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Spoiler:

Taurean Prince

In year two, Prince really started making strides towards becoming a solid NBA starter. He started in all 82 games and became a reliable scorer from the wing, averaging 14.1 points on 42.6% shooting. The most exciting part is his development from behind the arc, which was a question mark after his rookie season. He adds that three-point shot to a long, athletic build that can finish around the rim.


Jeremy Lin

The biggest questions for Lin surround his health, but Lin has produced offensively everywhere he has gone. On a Hawks team with limited scoring options, a healthy Lin could prove to be the most explosive scorer. He has always been reliable from the three-point line, making them at a 35% clip for his career. The Hawks are going to want to give Trae Young a lot of minutes as a rookie, but Lin’s ability to play the two-guard will allow him to stay on the floor. He should be a major contributor with the ball in his hands for Atlanta.


Trae Young

This guy was a living highlight reel in high-school and did not miss a beat when he went to college, leading the nation in scoring and assists.

...if there is one thing this guy can do, it is create offense, and he is going do that from the start in the NBA. His rookie season will still come with some growing pains. They can be seen in the poor shooting numbers.

He is a high-volume scorer, and with the Hawks having very little to lose the season, they should be open to letting Young pull the trigger as much as he wants. His assists numbers could be even higher than predicted, but I expect them to come with a fair amount of turnovers.


John Collins

John Collins is the Hawks’ best player. His most noticeable attribute remains his athleticism, and his overall offensive development is what should have Hawks fans giddy.

At 6’10”, he has already proven to have a terrific mid-range game and will stretch out to more of a three-point shooter from this year on. On 47 attempts as a rookie, Collins shot 34% from behind the arc. The Wake Forest product was dominant in summer league, working primarily on his jump shot.

He is poised for a magnificent season as the Hawks go-to scorer. As he becomes a starter in his second season, the Hawks will be looking for him to score early and often.

macd-gm wrote:I'll shock everyone and say Trae will be the Hawks best offensive player.

Jamaaliver wrote:

macd-gm wrote:I'll shock everyone and say Trae will be the Hawks best offensive player.

Coming from you...I don't think that's a shock to anyone.

macd-gm wrote:I'll shock everyone and say Trae will be the Hawks best offensive player. I don't know if we are talking specific stats but by the end of the year everything will be running through Trae. I don't see Prince becoming a big time scorer because we'll have so many other guys who can look to score too.

We just arent' used to talent like Trae has on the offensive end. There is no reason to sit him on the bench. Obviously he has to learn the system and learn his teammates but he really has two difficult goals to accomplish this year. Cut down on mistakes (bad passes, bad shots, turnovers) and learn how to play respectable D.

I think Collins will be the biggest beneficiary of playing with Trae. It wouldn't surprise me if they are 1 and 2 in scoring. If not this year then next.

ChokeFasncists wrote:

macd-gm wrote:I'll shock everyone and say Trae will be the Hawks best offensive player. I don't know if we are talking specific stats but by the end of the year everything will be running through Trae. I don't see Prince becoming a big time scorer because we'll have so many other guys who can look to score too.

We just arent' used to talent like Trae has on the offensive end. There is no reason to sit him on the bench. Obviously he has to learn the system and learn his teammates but he really has two difficult goals to accomplish this year. Cut down on mistakes (bad passes, bad shots, turnovers) and learn how to play respectable D.

I think Collins will be the biggest beneficiary of playing with Trae. It wouldn't surprise me if they are 1 and 2 in scoring. If not this year then next.

So looks like you haven't voted...

OP: Collins and Prince are gonna benefit big time from having TraeLin.

Sophomore Collins would most likely be the main PnR big but the third year man Prince should still get ample opportunities to show whether he could continue where he left off and progress towards being a 20 points scorer.

Lin's probably gonna be rusty and take it easy in terms of scoring in the first half of the season. Trae's gonna be green and overmatched at first. I'd say Trae will be the best offensive player by the end of the season. If Lin's miraculously it, this team's gonna be good, cuz it's got talents and Lin makes everyone around him better.

Tough choice, but I'll go with Prince since he's the oldest and Lin's most likely gonna be rusty.

graymule wrote::D

Now, I ask, which Hawk will be the most improved? Since rookies don't count because they haven't played.

I say Alex Len. People forget he's here, I believe.

graymule wrote::D

Now, I ask, which Hawk will be the most improved? Since rookies don't count because they haven't played.

I say Alex Len. People forget he's here, I believe.

Top Offensive Player: Trae Young

In 32 collegiate games for Oklahoma, Young averaged a whopping 27.4 points per outing on 42 percent shooting from the floor, 36 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the charity stripe. The dynamic guard was chosen with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft and then traded to Atlanta. There are legitimate questions on whether Young’s scoring prowess will translate at the next level and how much time he will need to develop. But since the Hawks shipped Schroder to Oklahoma City during the offseason, playing time won’t be an issue in Atlanta’s backcourt.

Young was up and down during summer league play and its clear opponents’ game plan will be geared toward being physical and not letting him reach his sweet spots. Despite the offensive shakiness, Young still managed to snag second-team All-NBA Summer League honors in Las Vegas.

There are a couple of veterans on the Hawks’ roster with a more refined offensive arsenal, but none possess the immense upside Young has when it comes to putting the ball into the hoop.

Top Playmaker: Jeremy Lin

Lin, entering his ninth season, has experienced almost all the game has to offer. From being an undrafted afterthought to a taste of superstardom (Linsanity), to becoming a full-time starter and playoff contributor. Lin is in the final year of his current deal and will presumably be asked to be a veteran presence with Schroder now in Oklahoma City and while Young navigates treacherous rookie campaign terrain. Lin will never be a high volume assist guy but for this young Hawks team and rookie head coach, he just may become a calming influence in the midst of the rebuilding project.


Top Clutch Player: Jeremy Lin

Eventually, the team hopes Young will be the go-to guy down the stretch. But until that time comes to fruition, you can expect the ball to be in the hands of Lin in late game situations. The Hawks are an extremely young team filled of players with less than three years of experience. Veterans such as Lin, Kent Bazemore and to a smaller degree Vince Carter, will be counted on to help cultivate Atlanta’s youth movement.