The 2024 offseason noticed many adjustments for an Atlanta Hawks workforce that failed to realize its targets over the previous two seasons. They admitted their blockbuster commerce for Dejounte Murray in 2022 was a failure, chopping their losses and sending him to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package deal led by Dyson Daniels – thus starting the method of retooling the Hawks.
And as luck would have it, the Hawks managed to land the primary decide within the 2024 NBA Draft, and with that present, they took Zaccharie Risacher, the versatile ahead out of France. The decide could not have are available a stacked draft class, however Risacher seems to be an unimaginable match alongside Trae Younger, because the rookie has proven off his easy hitting from three in addition to his ending potential up to now in pre-season.
For now, although, the Hawks are nonetheless straddling the advantageous line between going all-in on the youth motion and remaining semi-competitive. They nonetheless have a couple of veterans on the roster who may very well be value one thing on the commerce market, and if the Hawks determine to search for higher lottery odds within the subsequent Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, these gamers may very nicely be on the verge of go away Atlanta.
Over the previous three seasons, it appeared prefer it was solely a matter of time earlier than the Hawks handed over the beginning heart job to Onyeka Okongwu, the large man they drafted with the sixth total decide. basic of the 2020 NBA draft. However Clint Capela remained sturdy regardless of every part. When wholesome, Capela was known as upon by the Hawks to be the workforce’s beginning heart and performed his position admirably.
Capela, nevertheless, is in decline. He’s now not the rim protector he as soon as was and his mobility has diminished attributable to his quite a few accidents through the years. However on offense, he is nonetheless the right slot in a Trae Younger-led offense — a lob menace who’s tireless in rolling to the basket.
At the moment, it’s unclear who Quin Snyder would be the Hawks’ long-term beginning heart. It’s kind of telling that the at present injured Okongwu has but to usurp Capela. However the Hawks nonetheless have the selection to pivot youthful, and in the event that they do, count on Capela to as soon as once more be the topic of loads of commerce rumors.
De’Andre Hunter, very similar to Capela, has been on the forefront of many commerce rumors over the previous few seasons. Hunter hasn’t progressed a lot in his 5 years with the Hawks. At this level, everybody is aware of what they are going to get from Hunter – 15 factors, a handful of threes and free throws, plus stable to above-average protection on the perimeter.
Hunter hasn’t progressed a lot as a shooter or playmaker, and consequently, it is laborious to say he is been value these 4 years. $90 million enlargement he signed in 2022.
With Zaccharie Risacher set to command a ton of minutes given his draft pedigree, Hunter may, in the end, be the odd man out in Atlanta. The truth is, time is working out on Hunter’s spot within the beginning lineup, particularly when he managed to lose his beginning job for an prolonged time period final season. Maybe Hunter’s companies may very well be extra helpful to a different workforce that should strengthen their wing rotation.
Bogdan Bogdanovic
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Bogdan Bogdanovic is the oldest of the Hawks gamers talked about to this point. He is already 32 years outdated and in contrast to Capela and Hunter, it is a lot simpler to promote him to contending groups as a chunk that might assist in a possible championship run. His contract, which lasts three extra years (together with a workforce choice), is value roughly $49 million – a justified value for the most effective snipers within the league.
However the identical expertise that make Bogdanovic enticing to contending groups additionally make him very helpful to the Hawks. Bogdanovic is not only a catch-and-shooter; he can provoke the offense when Trae Younger is resting whereas being alongside him within the backcourt along with his elite three-point capturing.
So, barring a giant deal, the Hawks would possibly simply be extra inclined to maintain Bogdanovic on the workforce.
Acquired by the Hawks within the Dejounte Murray commerce, Nance may discover himself out of the Hawks rotation fairly rapidly as soon as Okongwu recovers from his harm. Nance is, nevertheless, a high quality backup heart. He is fairly switchable on the perimeter and is a lob menace who covers a ton of floor on each ends. Nevertheless, he’s within the final yr of his contract and he earns $11 million. He is extra prone to find yourself as a buyout candidate in February than somebody contending groups are actively searching for a commerce for.
