Southeast Division Preview: The trump card in the battle for the play-in tournament

The favorite role in the Southeast Division is clearly distributed. The reigning east champion from Miami wants to get involved in the fight for the top again – behind this a fight for mediocrity breaks out. With the Hawks, Magic, Hornets and Wizards, four teams have ambitions for the lower playoff places.

The Hawks have had enough of losing, in the offseason they made it clear which way to go. But does the squad already have what it takes for the playoffs?

Atlanta Hawks: The Transactions

Newcomers

• Draft: Onyeka Okongwu (No. 6), Skylar Mays (50)
• Free Agency: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Sacramento Kings), Danilo Gallinari (OKC Thunder), Rajon Rondo (Los Angeles Lakers), Kris Dunn (Chicago Bulls), Solomon Hill (Miami Heat)
• Trade: Tony Snell (Detroit Pistons)

Departures

• Trade: Dewayne Dedmon (Detroit Pistons)
• Free Agency: Jeff Teague (Boston Celtics), Deandre’ Bembry (Toronto Raptors), Charles Brown Jr., Treveon Graham, Damian Jones, Skal Labissiere
• Dismissed: Khyri Thomas
• Retired: Vince Carter

Atlanta Hawks: Key Statistics 2019/20

Atlanta Hawks: The Strategy

The Hawks’ last postseason trip was three years ago, and Trae Young had 53 bankruptcies in his first two years in the NBA and 47 bankruptcies in a shortened season. That should change and as quickly as possible. For this, Atlanta used the large scope under the salary ceiling in the offseason and upgraded properly.

True to the motto “block, don’t mess”, the Hawks struck two of the most well-known free agents of the offseason: Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Both provide scoring and additional playmaking and can relieve Franchise Star Young. In addition, General Manager Travis Schlenk upholstered the backcourt with Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn, the latter will mainly help the previously weak defense.

A lot of things are new in Georgia in the big positions too. In the draft, the Hawks secured sixth Onyeka Okongwu, who has the potential to become the best defender of the year. First he will line up behind Clint Capela, who was brought in by the Rockets before the trade deadline in February, but has not yet played a game for Atlanta due to injury.

Atlanta Hawks: The Vulnerabilities

Given the insane numbers that Young put on last season (29.6 points and 9.3 assists), it’s easy to forget that Atlanta was the sixth worst offense in the league. GM Schlenk has tackled this problem. Question marks remain with the Defense – 2019/20 the third worst in the Association.

The backcourt around Young and Bogdanovic will continue to be full of holes, neither Gallinari nor John Collins are elite defenders on the four. If the Italian, who will first come off the bench behind Collins, moves onto the three in a crunchtime lineup, it looks even darker against opposing wingers.

After all, the Hawks with Capela and Okongwu got an upgrade to the center position, the two bigs will certainly not get bored when it comes to rim protection. Meanwhile, Dunn will have a lot of work to do as the best guard defender next to Young or Bogdanovic.

It is also currently open how coach Lloyd Pierce will distribute the minutes in order to give the young players in the squad such as De’Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter or Cam Reddish enough time to develop. Despite the playoff hunt, this should not be neglected.

The Atlanta Hawks roster

Atlanta Hawks: The Bearer of Hope

The future of the Hawks stands or falls with Trae Young. The 22-year-old is the face of the franchise and should lead Atlanta back to the playoffs as quickly as possible. For this he has now received a lot of help that he can only benefit from on paper.

Last season, Young almost always had the ball in his hands to create something for himself or, for example, from the pick’n’roll with Collins for his big guy. On the one hand, Young will have significantly more space in such situations thanks to the elite shooters in the person of Bogdanovic and Gallinari, on the other hand he will also act more off-ball.

This not only reduces the pressure on the point guard’s shoulders, he could also chase around screens away from the ball, hammer catch-and-shoot threesomes through the trap and thus shine in a completely new role. Young himself announced in the offseason that he would do “everything necessary” to get the Hawks into the playoffs.

Atlanta Hawks: The bottom line

The Hawks roster could change a little over the course of the season. Collins is allowed to sign an early contract extension and wants to be paid, but has not yet done so. Will the 23-year-old still be traded in order to thin out and balance the full roster a bit?

Even if the squad stays together like this, there is definitely playoff potential. The newcomers in the offseason all make sense and improve the team immediately. In the rather weak midfield of the Eastern Conference, Atlanta is the favorite for the last playoff place – anything but at least participation in the play-in tournament would be a bitter disappointment.

Forecast: 2nd place in the Southeast Division.

– .