Ben Simmons is headed to the Kings, and Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel doesn’t think the Heat missed out by passing on him. Winderman’s view is that Simmons remains too much of a mystery after sitting out last season and dealing with injuries and uneven play in the years before that. In his estimation, Miami’s win-now approach would have made Simmons a poor match, while Sacramento’s rebuilding timeline gives the Kings room to gamble on a player who once looked like he could become much more.
The rest of the Southeast Division has been busy in its own way, starting with a Hornets offseason that looked very different after the team moved former franchise player LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. ESPN’s Insiders projected a committee approach in Charlotte, saying coach Charles Lee will have to spread out the responsibility of replacing Ball’s production. Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists with a 32.0 usage rate, and the expectation is that Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel will carry most of the scoring load, with help from Coby White and newly acquired Dennis Schroder.
Orlando took a quieter path this summer, with the coaching change standing out as the main shift. ESPN’s Insiders pointed to Jalen Suggs as the team’s key swing player, but availability remains the issue.
Suggs played 57 games last season, his second-highest total in a career that has been interrupted too often. The other concern is his perimeter shooting, which has fallen off over the last two seasons and needs to rebound.
The Magic also made a broadcast move, announcing a partnership with Gray Media to air about 70 regular-season games this season for fans in Gainesville, Panama City and Tallahassee. According to the team’s press release, all regular-season games except nationally televised matchups will be shown over the air on WTGB 34.3 in Gainesville, WJHG 7.6 in Panama City and WCTV 6.3 in Tallahassee.
In Other News...
Dennis Schroder Could Be Exactly What The Hornets Bench Needed
The Hornets are betting that Dennis Schroder can give their second unit some much-needed bite, and Charles Lee sounds encouraged by what the veteran guard brings beyond simple backup duties. Lee pointed to Schroders energy, leadership and defensive presence, with the expectation that he can settle in behind Coby White and give Charlotte a steadier option at point guard while also raising the standard for younger players on the roster.
What makes the fit intriguing is how Schroders game is supposed to translate on both ends without needing to dominate the ball. Lee believes he can push the pace, attack the lane and help create cleaner looks for teammates, while also bringing the kind of competitive edge the Hornets have been searching for from their bench. For a team trying to build habits as much as results, that combination could end up mattering a lot. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Miller's Next Step Could Decide How Relevant Hornets Stay
With LaMelo Ball now in Minnesota, the Hornets are heading into a different kind of era, one with a lot more riding on Brandon Miller. The move opened up a far larger runway for the second-year forward, and it immediately shifted the conversation from Balls long-term ceiling to Millers next leap. For a team trying to stay relevant in the Eastern Conference, his development may end up mattering as much as any roster move.
Miller already showed enough last season to make the league take notice, and some analysts think the increased opportunity could push him into Most Improved Player territory. The logic is simple enough: more touches, more responsibility, and a bigger offensive burden could bring out the best in him. For Charlotte, the question is no longer whether Miller has talent. It is whether he can turn that talent into the kind of star turn that gives the Hornets a real direction. [Read more 🡒]