1. Atlanta Hawks
Adding Dwight Howard gives them a presence in the paint they haven’t seen since Dikembe Mutombo.
2. Charlotte Hornets
Their frontcourt depth puts them in the upper echelon of the conference.
3. Washington Wizards
With a new coach maybe they can still salvage the current roster structure and have a longer playoff stay.
4. Orlando Magic
The future is looking pretty intriguing for the franchise.
5. Miami Heat
Losing Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh has put them back into obscurity.
Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer
Key Position: Frontcourt
Key Rookies: G DeAndre Bembry
Key Acquisitions: C Dwight Howard (Houston)
Starting Lineup: G Dennis Schroder, G Kyle Korver, F Thabo Sefolosha, F Paul Millsap, C Dwight Howard
Head Coach: Steve Clifford
Key Position: Frontcourt
Key Rookies: None
Key Acquisitions: F Marco Belinelli (Sacramento), G Ramon Sessions (Washington), C Roy Hibbert (LA Lakers)
Starting Lineup: G Kemba Walker, G Nicolas Batum, F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F Cody Zeller, C Frank Kaminsky
Head Coach: Scott Brooks (Oklahoma City 2015)
Key Position: Backcourt
Key Rookies: None
Key Acquisitions: C Ian Mahinmi (Indiana), F Andrew Nicholson (Orlando), G Trey Burke (Utah)
Starting Lineup: G John Wall, G Bradley Beal, F Otto Porter, F Markieff Morris, C Marcin Gortat
Head Coach: Frank Vogel (Indiana)
Key Position: Backcourt
Key Rookies: None
Key Acquisitions: F Jeff Green (LA Clippers), F Bismack Biyombo (Toronto), G D.J. Augustin (Denver), F Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City)
Starting Lineup: G Elfrid Payton, G Evan Fournier, F Aaron Gordon, F Serge Ibaka, C Nikola Vucevic
Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra
Key Position: Frontcourt
Key Rookies: None
Key Acquisitions: G Wayne Ellington (Brooklyn), G Dion Waiters (Oklahoma City)
Starting Lineup: G Goran Dragic, G Wayne Ellington, F Justise Winslow, F Udonis Haslem, C Hassan Whiteside
