The Atlanta Hawks begin rebuilding with promise as they aim to emulate the mold of success set by San Antonio and Golden State.
The San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors have been pinnacles of success in the NBA over the span of the last two decades. Now the Atlanta Hawks have a chance to one day be championship contenders themselves, armed with general manager Travis Schlenk and his winning formula.
Travis Schlenk has had a successful summer thus far, seeing the exodus of Dwight Howard and Paul Millsap and welcoming in some new faces to the franchise. Recently drafted John Collins will look to be the first in what Atlanta fans will hope is a fruitful yield in the next several years.
Another important addition that was made this offseason is that of Dewayne Dedmon. Coming from the vetted San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich, Dedmon possesses a defensive skill set instilled in him by the Spurs’ organization that will translate into his time with the Atlanta Hawks.
Dedmon will serve as mentor to young big men like Collins and Stone in a place where he already feels at home. Dedmon was quoted on the following in an nba.com article.
"“I came from San Antonio, and Atlanta is kind of like the baby San Antonio. There are a lot of people that were working under Pop who are here now. It’s kind of the same philosophy.”"
With the Hawks embracing veterans from winning programs like Dedmon into the team, they are set to enjoy the successes that come will building their team the right way. The Spurs built a legacy with 5 championships, and the Warriors are well on their way to basketball lore. The Hawks will look to follow suit in the near future.
But for now, fans should be pleased with the progress that Schlenk and company have made, and will be satisfied with the little brother role, as the franchise looks to add more pieces to the plot while also building their culture. With the right moves and a little bit of luck, the little brother may soon be looking to take over as on the NBA’s premier franchises.