The Atlanta Hawks Are Certainly Making Their Case To Be Next Year's "League Pass" Team

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I love what the Hawks are doing right now. How could anyone not? They are quickly asserting themselves as a quality choice to be the "League Pass" team for the 2020-21 season. You know, when your favorite team isn't playing and you're scrolling League Pass, everyone should be stopping on Hawks games next season. Trae Young was already must watch stuff after destroying defenses on a nightly basis

And heading into this offseason with $44M in cap space, they have done a fantastic job of rounding out this roster. Remember this report before free agency opened from Vince Carter?

Well, let's check in on how they did.

So they missed out on Joe Harris, but the man got 4/75M from the Nets so I won't fault them for that. You add these additions to the drafting of Oneyka Okongu, and man look at how this depth chart looks

That's not even including Bogdanovic who could potentially join as well (the Kings should 100% match that and just S&T him to somewhere else. Can't lose him for nothing). 

We still don't know what all these moves mean for John Collins, but they don't need to rush that decision. You can have him on the roster heading into the season. Maybe you start Gallo at the 3 or something if you don't land Bogy. Maybe he's fine coming off the bench. Here's what I do know. The Hawks had one of the worst defenses in the entire NBA last season. I'm talking about the 28th ranked defense. Well, Capela will finally play so that will help immediately. Hunter is only going to improve as a 3 and D guy. Everyone compares Okongwu to a Bam-Lite and he seems pretty good defensively, and I think Rondo and Kris Dunn will really help their guard depth defensively. You have to think some of that rubs off on Trae Young, and ANY improvement by Young on that end will make a huge difference.

They have shooting with Hueter/Gallo/Young. If Cam Reddish's second half is actually real (50/38%), that's another piece. You potentially add Bogdanovic to that mix as well and this team is going to be able to create space as well as any team in the East competing for one of the lower playoff spots. They talked about how their goal was making the playoffs this year and they've done everything you could ask from a roster standpoint to make that happen. Remember, last year the 8th seed in the East was 7 games under .500. You're telling me that roster if it remains healthy can't beat that? Especially if they improve their defense? 

All I know is all this talent moves them to near the top of the list as a candidate for next year's League Pass team. I'd say them and PHX are currently the leaders in my clubhouse. They've drafted well, they spend their cap space about as well and as smartly as any team on the market, and they play in a conference that should see them be able to climb the standings.

It may feel weird to be so positive about a team that's won 24, 29, and 20 games over the last three seasons, but this is easily the most talented Hawks team we've seen since they won 60 games in 2014-15. I can't wait to watch them play.