| Sports Betting | Title odds | O/U wins |
| Wizards | 100-1 | 45.5 |
| Heat | 300-1 | 43.5 |
| Hornets | 300-1 | 35.5 |
| Hawks | 400-1 | 23.5 |
| Magic | 450-1 | 31.5 |
Washington Wizards
SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 17
Scorecast Win Prediction – 40
The Year That Was: 43-39, beaten by Toronto in six games in the first round.
Worth Noting: Dwight Howard was slated to replace Marcin Gortat at center who was traded to the Clippers, Howard has been bothered by a back injury all pre season and maybe limited at the start of the season. Dwight has certainly racked up a few teams now and has never progressed passed round 1 of the playoffs.
Key Stat: 3. Number of times Bradley Beal scored at least 40 points last season, look for him to improve this season with more distribution and a full season of John Wall.
Roster In’s & Out’s
STAY: Bradley Beal, Ian Mahinmi, Markieff Morris, Kelly Oubre, Otto Porter, Tomas Satoransky, Jason Smith, John Wall.
IN: Troy Brown (R), Thomas Bryant (LAL), Jeff Green (CLE), Dwight Howard (CHA), Jordan McRae, Austin Rivers (LAC).
OUT: Tim Frazier, Marcin Gortat (LAC), Ty Lawson, Chris McCullough, Jodie Meeks, Mike Scott (LAC), Ramon Sessions.
SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 19
Scorecast Win Prediction – 37
The Year That Was: 44-38, won a weak division, lost to Sixers in 5 games in the first round.
Worth Noting: The Heat pursued Jimmy Butler really, really hard with no success. That tells me coach Erik Spoelstra isn’t completely satisfied with his star power. Dwyane Wade will play one more season but you can’t expect huge production. Hassan Whiteside was rumoured to be on the trading block which is never a good sign, much of the same again for the Heat. In a weak division will win games but not a threat with this roster in the postseason.
Key Stat: $40 million. The amount remaining on Dion Waiter’s contract
Roster In’s & Out’s
STAY: Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic, Wayne Ellington, Udonis Haslem, James Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Derrick Jones Jr., Rodney McGruder, Kelly Olynyk, Josh Richardson, Dwyane Wade, Dion Waiters, Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow.
IN: Yante Maten (R), Duncan Robinson (R).
OUT: Luke Babbitt, Jordan Mickey, Derrick Walton.
Charlotte Hornets
SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 14
Scorecast Win Prediction – 41
The Year That Was: 36-46.
Worth Noting: They brought in former Spurs assistant James Borrego as head coach and he brings with him the veteran Tony Parker. However in the pre season he appears to have gone with an up tempo theme more like the Warriors that what you would expect from a Popovich prodigy. Time will tell if Kemba and co can improve in a new system.
Key Stat: 18. Number of seasons for backup point guard Tony Parker
Roster In’s & Out’s
STAY: Dwayne Bacon, Nicolas Batum, Willy Hernangómez, Frank Kaminsky, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jeremy Lamb, Malik Monk, Kemba Walker, Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller.
IN: Bismack Biyombo (ORL), Miles Bridges (R), Joe Chealey (R), Devonte’ Graham (R), J.P. Macura (R), Tony Parker (SAS).
OUT: Michael Carter-Williams (HOU), Treveon Graham (BKN), Dwight Howard (WAS), Mangok Mathiang, Marcus Paige, Julyan Stone.
Orlando Magic
SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 29
Scorecast Win Prediction – 29
The Year That Was: 25-57.
Worth Noting: Steve Clifford is their fifth coach since the Magic last made the playoffs and are yet again in full rebuild mode. Season benches on Aaron Gordon taking the next step, Nik Vucevic and first-rounder Mo Bamba in a Rookie of the Year race. He’s right in the race, he will play big minutes and put up stats. That might be the highlight of a long season in Orlando.
Key Stat: 25. How many wins the Magic had last season. Only upward from there…
Roster In’s & Out’s
STAY: D.J. Augustin, Khem Birch, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, Wesley Iwundu, Terrence Ross, Jonathon Simmons, Nikola Vucevic.
IN: Mohamed Bamba (R), Isaiah Briscoe (R), Troy Caupain (R), Melvin Frazier (R), Jerian Grant (CHI), Amile Jefferson (R), Jarell Martin (MEM), Timofey Mozgov (BKN).
OUT: Arron Afflalo, Jamel Artis, Bismack Biyombo (CHA), Mario Hezonja (NYK), Shelvin Mack (MEM), Rodney Purvis, Marreese Speights.
Atlanta Hawks
SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 25
Scorecast Win Prediction – 32
The Year That Was: 24-58 enough said.
Worth Noting: Rookie Trae Young is an absolute stud and paired with Jeremy Lin could be exciting to watch. They lose Dennis Schrodar who was outstanding and the the only reliable player for them in a 24 win season last year. Hawks fans at best should be hoping to be excited about 2019/20.
Key Stat: 19.4. Points per game last year for Dennis Schroder who has been traded to OKC to make way for Trae Young
Roster In’s & Out’s
STAY: Kent Bazemore, DeAndre’ Bembry, John Collins, Dewayne Dedmon, Tyler Dorsey, Miles Plumlee, Taurean Prince.
IN: Jaylen Adams (R), Justin Anderson (PHI), Vince Carter (SAC), Daniel Hamilton (OKC), Kevin Huerter (R), Alex Len (PHX), Jeremy Lin (BKN), Alex Poythress (IND), Omari Spellman (R), Trae Young (R).
OUT: Tyler Cavanaugh (UTA), Antonius Cleveland, Malcolm Delaney, Damion Lee (GSW), Josh Magette, Jaylen Morris (MIL), Mike Muscala (PHI), Dennis Schröder (OKC), Isaiah Taylor, Andrew White.
