The Heat’s point guard picture is drawing the kind of scrutiny that usually shows up when a team thinks it can contend but still has one obvious soft spot. In his latest mailbag, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel says Davion Mitchell has earned the starting role, but Miami still has real questions behind him.
Dru Smith is penciled in as the backup, and two-way player Tre Donaldson is in the mix too. For a team trying to stay in the hunt, Winderman suggests the front office and coaching staff may need to keep an eye out for another option if those concerns linger in preseason or before the trade deadline.
That depth issue sits alongside a bigger question: even with the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, are the Heat headed back to the play-in? Winderman points out that FanDuel has Miami and Toronto tied for sixth in the East at 45 1/2 wins.
Since only six teams in each conference get an automatic first-round spot, that projection leaves the Heat in a tight race. Winderman also takes a quick look at the projected top 10 teams in the East.
Elsewhere in the division, ESPN’s Zach Kram handed the Hawks an A- for their offseason work, saying they raised their floor by making a strong upgrade to the bench. Atlanta brought in Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Devin Carter and Ryan Nembhard in trades, then added Kingston Flemings through the lottery. The biggest question now, according to the ESPN Insiders, is whether Jalen Johnson, who is now viewed as the franchise’s star, can get them over the hump and win a playoff series.
The Magic also made a notable move off the court, naming DAZN as their exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming partner for the upcoming season, according to a team press release. All regular-season Magic games that are not nationally televised will stream on DAZN in the team’s local territory. Earlier this month, Orlando also announced WRDQ TV 27 and WFTV Channel 9 as its over-the-air broadcast partner.
In Other News...
Hawks Could Catch A Break If Detroit's Biggest Problem Drags On
Jalen Durens situation in Detroit is the kind of subplot that can ripple well beyond one front office. The Pistons All-Star big man remains in restricted free agency, and the two sides still appear to be working from different places in contract talks, leaving a key piece of Detroits roster in limbo as the season approaches.
For the Hawks, the timing matters because Duren was a problem for them last season, giving Atlanta serious trouble inside when the teams met. If Detroits biggest unresolved issue lingers and the Pistons head into the year without that kind of anchor settled, it could trim some of the edge from a team the Hawks may have to chase in the East. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Fans Have A New Reason To Debate Who's Underrated
With NBA2K27 now out worldwide, Hawks fans have a fresh way to size up the roster before the real games begin. Atlanta landed in Tier 2 with an 81 overall rating, a respectable mark that still leaves room for debate, especially when a game like this turns every lineup decision into a public conversation.
Jalen Johnson heads the team at 87 overall, but the more interesting discussion is around the players sitting just below him. Onyeka Okongwu, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are the names most likely to fuel the usual too low arguments, and their early ratings give supporters another reason to watch how the season unfolds. As always with a new 2K release, the numbers are only the opening statement, and the real argument will come from how those players perform once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Training Camp Has One Roster Battle That Suddenly Matters
Training camp is still three weeks away, but the Hawks already have one depth chart decision that could shape how Quin Snyder sorts through the early weeks of the season. Atlanta brings back its starting lineup from last year and has added enough new pieces this offseason to give the coach real choices, especially as the team keeps pushing to position itself as a playoff contender.
The frontcourt is where the intrigue starts, with Onyeka Okongwu and Cameron Landale already established in the rotation. What remains unsettled is the next layer of that group, and rookies Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar are among the names expected to be in the mix when camp opens. For a team trying to tighten up its roster rather than overhaul it, even a smaller battle like this could carry more weight than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]