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Atlanta Hawks: Did the competition catch up in free agency?

By Joshua Buckhalter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Delon Wright #55 of the Detroit Pistons blocks a shot by Cam Reddish #22 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena on December 28, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Delon Wright #55 of the Detroit Pistons blocks a shot by Cam Reddish #22 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena on December 28, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks: Grading the competition No. 4: Things are going to be feisty down on South Beach

Let’s start this off by saying that the Miami Heat’s grade is based on the assumption that their big trade for Kyle Lowry isn’t voided by the league for violating tampering rules. Combined with their other moves, Lowry stands to make the Heat one of the toughest matchups on any given night, a label they honestly already carry.

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PJ Tucker comes over from the World Champion Bucks and Markieff Morris joins after two years with the Lakers. Both offer toughness and the ability to knock down the open three.

Also returning is Dewayne Dedmon and the oft-injured Victor Oladipo. Dedmon just has to be a serviceable backup.

But Oladipo could add some much-needed scoring punch to the group that also retained Duncan Robinson for five years and $90 million.

Many thought they would land Demar Derozan as well, but he ended up in Chicago for a lot more money than the Heat were rumored to be in for.

Miami was in the NBA Finals just a year ago in the bubble and was the sixth seed last season.

Lowry and Tucker both bring championship mettle but this group still lacks consistent offense unless Tyler Herro steps up to Robinson’s level.

Could they wind up feeling the loss of Kendrick Nunn — who signed with the Lakers as they did with Kelly Olynyk? Those guys can be tougher to replace than teams like to think. The same goes for Trevor Ariza though to a lesser extent and the fact that Tucker and Morris should make up for him and then some.

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This is an older group but it’s battle-tested. The youngest projected starter, star center Bam Adebayo, is coming back from the Tokyo Olympics as a gold medalist. The only thing that can derail their offseason and ruin their grade (B+) is the unlikely reversal of the trade.