There's plenty of reason for Atlanta Hawks fans to be excited right now. But out of all of them, adding a player who can truly do it all like Kristaps Porzingis to the team's roster this offseason has to be among the biggest.
It was the addition of Porzingis around six weeks ago that really turned the Hawks from an exciting, up-and-coming team that could surprise some people into what people now view as a full-fledged contender in the Eastern Conference. The additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard solidified that, but it was Kristaps that really started it all.
Atlanta became the beneficiaries of a Boston Celtics team that desperately needed to shed some salary. Give credit to Onsi Saleh, who wasted no time after being hired as the Hawks' new General Manager and immediately stepped in with some needle-moving transactions to get this team on the fast track to contention.
It's that kind of forward thinking from a GM that takes a team from a hopeful one to a dominant one, and it's players like Porzingis that end up fulfilling that vision from the on-court side of things. You may not hear Kristaps' name and think of an All-Star, but in reality it's often it's moves like this that end up defining offseasons when you look back in a few more months.
Porzingis' floor-spacing will change everything for Atlanta
In terms of upgrading Atlanta's output on the hardwood, there may not have been a better option out there than Porzingis. He earned the nickname of "the unicorn" early into his NBA career because of his wide-ranging skillset.
Kristaps is going to step out and shoot a lethal three-ball from distance and really force defenses to adjust. He's nearly as much a threat to knock down outside shots as Trae Young is, averaging a 41% clip from three-point range last season in Boston. Then on the other side of the ball, Porzingis is a very solid rim protector and interior defensive player.
This kind of versatility was just what Atlanta needed to transform themselves overnight. Now of course, the biggest concern with Kristaps is going to be his health. He missed nearly half the season with the Celtics last year due to difficult bouts of illness. Ideally, those things are resolved now, but it's got to be looming in the minds of at least some Hawks fans.
Even still, the reality that Kristaps Porzingis can do things no other player on this Hawks roster can is still a game-changer. Don't be surprised to see number eight fit in seamlessly.