Atlanta Hawks: 5 reasons to be excited for 2019-20 NBA season

3. The young guys not named Trae Young or John Collins

There will be plenty of time to talk about the Hawks’ prospective dynamic duo, but let’s focus on some of the other young guys for now. General manager Travis Schlenk spent most of this offseason stocking the cupboard with some interesting young pieces to supplement the team’s pick-and-roll-heavy offense while adding some switchability and athleticism to a defense that ranked 27th in points allowed per 100 possessions.

Let’s start with former Virginia swingman De’Andre Hunter, who the Hawks felt was worth moving up in the draft and trading several picks to the New Orleans Pelicans to get. Blessed with a 7’2” wingspan, the lanky Hunter profiles as a high-end 3-and-D wing who will make shooting contested jumpers a more arduous chore than it already is.

He’s not the only versatile guard/forward Atlanta brought in, using the pick they received from the Dallas Mavericks as part of the infamous Trae Young/Luka Doncic trade in 2018 to take Duke wing Cam Reddish 10th overall.

Relative to Hunter and the other Duke players in the 2019 draft class, Reddish is not as highly regarded, but he also fits into that “multifaceted defender who can space the floor” mold.

They also brought in former Maryland center Bruno Fernando to fill the void left by Dewayne Dedmon, who signed with the Sacramento Kings during the summer, becoming another big, springy body who could benefit from Young’s playmaking.

If these guys and incumbents like Kevin Huerter and DeAndre’ Bembry live up to expectations, this team could exceed their muted projections.