Hawks -- State of the Franchise

[Jamaaliver]

This was the moment I look back and see that Ressler had lost faith in the direction of the team.

Billionaires don't like being embarrassed.

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[Jamaaliver]

I was wrong...this franchise is a clown show.

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[Jamaaliver]

We already had a senior-level leader, Tony.

And you ran him out of town by listening to the kids instead of your hand chosen PBO.

[Jamaaliver]

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[jayu70]

We just can't get right!

[Jamaaliver]

Spoiler:

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[Jamaaliver]

Hawks Conference Finals run in 2021 is now a cautionary tale...

LOL

Who could have seen that coming?

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Wow
(Indiana surpassed us in playoff wins in just the last 14 months.)

Spoiler:

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[jayu70]

Wow

Spoiler:

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I would like to say I'm surprised, but nope...as expected. Too much talent deficit just to avoid the tax.

[Jamaaliver]

Bad franchises ruin good teams...Knicks have a solid thing building. But the chaos of bad leadership threatens everything they have.

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[Geaux_Hawks]

DeJounte Murray
13(Huerter trade)

for

Dyson Daniels
Larry Nance
EJ Liddell
Cody Zeller
22
23
2026 NOP/MIL 1st (more favorable, unprotected)
2027 NOP/MIL 1st (less favorable, 1-4 protected)
trade exception

So we've gone from a bleak, treadmill outlook after trading multiple picks for DJM, to a replenished roster with good to great assets in the war chest. We owe SAS another unprotected first in '27, but the way things are looking, it won't matter a whole lot. More than likely we'll hand over a late teens at best FRP(hoping for mid 20's).

Can we assume that Saleh was the actual triggerman in the DJM trade? If so, Saleh has literally fixed all of our problems, and is still positioning us for even more success.

[HMFFL]

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Many things have evolved since Jalen Johnson played his last game. OO or KP start and Zacch as established himself as the starting 3.

Jalen will fit right in.

[HMFFL]

Bad franchises ruin good teams...Knicks have a solid thing building. But the chaos of bad leadership threatens everything they have.

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It doesn't help that players like Bridges complain about playing too much.

I expect the Knicks to experience a slight decline.

[Jamaaliver]

What a difference a year makes...

NBA rebuild rankings

How close are these 14 teams to a title?

Here's our examination of where the 14 teams that missed the playoffs last season stand in their rebuilds, specifically how close each is to championship contention.

1. San Antonio Spurs
Players under 25: 8
Tradeable first-round picks: 3
Players on rookie-scale contracts: 5

2. Dallas Mavericks
Players under 25: 6
Tradeable first-round picks: 3
Players on rookie-scale contracts: 2


3. Atlanta Hawks
Players under 25: 9
Tradeable first-round picks: 4
Players on rookie-scale contracts: 4

The strategy: What a difference a year makes. Entering the 2024 draft lottery, Atlanta was adrift. The Hawks couldn't build on their surprise run to the 2021 conference finals. The franchise's big swing -- trading for Dejounte Murray in the 2022 offseason to join Trae Young in the backcourt -- was a disappointment.

But then Atlanta won the lottery, selected Zaccharie Risacher on draft night and sent Murray to New Orleans for a package that included Dyson Daniels, the 2025 Most Improved Player. Under new lead executive Onsi Saleh, the Hawks made splashes this offseason by signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker, trading for Kristaps Porzingis and pulling off a stunning draft night deal with the Pelicans to acquire a valuable 2026 pick (the more favorable of the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks' first-rounders).

The formerly moribund Hawks have a chance to be a significant threat as soon as next season in the weakened East. However, Young's future -- the point guard can become a free agent next summer -- is something to monitor.

Is it working? True long-term success for Atlanta could hinge on that 2026 Pelicans/Bucks pick. If it lands in the top five -- ESPN's first 2026 mock draft projects that pick to land at No. 8 -- the Hawks could add another solid prospect next to Young, Daniels, Risacher and Jalen Johnson. If not, Atlanta has the foundation of an intriguing, long, athletic roster under coach Quin Snyder.

Estimated return to relevance: The Hawks are already a threat for a top-four seed next season, with the potential to keep growing if they land a premium player in the draft next year. But unlike many teams further down these rankings, Atlanta has as good a young core as any in the conference.

ESPN.com

[One_and_Done]

Atlanta had done a good job of improving their future. I found Zach Lowe ranking the Hawks as 4th in the East pretty preposterous though. He wasn't wrong when he said they could also go 30-52.

[graymule]

30-52 ? Health is our only major concern. 30 wins is not realistic.

If a healthy Hawk team can't break the .500 barrier this season, heads will roll.

Hawks may not be a 60-win team, but they are closer to 60 than they are to 30!!