NBA: Ranking the teams in the Southeast Division for 2017-18

5. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks peaked at 60 wins in 2014-15 and have been on a steep decline ever since. They dropped to 48 wins in 2015-16 and then to 43 wins last season. That trend will surely continue into the 2017-18 campaign.

Atlanta lost key contributors in Millsap, Dwight Howard, Thabo Sefolosha and Tim Hardaway Jr. from last year’s squad. Not counting their points, rebounds or assists, they combined to average 116.7 minutes per game. That’s a boatload of time that needs to be replaced this year.

Millsap was playing some of the best ball of his time in the league. He averaged a career-high 18.1 points per game to go along with 7.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His underrated passing was a huge asset to the squad. Unfortunately, he signed with the Denver Nuggets, so Atlanta lost him for nothing.

Howard was shipped to Charlotte along with a second round pick in exchange for Marco Belinelli, Miles Plumlee and a 2017 second-rounder. Dwayne Dedmon signed a two-year, $14 million deal to help fill some of Howard’s absence.

Early in July, they acquire Jamal Crawford and a 2018 first round pick (from LAC via HOU), but promptly waived Crawford. Veteran Mike Dunleavy was also waived as a part of their youth movement.

These moves have made it clear to everyone that they are in a complete rebuild. Don’t expect much from this year’s Hawks team and you won’t be disappointed.