, all of them complementary to the gravity and skillsets of the Wizards� stars. Time to take out the East.

Atlanta Hawks

Roster:

MVP calibre � Damian Lillard
Great players � Pascal Siakam, Jalen Green
Good players � Deandre Hunter
Role players � Isaiah Stewart, Jaxson Hayes, Payton Pritchard, Santi Aldama, Jalen McDaniels, Taurean Prince, Coby White, Aaron Holiday
Prospects � Andrew Nembhard, Theo Pinson

Portfolio:

Firsts: �23, �25, �26, �27
Seconds: Three
Rights: Two players

Is it time to get excited, Hawks fans? After a fairly uneventful beginning to their NSL journey, Ben has flipped the switch and moved the red light to the green light. Can Damian Lillard bounce back to be one of the great NSL players, like he has been in the past? Can Siakam�s 2k limitations finally be shed, and he can be the player he is in the NBA, dominating with triple-doubles? Atlanta has a terrific young core. Unfortunately, it won�t mature for a few more years, but they are already going to be a good team, with a ceiling of great in the coming years. Hawks should be a playoff team.

Orlando Magic

Roster:

MVP calibre � Trae Young
Great players � Tobias Harris, Jarrett Allen
Good players � Kevin Love, Aaron Gordon
Role players � Cody Martin, Georges Niang, Jock Landale, Edmond Sumner, Davon Reed, Simone Fontecchio, Damion Lee
Prospects � Jalen Suggs, Donovan Mitchell, Ochai Agbaji,

Portfolio:

Firsts: �24, �25, �26, �27
Seconds: Six
Rights: Six players

I really like the Orlando team and I hopeful that they can continue to be a playoff team with upside to win a series. Trae is as great of a scorer/playmaker as we have in the league, and he has been surrounded with big, strong athletic players. Suggs and Mitchell are two terrific guard prospects who have the luxury of developing off the Orlando bench. Does Orlando have enough star power to keep their footing in the East, while their young guys develop? If their chemistry is great, look for them to try and stake their claim on a top six spot.

Miami Heat

Roster:

MVP calibre -
Great players � Ben Simmons
Good players � Malcolm Brogdan, Mo Bamba, Jarred Vanderbilt, Colin Sexton
Role players � Thomas Bryant, Juan Hernangomez
Prospects � Jalen Duren, Jake LaRavia, Jordan Nwora, JT Thor, Markelle Fultz, Dylan Windler, Vit Krejci
M.I.A. � Jonathan Isaac

Portfolio:

Firsts: �23, �24, 3 X �25, 2� X 26, �27
Seconds: Five
Rights: Keon Ellis

I would argue that no NSL team has had more misfortune than the Miami Heat. The Heat�s top three picks in the inaugural draft have all gone through, or continue to go through, significant setbacks. Building a team that wanted to lean into glitch size and athleticism, Miami�s leaders are currently Malcolm Brogdon and Colin Sexton. Pistolpk, a proud and successful GM, has fire in his eyes as he looks towards the season, wanting to rub the faces of every Miami naysayer firmly and satisfying in the dirt. In saying that, it would take a brave punter to put the Heat in the playoffs, as it stands.