In the world of the NBA, the most important thing is not a team’s current result but its long-term trajectory. Every manager prefers to have a team that’s ready to win and compete for a championship either now or in the near future or a team that shows progress and is moving towards improvement. Currently, the Atlanta Hawks don’t seem to fall into either of these categories. The team appears to be stuck in its development or even regressing.

In this article, we will discuss expectations for the Atlanta Hawks in the upcoming season. You can place NBA game bets at the bookmaker company Mostbet, and its review is available at the following link: https://mostbet-az-yukle.com/.

Key Facts

Last season’s results: 8th place, 41-41 record.

Roster:

Arrivals – Jalen Johnson (15th pick), Patty Mills, Wesley Matthews.

Returnees – Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongwu, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Saddiq Bey, and others.

What to Expect from the Team

The Hawks are a standard NBA team that tries not to overspend but still aims to be competitive. Their success in 2021 has left a cold trail, and the team seems to be stagnating.

The future of Trae Young is being reevaluated. Even in his previous successful years, there were doubts about whether this undoubtedly talented point guard could not only carry the franchise but elevate it to a new level. So far, he hasn’t done that, and there are concerns that he might not be motivated to do so. As a result, there is growing speculation that the Hawks might trade their franchise player in the near future.

What’s particularly telling is the fact that in the NBA Draft, the Hawks selected Kobe Buffkin at the 15th pick—a scoring-oriented point guard with a strong focus on defense. For a franchise that doesn’t like to overpay and commit, is it worth keeping Trae Young for the next four years, paying him $45 million per year? It looks like a signal, especially to Young himself.

Furthermore, the Hawks will soon have to pay De’Andre Murray, who has already signed a $114 million/4-year contract. Comparatively, Murray’s value and productivity are seen as much more logical and efficient than Young. He’s likely to be considered the main point guard for the future.

Additionally, the Hawks already have contracts with players like De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic. And players like Onyeka Okongwu and Saddiq Bey will soon be due for their payments. Okongwu is considered a replacement for Clint Capela, although his future in Atlanta is far from guaranteed.

During the summer, the Hawks traded John Collins. This is another contract that raises doubts in the Hawks’ financial planning.

In summary, the current roster of the Hawks is nearing its climax. They are like a delayed version of the Chicago Bulls of a year ago. Though things may change sooner than expected.

Season Joker: AJ Griffin

AJ Griffin, a 20-year-old wing who was the 16th pick in last year’s Draft, has made a good impression as a shooter. He hit 39% of his three-pointers on average, attempting 3.6 shots per game. While a significant leap in performance might not be expected, Griffin could work on other aspects of his game on both ends of the floor. In a system with Trae Young and De’Andre Murray, he might find a useful role for himself and the team. Progress and the future of the Atlanta Hawks will be determined by the development of players like Griffin, as more established players are unlikely to provide a quantum leap in performance.

Prediction: 8th place in the Eastern Conference.