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NBA Southeast Division: Without LeBron, who’s the favorite?

By Andy Livingston

Apr 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson (25) is pressured by Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (1) in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson (25) is pressured by Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (1) in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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ORLANDO MAGIC

The Orlando Magic were the only team in the Southeast Division to not make the playoffs last year and the 2014-15 season will also probably still see them in the basement, but they’ve got a pack of young talent and openings in salary cap to entice a big named free agent if they wanted to take a trip to Disney. GM Rob Hennigan cleaned house, trading Arron Afflalo to Denver for Evan Fournier and waived Jameer Nelson, E’Twaun Moore, Doron Lamb, Ronnie Price and Jason Maxiell. The Magic also grabbed two prospects in Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton that seem just about ready to play in the NBA. They also grabbed Devyn Marble from that same draft who was a Summer League surprise averaging 9.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Couple that with second year player Victor Oladipo and free agent signings Channing Frye and Ben Gordon, and the shooting that hampered the Magic last season seems to have been fixed, even if Gordon is past his prime. The oldest player on the Magic’s roster is 32 and with their recent development of creating a single-affiliation with the Erie Bayhawks in the D-League, the Magic’s main asset now is youth. Whether they leverage that for a top tier star, or continue to develop and progress with their own squad is yet to be seen, but in a couple years the Magic have enough to get out of the basement.

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