Hawks are a realistic playoff threat

[BengalUND]

I believe that the Hawks are primed to make a playoff push next year. I think this because of not only the young talent they have in Trae Young and John Collins, but the possibility of getting two more solid young players in this draft. I believe that they are one free agent away from being a formidable opponent in the playoffs for whoever they go against. What do you guys think?

I also made a video talking about this, but there is no pressure to watch:

Watch on YouTube

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

"Realistic?"

Sure.

"Likely?"

Nah.

Might even disappoint this year because of all the enthusiasm they're currently enjoying.

The "push" year remains 2020-21... pick up a max contract player or two in that off-season... and begin the serious assault that will define the Travis Schlenk era... maybe the Pierce era as well, but history says that's... realistically speaking... less certain.

[ATL Boy]

The east is incredibly weak next year. I certainly think the Hawks can make a run at one of the lower playoff spots. Heck, if Collins wasn't out for so long to start the season and if Trae didn't get off to such a lousy November we may have made it this past season.

[shakes0]

This has already been covered here, but I'll restate my position and say that myself and Vegas both agree that the answer is a resounding NO.

Best case scenario is they have a season similar to Sacramento last year.

[Ice Trae]

Nah. I have us finishing roughly around 12 again.

[HMFFL]

Let's start by winning the Southeast where we ended up last. We should improve and be better than Washington, but Miami, Charlotte (Kemba stays), and Orlando will still be difficult to pass.


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[High 5]

I'm waiting to see what happens with Dedmon and our backup PG. We have a shot if we re-sign Dedmon and find a veteran to come in for Trae. If we fill those positions with rookies or G-leaguers (sorry Jaylen) then it becomes a lot less likely.

[CP War Hawks]

I think it's very possible they can make it, just not really probable unless everything goes right. Gotta hit mostly on the draft, 2 of 3 decent hits if you keep 1st rounders and free agency.

I probably like him more than most, but KCP is my guy as it pertains to fit. Perhaps he's homesick and agreeable to some terms. Det and LA are not the best spots as his backcourt partners were not the best to put it simply.

[gurpilo]

We have major hole at Forward position and also backup PG and C. We must wait till draft and Free Agency to know our chances.

Right now without key additions to the team is "no way".

[gurpilo]

But if we add at draft Reddish, Sekou and Goga or Fernando and we can add a quality backup PG I will be changing ny statement to "possible"

[shakes0]

The east is incredibly weak next year. I certainly think the Hawks can make a run at one of the lower playoff spots. Heck, if Collins wasn't out for so long to start the season and if Trae didn't get off to such a lousy November we may have made it this past season.

That type of "logic" is one of my biggest pet peeves here. I hate the "only my team had injuries" logic that posters use often when saying their team will be better next year or would've done better this year. Most every team had to deal with injuries. You can't say on one hand that ATL would've finished higher this year, but for Collins being hurt without acknowledging all the other teams that also had injuries affect their records. Look at Washington and the injuries they had. That's a team ahead of us that had even worse injuries than ATL.

/rant over

[Hawkamanic81]

The east is incredibly weak next year. I certainly think the Hawks can make a run at one of the lower playoff spots. Heck, if Collins wasn't out for so long to start the season and if Trae didn't get off to such a lousy November we may have made it this past season.

That type of "logic" is one of my biggest pet peeves here. I hate the "only my team had injuries" logic that posters use often when saying their team will be better next year or would've done better this year. Most every team had to deal with injuries. You can't say on one hand that ATL would've finished higher this year, but for Collins being hurt without acknowledging all the other teams that also had injuries affect their records. Look at Washington and the injuries they had. That's a team ahead of us that had even worse injuries than ATL.

/rant over

Agreed. The real problem is that they gave up 119 PPG.

[hawks_fan25]

I do actually think we will finish in the 7-10 range in the weak east. I’m actually hoping we finish around 12 again to have a couple of nice picks in next year’s draft, but I am predicting we sneak into the playoffs as the 8th seed.

[ATL Boy]

The east is incredibly weak next year. I certainly think the Hawks can make a run at one of the lower playoff spots. Heck, if Collins wasn't out for so long to start the season and if Trae didn't get off to such a lousy November we may have made it this past season.

That type of "logic" is one of my biggest pet peeves here. I hate the "only my team had injuries" logic that posters use often when saying their team will be better next year or would've done better this year. Most every team had to deal with injuries. You can't say on one hand that ATL would've finished higher this year, but for Collins being hurt without acknowledging all the other teams that also had injuries affect their records. Look at Washington and the injuries they had. That's a team ahead of us that had even worse injuries than ATL.

/rant over

You can hate it all you want but insinuating that the Hawks wouldn't have been closer to the playoffs had their best player not been out for 17 games to start the season (and then taken another 10 or so games to round back into form) because other teams have injuries too is a strange hill to die on.

Yes, the Hawks will need some luck in the injury department, like every team. And it's true that injuries will happen to every team over the course of a season, but not all injuries are exactly created equal. Losing Collins to a long term injury is the biggest blow this team could've possibly suffered short of losing Trae.

[Jamaaliver]

Watch on YouTube

[gurpilo]

But if we add at draft Reddish, Sekou and Goga or Fernando and we can add a quality backup PG I will be changing ny statement to "possible"

So, draft resulted even better than I expected and we added Hunter, Reddish and Fernando, even better than my perfect dream scenario.... so yes, I think we can make the palyoffs this year

[CP War Hawks]

Trae - Bembry
Huerter - Bazemore
Hunter - Cam
Collins - Spellman
Len - Fernando

93m in commited salary including draft picks. Cap hold of Dedmon leaves them no cap space. I'd feel better with some veteran pg help and you can could get that 8th spot. Not feeling Len as a starter, just what it is.

So much dead salary to work with come trade deadline: Baze, Crabbe, Hill, Plumlee.

[King Ken]

I just think they need a backup PG. Just bring back Lin

[Ball4life32]

The east is incredibly weak next year. I certainly think the Hawks can make a run at one of the lower playoff spots. Heck, if Collins wasn't out for so long to start the season and if Trae didn't get off to such a lousy November we may have made it this past season.

That type of "logic" is one of my biggest pet peeves here. I hate the "only my team had injuries" logic that posters use often when saying their team will be better next year or would've done better this year. Most every team had to deal with injuries. You can't say on one hand that ATL would've finished higher this year, but for Collins being hurt without acknowledging all the other teams that also had injuries affect their records. Look at Washington and the injuries they had. That's a team ahead of us that had even worse injuries than ATL.

/rant over

You can hate it all you want but insinuating that the Hawks wouldn't have been closer to the playoffs had their best player not been out for 17 games to start the season (and then taken another 10 or so games to round back into form) because other teams have injuries too is a strange hill to die on.

Yes, the Hawks will need some luck in the injury department, like every team. And it's true that injuries will happen to every team over the course of a season, but not all injuries are exactly created equal. Losing Collins to a long term injury is the biggest blow this team could've possibly suffered short of losing Trae.

Yeah pretty sure the Hawks were like 3-16 (worst record in the NBA) before Collins started getting regular minutes. And Kings won 39 games last year ...8th seed in the East won 41.

[ATLHoops97]

We are going to be the most entertaining 8 seed the NBA has ever seen.