Atlanta Hawks Team Review

 

2022-23 Finish: 22-60

 

Season Highlight:

The Hawks had a real tough year this year, which was possibly to be expected, but also completely unexpected the way the team was built by the former GM Ben Anderson, where he arguably pushed his chips �All in� somewhat going after Lillard to put with Siakam and the mainstays of Hunter and on paper that looked like a boon. It wasn�t�so the highlight for the Hawks this year was bringing in a new GM with a fresh outlook and dream, and increased activity. Ben was getting busy in life, which is fine, so when things turned south in Atlanta, there wasn�t much correction going on. Bulldog has come in and made a couple of moves, but been very active looking and discussing, and feeling out the direction of the tea. They�re in safe hands with his leadership and they have kids now signing on the dotted line for extensions while still maintaining their top trade chip.

 

Season Lowlight:

Well, it�s pretty clear. This team was the bottom of the East and in the end plain horrible. It didn�t help that the GM went missing, before finally stepping away and their stars were injured for portions and down the stretch. It was a year to forget on the whole if you consider that they tried to push the chips in a little and go for the playoffs maybe a tad early.

 

Best Trade:

Hawks send: James Bouknight

Hawks receive: Payton Pritchard and Santi Aldama

 

This was the last move made by the former GM, early in the year, and probably has to be labelled the best deal simply because they got two legit rotation players for a guy that even at the time was looking like he could be gone in a couple years, and hasn�t done a single thing to change that thinking in the last 12 months either. While Pritchard just extended, and Santi is getting better and better.

 

Worst Trade:

Hawks send: Jaxson Hayes
Hawks receive: Killian Hayes

Not a bad deal really, but you have the choose a �worst� one don�t you? Neither guy has made a real footing in the NBA but Jaxson probably has more 2k appeal, while Killian looks at least like he might have a longer career (despite his many short comings). It�s a bit of a white wash, but we use 2k, so, Jaxson.

 

Other Notable Trades:

Hawks send: Jalen Green

Hawks receive: Lonnie Walker, Pick 8 2023, Sacramento 2024 1^st, Milwaukee 2025 1^st and Golden State 2027 1^st.

 

Love it or hate it, I personally think it was a great deal of turning assets. Of course, many would argue that you draft at Pick 8 dreaming to land a Jalen Green�but they got a swathe of other assets too.

 

 

 

Hawks send: Pascal Siakam, Pick 8 2023, Atlanta 2026 2^nd and Atlanta 2027 2^nd
Hawks receive: Desmond Bane, Kyle Lowry, Pick 12 2023 and Cleveland 2027 1^st

 

Jury is out here for now since it was end of the year and no one has taken the court. But, they landed Bane who is a pretty good young talent and 2k seems to like guards again. Cleared the way for Hunter. And picked up and extra 1^st.

 

 

Free Agency:

The Hawks won�t be too active in FA given their record, and will focus more on trying to bring back their own guys. Unfortunately, Jalen McDaniels is a a near lock to be gone due to his leaving in the NBA and UFA status, but Coby White is a lock to come back as an RFA. There�ll be minimal action looking to just fill out the roster.

Coby White � RFA, coming back.

Jalen McDaniels � UFA, near lock to be gone.

Taurean Prince � UFA, unlikely to bother attempting to bring back.

 

Star:

Damian Lillard

There is only 1 legit bonefied star in Atlanta at the moment, and that man is Damian Lillard of course. The man only managed 58 games last year and was out down the stretch, but he still put up 22 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists a game on 43/35/84 shooting splits and looks like he�ll be back to Finals MVP level status and play this year in the new engine. Many teams tried to pry him away cheap this offseason, but they should be re-engaging in talks now and putting legit assets on the table rather than messing around, because Dame is back and will be huge.

 

Flop:

Pascal Siakam

Man is this harsh�but this guy is a legit 25ppg guy in the NBA and a tough opponent on both ends of the court, and yet here, he still only manages 13ppg on 40/26/75 splits. His defensive impact was not there and while he did make it a double double with 11 rebounds a game, he�s not the star power needed to pair with a Dame, and that is why he�s now elsewhere.

 

 

Draft Grades:

Pick 6 � Taylor Hendricks

Pick 12 � Gradey Dick

Grade: A

The Hawks you have to say did very well in the draft. Hendricks looks like the type of 2way big man that will cause issues in 2k and is a building block in the real NBA that will have a long career. Siakam out, Hendricks in. Dick is a shooter and at the very least should be a really nice complimentary role player alongside ball studs like Lillard and Bane, and space the floor like every team needs.

 

The Future:

The Hawks future looks really solid. They�ve been in a transition that was arguably a little derailed by the bringing in of Dame, but he�s still an elite asset. Around him, they�re really young and looking good for the now and the future. They might even be able to press for a playoff spot this year with the type of build they have covering all positions, but it wouldn�t be a 100% goal. Dame is likely to be on the move sometime to fit the full timeline, but they also have the pieces to go the other way if they want too. It�s a team brimming with opportunity.

C: Isaiah Stewart / Santi Aldama
PF: DeAndre Hunter / Jalen McDaniels / Taylor Hendricks
SF: Gradey Dick / Taurean Prince
SG: Desmond Bane / Andrew Nembhard / Coby White
PG: Damian Lillard / Kyle Lowry / Payton Pritchard