Hawks news: Team desperately wanted to be included in NBA return

The Atlanta Hawks really wanted to be included in the NBA return

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the eight teams not included in the NBA’s return to play which will kick off in late July at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

The league kicked around several plans on returning to play. Some plans included just bringing back the 16 teams already in playoff position. Other plans suggested the whole league, all 30 teams may return.

22 teams allows the league to address a few concerns with the “too few” 16 teams and the “too many” 30 teams.

The 16 team format doesn’t allow teams that were still jockeying for playoff position to compete and fairly state their case for the playoffs. The 30 team format is probably just not safe given the current pandemic with no vaccine.

And so, the Hawks are out. Despite the marketable stars they have in Trae Young and John Collins — something that surely would have helped boost ratings for the NBA in a time where as many eyeballs as possible is key — the duo’s season is over.

The Hawks are extremely disappointed with this.

Atlanta Hawks owners wanted team to be in Orlando

Tonny Ressler had this to say to Ramona Shelburne on the league’s decided format on returning to play, stating he felt including all 30 teams was the best and most equitable path:

"“We’re a young team, and we want to play, we want to get better. This is the way you get better is by playing more basketball. So that was clearly our view.”"

Whether or not the format is fair is up for debate, but for the Hawks, it does seem as if including their team may have allowed their young roster to gel further. Now, the Hawks will ask a group of 20-somethings to go without structure in their professional career for nearly three quarters of a year, going back to when the league was suspended in mid-March.

The extra reps, the further game experience would be good for the Hawks.

For what it’s worth, the ownership group did vote to approve the league’s plan in solidarity with getting the league back in action. The only team to vote against the proposal was the Portland Trail Blazers.

Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce wanted to play more

Speaking to Rachel Nichols on The Jump, Hawks Head Coach Lloyd Pierce had comments that likened to the ownership group on returning to play.

"“If the season is going to resume and we’re still not a part of it, it hurts our growth, it hurts our product, it hurts our ability to continue the momentum that we need going into next season,” Pierce said."

Pierce was adamant — the best route for growth is actual playing. Resting players for so long and keeping them away from the game is not going to be helpful.

The Hawks may be advantaged, though, when the 2020-21 season begins in December (under the current, seemingly fluid timeline). Youthful teams may be able to bounce back quicker from extended rest. Competitive teams will have just wrapped their season in October. There may be initial rust to shake off, but the Hawks could run.

In the meantime, too, Trae Young was seen at a Skinz Game recently where he scored 43 points.

Is it NBA talent? Nope. But it’s something, keeping him busy, keeping his skills sharp.