The Atlanta Hawks went on a terrific run in the 2021-22 season after their coaching change from Lloyd Pierce to Nate McMillan. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals before succumbing to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Unfortunately, Cameron Reddish, Deandre Hunter, and Trae Young sustained injures in the midst of their run.
As they enter the second year with their main core, the Hawks could sustain their run with practically the same team for their upcoming campaign.
Their counterparts in the Eastern Conference will come back with a vengeance, but the Hawks will be tough to defeat because they are lethal on both offensively and defensively. Thus, here are the five major questions surrounding the season for Atlanta.
Can Trae Young elevate his game to yet another level?
This is a tough expectation for just the fourth season of a proven star in the league, but if the Hawks want to reach the East Finals again, Young needs to continue excelling at the highest stage. There are still games wherein Young shoots 30% from the field or committing more than five turnovers in a crucial playoff game.
Along with the offensive efficiency, Young could also improve his defense for the Hawks, because teams could plan strategies in order to exploit this glaring weakness of the spitfire guard. Fortunately, the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Bucks did not have that tactic of capitalizing on Young on switches and pick and roll defense.
Will John Collins live up to $125 million contract extension?
It has been reported that John Collins and the Hawks had a difficult time agreeing on an extension, but the Hawks gave in and gave him the bag he deservers after his fantastic performance in the playoffs. Collins has adequate shooting abilities to space up the floor even with Clint Capela on the court, while he also runs the unstoppable pick and roll combination with Young.
Previously, the question mark with Collins was he was a tweener as a power forward or center in this generation of basketball. He has thrashed this statement because of his immense improvements on both sides of the spectrum. He is able to guard quicker and mobile forwards on the perimeter while also providing a threatening interior presence for the Hawks.
How will the Hawks' wing rotation materialize?
With Kevin Huerter signing a contract extension with Atlanta, their formidable wing rotation is set for the next years. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari had playoff matches wherein they led the franchise in scoring, while the youngsters in Reddish and Hunter could prove their spot as well and showcase their talent on the deep Hawks squad.
When teams are stacked on all positions, turmoil and envy could vastly increase when losing piles up for the team. If the coaches and stars could interact and communicate properly with the individuals affected, there would not be a problem anymore. Thus, that will be the challenge for the Hawks because everyone is currently healthy, and it will be on the hands of McMillan to balance out the rotation and maximize their capabilities.
How can the Hawks keep the team intact long-term?
With the extensions of Young, Collins, Capela, and Huerter, this foursome is a phenomenal, energetic core for the Hawks. They are all at a young age have a lot to prove in this league, but the integral aspect is developing on their surrounding pieces as well.
When Reddish and Hunter are due for their rookie deal extensions, it seems difficult for them to keep the whole core together. Nevertheless, McMillan will be tasked to maintain that continuity with their youthful squad despite possible losses in the next two or three years. These two Hawks have immense potential, but the front office may sacrifice either of the two studs because of the financial ramifications of the salary cap.
Is Atlanta in position to acquire a disgruntled superstar in the middle of a season?
With the aforementioned deep and petrifying composition of the Atlanta roster, the Hawks are in position to add another wing or guard that could complement Young, Collins, and Capela. They have the assets and salary fillers to complete a trade for a possible frustrated superstar, possibly Bradley Beal or Karl-Anthony Towns.
Despite building up their squad as a small-market team, superstar power and scoring abilities are still the name of the game at the end of the day. Forming a sensational duo of Beal and Young could enable the Hawks to compete with any backcourt in the Eastern Conference because of their skill set. They could possibly score 40 points apiece at any juncture in the playoffs.
With the plethora of possibilities available to vastly improve the Hawks, Travis Schlenk must remain patient and just strike a deal when its perfect for their system and culture in Atlanta.
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