Predictions: Hawks not expected to contend, but …

Heading into the 2019-20 season, the Atlanta Hawks find themselves in an interesting spot with all the young players on the roster.

Of all the teams in Eastern Conference that are projected to finish at the bottom of the heap, the Atlanta Hawks stand out at one of the more interesting bottom-feeders. Unlike most of the other teams expected to vie for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 Draft Lottery, the Hawks seem to have a clear direction from a team philosophy standpoint.

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As has been discussed on this site several times before, Hawks general manager and team president Travis Schlenk aims to shape this team in the Stephen Curry-era Golden State Warriors’ image.

While the experiment’s first season produced mixed-at-best results overall, the team performed well enough in the second half of the season to spark some belief within the fan base that this team could become a contender in a few years.

But what can Hawks fans expect from their favorite team this year? That answer is a little harder to pin down. Schlenk has cobbled together an intriguing blend of youngsters and veterans that should make his team one of the most entertaining outfits in the league.  The jury’s still out on how good this team can be, but fans should expect these five things to happen this year.