Atlanta is suffering from a championship drought, but the team has plenty of assets that could revive their chances. If they succeed in making these moves, Atlanta will be able to pull off an upset victory and return to relevance for another successful year.
The “atlanta hawks offseason needs” is a blog post that discusses 3 moves the Atlanta Hawks need to consider in order to revive their dying championship hopes.
The Atlanta Hawks had an unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and entering the 2021-22 season, they had even bigger hopes. However, with a 21-25 record after 46 games, Nate McMillan’s team stands outside the East playoff picture.
The Hawks will be watched closely in the weeks building up to the NBA trade deadline next month. Will they attempt to acquire another star in the hopes of returning to the playoffs in 2022, or will they choose to forego the season and focus on the future?
Let’s take a look at the three changes Atlanta should make before February 10th.
Table of Contents
1. Put together a deal including John Collins in exchange for Ben Simmons.
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Over the previous several months, the name John Collins has been floating in trade speculations. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the 24-year-old recently inked a five-year, $125 million contract with the Hawks last summer, but he’s been “increasingly unhappy by his status in Atlanta.”
Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played a single game for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, is one of the Hawks’ rumoured trade targets. Atlanta recently considered a trade package including Collins, Cam Reddish, and a first-round pick for Simmons, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, but discussions halted when the 76ers sought to include Tobias Harris in the deal. Reddish was then traded to the Knicks in New York.
Simmons would considerably boost the Hawks’ defense and relieve some of the strain on Trae Young as the team’s primary ballhandler on the offensive end, but Atlanta would almost certainly need to add another young player or a second draft selection to their Collins package in order to close the deal.
2. Improve the defense by acquiring Marcus Smart.
Defensive rating for the Atlanta Hawks:
113.8 in the first 42 games (28th in NBA)
109.8 in the last four games (15th in NBA)
They’ll be a contender again if their defense ranks in the top 10.
— Pat Benson (@Pat_Benson_Jr) January 25, 2022
The Hawks could need some assistance on the defensive end of the floor, and it’s no secret. Atlanta boasts the NBA’s second-best offensive rating (114.3) this season, but their 29th-ranked defensive rating (114.7) has to improve if they want to reach the playoffs.
Marcus Smart is now on the scene.
Smart is a tenacious defender who can turn a game around with late-game hustle plays. For over a decade, he’s done it for the Boston Celtics, and he’s precisely what the Hawks need to transform their defensive identity.
At last year’s trade deadline, Atlanta expressed interest in Smart, and with the Celtics failing to remain above.500 this season, now may be the ideal moment to strike.
3. Keep the center and add a few more pieces to the outside.
The Atlanta Hawks’ Kevin Huerter, John Collins, and Trae Young celebrate after a win against the San Antonio Spurs | Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
Last year, we witnessed how amazing this Hawks squad can be when everything comes together. Young, Collins, Clint Capela, and Kevin Huerter form a potent attacking core, and it wouldn’t be unexpected if Atlanta decided to wait until the February 10 deadline to make a move.
If that turns out to be the strategy, the Hawks may attempt to trade for or purchase some inexpensive defensive stoppers. In the larger view, though, Atlanta has a squad that is built to win in the future. It may not be wise to be too proactive in deals this season and risk breaking up the great, youthful nucleus the Hawks currently have.
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RELATED: NBA Trade Deadline: Jaren Jackson Jr. Traded to Atlanta Hawks For Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, John Collins may be a game-changer.
The “atlanta hawks 2021 offseason” is a blog that discusses the Atlanta Hawks. The article discusses three moves that the team needs to consider in order to revive their championship hopes.
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