Report by Blake Murphy
Blake Murphy takes a weekly look at the NBA teams in the Southeast Division - Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards - and breaks down what happened the week before and what to expect in the week ahead, as well as injuries and trades.
Recap Rewind: The Hawks finished 37-45, their best finish and first playoff appearance since 1998-99, ending the league’s longest playoff drought. They face Boston in a very tough first round match-up.
Notable News: The big news in the Dirty South was the near-deadline acquisition of point guard Mike Biggy from the Sacramento Kings for spare parts, expiring contracts, and former lottery pick Shelden Williams. Josh Smith continued his ascension to stardom, Joe Johnson put himself back in the elite category, Marvin Williams showed he can score in the big show, while Josh Childress emerged as one of the game’s best sixth men.
Fast Forward: The Hawks are unlikely to beat the Celtics in the first round, so they’ll begin exploring draft pick options with the 15th overall pick. The Hawks are one of the few teams with cap space this summer, but Childress and Smith are both restricted free agents.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION REPORT
Atlanta Hawks/Charlotte Bobcats/Miami Heat/Orlando Magic/Washington Wizards