That 60-win Hawks team, the one that played the beautiful brand of basketball that produced the greatest season in the franchise’s Atlanta history, the one with four All-Stars and the NBA’s Coach of the Year is a thing of the past. They’re all gone, save for coach Mike Budenholzer. It’s rebuilding time in Atlanta, tear down and rebuild time. And it won’t be pretty.
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ICYMI
Travis Schlenk came over from the Golden State Warriors to oversee the rebuilding process for the Hawks. He walked into a situation that should have been ideal … The Hawks’ own the Eastern Conference’s best playoff streak, 10 straight, the NBA’s second-longest streak (trailing only to the San Antonio Spurs). But like most everything else folks in Atlanta have gotten used to in recent years, that’ll probably go away this season as well … All-Star power forward Paul Millsap walked away in free agency (Denver), the third straight summer the Hawks lost an All-Star without getting anything for him … Dwight Howard, last summer’s prized free-agent acquisition, was traded to Charlotte for spare parts … Schlenk must share what he learned during the construction phase of the Warriors’ championship crew and hope the Hawks get as much right as the Warriors did during their ascent … This team is being turned over to a much younger cast, led by returning starting point guard Dennis Schroder.
THREE POINTS
1. Schlenk must convince everyone in the organization, from ownership down to the equipment manager, that patience is the one thing that has to be applied to almost everything that goes on for the foreseeable future. And that includes the development of a new starting five and playing rotation.
2. Schroder’s leadership skills must improve dramatically. He’s no longer the youngster on the scene. The Hawks need his on-and off-the-court talents to work in concert for the greater good. And instead of calling his own number more often than not, he must be a facilitator who raises the play of the entire group.
3. Rookie big man John Collins looked like a find in Summer League, showing off athleticism and a mean streak that surprised many, including some inside of the organization. The key for Collins will be finding the right fit, at either power forward or maybe even center, depending on where Budenholzer feels he fits best. His development is critical to the rebuilding plan.
MAN ON THE SPOT
Budenholzer has endured quite a bit of tumult during his time with the franchise, from the Danny Ferry drama and being pressed into service as a coach/team president to the fallout of a fractured relationship with former general manager Wes Wilcox last season, which led to him relinquishing his front office duties. No one questions the fact that he’s one of the league’s best tacticians. But he’s without the seasoned stars who helped him carve out that space as one of the league’s best coaches the past four seasons.
STARTING FIVE
Dennis Schroder | 17.9 ppg | 3.1 rpg | 6.3 apg
He has the talent and confidence you want in a starting point guard, but needs to show that he’s matured into more of a leader.
Kent Bazemore | 11.0 ppg | 3.2 rpg | 2.4 apg
The opportunity is knocking again for the should-be defensive ace, who struggled under the weight of increased expectations last season.
Taurean Prince | 5.7 ppg | 2.9 rpg | 0.9 apg
Prince’s playoff performance inspired plenty of confidence from the coaching staff and they’ll need him to step it up to the next level this season.
Ersan Ilyasova | 13.1 ppg | 5.1 rpg | 1.7 apg
Ilyasova fits the stretch-shooting profile that Budenholzer requires in his system but must produce at a high level to fill Millsap’s shoes.
Mike Muscala | 6.2 ppg | 3.4 rpg | 1.4 apg
A better fit off the bench, Muscala’s experience in the system will be invaluable early on this season, which could land him a spot in the first five.
KEY RESERVES
John Collins | 0.0 ppg | 0.0 rpg | 0.0 apg
If his Summer League work was any indication, rookie big man could fight for starting job at power forward or center right away.
DeAndre Bembry | 2.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 apg
His workload increased late in his rookie season and he is expected to see a much more significant role this season.
Marco Belinelli | 10.5 ppg | 2.4 rpg | 2.0 apg
Belinelli gives Budenholzer a veteran shooter with an understanding of the system, given his time spent in San Antonio.
THE BOTTOM LINE
After a decade of playoff basketball, this Hawks team must fight and claw to stay out of the basement in the Eastern Conference. There has just been too much roster turnover — from All-Stars to rookies, youngsters and journeymen — the past four seasons to forecast it any other way.
Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and NBA TV analyst. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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