Winning in the offseason doesn't always mean winning in the real season — but it's a good start. The Atlanta Hawks accomplished the first part of that equation, adding Kristaps Porzingis and Nickiel Alexander-Walker after their former teams could no longer pay them enough to retain their services. But the real test for these Hawks has yet to begin, as they look to compete in a weakened Eastern Conference. Seemingly every team around them (sans division foe Orlando) got worse, so if there ever was a time for the Hawks to take advantage, it's this season.
I think it will be clear relatively early on if the Hawks have something special here. We know Trae Young is going to be awesome, and that Dyson Daniels and NAW are going to clamp opponents into oblivion. Those are about the only sure things on this roster, though, and it's why there's still so many different directions this season can go for the Hawks.
Hawks have finally given Trae Young enough ammo to win
The past few Hawks' seasons have been characterized by one thing; players being asked to do more than they were capable of. Each position had talent but felt stretched thin, which led to some stretches of success followed by even longer stretches of disappointment.
That shouldn't be the case anymore. Every position on the Hawks looks at least good enough, with some looking more than good enough; like a small forward position consisting of Jalen Johnson with Zaccharie Risacher coming off the bench. If everything goes according to plan, that's as good a yoing positional group of wings as you'll find in the East next year.
We're about to enter the fifth year removed from the Hawks making the Eastern Conference Finals. Time has run out on a grace period for Trae Young and this team. The "he led a team to the ECF" response when questions arise about his ability to lead doesn't work anymore. This is when it has to happen. The roster is the best it's been since that run, and the conference is as weak as it's been in maybe a decade. This team is going for it, and the additions made this offseason make that clear. Now it's time to actually get it done.