As part of our offseason coverage, Soaring Down South is ranking each and every offseason transaction the Atlanta Hawks made.
After a slow start, the Atlanta Hawks kicked it into high gear and had one of the most action-packed and interesting offseasons in recent memory. Multiple trades and signings took place even after the NBA Draft, which was even more important for the Hawks in the long-term.
In our ongoing series of offseason reviews, it’s time to grade each move the Hawks made this offseason from draft picks to trades to free agency deals.
After grading each and every move the Hawks made this offseason, it’s time to offer up a complete grade for the entirety of the team’s offseason.
OVERALL OFFSEASON GRADE: B-
This was a big offseason for the Hawks and, for the most part, a successful one. Though the fateful Luka Doncic/Trae Young trade was not our favorite, and the decision to dismiss the #34 overall pick for nothing was not a good one, Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk began the offseason with a clear idea about what he wanted to do. It seems as if he’s achieved it.
Bringing in seasoned veterans like Jeremy Lin and Vince Carter were smart signings, and it’s hard to quibble about the contracts for Alex Poythress, Daniel Hamilton, Alex Len and Jaylen Adams.
When it comes to the draft picks, Hawks brass has a clear vision about what they want the team to look like going forward, and they drafted players that they believe can recreate the immense success that Schlenk helped engender in the Golden State Warriors franchise. (Warriors of the East anyone?)
No matter what, the 2018-19 rendition of the Atlanta Hawks will be far more entertaining and fulfilling than last year’s team, which was a bit of a transition year from competing to tanking.
With Coach Mike Budenholzer long gone and a Process disciple, Lloyd Pierce, now in place as the team’s head coach, the Atlanta Hawks can expect to lose a lot of games next year — setting the table for a miraculous redemption story when they start to make noise in the Eastern Conference in a few years’ time.
List of Offseason Grades:
Hiring Lloyd Pierce: B+
Jeremy Lin Trade: C-
Dennis Schroder Trade: A
Mike Muscala Trade: B+
#34 Pick Trade: F
#3 Pick for #5 Pick Trade: C+
Alex Len Signing: B
Vince Carter Signing: A
Poythress, Hamilton, Adams Signings: B
Selecting Omari Spellman #30: C
Selecting Kevin Huerter #19: A
Selecting Trae Young #5: A-
Keep it locked to Soaring Down South for all your Hawks news and coverage as we inch ever closer to October, the start of the 2018-19 NBA season.