After a disappointing season, the Atlanta Hawks are expected to be among the most active teams of the offseason. The franchise would be ready to completely transform its roster to move up a gear.
Conference finalists in 2021, the Hawks surprised everyone with an unexpected run in the playoffs. But the 2021-2022 financial year marked an immense disappointment for Trae Young and his teammates.
With a record of 43 wins and 39 losses, Atlanta had to fight for its place in the playoffs. Eastern Ninths is at the end of the regular season, the Falcons had to go through the play-in tournament to get there. Eventually, their campaign ended on a gentleman sweep. A 4-1 loss to the Heat.
After pushing the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks to Game 6 of the Conference Finals last year, we expected a lot better from the Hawks. President of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk was clear after this failure. For him, the front office must absolutely improve the workforce this summer.
“I thought we were really good and had a deep squad this year. We weren’t as good and deep as we thought.
Obviously, if you are 2nd in attack and 26th in defense, there are some pretty obvious compartments of the game that you need to work on.
We need players who can carry the ball, who can create, and players who are more focused on defense — or both — that’s an easy answer,” he said at a press conference.
Transfers to transform the workforce of the Hawks?
This summer, the franchise is set to make some big changes, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer. Today, no player outside of Trae Young is considered untouchable. All other squad members are available on the transfer market.
At the trade deadline in February, the Hawks had already taken the temperature for several players. They then considered transferring John Collins, Kevin Huerter et Danilo Gallinari.
We know that Atlanta is one of the franchises interested in Deandre Ayton, who could leave the Suns this summer. In particular, they could propose a sign-and-trade centered on Clint Capela to try to get it back. An offer that seems unrivaled by the competition. Especially since Capela and Chris Paulthe Phoenix point guard, got along very well in Houston.
The thorny Deandre Ayton case: will he leave Phoenix this summer?
Zach LaVine, soon to be a free agent, is another potential target for Travis Schlenk and his front office. If the Bulls remain favorites to sign the All-Star guard, negotiations would be more open than expected. Atlanta may have a shot at this track. If they finally turn out to be available, Bradley Beal et Donovan Mitchell will also have their place on the falcon hunting board.
The Hawks have all their first draft rounds, as well as that of the Hornets in 2023. They also have many contracts on hand to facilitate transfers. As we know, these are the weapons they need to set up an XXL trade – like that of Jrue Holiday to the Bucks in 2020 or Paul George to the Clippers a few years earlier.
Atlanta seems determined to join the title race. This summer, the franchise will be one of the teams to watch very closely. A star could well settle in Georgia before the start of the 2022-2023 season. The wick is ready, it only remains to light it.
