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NBA Free Agency: LeBron James To Lakers Might Speed Up Hawks Rebuild

By Zackery Rogers

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 25: Omari Spellman #6, Trae Young #11 and Kevin Huerter #1 of the Atlanta Hawks pose for a portrait after an introductory press conference on June 25, 2018 at Emory Healthcare Courts in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 25: Omari Spellman #6, Trae Young #11 and Kevin Huerter #1 of the Atlanta Hawks pose for a portrait after an introductory press conference on June 25, 2018 at Emory Healthcare Courts in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 26: Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Logan Riely/Beam Imagination/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) /

Developing the Young Core

Free agency is underway and multiple big names have announced where they plan to play. So now teams that missed out on free agency have to go back to the drawing board.

Huerter, the 6-foot-7 guard out of Maryland provides three-point shooting, versatility and excellent passing.

Young, despite his 6-foot-2 frame, will thrive in today’s NBA due to the spacing and lack of defense in the regular season. However, the former Oklahoma guard will have to improve on defense in order to stay on the floor.

Both Huerter and Young will help improve the Hawks three-point shooting and could form a dynamic backcourt. Some think that they have a chance to be the Splash Brothers 2.0 with a bit more swag.

During Young’s first and only season at Oklahoma, he averaged 27.4 points, 8.7 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 42.2 percent from the field. Huerter, on the other hand, averaged 14.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his sophomore season.

Last season forward Taurean Prince had an impressive sophomore season. The 6-foot-8 small-forward improved his points per game total by 8.4 points. (14.1,PPG) In his second season, he shot 38.5 percent from deep and averaged 4.7 rebounds. The 24-year-old forward is an improving two-way player for Hawks with even room to improve.

In addition to Young, Huerter, and Prince, the Hawks received a positive contribution from Second Team All-Rookie member John Collins. The 6-foot-10 forward fits the mold of the modern day NBA big man. He shoots a decent percentage from three-point range for a big man at 34.0 percent.

Collins provides the Hawks with an athletic big man who can run the floor, finish at the rim and occasionally knock down the three-ball. This core could potentially grow together and become a solid nucleus to build around with the mentorship of veteran players. Over time, the Hawks young core can develop a defensive identity with the ability to run and gun.

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