ENEMY LINES

AN OPPOSING SCOUT SIZES UP THE DIVISION

LAMELO BALL IS a star. He’s Jason Kidd with a better jump shot. He’s among the best passers in the NBA already. He showed leadership last season that I didn’t expect—the Hornets fell apart when he went out. He’s going to have to adapt to being at the top of every scouting report . . . . [Rookie point guard] Jalen Suggs looked like the real deal in Summer League, but can the Magic play him next to Markelle Fultz? I don’t know how you look at them and see anything but one of the worst teams in the NBA . . . . Everybody is excited about Kyle Lowry [going to Miami], but is he that big of an upgrade over Goran Dragic´? Dragic´ could score, and he had great chemistry with that team. Lowry is a leader, but he takes a lot of contact, a lot of charges. I worry about injuries . . . . There aren’t many guys I’d want to have the ball in key situations more than Jimmy Butler. He needs to be more of a playmaker with this group, because they don’t have a lot of shot creators . . . . I like the direction of the Wizards. Spencer Dinwiddie is a better fit alongside Bradley Beal than Russell Westbrook was. And they’ve done a nice job collecting pieces, all with potential. Kyle Kuzma didn’t like his role in L.A. but he’ll have a bigger one in D.C . . . . The Hawks’ biggest offseason addition really is [a healthy] De’andre Hunter. He might have been their best player in the first third of the season. He’s one of the best defenders in the league.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINNING PERCENTAGE FOR THE HAWKS IN 38 GAMES UNDER NATE MCMILLAN (.711), WHO TOOK OVER FROM LLOYD PIERCE (.412).

TELLING NUMBER

.299