Yes, those Hawks. The 13-29, lottery pick destined Hawks are next up in the east. As crazy as that sounds, it could happen, and they have the best chance of anyone.
The Rest of the East is Young
When I say “next”, I don’t mean anytime soon. The current contenders in the east are all pretty young. Of the top 5 teams in the east, the Raptors are the oldest with an average age of 26.3. The 76ers are the youngest at 24.6, with the other three falling in that range. In addition to this, the best players on those teams (Giannis, Kyrie, Embiid, Oladipo, and Kawhi) are all under 30, so it is unlikely these teams will change over time. But, they will change.
The Hawks Have Youth Too
Unlike some bottom tier teams, the Hawks have already started a youth movement. Looking at another bad team in the east, Cleveland is the 8th oldest team in the NBA, with Kevin Love being one of their best players. For comparison, the Hawks have three decent players under 30: Trae Young, John Collins, and Taurean Prince. As John Collins and Trae Young develop and get used to playing together, they could form something special. But two young players who could be good isn’t enough.
Draft Capital
Historically, teams have built their cornerstone through the draft. While the Hawks have what I believe a player to build around (John Collins or Trae Young), they still have picks. Their own pick this year will be high. It is more likely than not they will get the Mavs pick, because it is top 5 protected and the Mavs are better than expected. If Cleveland can turn it around in the second half, the Hawks could get their pick if it isn’t top 10. If it is (the more likely scenario), then the pick will defer to next year. Sports Illustrated has Atlanta taking Zion at one, and Bol Bol at nine. Plug Zion into any roster and that team will be better. Bol is a gamble, but if his game can translate to the NBA well, this could be an intriguing pickup for the Hawks. While it’s generally agreed that the Doncic trade was a horrible idea, if the Hawks can win this next draft, it will look a lot better. But there is still one missing piece.
Cap Space
A benefit of having a young team means not many guys have gotten their big contract yet. The Hawks highest paid player this year is Carmelo Anthony, with a salary of $25,534,253. After this season, that comes off the books, and Kent Bazemore becomes the highest paid player at about $19k, with a player salary of $55,509,270. (All salary numbers are from Basketball Reference.) The cap is climbing next year to $109 million. Atlanta is not enticing enough for one of the top free agents this year, and next year is a relatively weak free agent class unless guys like Kyrie, Kawhi, or Durant accept their player options for this upcoming season. However, if Atlanta can pick up some solid role players, like Iguodola in 2020, they can become a playoff team. This would entice free agents to come to Atlanta, and make them contenders.
