Draft review: Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks had a very average draft. They didn't take any risks and got players who project as solid role players, but with much less upside. At 23, they took perhaps the best shooter in the draft in John Jenkins, who has deep range and a quick release but little else to his game. He should be a solid backup shooting guard and give the Hawks some spacing they really need. I with their second round pick, the Hawks selected Virginia's Mike Scott, who I really like as a backup power forward who can shoot the ball and play physical defense, sort a later career Joe Smith. However, in both cases they passed on more risky, but higher upside players, though given the amount of shots that need to go around in Atlanta, taking solid role players might not be such a bad idea. Both Jenkins and Scott are players who will help you win but neither will take you to great from good, where Atlanta has been for quite a few years now. Atlanta has a pretty barren roster depth-wise, so I'd expect them to either be active in the trade market or looking for some free agent bargains.

Projected depth chart
PG: Jeff Teague
SG: Joe Johnson/John Jenkins
SF: Marvin Williams
PF: Josh Smith/Mike Scott
C: Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia

Charlotte Bobcats
I thought that the Bobcats should have taken Thomas Robinson or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist because they likely weren't going to get a top, franchise changing player here so they needed to take a player that will bring leadership and be the kind of player that other players want to play with so you can get that number 1 option. Kidd-Gilchrist needs to add some offensive polish, but can do everything else on the floor will be the hardest worker from day 1 in Charlotte. I also like Charlotte's second pick, Jeffery Taylor, who they took with the first pick of the 2nd round (31). Taylor is a similar, defensive minded wing who shot 42% from 3 and is an explosive athlete with a quick first step. Scoring will still be hard to come by in Charlotte, but their defense should be very much improved.

Projected depth chart
PG: D.J. Augustin*/Kemba Walker
SG: Gerald Henderson/Ben Gordon
SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist/Jeffery Taylor
PF: D.J. White*/Tyrus Thomas
C: Bismack Biyombo/ Byron Mullens

Miami Heat
The Heat had a late first round pick, but traded it to Philadelphia for the Sixers second rounder and a lottery protected pick next season. With that second rounder, the Heat took LSU big man Justin Hamilton (45), who under performed at LSU but was reportedly very good in workouts. Hamilton was a reach who is unlikely to contribute to Miami, and I'm not sure why they didn't either take a shooter to replace Mike Miller or another big man to bolster a pretty poor rotation. I know that the Heat just came off winning an NBA Title, but the rest of the league is going to be getting better in an attempt to take them down, so I think it's a mistake to not try to improve, and make yourself more versatile.

Projected depth chart
PG: Mario Chalmers/Norris Cole
SG: Dwayne Wade/Battier
SF: Shane Battier/James Jones
PF: LeBron James/Udonis Haslem
C: Chris Bosh/Joel Anthony

Orlando Magic
It's nice to see the Magic finally get someone else who can play defense besides Dwight Howard. At 19, the Magic got one of the better two way players in the draft in Andrew Nicholson who is a really good shooter, but also a solid defender and shot blocker. Yes, he offensively duplicates Ryan Anderson somewhat, but what's to say the Magic even bring back Anderson, who is a restricted free agent. Someone is going to sign him to a really big deal and I don't think the Magic want another big contract on their books. Plus, with a whole new management and coaching staff, they won't have any loyalty to Anderson or even thinks he fits their system. With their round second pick, the Magic took a back/insurance policy center in Kyle O'Quinn (49), who has a good chance not only to make the team, but be Dwight Howard's backup. Obviously, the Magic's season hinges on what happens with Dwight Howard, but this draft did a good job of getting them some solid rotation players, which isn't bad considering where they were picking.

Projected depth chart
PG: Jameer Nelson/Chris Duhon
SG: Jason Richardson/J.J. Redick
SF: Hedo Turkoglu/Quentin Richardson
PF: Glen Davis/Andrew Nicholson
C: Dwight Howard/Kyle O'Quinn

Washington Wizards
Despite their best effort to completely telegraph which player they wanted at 3, the Wizards got not only the player they wanted but the player they needed. Whatever you think about the trade the Wizards made for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, one thing was clear before and after the trade: Washington needed shooting and a perimeter scorer. Bradley Beal can do both those things and is the kind of high character player the Wizards want after past experiences with certain other players. Beal also has star upside, something that no one else on the Wizards besides John Wall has. In the 2nd round, Washington took a Euro to stash in Czech Tomas Satoransky, an athletic point forward type who can really play, though I don't think he's in Washington's immediate plans, as they've already talked about how they want him to develop in Europe where he can get playing time, as opposed to on the Wizards. I understand that reasoning, and I don't think Satoransky was a bad pick, but I would have taken Doron Lamb and gotten even more shooting, which they need or Draymond Green, who'll just help you win.

Projected depth chart
PG: John Wall/Shelvin Mack
SG: Bradley Beal/Jordan Crawford
SF: Trevor Ariza/Chris Singleton
PF: Nene/Trevor Booker/Jan Vesely
C: Emeka Okafor/Kevin Seraphin

*Currently unsigned