News - Atlanta Hawks - Bulldog63
What to do about the 4?
When you're in the bottom third of the league, it's never too late too start planning for next season. The hawks want to be good next year, as they do not own their first next year (a price to be paid for getting their 1st back this year). While the record doesn't reflect it, there's optimism in the FO that most of the pieces are in place to take a jump forward. However, one concern that will need to be addressed is what to do at the starting power forward spot.
When Alex Sarr was drafted, there was hope he would be able to form a duality with fellow big donovan clingan; sarr would be the rangy wing defender, and clingan the huge post presence. Unfortunately, circumstances have made it so that sarr is unlikely to have 4 eligibility next year, meaning there will be a logjam at 5 between both guys and isaiah stewart (who will also be losing 4 eligibility), while Taylor Hendricks, who barely played this season, is currently the only projected 4 on the roster. While there is still belief that Sarr can be a 4 long-term, that doesn't help next season. So what to do?
The Hawks would love if Hendricks turned into a starting 4 on his own, but it'll only be his 2nd real year in the league, and he'll be coming off a major injury, so they can't count on that. They will have no cap space, but should have at least a taxpayer MLE to work with in free agency (though they are short on GM pts to do so.); still, a taxpayer MLE is unlikely to find a starting-caliber PF. They will certainly have a top 8 pick in the draft if not much higher, but this is not a great draft for bigs, and it would feel redundant to take yet another big after trading up and taking 2 in the top 5 last year. This means the only feasible way of landing a starting 4 is going to be via trade.
The hawks were not shy about shopping their assets this year, though no meaningful deal ever got done. They are flush with guards and wings; they will have 4 players with guard eligibility, and 4 more with SG/SF eligibility, as well as an expendable center in isaiah stewart. We know Coby White and Payton Pritchard were among the most heavily shopped, but the issue this season was that the Hawks were firmly after future assets. Perhaps switching their focus to equal swaps of players will open more avenues to get a deal done. Regardless, it is a problem for the future, not now. But it never hurts to plan ahead, especially when the plan switches from "suck" to "don't suck anymore." The last thing the GM wants is egg on his face by trading what may end up as a lotto pick next season, especially if this year's lottery doesn't go well. The hawks do have ammo, it's just going to depend on how much of it they're willing to use.
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