Atlanta Hawks enter 2019-20 looking to build on young core

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Best-case scenario

Trae Young continues to play much more like post-All-Star-break Trae Young while becoming more dependable with both the ball and his shot selection and the rest of the young core assembled by the Atlanta Hawks takes a significant step forward.

The Hawks at least flirt with playoff contention before settling for a solid improvement over last season’s 29-win total by getting into the mid- to upper 30s in the victory column.

Young becomes a trendy All-Star pick and Kevin Huerter becomes a low-key contender for Most Improved Player, while De’Andre Hunter plays his way into the Rookie of the Year conversation.

Things fall into place nicely for the Hawks to make a big leap forward in 2020-21.

Worst-case scenario

Too many shooters, not enough basketball.

The development of the Atlanta Hawks is stunted a bit by players beginning to grumble about the ball-dominance of Trae Young and their relative lack of touches.

Much like in 2018-19, the Hawks can’t stop anyone and lose a ton of games that are played in the 120s while struggling to match their 29-53 record from a season ago.

Lloyd Pierce finds himself with a divided locker room, a defense that doesn’t work and enters 2020-21 with many more questions than answers as the rebuild finds itself stuck in the mud.