The Atlanta Hawks got franchise point guard Trae Young quite a few shiny new toys to play with this season; here’s how each new guy will affect him.
The Atlanta Hawks made a lot of moves this offseason to bolster their shooting, defense, and veteran experience as they attempt to make their first playoff push in several years. Atlanta Hawks fans have to feel like the moves made were enough to keep all-star point guard Trae Young happy and extend his time in Atlanta after his contract is up in a couple of years.
Trae Young has certainly pushed his name into the conversation of top point guards in the league after finishing top 5 in both scoring and assists in just his second year in the NBA. Now with an even better team surrounding him, Young will attempt to change the country’s opinion on Atlanta Hawks basketball.
With two preseason matchups with the Memphis Grizzlies still left to take place, let’s take a look at how each new guy on the roster will affect Trae Young.
How Rajon Rondo & Kris Dunn affect Atlanta Hawks PG Trae Young
The Atlanta Hawks went out and grabbed point guards Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn to provide some depth at the one spot and relief for Trae Young.
Rondo comes to Atlanta on a two-year, $15 million deal and fresh off of winning his second NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. There’s no secret as to why the Hawks pursued him in free agency. They were looking for someone to provide veteran mentorship to their franchise PG Trae Young, and Rondo, who has consistently discussed coaching after retirement, is definitely the perfect fit. He’ll do a lot to help Trae mesh with the other new pieces on the roster and will prove to be a trustworthy backup for Young who should see his minutes decline slightly in favor of health and rest.
Kris Dunn has yet to see the floor for the Atlanta Hawks this preseason but Trae Young ought to be ecstatic about his presence on the team. Dunn will likely see the floor more than Rondo in the regular season. He was brought to Atlanta for his noteworthy defense, something that Trae Young has lacked in his first two seasons. Kris Dunn will give Trae Young the confidence to score at will (as if he didn’t already have that), but will also give some assurance that the Hawks won’t be abysmal at the point guard position on the defensive end.