NBA Southeast Division Preview 2025-26

Kristaps Porzingis (YouTube)

In the third of a six part series leading up to the commencement of the 2025-26 NBA season, we will take a look at each division in the league. Here is the Southeast Division.

Big Storyline

In 2024-25, the Southeast Division was by far the worst division in the entire NBA. The Orlando Magic were division champions despite having a record of only 41 wins and 41 losses. It was a remarkable feat in Orlando that the franchise won the division when they had so many injuries. Magic center Moritz Wagner tore his ACL, Franz Wagner tore his oblique, Paolo Banchero also tore his oblique, and Jalen Suggs injured his ankle. If healthy for a whole season, there should be no reason why the Magic do not contend for another division title.

Most Notable Acquisitions

Each team in the division will have a new player in the starting five. The new player on the Magic is shooting guard Desmond Bane, who was traded in the offseason from the Memphis Grizzlies. Bane averaged 19.2 points per game this past year. The new player on the Atlanta Hawks is center Kristaps Porzingis, who was traded from the Boston Celtics. Porzingis averaged 19.5 points per game this past year. The new player on the Miami Heat is shooting guard Norman Powell, who was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers. Powell averaged 21.8 points per game. The new player on the Washington Wizards is shooting guard CJ McCollum, who was traded from the New Orleans Pelicans. McCollum averaged 21.1 points per game. Finally, the new player on the Charlotte Hornets is small forward Kon Knueppel, who Charlotte selected fourth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Divisional Outlook

The Hawks are considered the favourites to win the Southeast because of Prozingis’s difference. He is expected to give Trae Young and Dyson Daniels enough room on the court to work. The Magic will get by the Miami Heat for second place. Charlotte is projected to get by Washington into fourth place.