Atlanta Hawks: Have they Finally Found Their Playoff Core?
The NBA trade deadline is over and the Atlanta Hawks made a power move. With the addition of Clint Capela, the Hawks are building toward a bright future and that begins next season.
With Trae Young and John Collins, the Hawks already had two young building blocks. Now, Capela is that third piece needed for the nucleus. While it’s too late to make a run this season, the front office is sending a message loud and clear. And that message is –the drought is over.
What happens at the end of the season will really tell how far the Hawks have come. While struggling, the Hawks will end up with another lottery selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. That alone screams playoffs in the Eastern Conference but it goes deeper than that.
Winning not only has to go with talent but it’s a mental state. Last season, the Hawks selected Cam Reddish with the 10th pick in the draft and if he ever lives up to his potential, the Hawks will be a dangerous team next season.
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The new three-headed monster in the East will cause problems for the like of the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks next season. But there’s still more reason for hope.
Even with Capela’s deal on their books, the Atlanta Hawks will enter the offseason with close to $60M at their disposal. While the upcoming free agents class is not as it was last season, there is still enough talent that could propel the Hawks as one of the top three teams in the conference. Could they persuade DeMarr DeRozan, Gordon Hayward or Otto Porter Jr to make their way to down to ATL?
To dismiss the playoffs for this team would be a foolish move. It takes a while to build a winner, especially when doing it the right way. Capela is not a household name but neither was Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, or Paul Milsap back in 2014 when they won 60 games. It was all about finding the right chemistry.
This trade was not about this season. It’s the same thing going on with the Brooklyn Nets. the playoffs are a possibility for the Nets but their official trek begins the moment Kevin Durant takes the court. This is what the Atlanta Hawks are going for. Let the players gel now and by the time the 2020-21 season begins, they’re ready to roll.
What has to be forgotten are the Hawks’ current stats and rankings. Despite being near the bottom of the league in wins, points scored and points given up, this was done without the new trio. Let’s give this a good month and then we can make a proper assessment. But from where I’m sitting, coupled with the direction the Hawks’ front office is moving, the Hawks are due for success.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
