The Atlanta Hawks haven’t played a meaningful game in over a month and won’t see the floor again for the same length of time following the conclusion of an eye-opening Summer League. We’re in the thick of the offseason and, as such, the annual tradition of ranking is in full swing.
We’ve been keeping track of the Hawks power ranking and the ranking of their offseason.
Bleacher Report also ranked them ninth in their latest power rankings. We stand on our original conclusion. Now, we have our first big positional rankings, focused on point guards.
Trae Young elevated himself and the Atlanta Hawks to new heights this past season
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Hawks star Trae Young came in fourth behind Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Kyrie Irving.
The ranking comes from Hoops Hype writer, Frank Urbina. Young — who inked an extension worth up to $207 million this offseason — checks in ahead of some other notable names.
Among them, “Point God” Chris Paul, fellow up-and-comer Ja Morant, and Jrue Holiday who became an NBA Finals champ and Olympic Gold medalist this year.
Checking in fourth is nothing to sneeze at. If there is a nit to pick it might be ranking Irving ahead of Young.
Nothing against Irving, who just put up a 50/40/90 season and is a bonafide star and champion.
He also holds the scoring and efficiency edge over Young. But, as far as being a point guard, Young has the advantage having averaged 9.4 assists to Irving’s 6.0 per game.
For his career, Young is averaging 24.1 points and 8.9 assists. Only two other point guards have averaged at least that over their first three seasons. Irving isn’t on that list and Young just put more focus into being a floor general this past season.
"“Had we been making these rankings at this time last offseason, there’s little chance Trae Young would have finished as high as he did, sitting fourth in our current Top Point Guards list.But a spectacular 2020-21 campaign has completely shifted public opinion on the former Oklahoma standout, as although his point-per-game average decreased by more than four full points, he improved so much as a decision-maker and table-setter that Young is a much more complete floor general than ever before.”"
It goes on to say that Young proved himself further in his first postseason after averaging 28.8 points and 9.5 assists as he and the Hawks made their way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
"“Young’s unstoppable floater game, his bombastic three-point prowess and ability to set up shooters and rim-runners was on full display in the 2020-21 playoffs, giving us a strong indication that Young is here to stay for the far foreseeable future as one of the league’s elite at the point-guard spot.”"
Irving’s entry in the article even mentions, technically he is a shooting guard. But that presents an entirely different issue because then James Harden enters the discussion. He is the Nets point guard. With him appearing in just 36 games for Brooklyn, Irving wound up playing the position most of the year.
However. Therein lies another reason Young could be ranked higher, his 63 games to Irving’s 54 and Harden’s 36. Young is also in the top 10 for preseason MVP voting. It’s still great to see the Hawks guard ranked so highly.