Atlanta Hawks: 5 takeaways from 2017-18 Media Day

The Atlanta Hawks have clawed their way into the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons and even with a completely overhauled roster, expect to keep the streak alive.

The opening statements from head coach Mike Budenholzer on 2017-18 Media Day centered around his excitement to integrate all of the new players into the Atlanta Hawks organization.

Budenholzer started by mentioning John Collins, the power forward out of Wake Forest taken with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, and Tyler Dorsey, a sharpshooting guard selected in the second round from Oregon.

Then he mentioned all the newly acquired players over the summer in free agency or through trades, with Dewayne Dedmon, Luke Babbitt, Miles Plumlee and Marco Bellinelli.

Of the 20 players invited to training camp, only seven played for the team last year. With a new general manager in place and a renovated Philips Arena in place, the most recognizable aspect of the organization is Budenholzer, who enters his fifth year in Atlanta.

The 2017-18 rendition of the Hawks roster is vastly different from the one a season ago that qualified for the postseason for the 10th consecutive year, the second-longest active streak in the NBA .

Of the starting five from Atlanta’s first round playoff series against the Washington Wizards, point guard Dennis Schroder is the only player remaining that was also a primary starter during the regular season.

While the coach is ready to mold a roster with only seven returning players into a cohesive unit, the rest of the league is wondering if Budenholzer can sustain his success and continue the Hawks’ impressive run of playoff appearances.

Monday’s Media Day session provided a glimpse into the expectations the organization has heading into the 2017-18 season. Here are five key takeaways from the event.