Atlanta Hawks leader Trae Young has never lacked confidence, dating back to his high school and AAU prodigy days in Oklahoma. That confidence has more than translated to the NBA level, as Young has transformed As a member, one of the league’s most dynamic but also polarizing figures Falcons.

Young was recently asked to name his top five all-time starters in NBA history during an appearance on the “Million Dollars Worth of Game” podcast, and his pick for point guard is expected to be doesn’t surprise anyone:Trae Young (via Legion Hoops on X, formerly Twitter).

He was joined by Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, GOAT contender LeBron James, two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant and Shaquille O’Neal. Young also named Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan as the team’s sixth player.

The Hawks star’s picks perhaps reflect the ideal types of players who would be built to complement his strengths (and compensate for his weaknesses), as the roster is loaded with big guys who can play both ends of the floor and knock down perimeter shots in addition to creating their own shots.

What are the Hawks doing?

Chicago Bulls guard Javonte Green (24) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) during the second half of a 2024 NBA Playoffs playoff game at United Center.
Images by David Banks-Imagn

The Hawks may not have assembled a roster as solid as Young’s ideal starting five this summer, but they at least showed an attempt to build a team better suited to complement Young than the one they’ve fielded the past two years.

Dejounte Murray, who showed absolutely no trace of the solid defensive player he was as a member of the San Antonio Spurs and also no willingness to move without the ball, was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for a package that, on the surface, seemed underwhelming but still got the Hawks their new best defender in guard Dyson Daniels, who is expected to be in the starting lineup when the season begins.

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Atlanta also selected French phenom Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick, giving Young another long winger who, at least in theory, can play both ends of the floor and give the Hawks’ lineup some much-needed versatility.

Atlanta is still clearly a long way from being an Eastern Conference contender, but it was still refreshing for fans to see management show at least some semblance of a coherent vision for roster construction this offseason.

The bar has fallen so low.

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