The Atlanta Hawks are looking to make their way back for a deep playoff run for next season and they will need to make some changes to their roster to achieve this. Looking at the current roster, the Hawks need a second star but they also need some good role players around these stars.
When the Hawks signed Clint Capela to an extension last offseason, it meant that the Hawks could not move him until this coming offseason. At the start of the season, Capela looked to have lost a step on defense but there is no telling what impact his offseason procedure had on his body. This move looked like a mistake.
As the season has worn on Capela has been getting back to his best but there has been something missing. On the plus side, his passing has improved out of sight and his connection with Trae Young is still strong. However, every position on the roster needs to be examined to see if there is a better option.
Should the Atlanta Hawks test the waters with Jusuf Nurkic?
The Bosnian Beast, Jusuf Nurkic has just finished his second deal with the Portland Trail Blazers who are a team now in rebuild mode. The deal he just finished was worth $48 million over four years which is good value for his levels of production when he is on the court.
During his six seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Nurkic has averaged 14.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals in 27.1 minutes per game. His ability to fill up a box score alongside Damian Lillard was a big reason the Trail Blazers had success, when they were healthy at least.
He is a willing and very able passer who is also able to space the floor with his shooting. He has also been a really good rebounder for the Trail Blazers, with good averages, be it over small sample sizes for the last three seasons.
This is the biggest drawback for the Hawks trying to sign Nurkic. He has played 101 games over the past three seasons. He broke his leg in the 2018-19 playoffs and then managed to play only eight games in the next season, all after the COVID-19 break in the bubble.
However, he then fractured a bone in his hand on a defensive play the following season and only played 37 games. This season he managed to play just 56 games, thanks to a foot injury which kept him sidelined. He has only played more than 70 games twice in his eight-year career.
Given how injuries have impacted the Atlanta Hawks past two seasons, this is a strong indicator that they should not pursue Nurkic this offseason.