Atlanta Hawks: Envisioning an alternate timeline with RJ Barrett on the team

The Atlanta Hawks tried and failed to trade up in the 2019 draft in order to secure the third pick. With this pick, they would have selected shooting guard RJ Barrett who would have joined Trae Young in the backcourt.

The Hawks are in a better place thanks to the deal falling through. It is an interesting thought as to what would the current Hawks squad look like had Barrett been selected by the Hawks. The basketball butterfly effect if you will.

The team would look vastly different if the Hawks had been able to pull off the trade which would send the eighth and tenth picks of the 2019 draft to the Knicks in exchange for the third pick. The timeline for playoff basketball would also have been adjusted.

The Atlanta Hawks backcourt would have totally changed.

Looking at the Hawks as they are today against what they would look like with Barrett in the lineup is an interesting task. They would still have their point guard, Trae Young, as he is the future of the team, that much is certain.

However, the starting two-guard position, currently held by Bogdan Bogdanovic, would certainly have been given to Barrett. This means that the sharp-shooting Serbian would not have signed with the franchise in the off-season.

This means that the Hawks would not have made the trade for Lou Williams which means that rookie Onyeka Okongwu would not have developed to the way that he has thanks to the connection he has with the veteran sixth man.