Southeast Division

Team: Miami Heat

Last Season Record: 66-16

Key Fantasy Additions: Greg Oden (LOL, just kidding)

Key Fantasy Losses: None

2013 Draft Picks: None

Team Overview: Miami was very complacent in the off-season, and seeing that it’s won two straight titles there’s no reason it shouldn’t have been. The Heat still employ the best player alive, as well as two very good second and third options. But that’s about where it ends for most fantasy players. LeBron James is the No. 2 player in fantasy, and Dwyane Wade was one of just five players to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists last year (I’m including James Harden in that group even though he was at 4.9 rebounds). Wade’s a much safer bet in roto leagues where you should draft him if you can get him in the third round or later. In head-to-head leagues I’d leave him alone because he’s missed nine games in the last month of each of the last two seasons. Chris Bosh has missed five and six games, respectively, in each of the last two seasons’ last month. Bosh’s game is very fantasy-friendly, and is a value at where you’ll get him, which is about 50th overall. Once again, he’ll be better in roto leagues.

The only other Heat member who may be worth rostering is Chris Andersen. In just 15 minutes a night with the Heat he averaged one block a game. In really deep leagues he’ll help you in blocks and field goal percentage.

Sleeper: Bosh

Breakout Candidate: None

Rebound Candidate: None

Bust Candidate: Wade

Depth Chart:

Point guard	Mario Chalmers	Norris Cole
Shooting guard	Dwyane Wade	Ray Allen
Small forward	LeBron James	Shane Battier
Power forward	Udonis Haslem	Chris Anderson
Center	Chris Bosh	Joel Anthony	Greg Oden

 

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Last Season Record: 44-38

Key Fantasy Additions: Paul Millsap

Key Fantasy Losses: Josh Smith, Devin Harris

2013 Draft Picks: Dennis Schroder

Team Overview: While a lot of the national media and NBA fans sleep on the Hawks, you shouldn’t. Al Horford is such a solid player in real life and in fantasy. He was the only center to average 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block last season. He’s an anchor to any fantasy team, and don’t let him slip past the end of the second round. Millsap is a less-flashy, more-reliable Josh Smith, whom he’s replacing in the A this season. He hurts you nowhere, and, like Horford, is a certifiable fantasy stud. Millsap was one of just two power forwards to average 14 points, seven boards and a steal and a block last season. The other one was Smith. Millsap’s been extremely reliable his entire career, and he should see close to a career-high in minutes this season. Draft him in the third and be happy.

Jeff Teague’s role should expand even more now that Smith is out of town. The 25-year-old had a career-high usage rate last year and improved his scoring and assist rate. He should score more this year and assist more, too. Kyle Korver is a good later-round pick. His 2.6 3PM per game tied him for second among all players last year, even though he had only the 15th most attempts. DeMarre Carroll can be useful in deep leagues, as he should see plenty of playing time at small forward, where the Hawks are really thin.

Sleeper: Teague

Breakout Candidate: Millsap

Rebound Candidate: None

Bust Candidate: None

Depth Chart:

Point guard	Jeff Teague	Dennis Schroder
Shooting guard	Kyle Korver	John Jenkins	Lou Williams
Small forward	DeMarre Carroll
Power forward	Paul Millsap	Mike Scott	Gustavo Ayon
Center	Al Horford	Elton Brand	Pero Antic

 

Team: Washington Wizards

Last Season Record: 29-53

Key Fantasy Additions: None

Key Fantasy Losses: None

2013 Draft Picks: Otto Porter, Jr., Glen Rice, Jr.

Team Overview: There are really only two players you want from Washington: John Wall and Bradley Beal. Wall really improved in his third season after recovering from a knee injury. His points and assists per 40 minutes were career-bests, as was his true shooting percentage. He cut his turnover rate despite raising his usage rate, too. Wall was the only point guard in the league last year who averaged at least 18 points, seven assists, a steal and 0.8 blocks per game. The 23-year-old should see even more improvement this season. Beal’s overall numbers were so-so from his rookie year. But the sophomore just turned 20 in June, and his season didn’t take off until Wall returned January 12. From that day on Beal shot 46/46/73 with 15 points, 3.9 boards, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.9 3PM. Don’t reach on Beal, but he has a real opportunity to take a leap this year.

Pressing Question: Should I take any other Washington players? The only one that comes to mind is Martell Webster. The Wizards plan to bring him off the bench so he’ll be one of their main offensive parts when the second units are on the floor. As long as he stays healthy he’ll get you a few points, some 3PM and help you in free throw percentage. You don’t even have to spend a middle-round pick on him. Nene and Emeka Okafor are just too injury-prone to rely on, and Kevin Seraphin and Trevor Booker are too inconsistent to roster. Otto Porter, Jr., has missed training camp with a hip injury and will probably also miss the start of the regular season.

Sleeper: Beal

Breakout Candidate: Beal

Rebound Candidate: None

Bust Candidate: Nene

Depth Chart:

Point guard	John Wall	Eric Maynor
Shooting guard	Bradley Beal	Martell Webster
Small forward	Trevor Ariza	Otto Porter Jr.
Power forward	Nene	Trevor Booker
Center	Kevin Seraphin	Al Harrington	Emeka Okafor

 

Team: Charlotte Bobcats

Last Season Record: 21-61

Key Fantasy Additions: Al Jefferson

Key Fantasy Losses: None

2013 Draft Picks: Cody Zeller

Team Overview: Kemba Walker improved in his sophomore season in his surface stats and when you dig a little deeper. He should continue that trend this year while helping you in points, assists and steals. He was one of five point guards to have at least 2 steals per game last year. With Big Al Jefferson in town and some improvement from the returning Bobcats Walker’s assists should go up, too. You shouldn’t have to pay too high a price to get him either so he’s a good value. Jefferson should see as many shots as he wants, which is good news for the guy who finished fourth in center scoring last year. Jefferson was one of three centers to average 17 points, nine rebounds, one steal and one block last year. Like his former teammate Millsap, Big Al contributes consistently across-the-board and could easily approach his career-high of 23 points a game. He currently has an injured ankle but should be ready for opening night, maybe missing only a game or two.

Backing up Walker, Ramon Sessions averaged 14 points and 3.8 assists last year, so he can be helpful in deep leagues. Gerald Henderson had the best season, by PER, of his young career last year and should do even better this year with Walker’s pending improvement and Jefferson’s debut. Don’t draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist until late in the draft, if at all. MKG is a better real-life player than fantasy one, as he really doesn’t help you in any category. Zeller and Josh McRoberts will see a time-share at least early in the season. Zeller is probably the better player of the two even before he’s played an NBA game. I’d draft Zeller in the late rounds because it’s more than likely that Charlotte will eventually turn him loose.

Sleeper: Henderson

Breakout Candidate: Walker

Rebound Candidate: None

Bust Candidate: MKG

Depth Chart:

Point guard	Kemba Walker	Ramon Sessions
Shooting guard	Gerald Henderson	Ben Gordon
Small forward	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	Jeff Taylor
Power forward	Cody Zeller	Josh McRoberts
Center	Al Jefferson	Bismack Biyombo

 

Team: Orlando Magic

Last Season Record: 20-62

Key Fantasy Additions: Victor Oladipo

Key Fantasy Losses: None

2013 Draft Picks: Oladipo

Team Overview: Orlando has quite a few players whose roles and production are still uncertain. Oladipo, Tobias Harris and Moe Harkless all have tons of potential, but we don’t know how much they’ll play or produce. The costliest Magic is Nik Vucevic, who finished third in double-doubles last season. I’m not sure where you’ll have to take him in drafts, but I wouldn’t draft him until the fifth round. Even on a bad Magic team last year Jameer Nelson averaged over seven assists and 2.2 3PM. He was one of two point guards to hit those benchmarks last year. I like him a lot as a later-round starting lower-tier point guard. Oladipo should be a jack of all trades for the Magic, seeing time at both guard spots and possibly at small forward. He should contribute in most categories, especially the defensive ones, so right around No. 75 overall is where I’d put him.

Pressing Question: Can Harris keep up his late-season tear? The 21-year-old came to Orlando in the J.J. Redick trade and went bonkers. In 27 games he averaged 17 points, one 3PM, eight boards, two assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals – numbers that are unmatched almost anywhere. Harris is arguably Orlando’s most talented player, and at just 21 he’s got room to grow. Harris is really Orlando’s only player capable of shooting from outside as well as driving into the lane, and that gives him an edge over Harkless and Glen Davis. I think Harris is capable of repeating those late-season numbers, with his points coming down to about 14 or 15. Depending on your league’s knowledge level you may be able to get Harris a little bit later than you should – about the seventh round or 80th overall.

Sleeper: Nelson

Breakout Candidate: Harris

Rebound Candidate: Davis

Bust Candidate: Aaron Afflalo

Depth Chart:

Point guard	Jameer Nelson	E’Twaun Moore
Shooting guard	Aaron Afflalo	Victor Oladipo
Small forward	Moe Harkless	Hedo Turkoglu
Power forward	Tobias Harris	Glen Davis	Andrew Nicholson
Center	Nikola Vucevic	Jason Maxiell