This Offseason For The Hawks Feels Like A Dream

This time last year, I wrote an article about how amazing of an offseason the Knicks were having. They ended up making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Atlanta Hawks are having a similar offseason - the kind that Atlanta fans have been dreaming of since we were two wins away from the Finals back in 2021.

The Hawks finally realized that Trae Young is a great offensive player, and not such a great defensive player (to put it mildly).

They have since added several great two-way players such as Dyson Daniels last offseason, Alexander-Walker yesterday, and got an actual rim protector.

The addition of Kristaps Porzingis can’t be overstated. Even if he only plays 55-60 games, he is a huge upgrade on both ends compared to Capela.

Zaccharie Risacher will be a year more experienced, Jalen Johnson will be back healthy which only adds to the teams’ depth.

The Hawks also managed to draft Asa Newell from UGA (Go Dawgs), while somehow getting New Orleans to give them a first round pick.

This is the second offseason in a row that the Hawks have managed to fleece the Pelicans.

If nothing else, this season will give you complete clarity. Can you win with a team built around Trae Young?

That question will be answered this year. If the answer is no, you don’t have to extend Porzingis or Trae Young and can move on.

If the answer is yes - then the Hawks are now built to compete in what is a very lackluster Eastern Conference.

The Celtics are down this year, Cleveland fell apart in the playoffs, the Knicks got rid of the coach that got them to the ECFs - need I go on?

I love that the Hawks have finally pushed their chips to the middle of the table. October can’t come fast enough.