The Hawks aren't as far away from contention as many may think. Sure, they have plenty of weaknesses they need to address, but they're also a young squad just beginning to hit their stride. Once the necessary corrections are made, maybe they'll make a surprise run to next year's NBA Finals. They've gotten to learn a whole lot this postseason.
As far as how aggressive Atlanta should be this summer, most of their fanbase is divded. There are valid pros and cons to each direction, but one side is starting to take control of the other while watching these two final teams battle.
It might be the perfect time for the Hawks to get aggressive
Now, getting aggressive doesn't necessarily mean throwing away a young core for a one or two-year championship window, but speeding up the process pays off more often than not. If the right target is available, Atlanta has all the leverage needed in order to make a push.
The thing is, though, whoever they bring in will have to fit in to their unique system. Head Coach Quin Snyder, who's likely to receive a long-term extension this offseason, has these guys connected and playing quick.
It'll be important for the front office to remember what areas they excel at on the floor when evaluating potential additions, whether that's in the draft, free agency or the trade market.
Looking at how the final two teams remaining built their squad, the incentive of speeding up their timeline becomes that much more valuable. Neither of them took too much of a traditional approach, especially the New York Knicks.
New York is three wins away from a ring because they got aggressive
The Knicks' entire starting five is made up of players who weren't drafted there. They understood their core wasn't too far off, but with the necessary additions, they could truly catapult up the standings. Bringing in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges just a couple offseasons ago clearly paid off, even though the moves weren't well-received in real time.
Depending on whoever becomes available in the trade market or free agency, the Hawks should at least consider entering the summer with a similar approach. Them staying put for the most part would be understandable, but if it backfires and teams below them take a step up, it's going to eventually become difficult to justify.
Atlanta possesses a unique amount of leverage as they enter a pivotal offseason, and it'll be fascinating to see exactly how they utilize it.
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