Atlanta Hawks: What Are the Criteria for a Successful Season in 2019-20?

A quick look at what might make the 2019-20 season a successful one for the Atlanta Hawks.

After a roller coaster offseason that saw myriad moves made by the recently re-signed GM Travis Schlenk, the Atlanta Hawks head into the upcoming 2019-20 season with a lot of promise and the idea floating about that they could be a dark horse contender for a 7- or 8-seed in the Eastern Conference.

According to a story by Alec Liebsch of FanSided’s HoopsHabit, sliding into the playoffs would be the sole criterion for having next season be a successful one for the Atlanta Hawks.

While that would certainly be a nice storyline and would definitely help to cement the Hawks as a rising squad in the league at large, even if they don’t make the playoffs, the year can still be a success.

When Schlenk took over, this rebuild was expected to be a long and arduous one. In the team’s first full rebuild year – which was last season after the messy semi-rebuild in 2017-18 under Mike Budenholzer – the Atlanta Hawks uncovered two rookie building blocks in Trae Young and Kevin Huerter.

This year, the Hawks will go into the 2019-20 season with three notable rookies that were drafted in the 2019 NBA Draft: De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish and Bruno Fernando.

Though, of course, this outlet would thoroughly celebrate a playoff berth next season, the 2019-20 season should be all about internal growth and development of the team’s promising young core.

Even if next year doesn’t end with a playoff appearance for the Atlanta Hawks, if John Collins, Trae Young and Kevin Huerter continue along the same impressive path they all started on last season, that would be a terrific season for them – and the team – next year.

Beyond that, if the rookies are able to come in immediately and impact the team and/or fit in well with the core that’s already in place, that would also be a resounding triumph for the Hawks.

In the end, let’s not rush this rebuild. Though it may seem as if some of Schlenk’s moves mean the team’s timeline has been expedited, that is actually not the case, as the Hawks still have plenty of draft picks going forward as well as a mammoth amount of cap space next offseason.

Enjoy this era of “no expectations,” Atlanta Hawks fans!