Nikola Jokic's injury is proof that no team is bulletproof for a run to the NBA Finals.
The multi-time former MVP was somehow having his greatest season to date. This isn't an easy feat by any means – he's going up against seasons such as last year where he averaged 30/12/10 on 57% from the field and 41% from 3. Year after year, however, the Serbian sensation just keeps outdoing himself. This season, he's currently on averaging 30/12/11 on 60%/43% splits.
These numbers, while impressive, don't even paint the entire picture that is Nikola Jokic - he's also a certified Iron Man in the NBA. While he doesn't quite reach the lofty heights of Mikal Bridges, Jokic has played in 69 or more games every single year that he's been in the league.
The sudden injury that befell Jokic was feared to have been an ACL or MCL injury, but thankfully, Jokic was able to avoid any major ligament damage. All the same, he will still miss at least a month. This should serve as a stark reminder to other squads that nothing is for certain in the league – especially championship runs.
If the price is right, the Hawks should seek to add talent at the deadline
Jokic's injury is a perfect example as to why no team is ever the overwhelming betting favorite to win a championship at any point in the NBA season.
Superteams of days gone by (e.g., the 2019 Golden State Warriors) have shown that scrappy underdogs can always stand a chance, especially when one or multiple injuries begin to stack up in their favor.
While last year's Oklahoma City Thunder were no doubt a powerhouse of a team, there's a significant argument to be made that we'd be viewing them in a very different light had Tyrese Haliburton not left the hardwood in the first quarter of Game 7 with a tragic Achilles injury.
As a result, teams that are on the verge of contending for a title should always seek to buy, especially when the price is low for elite talent. While Giannis Antetokounmpo's price tag remains as lofty as ever (especially after returning from injury and delivering two much-needed wins for his franchise), perhaps Anthony Davis is more acquirable than the Greek Freak.
Adding Davis for the simple price of Kristaps Porzingis, Zaccharie Risacher, Luke Kennard and a future first round pick (not the Pelicans/Bucks 2026 pick) seems like a bargain for the defensive monstrosity. Even better, the Hawks could likely sway the Mavs to include Naji Marshall or P.J. Washington in the return package to bolster the team's questionable forward rotation.
To bolster this idea even further, the alternative to winning now would, of course, be to tank – but this is out of the question. The San Antonio Spurs have the rights to swap first round picks with the Hawks as a facet of the Dejounte Murray trade. Without their pick, the Hawks have absolutely zero reason to lose games.
If Onsi Saleh can swing it, a Hawks team led by AD, Jalen Johnson, and Trae Young is about as formidable of a trio as we've seen in the league in recent years – in fact, a run to the NBA Finals (assuming a healthy star trio) seems well within play.