The Eastern Conference is loaded with the reigning NBA champs, Milwaukee, as well as the team that faced them in the conference finals – Atlanta. Don’t forget Miami, which is just a year removed from playing for an NBA championship.
The Heat and the Hawks are the favorites to win the Southeast Division this season. Here’s a look at the 2021 NBA Southeast Division futures odds and picks.
2021 Miami Heat Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Southeast Division: -125
Miami checks in as the overall betting favorite to win the Southeast. All-Star Jimmy Butler and emerging star Bam Adebayo get an added boost with the addition of All-Star caliber point guard Kyle Lowry. He’s now 35 years old, but he shot almost 40 percent from three-point range last season.
The Heat are listed at -125 to win the Southeast, but they will be challenged.
2021 Atlanta Hawks Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Southeast Division: +135
The biggest challenge to the Heat’s Southeast Division title this coming season will come from Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks (+135). Young, who averaged 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game, has established himself as an elite player in the league.
Right behind him is John Collins. The 6-10 Collins averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last season. When you add in Clint Capela, Danillo Gallinari, Kevin Heurter, DeAndre Hunter, and Cam Reddish; this is a team that can not only challenge for a division title, but also for conference and NBA titles.
2021 Charlotte Hornets Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Southeast Division: +1500
The Heat and Hawks are the only teams listed with better than +1000 odds. Charlotte comes in next on the board at +1500. The Hornets are young and found a quality playmaker in NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball (15.7 ppg, 6.1 apg).
Charlotte drafted James Bouknight and Kai Jones. Bouknight should contribute early with the losses of Malik Monk and Devonte Graham. Veteran Gordon Hayward needs to stay healthy, but the Hornets are a player or two away from a real shot at a division title.
2021 Washington Wizards Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Southeast Division: +2500
The Wizards finally got rid of both John Wall and Russell Westbrook. Both are excellent players, but their contracts were just killing Washington’s ability to acquire any quality players. The Wizards did make some good offseason moves to build around Bradley Beal (31.3 ppg).
Washington got Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert in the draft and added guard Spencer Dinwiddie and former Laker forward Kyle Kuzma. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Davis Bertrans, and Deni Avdija; the Wizards have a solid first rotation. They just aren’t deep enough to win much of anything.
2021 Orlando Magic Team Preview and Futures Odds
Odds to Win Southeast Division: +15000
Orlando is listed at +15000 to win the Southeast Division for a reason. They just don’t have the roster to compete. The Magic lacks a true superstar, No. 1. In today’s NBA, you really need two and three superstar-caliber players to compete for anything. Orlando simply doesn’t have it.
The Magic did add some quality players through the draft. Jalen Suggs fell into their lap at No. 5 and Orlando also added the other Wagner brother, Franz. Still, Orlando just lacks too much to even be mentioned among the division favorites.
2022 NBA Southeast Division Predictions
The wrong team may be favored here. You may want to jump on Atlanta at plus-money while you can. Yes, Miami is good. They will play great defense and they will be a playoff team, but Trae Young and Atlanta is better.
The Hawks are an up-and-coming roster loaded with upper end talent as well as quality role players. Take the Hawks +135 to win the Southeast.
PREDICTION: HAWKS +135
Check out our 2022 NBA MVP predictions.
