RealGM

MVP: Trae Young

Maybe he still holds onto the ball a little too much, and maybe his defensive shortcomings make him a target on most nights. But Trae Young is the guy who makes the Atlanta Hawks' offense go. He's a high-usage playmaker who stretches the defense with deep range and tilts every defender on the floor in his direction, making everything easier for teammates.

Young's on-court impact on his team's offensive rating is in the 99th percentile, he's made more free throws than any player in the league, and he's one of two players (Luka Doncic is the other) with at least 100 made triples and 500 assists in 2020-21.

DPOY: Clint Capela

Most catch-all metrics reward work on the defensive glass, but Clint Capela's league-leading rebound rate on both ends is just one reason he has amassed more RAPTOR Wins Above Replacement than Young and all but 10 other players in the entire league.

Capela is Atlanta's mistake-eraser at the rim, and he's developed such refinement as a pick-and-roll defender that he can ably navigate being the only defender in front of both a ball-handling point guard and lob-hunting big man. His timing and instincts make him one of the single best interior forces in the league.

Atlanta's defensive rating resides in the bottom third of the league overall, but it performs like a top-five outfit with Capela on the floor.

Best New Addition: Nate McMillan

Nate McMillan slid over to the big chair after Lloyd Pierce's ouster in early March. Atlanta was 14-20 at the time of the change, and while injuries were a key reason for the team's disappointing performance to that point, its improvement under McMillan wasn't just about the roster getting healthier. Something clicked under his leadership, and the Hawks went from 11th in the East to a no-doubt playoff entrant.

Rising Star Award: De'Andre Hunter

De'Andre Hunter's first 13 games of the season were a revelation. He averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists on a 50.3/40.0/86.5 shooting split while playing shutdown wing defense and flashing on-ball skills that weren't present during his rookie year.

However, knee troubles limited Hunter to only two games between Feb. 1 and May 10, stalling what looked like a true breakout effort.

Atlanta's gains this year were significant. If Hunter can pick up next year where he left off in 2020-21, the Hawks could take an even bigger step forward.

Encouraging player from this season: Clint Capela

When the Atlanta Hawks traded for Clint Capela, they had a pretty good idea they’d have to wait a while to see how he’d affect this team. Turns out, the wait was worth it. His defense this season has been better than advertised, and he was a very good defensive presence with the Houston Rockets. The rim protection was huge. His ability to compete on the perimeter defensively was key. And he ends possessions by helping the Hawks hit the defensive boards. I’m not sure they could have realistically hoped for a better impact.

Player you want more from: Trae Young

This isn’t a knock on Young. He’s an All-Star. He’s an All-NBA candidate in a loaded guard field. He’s a star in the NBA. But the Hawks need him to be even more lethal as a scorer on offense. The efficiency has to rise, especially when we get to the postseason. His shot selection has tightened up, but the shooting percentage, especially from deep, hasn’t quite caught up. As a distributor, he’s been unbelievable, but they’ll need him to be a lethal scorer throughout this run. I can’t wait to see him on the playoff stage because he’s going to be so much fun.

Jamaaliver wrote:

MVP: Trae Young

Maybe he still holds onto the ball a little too much, and maybe his defensive shortcomings make him a target on most nights. But Trae Young is the guy who makes the Atlanta Hawks' offense go. He's a high-usage playmaker who stretches the defense with deep range and tilts every defender on the floor in his direction, making everything easier for teammates.

Young's on-court impact on his team's offensive rating is in the 99th percentile, he's made more free throws than any player in the league, and he's one of two players (Luka Doncic is the other) with at least 100 made triples and 500 assists in 2020-21.

DPOY: Clint Capela

Most catch-all metrics reward work on the defensive glass, but Clint Capela's league-leading rebound rate on both ends is just one reason he has amassed more RAPTOR Wins Above Replacement than Young and all but 10 other players in the entire league.

Capela is Atlanta's mistake-eraser at the rim, and he's developed such refinement as a pick-and-roll defender that he can ably navigate being the only defender in front of both a ball-handling point guard and lob-hunting big man. His timing and instincts make him one of the single best interior forces in the league.

Atlanta's defensive rating resides in the bottom third of the league overall, but it performs like a top-five outfit with Capela on the floor.

Best New Addition: Nate McMillan

Nate McMillan slid over to the big chair after Lloyd Pierce's ouster in early March. Atlanta was 14-20 at the time of the change, and while injuries were a key reason for the team's disappointing performance to that point, its improvement under McMillan wasn't just about the roster getting healthier. Something clicked under his leadership, and the Hawks went from 11th in the East to a no-doubt playoff entrant.

Rising Star Award: De'Andre Hunter

De'Andre Hunter's first 13 games of the season were a revelation. He averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists on a 50.3/40.0/86.5 shooting split while playing shutdown wing defense and flashing on-ball skills that weren't present during his rookie year.

However, knee troubles limited Hunter to only two games between Feb. 1 and May 10, stalling what looked like a true breakout effort.

Atlanta's gains this year were significant. If Hunter can pick up next year where he left off in 2020-21, the Hawks could take an even bigger step forward.

Bleacher Report