Twenty-nine different opposing NBA teams will walk through the doors of Target Center to play the Wolves this season, and we want you to know as much as you can about all of them. What’s the order of the teams we’re previewing? It’s actually completely random! Now, a team that doubled down on its youth movement.
Notable Players Acquired: Allen Crabbe (trade), De’Andre Hunter (draft), Jabari Parker (free agency), Chandler Parsons (trade), Cam Reddish (draft), Evan Turner (trade)
Notable Players Lost: Kent Bazemore (trade), Taurean Walker-Prince (trade)
What Went Down In 2018-19?
It was about the kids, baby! While the Hawks might have been on the wrong side of the Luka Doncic/Trae Young trade, let’s not sleep on the fact that Young played very, very well last season. This trade isn’t going to be as lopsided as we all thought it would be after it was made.
The plan for Atlanta wasn’t to make the playoffs. It was to figure out who fit and who didn’t fit as the Hawks look to the future. There’s certainly a nice base with Young, John Collins and MY GUY Kevin Huerter.
Young can’t legally drink, and Huerter could officially have his first wine cooler in late August. The future is bright, but we’ve seen this movie before. Nothing is guaranteed.
That brings us to the offseason.
The Offseason Was . . .
A lot like last season. While the team acquired players like Jabari Parker, Evan Turner and whatever is left of Chandler Parsons, this is still a team with its eye very much on the future.
The team traded up to draft De’Andre Hunter, a 3-and-D forward who should fit perfectly with this team. With the Mavericks’ pick at No. 10, the Hawks took Duke forward Cam Reddish. In the Rookie Survey, 19 percent of rookies said Reddish will have the best career among those taken in the 2019 Draft. That was higher than Ja Morant and Zion Williamson. While, I would say the rookies are probably wrong with their assessment, it is telling that Reddish has so much respect among his peers.
The Hawks have a bunch of scratch offs in their pocket. If they hit one jackpot, with a few $20 winners, this will be a success.
The Big Question
Will Vince Carter play forever?
That, of course, is a joke (no it’s not - I think it’s possible).
How will the minutes be distributed?
Will Lloyd Pierce let Parker steal minutes from development guys like Hunter or Reddish? Will Crabbe steal minutes from MY GUY Huerter?!
That’s always the question with up-and-coming teams. You want there to be a balance of rookies and veterans, but if the veterans get more playing time, now you’re just a bad team and not developing your young players.
This Writer’s Prediction
Much like last season, the Hawks will be better than most expect them to be. If you thought the Hawks were going to win 29 games last season, STOP LYING! This team will linger around the playoff picture until the All-Star Break, but will get another lottery pick, enabling them to remain flexible.
A reminder: The Hawks have Brooklyn’s pick (lottery protected) for giving them the cap flexibility to sign Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this offseason. If the Hawks wanted to try to trade into the top-five for the second-straight season, it’s completely possible.
Describe This Team In 15 Words Or Less
Kevin Huerter. Kevin Huerter. Kevin Huerter. Kevin Huerter. Kevin Huerter. Kevin Huerter. Kevin Huerter. Kevin