Schlenk: Hawks still seeking franchise cornerstone

[observer1995]

I'd say Trae Young's turnaround starting back in mid December has been about as impressive as you can get.

He started out in try to take over the league mode and like in college except after the early adjustment period, it mostly failed. Since he mostly changed his playstyle and added on trying to play defense, the body of work looks much better.

It also makes it clear that the style of play we saw a LOT in college wasn't what his norm is (which people were worried about). What's also clear is that this is the first time he's trying with defense, ever.

If he can be close to average on defense as a 20/10 PG on good efficiency, that absolutely looks like a potential top 20 player. And the way he's tracked since December looks like that, it's actually happening faster than I thought.

[Jamaaliver]

Trae Young looks more and more like a cornerstone



Luka Doncic will still be ROY, but Trae Young will surely finish second. And recent doings suggest that the 2018 draft may have included two generational talents.

In November, Young made 19.8 percent of his 3-pointers, which was … well, not good. In February, he has made 43.9 percent. On Monday night in Houston, he made eight treys (a career best) and scored 36 points (likewise). He did this on the same night James Harden missed all 10 of his 3-pointers and saw his overblown streak of consecutive 30-point games end at 32.

Young is – I think we can say this without fear of contradiction – exactly what the Hawks wanted, meaning a player around whom they can build. He and Kevin Huerter, who ranks 11th among rookies in scoring and who was snagged with the 19th pick, are surely what Travis Schlenk had in mind – a reasonable facsimile of the two guards who, after a few years of development, helped the Golden State Warriors become the Golden State Warriors.

Will Young be as good as Stephen Curry? Given that the latter is a two-time MVP, probably not. Will Huerter be as dangerous as Klay Thompson? Probably not. But the two rookie Hawks have demonstrated the potential to become something special, which is all a rebuilding club can ask from one draft.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Warriors landed Curry in 2009, Thompson in 2011. It wasn’t until after a 2012 draft that yielded Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green, that Golden State even nosed above .500, and it wasn’t until 2015, after adding veterans Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut, that they started winning 60-plus games and NBA titles. The Hawks aren’t going to get good – they’re 20-41, holders of the league’s fifth-worst record – anytime soon. But they’re collecting the pieces that should someday make them good, and in Trae Young they could well have their cornerstone.

myAJC

[Jamaaliver]

TRAE did not make the consensus list from ESPN just yet.

(Luka was #6)

NBA's best 25 under 25: New and next superstar rankings

Which young NBA stars are taking over, and which teams have the best collections of young talent in the league?

Chris Herring, Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton rank their top 25 players under age 25 based on future potential, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid and more rising stars.


19. John Collins | Atlanta Hawks | Forward
Age: 21.4



On a roster that features six first-round picks, Collins is the lone Hawks representative on our list. He fits the mold of a prototypical small-ball center.

Collins is multidimensional based on his ability to stretch the floor (shooting 37 percent from 3, including 49 percent from the corner), rebound (ranking eighth with 3.6 offensive rebounds per game) and score down low (76 percent of his field goals made from five feet or less, per NBA.com).

Although he has played only 18 percent of his minutes at center this season, expect that to change in the future, especially with current starter Dewayne Dedmon set to be a free agent. -- Marks

[marco102]

TRAE did not make the consensus list from ESPN just yet.

(Luka was #6)

NBA's best 25 under 25: New and next superstar rankings

Which young NBA stars are taking over, and which teams have the best collections of young talent in the league?

Chris Herring, Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton rank their top 25 players under age 25 based on future potential, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid and more rising stars.


19. John Collins | Atlanta Hawks | Forward
Age: 21.4



On a roster that features six first-round picks, Collins is the lone Hawks representative on our list. He fits the mold of a prototypical small-ball center.

Collins is multidimensional based on his ability to stretch the floor (shooting 37 percent from 3, including 49 percent from the corner), rebound (ranking eighth with 3.6 offensive rebounds per game) and score down low (76 percent of his field goals made from five feet or less, per NBA.com).

Although he has played only 18 percent of his minutes at center this season, expect that to change in the future, especially with current starter Dewayne Dedmon set to be a free agent. -- Marks

This is why I don't pay for ESPN +. If Trae played for LA, he'd be #7 right behind Luka or something ridiculous. As long as we Hawks fans know what we have, forget ESPN.

[Radioblacktive1]

People are really tryna make me hate Luka with this nonstop media fellatio he’s getting. I’m still a fan but holy hell.

[Buzzard]

I posted this om the General Board under Trae being the right pick:

Its hard to say you missed on anything when talking about a PG who has a chance at passing Oscar Robertson for 2nd most assist as a rookie, or passing Kerry Kittles and Alan Iverson for most 3pt shots made by a rookie, or catching CP3 for most 20 point and 10 assist games by a rookie.

If Trae gets into the top three for all three of the above milestones, he will be the only player in history to do that. I think this is what gives him such a unique quality. It is not his shooting or passing, it is ability to do both at elite levels.

http://www.nba.com/history/rookie_records.html

Trae is a cornetstone; enough said.

[King Ken]

I posted this om the General Board under Trae being the right pick:

Its hard to say you missed on anything when talking about a PG who has a chance at passing Oscar Robertson for 2nd most assist as a rookie, or passing Kerry Kittles and Alan Iverson for most 3pt shots made by a rookie, or catching CP3 for most 20 point and 10 assist games by a rookie.

If Trae gets into the top three for all three of the above milestones, he will be the only player in history to do that. I think this is what gives him such a unique quality. It is not his shooting or passing, it is ability to do both at elite levels.

http://www.nba.com/history/rookie_records.html

Trae is a cornetstone; enough said.

Some of those records have been broken. Mitchell is currently the leader of most threes made by a rookie

[EazyRoc]

TRAE did not make the consensus list from ESPN just yet.

(Luka was #6)

NBA's best 25 under 25: New and next superstar rankings

Which young NBA stars are taking over, and which teams have the best collections of young talent in the league?

Chris Herring, Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton rank their top 25 players under age 25 based on future potential, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid and more rising stars.


19. John Collins | Atlanta Hawks | Forward
Age: 21.4



On a roster that features six first-round picks, Collins is the lone Hawks representative on our list. He fits the mold of a prototypical small-ball center.

Collins is multidimensional based on his ability to stretch the floor (shooting 37 percent from 3, including 49 percent from the corner), rebound (ranking eighth with 3.6 offensive rebounds per game) and score down low (76 percent of his field goals made from five feet or less, per NBA.com).

Although he has played only 18 percent of his minutes at center this season, expect that to change in the future, especially with current starter Dewayne Dedmon set to be a free agent. -- Marks

Check the bolded part.

ESPN is garbage.

[High 5]

I wouldn't label him as a small ball center, but he can definitely play the part effectively at times.

[Buzzard]

I wouldn't label him as a small ball center, but he can definitely play the part effectively at times.

If we luck up and get Zion, pencil John in there. Athletic as heck, on par with Durant and Draymond in that regard. But D will need a lot of work.

[High 5]

I wouldn't label him as a small ball center, but he can definitely play the part effectively at times.

If we luck up and get Zion, pencil John in there. Athletic as heck, on par with Durant and Draymond in that regard. But D will need a lot of work.

I'm not so excited about that PF/C pairing. I'd still draft Zion if given the opportunity and figure the rest out later, but our average wingspan would be abysmal between those 2 and Trae.

[Buzzard]

TRAE did not make the consensus list from ESPN just yet.

(Luka was #6)

NBA's best 25 under 25: New and next superstar rankings

Which young NBA stars are taking over, and which teams have the best collections of young talent in the league?

Chris Herring, Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton rank their top 25 players under age 25 based on future potential, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid and more rising stars.


19. John Collins | Atlanta Hawks | Forward
Age: 21.4



On a roster that features six first-round picks, Collins is the lone Hawks representative on our list. He fits the mold of a prototypical small-ball center.

Collins is multidimensional based on his ability to stretch the floor (shooting 37 percent from 3, including 49 percent from the corner), rebound (ranking eighth with 3.6 offensive rebounds per game) and score down low (76 percent of his field goals made from five feet or less, per NBA.com).

Although he has played only 18 percent of his minutes at center this season, expect that to change in the future, especially with current starter Dewayne Dedmon set to be a free agent. -- Marks

Check the bolded part.

ESPN is garbage.

I don't let ESPN worry me anymore. When Trae comes out of the gate averaging 20 and 8 next season, they will be stumbling all over themselves to talk about how much he has improved. Last 13 games he is averaging 22.5 PTS, 9.0 AST, 3.0 TO on .432 FG, 429 3PT %, and .843 from the free throw line.

Wake up ESPN, he is improving right before your eyes this year.

[Buzzard]

I wouldn't label him as a small ball center, but he can definitely play the part effectively at times.

If we luck up and get Zion, pencil John in there. Athletic as heck, on par with Durant and Draymond in that regard. But D will need a lot of work.

I'm not so excited about that PF/C pairing. I'd still draft Zion if given the opportunity and figure the rest out later, but our average wingspan would be abysmal between those 2 and Trae.

I could live with it and defensive wings would be a premium target from that point going forward.

[King Ken]

If we luck up and get Zion, pencil John in there. Athletic as heck, on par with Durant and Draymond in that regard. But D will need a lot of work.

I'm not so excited about that PF/C pairing. I'd still draft Zion if given the opportunity and figure the rest out later, but our average wingspan would be abysmal between those 2 and Trae.

I could live with it and defensive wings would be a premium target from that point going forward.

This. Zion and Collins could work similar like Al and Sap long term

[Buzzard]

I'm not so excited about that PF/C pairing. I'd still draft Zion if given the opportunity and figure the rest out later, but our average wingspan would be abysmal between those 2 and Trae.

I could live with it and defensive wings would be a premium target from that point going forward.

This. Zion and Collins could work similar like Al and Sap long term

I don't think we will move up in the drawing that far but stranger things have happened. I see us drafting two wings; or one wing and a center as BPA. It would be interesting also if we moved up to #2 and could shop Ja around like we did Donic last year.

[King Ken]

I could live with it and defensive wings would be a premium target from that point going forward.

This. Zion and Collins could work similar like Al and Sap long term

I don't think we will move up in the drawing that far but stranger things have happened. I see us drafting two wings; or one wing and a center as BPA. It would be interesting also if we moved up to #2 and could shop Ja around like we did Donic last year.

I rather take Barrett. For me, there is a major gap in this draft after 3. I think Barrett is special

[High 5]

I'm not so excited about that PF/C pairing. I'd still draft Zion if given the opportunity and figure the rest out later, but our average wingspan would be abysmal between those 2 and Trae.

I could live with it and defensive wings would be a premium target from that point going forward.

This. Zion and Collins could work similar like Al and Sap long term

Al and Sap were both All-NBA caliber defenders and Collins/Zion would be at a clear wingspan disadvantage even against those two. Not to mention Al/Sap had their struggles due to being undersized, especially in the playoffs. We've already seen how much length can bother Collins. It would be a very legitimate concern IMO.

[King Ken]

I could live with it and defensive wings would be a premium target from that point going forward.

This. Zion and Collins could work similar like Al and Sap long term

Al and Sap were both All-NBA caliber defenders and Collins/Zion would be at a clear wingspan disadvantage even against those two. Not to mention Al/Sap had their struggles due to being undersized, especially in the playoffs. We've already seen how much length can bother Collins. It would be a very legitimate concern IMO.

Zion is an elite defensive prospect most comparable to Ben Wallace. Obviously Collins is WIP but I wouldn't count him out.

[Buzzard]

This. Zion and Collins could work similar like Al and Sap long term

I don't think we will move up in the drawing that far but stranger things have happened. I see us drafting two wings; or one wing and a center as BPA. It would be interesting also if we moved up to #2 and could shop Ja around like we did Donic last year.

I rather take Barrett. For me, there is a major gap in this draft after 3. I think Barrett is special

The aggregate draft agrees with you and after the top three it is anyone's guess. But we have Travis and he has shown a strong tendency to sort through the media hype and garbage to get things right.

https://hoopshype.com/2019/02/15/2019-aggregate-nba-mock-draft-5-0-jaxson-hayes-enters-the-lottery/

[High 5]

Zion is an elite defensive prospect most comparable to Ben Wallace. Obviously Collins is WIP but I wouldn't count him out.

Zion projects to be a good defender ("most comparable" to Ben Wallace might be a stretch), but I don't see how Collins ever gets there. Short arms (relatively speaking), poor lateral mobility, and not notably strong. I think his ceiling is "OK defender." Which isn't a problem if you have a mobile rim protector next to him at the 5. It's dicey with Zion. Like I said, I'd draft Zion anyway and try to make it work. Only a 10.5% chance this argument matters.