The Atlanta Hawks saw their magnificent 2021 postseason run come to an end on Saturday after losing Game 6 to the NBA Finals-bound Milwaukee Bucks. Atlanta is certainly disappointed for not reaching its goal of winning a championship this year.
Nonetheless, the Hawks shouldn't hang their heads too much and look back on this season as a major step in their quest to eventually bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy to Atlanta. With a superstar in Trae Young leading the way, a solid mix of young studs and veterans, and a great coach in Nate McMillan (expect that interim tag to be taken off soon), there is no reason to believe the Hawks won't be in the title hunt again next season.
Here are four reasons the Atlanta Hawks are legitimate title contenders in 2021-22.
1. Experience
Almost all NBA players who have been there and done that would say there is nothing like playoff basketball. It's definitely amazing what this Hawks team accomplished in these 2021 playoffs, considering a good chunk of their core just experienced the postseason for the first time in their careers. With a run to the Eastern Conference Finals firmly tucked under their belts, these young Hawks studs undoubtedly grew tremendously through this two-month run and should give them more confidence in the future.
With that, Trae Young, John Collins (assuming he's back with the Hawks next season), De'Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, and the rest of the young Hawks core (even Cam Reddish and Onyeka Okongwu) should be more battle-tested when next season comes.
2. Much of their core is still intact
Aside from John Collins and Lou Williams, much of Atlanta's core rotation pieces are under contract for next season. The Hawks will undoubtedly make retaining Collins one of their top priorities next season. Likewise, they will likely want to bring back Williams to a team-friendly deal to continue serving as a steady backup for Trae Young.
Continuity is an underrated aspect of winning a championship. Fielding in the same core next season should give them an advantage. They will still have a great mix of veterans and young talent, with Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, and Danilo Gallinari three other key vets in place.
3. Young core showed promise
Atlanta's young core showed a lot of promise throughout this postseason run. Nearly every one of them had their own huge moment in these playoffs.
Trae Young established himself as a superstar with multiple masterclass performances, including a 48-point explosion in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Undoubtedly, the 2018 No. 5 overall pick proved that he is built for the bright lights.
John Collins, again assuming they retain him, was a little inconsistent but still made some pressure-packed shots in their run. Kevin Huerter played his best game in their Game 7 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, dropping 27 points. Even Cam Reddish, who played just 26 games in the regular season, showed out in the Atlanta's last couple of games and fought valiantly in the season-ending loss in Game 6, scoring 21 points with six 3-pointers.
With that, you can only imagine them to get better next season, especially after having this valuable postseason experience and thriving in it as well. Don't forget that De'Andre Hunter missed the Eastern Conference Finals with an injury.
4. Atlanta has the assets to swing for a big trade
Let's face reality: As promising a run they had in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Hawks are probably still one more legitimate star away from being in the same sentence as that of the Brooklyn Nets or even the Finals-bound Milwaukee Bucks in terms of top-tier title contenders. Other teams such as the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat will definitely make moves to get better next season. If Atlanta stands pat, the franchise may just find itself being left in the dust while other teams revamp and enhance their rosters.
That's why if the opportunity to acquire another star presents itself, the Hawks should not hesitate to swing. As much as we're applauding the Hawks' young core for their impressive showing in their first postseason experience, they can still be included in a package that could land Atlanta another star to pair with Trae Young.
The Hawks are loaded with young studs such as De'Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter, and Onyeka Okongwu that they can include in a potential deal for an All-Star-caliber player who could boost their chances of winning now. In addition, their draft capital is filled to the brim, so they could cash in these assets as added sweeteners.
I know their season just ended and it might not be the best time to point this out. Nonetheless, the Hawks are in prime position to become a force to be reckoned and a title contender for many years to come. Of course, it will depend on how they manage their assets to build this championship-caliber squad.
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