The Atlanta Hawks had two big contenders for major awards last season, but neither won, and for different reasons. Bogdan Bogdanovic didn’t win the Sixth Man of the Year award last season (not to mention he wasn’t a finalist), and if Jalen Johnson had been able to reach the 65-game mark, I think he could have won the Most Improved Player award. Both players should be in the running for those awards again, but what other awards could the Hawks be up for grabs this year?
Let’s take a look.
1. Best player
If you’re looking for a good, risky bet for the MVP title, you can’t go wrong with one of the NBA’s most prolific offensive players. Trae Young is listed at +25000 on Fanduel Sports Betting He was named NBA MVP and while I think it’s highly unlikely he’ll win it, let’s see how he might do it. I think it helps that the Hawks have low expectations (their win total is 35.5 right now) and if Atlanta overtakes them, Young will likely get a lot of recognition. He should be able to put up good numbers in terms of points and assists and Young can make Atlanta a top ten offense in the NBA all by himself. If he puts up his usual numbers and the Hawks can sneak into the top 3 of the Eastern Conference, you might see Young’s name mentioned. He made small improvements on defense last year and if he can keep that up, the Hawks will be better.
2. Sixth Man of the Year
There are actually two candidates to consider here, but there is a caveat to that. Bogdanovic (+4000) is the obvious candidate, but there is a chance he starts next to Young, though Dyson Daniels is also in the mix. De’Andre Hunter (+4000) has played well as a backup, but he could also start depending on how the Hawks want to handle Zaccharie Risacher. If Hunter comes off the bench, he could be an interesting bet as he played very well as a backup last year. If Bogdanovic doesn’t start, I think this is a great value for him.
3. Rookie of the year
Risacher (+800) is third in the NBA Rookie of the Year odds behind Zach Edey and Reed Sheppard. That’s surprising for a No. 1 pick and I think he could fit in very well with the team and having Young as a point guard should open things up for Risacher. He’s known as a good shooter and if he shoots well and helps improve the Hawks’ defense, he’ll make a strong case.
4. Defensive Player of the Year
Clint Capela (+50000) is the only player listed on Fanduel, but I think Daniels could be the candidate to watch. If he can start for the Hawks and be the elite defender they’re missing, he’s going to draw a lot of attention. It might be a risky bet, but Daniels is already that good.
5. The player who has improved the most this year
Johnson (+1500) was one of the NBA’s best-kept secrets last year, but that’s no longer the case. Johnson is a favorite for the award and is 5th on Fanduel. I think Daniels at +7500 is also a good bet and while Onyeka Okongwu isn’t listed, he could be the starting center and have a real chance. Atlanta has three legitimate candidates for this award.
I think the Hawks have real contenders for Most Improved Player, Sixth Man and Rookie of the Year, while they have a good chance of being contenders in other categories. Here’s how I’d rank their likelihood of winning the award by Hawks players:
1. Sixth Man of the Year (Bogdanovic)
2. Most Improved Player (Daniels, Johnson or Okongwu)
3. Rookie of the Year (Risacher)
4. Defensive Player of the Year (Daniels)
5. MVP (Young)
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