The Southeast Division enters the 2023–24 season with the Heat seemingly standing alone as a conference contender as they seek to replicate last year’s run to the NBA Finals, while the Hawks, Magic, Hornets and Wizards vie for a spot in the playoffs. What else should you keep an eye on from these five teams?

Scouts’ Anonymous Takes (as told to Chris Mannix)

Heat

I think the losses Miami took are really big. If there’s ever a team that you can never underestimate, it’s Miami, but Gabe Vincent was a 3-and-D at a combo guard level and [Max] Strus was such a good glue guy. In the NBA, you look for these point guards and you say, “Are they scorers?” And then if they can initiate offense, it’s huge. And Vincent could initiate offense. So they’re going to lose that big time. And he was just huge for them both in the regular season and the playoffs.