Rebuild reality and doin it right

[Jamaaliver]

Building the 3-Year Plan for Every NBA Lottery Team

Atlanta Hawks



It's tempting to treat 2018-19 as an accelerator for the Atlanta Hawks, since Trae Young made a superstar turn in the second half of the season, John Collins posted All-Star-caliber numbers and Kevin Huerter did a convincing Klay Thompson impression. But all three building blocks are no older than 21, so patience should continue driving this rebuild.

The Hawks could have two top-10 picks in this summer's draft: their own and the Dallas Mavericks' from the Young-Luka Doncic swap. Those rookies-to-be might be Atlanta's biggest additions. Adding both a plug-and-play wing (RJ Barrett, De'Andre Hunter or Jarrett Culver) and an interior anchor (Jaxson Hayes, Bol Bol or Brandon Clarke) would be ideal.

If the Hawks can get a meeting with an elite 2019 free agent, they shouldn't turn it down. But the more realistic option might be adding a young restricted free agent who could grow with this core. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Malcolm Brogdon could both find themselves on the receiving end of midnight phone calls from Atlanta general manager Travis Schlenk.

The Hawks may prefer to wait for more flexibility—and presumably stronger on-court recruiting pitches from their youngsters—to chase a flashy free agent in 2020 or 2021. The list of potential targets is bound only by Atlanta's willingness to dream. In 2020, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond and Pascal Siakam could top the wish list, while Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George and Rudy Gobert might lead the way in 2021.

Bleacher Report

[D21]

The problem with Restricted F.A. is that it's not synonym of flexibility when you have most of the time to overpay to get the player.
Unless you are sure it's the missing piece of your roster, or one of two missing pieces... I'm not in favor for that at this stage of the rebuild.

And for sure, if it has to happen, I would prefer Malcolm Brogdon, I still have a lot of doubt on Kelly Oubre Jr. and his real impact on the game

[Jamaaliver]

NBA Lottery Teams 1 Trade or Free Agent Away from 2020 Playoffs

Figuring out which lottery squads are one player away from mid-April relevancy is low-key difficult. Every team is technically one player away. The right superstar can change everything for a franchise no matter how far gone it seems.

Sorting our 14 candidates into tiers helps create some necessary distinction.

TIERS:

• Let's Talk If They Land Zion Williamson...
  
  
• Might Be Set Already
  
  
• The Cap-Space Players
  
  
• 1 Blockbuster Trade Away
  
  
• Less Than a Star Trade or Signing Away

Atlanta Hawks

Less Than a Star Trade or Signing Away

If this is too ambitious a placement for the Hawks, they're not being oversold by much.

Trae Young played himself into Rookie of the Year Not Named Luka honors. John Collins developed into one of the league's most effective offensive big men. Kevin Huerter did more than shoot; he made plays off the dribble. DeAndre' Bembry terrified opposing offenses. Taurean Prince lost his 2017-18 luster and may never live up to his defensive billing, but he's still a reliable shooting wing who can initiate some half-court actions.

Following the All-Star break, the Hawks ranked 12th in offensive efficiency while notching a better net rating than the Hornets, Wizards and Indiana Pacers. They outscored opponents by 7.1 points per 100 possessions whenever Collins, Huerter, Prince and Young played together.

Adding one top pick to Atlanta's foundation means something in the East, and the Hawks could get two if the Mavericks convey their pick. They don't need a star acquisition to earn postseason mettle.

In the event they do, they have the means. The Hawks will have max cap space and then some while carrying Dewayne Dedmon's free-agent hold, and they plan to use it, per The Athletic's Sam Amick. Atlanta isn't a market known for poaching marquee names, but the talent already in place should convince some of this summer's top prizes to take a meeting.

[jayu70]

I an excited about the young building blocks, it's important to get the right FA here.

[Jamaaliver]

With worst of rebuild over, Hawks should aim for more wins next season

It looks like last season was as bad as it will get for the Hawks. Their rebuilding process won’t be like Philadelphia’s infamous Process. Travis Schlenk should focus less on hoarding draft picks this summer and more on keeping that momentum going. I’m not saying he should try to build a surefire playoff team of veterans. I just think the Hawks should try to win more games.

Schlenk said one reason he didn’t make any players-for-picks deals at the trade deadline was because he doesn’t want the Hawks to be too young in 2019-20. The Hawks are competitive now and playing too many rookies could change that. This season there was a significant gap between the Hawks and the bottom four teams in the standings. They’ve rarely been an easy out, as some superior opponents discovered too late.

The Hawks are projected to have among the most salary-cap space in the league this summer. Schlenk says he won’t take on money unless he gets a “great asset,” which means a lottery pick or promising young player (or both). Schlenk likely will take a course similar to last summer, when he signed or traded for solid veterans on short-term deals to bolster his young squad.

Making those kind of moves while not adding so many rookies is a way to prevent the Hawks from becoming the Process Sixers. The Hawks didn’t have to sink as low as the Sixers before beginning their climb back. They are past the worst of the rebuild. Now it’s time for them to try to win more games in 2019-20.

AJC

[REHawksFan]

With worst of rebuild over, Hawks should aim for more wins next season

It looks like last season was as bad as it will get for the Hawks. Their rebuilding process won’t be like Philadelphia’s infamous Process. Travis Schlenk should focus less on hoarding draft picks this summer and more on keeping that momentum going. I’m not saying he should try to build a surefire playoff team of veterans. I just think the Hawks should try to win more games.

Schlenk said one reason he didn’t make any players-for-picks deals at the trade deadline was because he doesn’t want the Hawks to be too young in 2019-20. The Hawks are competitive now and playing too many rookies could change that. This season there was a significant gap between the Hawks and the bottom four teams in the standings. They’ve rarely been an easy out, as some superior opponents discovered too late.

The Hawks are projected to have among the most salary-cap space in the league this summer. Schlenk says he won’t take on money unless he gets a “great asset,” which means a lottery pick or promising young player (or both). Schlenk likely will take a course similar to last summer, when he signed or traded for solid veterans on short-term deals to bolster his young squad.

Making those kind of moves while not adding so many rookies is a way to prevent the Hawks from becoming the Process Sixers. The Hawks didn’t have to sink as low as the Sixers before beginning their climb back. They are past the worst of the rebuild. Now it’s time for them to try to win more games in 2019-20.

AJC

The Hawks should try to win more games next year. Wow. That's some hard-hitting journalism right there. The AJC is nothing if not a stating the obvious publication. Not sure there's anything written in the article that differs from the collective Hawks fan opinions (excluding one or two of course). Would like to see the actual quote from Schlenk saying he doesn't want to be too young next year. Don't recall reading that anywhere.

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Why the Hawks could run the East in a few years

The Hawks had one of the more impressive showings at the Draft on Thursday, and they could be constructing the next powerhouse of the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta entered the night with picks at No. 8 and No. 10, but managed to move up and get one of its top targets in Virginia's De'Andre Hunter at No. 4.

If this year's crop of prospects develop as well as other recent picks have for the Hawks, they could very well be the team to beat very soon.

Here's why Atlanta is poised to surge to the top:

Drafting for fit and talent

The Hawks have quietly been some of the best evaluators come draft time for the past few years, and they're about to put the league on notice. Atlanta has selected three All NBA-Rookie team members in the last two years - more than any other franchise.These prospects are John Collins, Trae Young and Kevin Huerter, but adding Hunter and Cam Reddish could certainly build upon this success.


Flexibility

Atlanta could get creative in the coming years.

The Hawks have the 28th lowest payroll in the NBA at the moment and just four players (Young, Huerter, Collins and Omari Spellman) are set to be under contract in 2020-21. While it might not be a desirable free-agent destination now, big names flock to where there's fun basketball and youth.


Constant power shifts

Who has control of the Eastern Conference? Nobody is really sure at the moment.

If Leonard leaves for the West Coast like many expect, people will search for a new team to crown king in an unpredictable conference. Given recent trends, Atlanta has as good of a shot as anybody.

The Sporting News

[Jamaaliver]

How the 2019 NBA Draft transformed the Atlanta Hawks into the Eastern Conference's brightest future

The 2019 NBA Draft will always be remembered as Zion Williamson's draft, but if the Atlanta Hawks' young core develops into a championship contender, look no further than this draft night as an explanation of how everything came to fruition



Prior to the 2019 NBA Draft, the Hawks set themselves up to be among the most active teams in the league with access to three first round picks. They made all the right moves leading up to the draft to ensure that they could continue to build upon the young, promising core that flashed potential throughout all of the 2018-19 season.

With the No. 4 pick the Hawks selected DeAndre Hunter, a long, defensive-minded sophomore forward and National Champion out of the University of Virginia. With the No. 10 pick Atlanta took Cam Reddish, a freshman guard/forward out of Duke University who is considered to be among the top shooters in this draft class. With the No. 34 pick the Hawks went with Bruno Fernando, a powerful and athletic center out of the University of Maryland who in some mock drafts, was projected to go as early as the lottery.

Three players that fit exactly what Atlanta needed to compete for a championship in the near future.

Spoiler:

Hunter is widely respected as the best wing defender in this draft class. His size and 7'2 wingspan will allow him to guard 1-through-4 at the next level, giving Atlanta the elite perimeter they need to lower their defensive rating of 113.0 from this past season, which was third-worst in the NBA. Hunter also thrived on the offensive end at UVA during their championship season, averaging 15.2 points per game shooting an encouraging 43.8% from long range while proving he can knock down big shots when his team needed him most.

Suddenly, the Atlanta Hawks look ready for the label [of up and coming contender].

They have a core of Young, Huerter, Reddish, Hunter, Collins and Fernando that should evolve in the near-future, as well as last year's second round pick Omari Spellman.

And what would a piece like this be without a prediction? By 2022, the Hawks will be among the top teams in the league, contending for an NBA title.

NBA.com India

[Jamaaliver]

NBA’s summer madness shows why Hawks need homegrown superstars

The NBA's crazy summer of free agency and big trades saw several top players change teams. It confirmed that nothing has changed about their priorities. The NBA's salary system makes it so the money is similar for superstars wherever they play, so they (rightly) flex their power to play wherever they want.

That usually means they end up with the best franchises in the biggest media markets with a real chance to win a championship.

That calculation leaves out the Hawks. It is a flavorless franchise in a big-ish market that's made it as far as the conference finals just once since moving to Atlanta in 1968. That's one big reason why the Hawks are using the draft to grow their own superstars. Maybe one (or two) emerges from the group of Trae Young, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, DeAndre Hunter and Cam Reddish.

Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk is rebuilding the Hawks by trying to identify the draft prospects who will become great players. Trades are another way to acquire superstars, which is why the oft-mentioned salary-cap "flexibility" is important. But getting them as more than short-term rentals brings us back to the advantage of being a winning franchise and/or in a big market.

One day the Hawks may become the kind of franchise that superstar players choose to join. If so, they'll finally be a major player in the NBA's summer madness. In the meantime, the Hawks are trying to grow their own franchise players.

The Idaho Statesman

[Jamaaliver]

How the Hawks' blueprint turned golden

Atlanta's draft success is solidifying GM Travis Schlenk's vision



The best way to get a sneak peek at what’s in store for the Hawks next season is to see who they’re putting on the floor at the annual NBA Summer League. And this process is now three years deep.

Few, if any, other teams launch in Las Vegas more than the Hawks, who committed to build through the draft in 2017. That blueprint is slowly changing into golden results.

John Collins was followed by Trae Young and Kevin Huerter. And the latter pair are now being followed by DeAndre Hunter and Cam Reddish. Collins, Young and Huerter made the league’s All-Rookie teams and the Hawks sense the same could be coming for Hunter and Reddish, Atlanta's latest first-round picks set to fulfill needed roles and receive ample playing time.

This high-drafting success rate is the solid work of Travis Schlenk, who assumed the GM duties three summers ago while stressing the importance of a total makeover with youth; he has created a promising young core that’s projected to pay even greater dividends in the near future. Or earlier. Quite possibly, the Hawks could be a playoff team in 2019-20.

And next summer, armed with salary cap space, they’ll turn their attention toward free agency and see what happens there.

It’s all part of a step-by-step process designed to blend young players with veterans, to stockpile assets and turn the Hawks into a playoff regular and maybe, someday, a title contender. You might say, at this early stage, they’re on schedule.

Spoiler:

Last year’s draft may eventually prove to be a game-changer for the Hawks. Schlenk made the gutsy decision, against the opinion of those he trusted outside the organization -- and even inside the draft room -- trading Doncic's rights for those of Young and the Mavericks’ first-rounder this summer.

While Doncic eventually won Rookie of the Year, Young produced the superior line after the All-Star break and finished runner-up for the award. Also, Young was not only productive, he dazzled on the floor with his long-distance shot-making and passing, giving the Hawks an entertainment asset. Later in that draft, the Hawks nabbed Huerter, who surpassed expectations as the No. 19 overall selection.

“I think Travis hit a home run in getting the guys we wanted to get,” said coach Lloyd Pierce.

“The biggest assets we’ve had are our lottery picks,” said Schlenk. “We’re trying to build this thing and identify pieces that will fit together. All the guys we’ve taken are great people, too; it’s not just their skill set, and that’s important to have high character guys.”

NBA.com

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

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[tbhawksfan1]

You have to wonder what he's going to do with all that cap. 20 FA looks bad and I don't think he wants to go the mediocre route. It would be a trip if he rolls it all back a year or two and keeps absorbing salary for picks, while consolidating

[Jamaaliver]

You have to wonder what he's going to do with all that cap. 20 FA looks bad and I don't think he wants to go the mediocre route. It would be a trip if he rolls it all back a year or two and keeps absorbing salary for picks, while consolidating

My guess is that we pool our many assets and make an aggressive move for a pricey and productive veteran at a position of need.

Myles Turner
Robert Covington
Brad Beal
CJ McCollum
Blake Griffin


I could see any of these guys being available for the right price if their team disappoints again next post-season.

[tbhawksfan1]

You have to wonder what he's going to do with all that cap. 20 FA looks bad and I don't think he wants to go the mediocre route. It would be a trip if he rolls it all back a year or two and keeps absorbing salary for picks, while consolidating

My guess is that we pool our many assets and make an aggressive move for a pricey and productive veteran at a position of need.

Myles Turner
Robert Covington
Brad Beal
CJ McCollum
Blake Griffin


I could see any of these guys being available for the right price if their team disappoints again next post-season.

I hope not. There are much more desirable senarios than shipping off a group of our young guys/picks to get those second/third tier expensive players

I like the senario where a lot of our rooks blow up and make a 2021 deep playoff run with this young core. Develop the great picks and wait to pounce on tier 1 FA/s

[jayu70]

You have to wonder what he's going to do with all that cap. 20 FA looks bad and I don't think he wants to go the mediocre route. It would be a trip if he rolls it all back a year or two and keeps absorbing salary for picks, while consolidating

My guess is that we pool our many assets and make an aggressive move for a pricey and productive veteran at a position of need.

Myles Turner
Robert Covington
Brad Beal
CJ McCollum
Blake Griffin


I could see any of these guys being available for the right price if their team disappoints again next post-season.

I hope not. There are much more desirable senarios than shipping off a group of our young guys/picks to get those second/third tier expensive players

I like the senario where a lot of our rooks blow up and make a 2021 deep playoff run with this young core. Develop the great picks and wait to pounce on tier 1 FA/s

Agreed....Only one player from that group really intrigues me.....Myles Turner. Beal to a lesser extent.

So it depends on which assets we are pooling. Hunter and/or Reddish would really need to dissappoint big time in year 1 for them to be traded after one season. If Trae and Collins continue their trajectory I don't see either being traded either. So that leaves Huerter, Bruno, BKN and OKC picks available.

The rest:
Griffin - 30 and always get injured at some point, plus we have John Collins at PF, so I'm passing
Covington - 28, 29 in Dec, - I'd take him depending on Price, but he's more of a win now piece. So it would depend on our W/L record at the end of the season.
McCollum - 27, 28 in Sep - he'd form a terrible back court teammate with Trae on defense. Pass.

[HMFFL]

I doubt we pursue any of those players.
I believe the plan is to develop the talent we have and hope they can fulfill the needs we have and while hoping one develops into a star.


Sent from my SM-N920P using RealGM mobile app

[EazyRoc]

Turner would be a big time pick up if we did get him. The rest is just meh..

[Spud2nique]

You have to wonder what he's going to do with all that cap. 20 FA looks bad and I don't think he wants to go the mediocre route. It would be a trip if he rolls it all back a year or two and keeps absorbing salary for picks, while consolidating

My guess is that we pool our many assets and make an aggressive move for a pricey and productive veteran at a position of need.

Myles Turner
Robert Covington
Brad Beal
CJ McCollum
Blake Griffin


I could see any of these guys being available for the right price if their team disappoints again next post-season.

No not Blake Griffin ever. If you think Schlenk would take on Blake Griffin then you don’t know hawks basketball. Braaaaaad.

It’s prolly between my McCollum and kg’s Beal.

[Jamaaliver]

The Young Core Rankings

The future is now for franchises across the NBA map. Which one has put together the best group of players under the age of 25? We rank every team’s collection of young’uns



9. Atlanta Hawks

WAR: 51.5 | Best Under-25 Players: John Collins (18.6), Trae Young (13.6), Kevin Huerter (12.2)

CARMELO isn’t enamored of either of Atlanta’s lottery picks from this year, ranking De’Andre Hunter 20th and Cam Reddish 35th among rookies. That caution makes sense given their college numbers, particularly Reddish’s, but it also undersells their potential. Atlanta’s future five, moreover—the three players listed above, plus Hunter and Reddish—makes sense playing together, with an organic structure of one ball-handler, three wings, and one big.

The main question is which player will be the star. Collins has been everything Atlanta could have wanted from him through two seasons, but he might not have another level as an individual shot creator. Young’s projection lags behind his reputation because of his defensive shortcomings, which might never go away given his size. Huerter, a Ringer favorite, flashed a modern NBA game as a rookie but is also likely more of a supplementary player at his peak. At least Atlanta has time to figure out its core’s fit and hierarchy, and a clear sense of direction for the franchise: A whopping 95 percent of the projected future production from players currently on the Hawks’ roster is concentrated among under-25-year-olds, by far the highest proportion in the NBA.

The Ringer