2016 NBA Draft Needs: Southeast Division
By Jonah Jordan
The Southeast Division has only three teams with draft picks. Atlanta and Orlando have three picks in the draft while Charlotte only has one. Washington and Miami are in completely different situations after sending their picks elsewhere to try and get into the playoffs. Washington failed while Miami has positioned themselves to possibly be a contender over the next few seasons.
Atlanta Hawks
Picks: No. 21, No. 44 (from Washington), No. 54
Positional needs: PG, SF, C
Potential targets:
Pick 21: Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky; Ante Zizic, C, Croatia; Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt
Pick: 44: A.J. Hammons, C, Purdue; Robert Carter, PF/C, Maryland
Pick 54: Kay Felder, PG, Oakland; Cat Barber, PG, N.C. State
Breakdown:
Al Horford’s possible exodus from Atlanta makes the need for a center even more obvious. If the former Florida Gator does return to A-Town it would be nice for the Hawks to finally have someone that could develop into an actual backup for him. If he leaves then the Hawks will have a huge hole to fill in the front court.
Charlotte Hornets
Picks: No. 22
Positional needs: SG, PF, C
Potential targets: Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt; Ante Zizic, C, Croatia; Denzel Valentine, SG, Michigan State
Breakdown:
The Hornets were able to secure a playoff berth this past season as a six-seed, eventually falling to the Miami Heat after seven heated games. They are in an interesting position going forward as several key contributors, Jeremy Lin, Nicolas Batum, Courtney Lee, Marvin Harrison and Al Jefferson, are headed into free agency. They need shooting on the wing, but need a big man that can protect the rim even more. That’s why they go center here.
Miami Heat
Picks: None.
Positional needs: PG, PF, C
Potential targets: None
Breakdown:
This is the pick the Heat gave to Cleveland for LeBron James that was then traded to Philadelphia. This is all LeBron’s fault.
Orlando Magic
Picks: No. 11, No. 41, No. 47 (from Chicago)
Positional needs: SF, C
Potential targets:
Pick 11: Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah; Skal Labissiere, PF/C, Kentucky; Timothe Luwawu, SG/SF, France
Pick 41: Chinanu Onuaku, C, Louisville; Malcolm Brogdon, SG, Virginia; Paul Zipser, SF, Germany
Pick 47: Jake Layman, SF, Maryland; Wayne Selden, SG, Kansas
Breakdown:
Now that Scott Skiles is gone Mario Hezonja is going to be allowed to flourish. Frank Vogel is going to take Hezonja, Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic to new heights. First, he needs a center who can block some shots because Vucevic is the opposite kind of center he usually plays.
Washington Wizards
Picks: None.
Positional needs: PG, SG, PF, C
Potential targets: None
Breakdown:
Washington is most likely going to re-sign restricted free agent Bradley Beal this offseason. They will have seven other free agents to make a decision on after paying Beal. It’s not a good time to not have any draft picks.