Are the Atlanta Hawks Contenders or Pretenders?

The Atlanta Hawks are a team that has made 9 consecutive playoff appearances in the Eastern Conference, but have only advanced past the 2nd round in one of those instances. So the question begs, are the Hawks close to becoming championship contenders? Or are they merely another team that is stuck in “NBA purgatory”?

As the Hawks enter a very crucial offseason, there are a variety of opinions on what the team should do and what direction they should take moving forward. With the impending free agency of Al Horford and Kent Bazemore coupled with the increase in salary cap, the Hawks have a chance to do something dramatic this offseason. But, does the team need to do something overly dramatic? Do they really need a “true star”? Here we will break down the strengths, weaknesses, and the potential future of the Hawks organization. And we will ask the question, are the Atlanta Hawks contenders or pretenders?

Strengths

Defense
Ball Movement
Frontcourt Offensive Versatility

The greatest strength of the Atlanta Hawks this season was their defense. The Hawks were ranked #1 in the NBA in opponent field goal percentage. Also this season saw the emergence of Paul Millsap as an elite level NBA defender that has the ability to defend any position from small forward through center very effectively, which garnered a spot on the NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team. Also, the team featured great defensive performances by Bazemore and young point guard, Dennis Schroder. The presence of Thabo Sefolosha also proved to help shut down opponent’s wing players. Horford continued to be a model of consistency on that side of the floor as well, as he received votes for the NBA All-Defensive Team. The evolution of the Hawks’ system expanded this season to both sides of the floor, where this became an elite NBA defense.

Jan 18, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) shoots a jump shot against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Magic 98-81. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

The Hawks’ offense was not quite as potent as it was during last year’s 60-win season, but it still possessed great ball movement and fantastic offensive play from the frontcourt. Ever since the arrival of Mike Budenholzer as head coach, the ball movement of the Hawks has become very good and a different look from the isolation-heavy Eastern Conference. After the offensive outburst of the 2014-2015 season, the Hawks were dubbed “Spurs East” by many experts because of the great ball movement and unselfish play. This philosophy remained strong this past season and it stemmed from their unselfish, yet spectacular, frontcourt. Millsap and Horford continued to establish themselves as one of the league’s best big man duos, while both continued to be inside-outside threats from their respective positions. The wide array of skills that they both bring provide open shot opportunities for the backcourt, but those chances must be converted. But, that does not hide the fact that Millsap and Horford remained matchup nightmares for almost any Eastern Conference defense.

Weaknesses

Wing Scoring
Rebounding

While the frontcourt duo of Millsap and Horford remained terrific, the wings of the Atlanta Hawks struggled to find their offensive stride. Kyle Korver had an otherworldly season in 2014-2015, where he shot 49% from 3-point range. But this year, he shot a much more human 40% from downtown. The threat of Korver’s shot decreased and drew less attention than it did a season ago, where the focus on him was essential to Atlanta’s success. Aside from Korver, Bazemore was a good perimeter shooter but struggled to find his own shot. Sefolosha played a lot of minutes but is regarded as a pure defender, and a very limited scorer. The team was hoping that Tim Hardaway Jr. could provide some scoring punch on the wing, but he struggled to find consistency and that resulted in a very limited role.

The most glaring weakness of the Atlanta Hawks was the lack of ability to rebound. They ranked 28th in the NBA in rebound differential, and were really pushed around by the Cavaliers in the playoffs on the glass for the past few seasons. While Horford is a great player, his rebounding is not as strong as some would like from the center position and that has some wondering if he is worth a max contract in free agency. The mid-season addition of Kris Humphries helped slightly on the boards, but he did not play enough minutes to change the tide completely. Perhaps another season with the team could help maximize his potential impact.

The Future

Aside from Horford and Bazemore’s free agency, the Hawks also have a dilemma related to their point guard position. With the emergence of the young, dynamic Dennis Schroder, many are calling for him to start at the point guard position. But, where does this leave current starter, and former All-Star, Jeff Teague? Many believe that he will be traded, and he could have many suitors. This trade could net the Hawks a valuable young player or another first round draft pick to go along with the 21st overall pick that they already possess. Could Teague net a lottery pick, allowing the Hawks to add a potential big-impact prospect? Perhaps, and we will find out soon if a Teague trade is going to be agreed to on draft night. The Hawks could also add a very effective player at the 21st pick, as this draft is deep with potentially good role players.

In free agency, the Hawks seem to have Horford at the top of their priority list. But many have questioned if the Hawks are willing to give him a max contract. The decision made with Horford will give a strong indication of what the Hawks’ plan for the team is going forward. Along with retaining Horford, the Hawks must look to add scoring on the wing. Bazemore was a very good spot-up shooter and defender, but will the team look to add younger wings with better offensive ability? Names like Eric Gordon, Harrison Barnes, and Evan Fournier could be potential fits if Bazemore walks. Also, a veteran backup point guard could be targeted to play behind Schroder. Maybe a guy like Brandon Jennings will get a call. The Hawks will have money to play with, but could elect to save it for next offseason as opposed to gambling on younger, high-upside free agents.

Given the low likelihood of obtaining a big name like Kevin Durant this summer, it may be wise for the Hawks to re-sign Horford and stay the course with him and Millsap as the team’s pillars. Smaller moves like trading Teague for young assets, signing some bargain free agents, and allowing Schroder to develop could be the team’s bets move. Millsap and Horford have shown to be great players, and the former has firmly established himself as a top-20 player in the NBA. The Hawks certainly have a star player in Millsap, and a consistent All-Sta center in Horford. They play great defense and share the ball well. If the team can acquire a wing scorer and some bench bigs to grab some rebounds (perhaps in the draft), this team could certainly compete with Cleveland in the East, and establish themselves as legitimate contenders. Not just a team that is stuck in between tanking and winning big.

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