AI Summary
5 min readThe Atlanta Hawks traded Trey Young last summer, and the consensus among the Locked On NBA Daily panel is that this subtraction made them the team to beat in the Southeast Division. Host Wes Goldberg, joined by Matt Moore and Hayes, spent the episode running through a division they describe as the most wide-open in the league—one where three wins separated first and fourth place last season, and where every team has a plausible case for finishing anywhere from first to fifth.
The Hawks as the safe bet
The panel’s confidence in Atlanta rests on balance and continuity. Without Trey Young, the Hawks became a top-ten defensive team last season, and they added Lou Dort and Aaron Wiggins to crank up their defensive aggression even further. Hayes argued that the Hawks are the only team in the division where you “kind of know what they’re gonna look like”—a well-coached squad with strong perimeter defenders and a clear identity. The offensive questions are real, but the thinking is that if the defense powers the offense, and if Jalen Johnson stays healthy (last year was his healthiest season since college), the Hawks can finish top ten on both ends. Matt Moore agreed, noting that the Hawks kept things mostly the same while other teams in the division made dramatic changes, giving them a “clear path to a more consistent season.” The panel settled on 46 wins as a reasonable project
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:24) **Division Preview Kickoff & Initial Predictions** - The hosts introduce the Southeast Division war room, noting that only three wins separated first and fourth place last season, and recap the summer's big moves (Giannis to Miami, Lamelo traded, Orlando hires Sean Sweeney, Washington drafts AJ DeBonsa).
- 2 (03:01) **Highest Ceiling & Floor Debate** - The panel debates which team has the most upside and which has the most reliable baseline performance.
- 3 (07:09) **Surprise Teams & Win Total Projections** - The hosts discuss which teams would be surprising division winners and estimate the winning threshold.
- 4 (09:19) **Heat Segment & Trust in Spoelstra** - Wes defends the Heat's outlook while acknowledging the unknowns Matt raised.
- 5 (10:46) **Predicting Last Place & Long-Term View** - The hosts pivot to predicting the division's last-place finisher and evaluating teams that took a calculated step back.
- 6 (18:10) **Long-Term Outlook: Wizards, Hornets, Hawks** - The panel compares the long-term potential of the division's rebuilding teams.
- 7 (22:56) **Most Exciting Storylines** - Each host shares what they are most excited to watch in the Southeast Division this season.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Who wins the Southeast Division after one of the wildest offseasons in the NBA? Giannis Antetokounmpo is now with the Miami Heat, the Charlotte Hornets traded LaMelo Ball, the Orlando Magic have a new coach and the Washington Wizards added AJ Dybantsa.
Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize enter the Southeast Division War Room to predict how the Heat, Magic, Hawks, Hornets and Wizards will finish after just three wins separated first and fourth place last season.
Does adding Giannis immediately make Miami the favorite? Can Orlando finally turn its talent into results under Sean Sweeney? How dangerous is Atlanta? And what does Charlotte look like in the post-LaMelo era?
Then, who finishes last — and could all five teams realistically compete for the play-in? Plus, the guys debate which franchise has the best long-term outlook and reveal the players and storylines they're most excited to watch.
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