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The Atlanta Hawks are on the heels of a disappointing 2021 season. The franchise took a significant step back after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020. Atlanta finished with a 43-39 record in the regular season and was knocked out by the Miami Heat in the opening round of the playoffs. There is a great deal of work to do this offseason as the franchise looks to build a true contender around Trae Young.
While the Hawks have been linked to some notable names in free agency, they must use every avenue to upgrade the roster. Atlanta also must capitalize in the NBA Draft. The Hawks currently hold the 16th and 44th picks in the upcoming draft. As the event inches closer here are the three biggest needs for the Hawks to target.
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Hawks 2022 NBA Draft Needs
Impact Big Man
Clint Capela has been a terrific fit alongside Trae Young. His ability to run the floor, catch lobs, and protect the rim has been exactly what the Hawks have needed. However, Capela is still somewhat limited in his skillset. He also is the only center currently on the Hawks roster for the 2022 season.
While there is so much buzz connecting the Hawks to Rudy Gobert and DeAndre Ayton, there are also some appealing center targets in the draft. Adding a long-term big man to pair with Young holds exciting potential. The Hawks superstar creates easy looks for his big men and is an appealing partner for any young center. If the Hawks can add a big man with a great deal of long-term potential it would be a worthwhile investment. Jalen Duren, Mark Williams, and Christian Koloko are a few names to watch.
Combo Guard
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Trae Young is certain to be the long-term point guard of the Atlanta Hawks franchise. However, allowing him to spend more time off-ball could add some unique elements to the offense. Steph Curry has revolutionized his game by becoming elite in his off-ball movement. While Young likely doesn't have as much potential in this area, there is still appeal to having him run off screens. Creating easier looks for the star should be a priority for the Hawks and this is an avenue they have not explored enough.
As the roster currently stands there are limited options for ball-handlers. Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and De'Andre Hunter are the top options to handle the ball. Each guy plays an important role on the team but ball-handling and distributing are not what they are best at. Targeting a guy who is a capable secondary ball-handler would be an interesting long-term move. Keep an eye on Malaki Branham and TyTy Washington as two options in the draft.
Shooters
The most important factor in the Atlanta Hawks' offense is to provide spacing around Trae Young. The 23-year-old is a unique talent due to his elite ability as both a scorer and playmaker. Surrounding Young with shooters to make teams think twice about bringing a double-team is extremely important. Atlanta has done a solid job of this so far throughout Young's career but there is still room for improvement.
The Hawks should have their sights set on two-way wings and guards who can comfortably knock down shots. This is a role that has become increasingly important in the NBA. Expect Atlanta to target guys like AJ Griffin, Ochai Agbaji, and EJ Liddell for this role. Each guy is fairly NBA-ready and would make an immediate and long-term impact on the Hawks.
It is difficult to evaluate the Hawks roster at this point as it is currently incomplete. The Hawks have nine players under contract heading into next season. There is a great deal of work to do across the board and an impact free agent signing could alter their needs greatly. Regardless, the Hawks should keep their heads clear and prioritize adding a long-term impact piece in the draft.
