Did the Atlanta Hawks solve their biggest issue from last season?
The Atlanta Hawks are still a few weeks away from training camp. The downtime has allowed us to go back and look into some of their more underrated areas of strength and weaknesses. If we’re being honest, they do not have too many of the latter. And their core is still just scratching its surface.
One thing that proved to be an issue for them in the regular season and playoffs was when Trae Young went to the bench.
It’s an issue some think still exists for a team that was two wins away from an NBA Finals berth.
The Atlanta Hawks level of play shouldn’t fall off as much when Trae Young sits next season
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Again, it is the offseason. Everyone is going over every team with a fine-toothed comb seeking out flaws.
That’s essentially what Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report went over in his latest piece highlighting one issue “haunting” each team as they get set to go to training camp at the end of the month.
"“Last season, Atlanta’s offensive rating was a sparkling 118.2 with Trae Young in the game and a dim 104.4 when he rested, a difference of 13.8 points per 100 possessions. Per Cleaning the Glass, which filters out garbage time, only Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Nikola Jokic produced larger positive differentials on offense. Atlanta’s issue persisted in the postseason, as it scored 10.7 fewer points per 100 without Young.”"
To be fair, seeing a team’s production take a dip when its best player sits isn’t all that surprising. It is downright expected. But that disparity, or the Hawks “seeming adrift” when Young catches a breather, can’t be overlooked.
The Hawks relied on a hodgepodge of Rajon Rondo — who is extremely hit or miss — Kris Dunn, Lou Williams, and a rookie in Skylar Mays at backup point guard last season.
No disrespect to any of them, especially Rondo and Williams, but that is far from ideal. Williams, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year, returns. But he has always been a better scoring threat than passer, though he did a commendable job in the playoffs with Young out.
And, as Hughes mentioned, progression from a few guys could make a world of difference if they can also stay healthy.
Luckily, it appears the Hawks look to have addressed the issue this offseason.
While not quite the splash acquisition of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari last offseason, Delon Wright could be just as impactful. Acquired in a multi-team deal, his ability to play both guard spots he’ll be able to play alongside Young and, maybe, allow the latter to work off the ball more.
His true value will be as the floor general of the second unit.
Wright’s on-off numbers were the tale of two basketball cities, both good in their own way. While with the Pistons, the offense was 3.6 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor. Opposing offenses were a point better with him present also.
In Sacramento, the offense was 5.3 points worse per 100 possessions. However, their defense was 5.5 points better with him on.
He helped in different ways but was clearly a stabilizing presence for both teams.
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If Wright can bring a mix of what he provided in both stops last season to the Hawks, they won’t have to make up the entirety of the scoring difference Young takes with him to the bench. The defense should better hold opponents in check as well.