Nickeil Alexander-Walker saves the Hawks rotation in one important way

When the long-rumored deal for Minnesota's Nickeil Alexander-Walker went through, people did not consider just how much of a difference he could make to the Hawks' rotation.

While it is assumed he will come off the bench all of next season, Atlanta now has the flexibility to make a significant change to their starting lineup if needed. This is a massive change from last season, where depth at the wing was a real issue.

The most important thing for a team with championship aspirations is postseason experience. It does not matter how successful a team may be in the regular season; if they have not witnessed the level-up in crowd atmosphere and defensive intensity first-hand, the chances of them making a deep run are slim to none.

This somewhat handicapped the Hawks last year. While it was already assumed that the inexperienced roster would be bounced out early, fans held on to hope that they could shock the world and have a 2023 Heat-type run.

It did not take long for the world to see that the young Hawks were not ready. Entering the Play-In Tournament as the eighth seed, Atlanta had two chances to win and clinch a spot in the Playoffs.

What hurt Atlanta most was the unreliable play of rookie Zaccharie Risacher. All blame cannot go to him, however, as the team's lack of depth put him in an uncomfortable situation as a first-year starter on a team with playoff hopes.

In what was Risacher's first postseason action (two games), he averaged 5.0 points and 1.5 rebounds on an abysmal 14.3% from the field. The Hawks lost both games and were eliminated. His inexperience limited him, and Atlanta had no other option they could go to at the small forward.

Atlanta's biggest weakness from last season is now solved

This is where the addition of Nickeil Alexander-Walker saves the day. Zaccharie Risacher will be Atlanta's starter at the three from day one, but they now have the flexibility to make that crucial lineup change in the postseason.

Listed as a guard, Alexander-Walker will have no issue playing as a small forward next to Dyson Daniels. His defensive dominance and ability to knock down threes make for a seamless fit in the lineup. His experience and leadership as one of the team's veterans will separate the Hawks from the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Having a bench player who can start over a more inexperienced forward at any given moment will pay dividends for a team with championship aspirations. A pivotal season lays ahead for Alexander-Walker, Risacher, and the Hawks alike.