2016 NBA Draft Needs: Southeast Division

Sep 24, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Skal Labissiere (1) holds up two balls during Kentucky photo day at Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Skal Labissiere (1) holds up two balls during Kentucky photo day at Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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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 21Tyler 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.