Soaring Down South
Fansided

The Atlanta Hawks are starting over and that’s okay

By Jack ODonnell

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: John Collins walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: John Collins walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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With the recent news of Tim Hardaway Jr.’s unbelievable contract of 4 years 71 million dollars taking everyone by storm, it signaled yet another loss for the Atlanta Hawks.

As you may be well aware, not a single starter from our dream 60 win 2014 season is still on the team. Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague were traded, Paul Millsap left, DeMarre Carroll left and Al Horford left.

That is an almost unbelievable amount of roster turnover for a franchise and it’s making two things abundantly clear. Number one is the fact that Atlanta realized Lebron James is an almost unbeatable force in the East.

Number two, and the more promising yet depressing point, is the Atlanta Hawks have elite player development programs but can’t seem to find the right blend of youth and talent.

Atlanta Hawks
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 26: Dennis Schroder /

Take DeMarre Carroll for example, he earned himself a massive contract after an impressive playoff run in 2014 that landed him in Toronto. He proceeded to have surgery on his right knee, become a liability on defense and offense and his albatross of a contract was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as of July 9th.

Time and time again Atlanta has taken role players and made them starting caliber (Tim Hardaway, Kent Bazemore), taken starters and turned them into All stars (Teague, Korver, Millsap) but has yet to find that all star level talent and turned them into a backbone of a franchise.

That is why Travis Schlenk is putting this franchise into the washing machine and getting rid of all of the age, bad fits and massive contracts.

Atlanta Hawks
ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 22: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

He wants to get the entire franchise on the same page so we don’t get stuck like we did these past 3 years. We were really good but not close enough to win a title, everyone on the team fit but was just a bit too old to lock down in long drawn out contracts.

We have a bare roster with tons of cap space, an elite head coach and a more than proven history of developing talent. Travis Schlenk has created something Atlanta hasn’t had in a long time, options.

Seeing only 20 or so wins this year won’t sit well, but a top 5 pick that gives us a chance to get what we so desperately need, a face of the franchise, is whats going to make it all worth it.

Next: Hawks re-sign Ersan Ilyasova