Vince Carter Says Atlanta Hawks “Shooting for That 8 Seed” in 2019-20

A quick look at recent news from  Vince Carter of the Atlanta Hawks regarding the team’s goals in the upcoming 2019-20 season.

Thankfully (at least for this writer), Vince Carter will be returning for one final season with the Atlanta Hawks, closing out his storied 23-year career with an up-and-coming young Hawks squad featuring talented youngsters such as Trae Young, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish and more.

With all that young talent as well as influx of new veterans alongside them, the team does have an outside shot at making the playoffs in what is a truly watered-down Eastern Conference.

The reigning NBA Champions, the Toronto Raptors, lost two of their best players in the form of Kawhi Leonard (Finals MVP) and stalwart role player Danny Green, meaning that one of the best teams in the East got noticeably worse for the 2019-20 season. Sure, they’ll still be better than the Hawks, but this is just painting a picture of how far the East has fallen in comparison to the West – which continues to stack up top-tier talent in each and every division.

However, with the East seemingly wide-open in its lower reaches, the Atlanta Hawks will likely be aiming for a playoff berth in order to get their young guns acclimated to the rigors of playoff basketball. Though it might not be “playoffs or bust” for the Hawks in 2019-20, veteran Vince Carter believes the team will “shooting for that #8 seed,” according to a recent interview on Atlanta sports radio station 92.9 The Game:

Indeed, if the young players continue to improve at their expected rates, and the rookies are able to come in and impact winning immediately, finishing with the #8 seed at season’s end is a distinct possibility.

While the Atlanta Hawks should not forego growth and development in favor of short-sighted “win-now” moves, making the playoffs would be terrifically exciting for Hawks fans and for the team’s young stars.