2019-20 Finish: 52-30

 

Season Highlight:

The Hawks highlight was most definitely jumping all the way up into the 2^nd seed in the East, in the final week of the season. They finished the year on a 4 game win streak to pinch the 2^nd seed from the wounded Heat who held it nearly all year. They clinched the division title, long earlier clinched a playoff birth and the hopes and dreams were riding high leading into the inaugural NSL playoff series behind an eclectic mix of youth and experience, despite the obvious and formidable opponent placed above them in the Chicago Bulls.

 

Season Lowlight:

The shine of the 2^nd seed unfortunately didn’t last too long for the Hawks. This was the lowlight. They faced a more than plucky 7^th seeded Washington Wizards in the first round, having done their own scraping into the playoffs on a sub .500 record, but they didn’t let the weight of expectation of losing drag them down. Quite a contrary, the Hawks were ousted in 5 games and their hopes were crushed. Embiid was floundering despite DeRozan’s greatest efforts and the Hawks just couldn’t keep up as turnovers mounted and felled them.

 

Best Trade:

Hawks send: Terence Ferguson
Hawks get: Carmelo Anthony

This deal really is not even close. Ferguson was at least projected to take some strides last year in the wake of the Roberson injury, but he completely fell on his face while Lu Dort flew on up and Melo did what Melo has always done in 2k, and that is get buckets. He was averaging 20ppg in Indiana, but they didn’t need that in their tank season, and Atlanta swooped in and grabbed the guy who then averaged 15ppg off the bench. Perfect.

 

Worst Trade:

Hawks send: Joel Embiid and Derrick Rose
Hawks get: Marvin Bagley, DeAndre Hunter, Cody Zeller and Pick 4 in the 2020 Draft

This trade was completed after the season finished, when the Hawks went into full blow up mode. They also dumped LMA and agreed to send out DeMar DeRozan which was completed more recently. This trade however, has all the red flags swirling. How many Franchise centers are there in the league? Thomas Bryant went for 3 1sts…that probably answers your question. Embiid here went with Rose, for effectively 3 1sts, but Bagley has shown little even when healthy and the others are a solid looking Hunter and Pick 4 in a draft that projects no franchise talents. That’s an L.

 

Other Notable Trades:

Hawks send: Montrezl Harrell, Kent Bazemore and Matisse Thybulle
Hawks get: LaMarcus Aldridge, Kendrick Nunn and 2020 2^nd Round pick (Pick 32)

They went all in on this deal. Solid.

 

Hawks send: LaMarcus Aldridge and 10 GM Points
Hawks get: Romeo Langford, Dewayne Dedmon, Taj Gibson and a 2021 2^nd round pick

After the season was done, they hit reset. They got very little for their aging star.

 

Hawks send: Dennis Smith
Hawks get: Dario Saric

Great swap really, but both are flawed prospects. Saric will last longer though.

 

Hawks send: George Hill, Boban Marjanovic, Wayne Ellington, 2020 1^st round pick (Pick 27) and 2022 2^nd round pick
Hawks get: Derrick Rose, Patrick Beverley, Willy Hernangomez and Anthony Tolliver

Really solid deal that set up their successful season.

 

Hawks send: Kendrick Nunn
Hawks get: Indiana 2021 1^st round pick

Time will tell on this one. Maybe the Pacers injury woes return?

 

Hawks send: Terence Ross and Cody Zeller
Hawks get: Andre Iguodala, Aaron Holiday, Khem Birch, Memphis 2021 2^nd round pick and SA 2021 2^nd round pick

Really solid return for 2 vets.

 

Hawks send: Pick 4 2020 Draft
Hawks get: Cam Reddish and OKC 2021 1^st round pick, top 5 protected

Looks like a solid return for the Pick 4.

 

Hawks send: DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Beverley and Andre Iguodala
Hawks get: Mike Conley, Jaxson Hayes, Cory Joseph and 2022 GS 1^st Round pick

Agreed upon end of last season, finally came to fruition. The reset of DeMar.

 

Free Agency:

The Hawks have a couple of free agents, but they won’t really rock the boat too much. Melo is a piece worth something and Saric is an easy returnee.

Carmelo Anthony – UFA, but desires to be resigned.

Dario Saric – RFA, he’ll be back.

Taj Gibson – UFA, no need for his services.

Willy Hernangomez – UFA, probably would like to bring him back.

Noah Vonleh – UFA, but desires to be resigned.

Gary Clark – RFA, easy return if wanted.

Yuta Watanabe – Expired 2way deal, RFA if desired.

 

Star:

DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan was the teams undoubted star, despite Joel Embiid being the man in the middle anchoring the defence and dropping nearly a 20/15 statline. DeMar was a picture of consistency averaging 22/5/4 and a steal, and played/started all but 4 games through the year. He’s elite at what he does and will be missed in Atlanta next year.

 

Goat:

He was meant to form one of the most potent and formidable frontcourts in the league and carry the team through to meeting the big time size of the Bulls in the Eastern finals, but LaMarcus Aldridge never really clicked with the team. He averaged only 11 points and 11 rebounds and shot it only 29% from deep. He only was there for 17 games, plus playoffs, but it was meant to be the move that took them over the top.

 

Draft Grades:

Pick #32 – Udoka Azubuike
Pick #55 – Cassius Stanley

A Grade

The Hawks got a “sliding” big man, the biggest in the crop nearly who looks like a monster in the league already if he ever gets the ratings to follow the physical side. They managed to ship him out, from the 2^nd round, for a future 1^st now too. Stanley at 55 has incredible athleticism and has already signed a 2 way deal.

 

The Future:

The Hawks are all about the future now. They are young, full of potential and primed. The rebuild is going to be a few years, but the start is now.

C: Marvin Bagley / Jaxson Hayes
PF: DeAndre Hunter / Dario Saric
SF: Cam Reddish / Gary Clark
SG: Romeo Langford / Ignas Brazdeikis
PG: Mike Conley / Aaron Holiday / Cory Joseph