Luka Doncic and Trae Young will always be compared to each other, which raises the question regarding whose team is in better shape moving forward.
As two of the best ballhandlers of the 2018 draft class, Trae Young and Luka Doncic would inevitably be compared as their careers unfolded.
Yet having been traded for each other on draft night, the bond that would forever link them grew tighter and with that came the birth of a budding rivalry.
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In round one of their year-to-year battles, Doncic got the upper hand, averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on his way to winning Rookie of the Year.
Young, however, wasn’t far behind, turning up his level of play post-All-Star break to turn what was once a runaway contest for the coveted award into one of the hottest NBA debates.
The diminutive point guard put up 19.1 points to go along with 8.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. He may not have been able to make up the ground entirely, but he was right alongside Luka on the All-Rookie first team.
Neither the Atlanta Hawks nor Dallas Mavericks did much winning in 2018-19, but their respective trajectories are only pointing in the right direction.
With talented youngsters sprinkled across each roster, it’s not crazy to imagine a future world where these two teams are running the NBA.
Player debates are normally a frivolous activity, but Luka vs. Trae is different. It’s the ultimate pursuit of validation for an Atlanta squad that drew plenty of criticism by trading the sure-fire Slovenian for a player in Young who had incredible boom-or-bust potential.
As each inch closer to their ceilings, the debate will only pick up more steam. Who winds up the consensus favorite might be out of their hands. In a team sport, it’s their supporting cast that might make all the difference.
Dallas is given a leg up right out of the gate with the midseason addition of Kristaps Porzingis. Having been named an All-Star before going down with a torn ACL, few in the league combine the Unicorn’s size, athleticism and shooting stroke.
Already an elite playmaker who possesses size and craftiness with the basketball, Doncic’s life is sure to be made easier with an elite pick-and-pop threat capable of drawing attention.
Assuming he comes back fully healthy, KP provides the legitimate co-star every No. 1 option needs, a luxury Young doesn’t have.
Having averaged 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last season, John Collins is no scrub alongside Young.
Whereas Porzingis is more adept floating out beyond the 3-point line, the uber-athletic Collins prefers to suck defenses into the paint as a tremendous lob threat for his point guard to constantly hit.
He shot 34.8 percent from distance last season and is currently expanding his range which should bode well for Atlanta’s spacing. He lacks the ballhandling and creativity, however, to create a shot on his own, which would only put more pressure on Young to create more of the offense.
Speaking of ball handlers, the Mavericks swung a sign-and-trade for Delon Wright this offseason. Acquired by the Memphis Grizzlies at the deadline, he proved his abilities in a starting point guard role by averaging 12.2 points and 5.3 assists per game.
When Luka is forced to give the ball up, he can rest easy knowing Wright can shoulder that burden.
The luxury of a secondary playmaker is one Young doesn’t have. Kevin Huerter is a developing 2-guard, but he’s more of a floor-spacing shooter than a showrunner.
What Huerter brings is a far superior defensive option, one who is sure to play the role of Klay Thompson by guarding the more talented of the two backcourt positions on most nights.
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Given the deficiencies both Doncic and Young have exuded on the defensive end, both squads must surround them with able defenders to hide their weaknesses.
Alongside Huerter, Atlanta recently drafted De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish, two lanky and athletic wings who could be interchangeable defensively.
The incoming rookies still have questions regarding the consistency of their outside jumpers, but the NBA is a league built on versatility in 2019.
With those two, the Hawks will be able to switch plenty of screens defensively as well as hide their star point guard on the oppositions weakest scorer a la Stephen Curry.
Seth Curry is a dead-eye sniper, but his lack of size has him struggle to keep in front of his matchups much less guard multiple positions. Tim Hardaway Jr. has rarely given a thought to the other end of the court yet is still wildly consistent on offense.
At 6’8” and 220 pounds, Dorian Finney-Smith is the only long-term option for Dallas as a versatile wing defender. Like Hunter and Reddish, he’ll need to improve his career 30.3 3-point percentage to receive valuable playing time.
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Both teams would benefit from having their forwards slide down a position, but neither seems comfortable or willing to do so.
The Mavericks can turn to Dwight Powell, an athletic rim-running big man who averaged 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in just 21.6 minutes of nightly action last season.
While not very versatile, Powell is relentless at both ends and is sure to compliment Porzingis’ perimeter style. Also off the bench is Maxi Kleber, a do-everything big man who sprinkles in a bit of everything at both ends that amounts to a valuable contribution.
Alex Len experienced a revival during his first season in Atlanta, averaging 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
If he can maintain the 36.3 percent he shot from beyond the arc last season, it will keep the floor spaced without sacrificing anything on the interior, which wouldn’t be the case if Collins or KP saw time at the 5-spot.
There’s an interesting distinction between both rosters. Dallas’ may appear more talented at the moment, but most of the supporting cast might have already hit their ceiling or are closing in on it.
The Hawks, meanwhile, have plenty of room left to grow, but there’s never a guarantee of potential fully reached.
Atlanta’s roster construction is set up to be elite defensively while the Mavericks star and firepower will make them a force at the offensive end. Players can develop into better scoring options. The same can’t be said on the side that’s more about effort.
Given the ever-changing nature of the NBA where future powerhouses are dismantled in an instant for many reasons, the Hawks and Mavericks could look significantly different in just a few years.
With so many superstar trade demands, perhaps one swings a deal to jump miles ahead of the other.
Assuming their young core continues to improve, the Hawks supporting cast has the higher ceiling at both ends that, if reached, will offset Porzingis’ unique talent to give them the edge as an overall unit.
None of this matters, though, if either Young or Doncic fail to live up to the lofty expectations placed on them.
Luka might be more talented with the size that has him set up for greater individual success, but it’s the vision put forth by the Hawks’ front office that will better accentuate the phenomenal gifts their young point guard brings to the court.