Atlanta Hawks
Last Season
44-38 (sixth in East)
Additions
Paul Millsap, Elton Brand, Pero Antic, Dennis Schroeder, Gustavo Ayon, DeMarre Carroll
Departures
Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia, DeShawn Stevenson, Devin Harris, Dahntay Jones
Possible starting five
g - Jeff Teague
g - Anthony Morrow
f - Kyle Korver
f - Paul Millsap
c - Al Horford
The burning questions
1. How will Mike Budenholzer go in his first year as head coach?
2. Will Al Horford continue to get underrated?
3. How will Paul Millsap go in a new environment?
4. Will Lou Williams be able to return to his best form following knee surgery?
5. Will Jeff Teague continue to get better as he matures more?
Prediction
The Hawks are a hard team to predict this season with a new coach at the helm and a host of fresh faces brought in hoping to impress.
There is enough talent there to suggest they can make the playoffs for the seventh straight season, but just how far they can go in the post-season remains to be seen.
The signing of Paul Millsap is a good one and, providing he stays fit and combines well with Al Horford, the Hawks should be able to sneak into the playoffs yet again.
Charlotte Bobcats
Last Season
21-61 (14th in East)
Additions
Al Jefferson, Cody Zeller, Anthony Tolliver, Jannero Pargo
Departures
Reggie Williams, Byron Mullens, Tyrus Thomas
Possible starting five
g - Kemba Walker
g - Gerald Henderson
f - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
f - Cody Zeller
c - Al Jefferson
The burning questions
1. Is Kemba Walker capable of taking that next step?
2. Will the signing of Al Jefferson make a difference?
3. How will new coach Steve Clifford fare in his first stint in charge of an NBA team?
4. Can Jeff Taylor continue to improve?
5. Will Cody Zeller make an immediate impact in the NBA?
Prediction
The Bobcats have only featured in the playoffs once during their nine-year existence and they will need a lot of things to go their way if they are to reach the post-season for a second time.
On paper their starting five looks capable enough, but they still lack depth and will need to improve markedly to make an impact.
Al Jefferson is a good signing and should make a difference, but he will need to find a few helpers if the Bobcats are going to make an impression.
Miami Heat
Last Season
66-16 (first in East)
Additions
Greg Oden, Michael Beasley
Departures
Mike Miller, Juwan Howard
Possible starting five
g - Mario Chalmers
g - Dwyane Wade
f - LeBron James
f - Udonis Haslem
c - Chris Bosh
The burning questions
1. Is it possible for LeBron James to get any better?
2. Will the Heat be able to get Greg Oden's body right?
3. Can Chris Bosh stay injury free and elevate his game in the playoffs?
4. Does Mario Chalmers need to take more responsibility for this team?
5. Can Erik Spoelstra keep his players hungry for another title push?
Prediction
Any team with LeBron James in it is going to be a Championship threat and there is no reason to suggest that they can't make it three titles on the trot this season.
James has a supporting cast that includes experienced stars like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen, so they would have to have everything go against them if they weren't to feature at the pointy end of the post-season.
If they can get Greg Oden healthy and helping out this can only be a positive as he could provide that x-factor needed off the bench that Erik Spoelstra so badly desires.
Make no mistake, the Heat are still the team to beat for the Championship this season.
Orlando Magic
Last Season
20-62 (15th in East)
Additions
Victor Oladipo, Jason Maxiell, Ronnie Price, Romero Osby
Departures
Al Harrington, Beno Udrih, DeQuan Jones
Possible starting five
g - Jameer Nelson
g - Arron Afflalo
f - Maurice Harkless
f - Tobias Harris
c - Nikola Vucevic
The burning questions
1. Can Victor Oladipo win the rookie of the year title?
2. Will Tobias Harris continue to improve?
3. Can Maurice Harkless develop into a consistent starter?
4. Is Jameer Nelson good enough to maintain a starting role?
5. Can Nikola Vucevic maintain his form and develop into one of the best big men in the league?
Prediction
It looks like being another long season for the Magic, but they have plenty of young talent at their disposal and their future looks bright.
The likes of Tobias Harris, Maurice Harkless and Kyle O'Quinn look to have bright futures, while rookie of the year candidate Victor Oladipo should get plenty of chances to impress in what should be a transition season for the franchise.
It is unlikely the Magic will be challenging for a playoff berth this season, but with so many talented youngsters it won't be long before they are back challenging again.
Washington Wizards
Last Season
29-53 (12th in East)
Additions
Al Harrington, Eric Maynor, Otto Porter Jr., Glen Rice Jr., Marcin Gortat, Kendall Marshall, Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee
Departures
A.J. Price, Leandro Barbosa, Jason Collins, Emeka Okafor
Possible starting five
g - John Wall
g - Bradley Beal
f - Trevor Ariza
f - Trevor Booker
c - Nene Hilario
The burning questions
1. Is John Wall ready to take the next step?
2. Can veteran big man Nene Hilario stay healthy?
3. Will Bradley Beal team well with Wall and show how good he can be?
4. What impact can Otto Porter Jr. make in his debut season?
5. Will new acquisition Al Harrington have a positive impact on the team?
Prediction
It’s been a long time since the Wizards featured in the playoffs, but everything points to them returning to the post-season this year.
It was back in 2008 when the Wizards last played playoff basketball, but young star John Wall has the capability of taking this team back to that level and beyond.
Wall missed 33 matches last season with a knee problem, but if he stays fit then the Wizards can reach the playoffs and even make a bit of an impact in them.
His support cast is more than capable - Nene still knows how to get the job done and Bradley Beal looks ultra promising - so expect to see the Wizards as one of the big improvers in the East this season.
Predicted division standings
1. Miami Heat
2. Atlanta Hawks
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Orlando Magic