Charlotte Hornets
Needs: A full rebuild, winning culture
Picks: 4, 33, 34
Charlotte finds itself in a difficult position, stuck with poor roster construction and a culture lacking direction. LaMelo Ball remains a fan favorite, but his frequent injuries and highlight-driven play style have yet to translate to winning basketball — the Hornets have averaged just over 28 wins per season during his tenure, and he’s only played more than 50 games twice, both in his first two years. Off-court concerns also persist, with Miles Bridges’ legal troubles and Brandon Miller arriving from Alabama with baggage of his own. While teams can usually manage one player with injury or character issues, Charlotte seems to stockpile them. Though a full rebuild might be the logical move, it’s unlikely the team will part ways with Ball given his marketability. Holding the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft, the Hornets may consider VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, or Jeremiah Fears, but none are likely to significantly elevate the current roster. With most of last season’s team returning — only Seth Curry, Taj Gibson, Wendell Moore Jr., and Tre Mann enter free agency — the Hornets could instead look to reshape their lineup via trade. The center position remains a question mark, especially after a failed attempt to move Mark Williams and with Jusuf Nurkic’s $19 million expiring contract on hand. Whether Charlotte opts to shake things up or stay the course, the franchise is facing another pivotal — and potentially directionless — offseason.
Washington Wizards
Needs: Talent in general
Picks: 6, 18
The Wizards are coming off a season with the league’s worst record and only have the 6th pick to show for it. While the rebuild is still in its early stages, they do have a few promising young pieces, led by Bilal Coulibaly, who is viewed internally as the franchise cornerstone. Alex Sarr made strides late in the season and remains a key long-term piece, while Bub Carrington showed flashes as a rookie. Jordan Poole is likely on the trade block, and Washington would move off his $30 million salary if given the chance. Khris Middleton, acquired via trade, is expected to opt into his $34 million player option — giving the Wizards an expiring contract to use as a trade asset. The team’s biggest chance to add talent this offseason comes through the draft. At No. 6, Washington is expected to take the best player available, with prospects like Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson, French point guard Nolan Traore, and BYU wing Egor Demin all potential targets. They also own pick No. 18, where players such as Jase Richardson, Noah Penda, and Will Riley could be in play. All bring long-term upside and align with the team’s developmental focus. Don’t expect a big leap from the Wizards next season — the focus will remain on building around Coulibaly, developing young talent, and laying the groundwork for a more competitive future.
Atlanta Hawks
Needs: Rebounding, secondary scorer
Picks: 13, 22
As currently constructed, Atlanta will go only as far as Trae Young can carry their offense. While Young is an elite creator for both himself and others, he requires a very specific system centered around having the ball in his hands to be effective — and even then, efficiency remains an issue. To maximize his impact, the Hawks need to surround him with a hyper-efficient secondary scorer who can thrive off the ball. Jalen Johnson has emerged as a promising offensive piece, but his perimeter shooting remains inconsistent, which further emphasizes the need for a reliable outside scorer. With Dyson Daniels also in the mix, it would make sense for Atlanta to target a wing or combo forward who can space the floor and contribute without dominating the ball. Free agency could offer some options if the Hawks make a move or two to clear cap space — names like Malik Beasley, Bobby Portis, or Guerschon Yabusele could be worth exploring. Atlanta also holds the 13th pick in the draft, where Duke sharpshooter Kon Knueppel would be an ideal fit, though he’s unlikely to be available. Instead, UConn’s Liam McNeeley or Georgia’s Asa Newell could be strong alternatives who fit the team’s needs on the wing. Another area of concern is the interior, with Clint Capela entering free agency. If the Hawks opt to move on from Capela, finding a capable rebounder and interior presence will be crucial — and Duke’s Khaman Maluach, if he slides to 13, would be a compelling option to fill that void.
Orlando Magic
Needs: Scoring
Picks: 16, 25, 46, 57
Orlando was 41-41 last season, but their defense was one of the best in the entire league, so if they can add some more scoring firepower to their roster without setting the defense back too much, they could be primed for a jump in the standings next season. Part of their struggles offensively are a result of their slow pace of play, but the Magic could use a player to create offensive opportunities for guys like Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to make life easier for their stars. They have no real means to add significant players through free agency as they are quickly approaching second apron status. Thus, it will come down to who they can add through the draft. I anticipate them being active leading up to the draft, as they are unlikely to make all four of their picks this year. Some players I could envision them targeting if they retain 16 and/or 25 would be Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionas, Michigan State guard Jase Richardson, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., or Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier. With the opportunity to add to a roster that seems so close to taking the next step, it will be imperative that Orlando makes the most of this offseason.
Miami Heat
Needs: Retain Davion Mitchell,
Picks: 20
After having no choice but to move on from the Jimmy Butler era, Miami is stuck in between eras. Miami is built around Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, but will Miami be able to contend for anything with the roster they have in place? Herro could see himself traded if Miami decides that it’s time to totally reconstruct the roster. With so many massive contracts on the roster, Miami is going to have difficulty reconstructing without a total rebuild, as Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier, Andrew Wiggins, Herro, and Adebayo all make nearly 20 million or more per year. Miami, always a huge free agent destination, won’t have the means to attract big ticket free agents unless they can swing some significant trades, but with many of their contracts being undesirable, it will be difficult for them to make man moves under the current CBA. They have the 20th pick, and that will give them the opportunity to add somebody such as St. Joe’s Rasheer Fleming, Michigan’s Danny Wolf, or Washington State’s Cedric Coward. Any of those players would bolster the Miami lineup, but don’t seem to put the team in the mix to be a sure fire playoff team. One thing the team should look to do is bring back Davion Mitchell, a free agent, back next season, as he was able to be a disruptive force for them defensively, something they need alongside Herro’s offense-centric approach. He shouldn’t break the bank, so it would make sense to bring back somebody that fit so well on this existing roster and brought the defensive intensity that Pat Riley and company value.
