The NBA’s top 5 landing spots for head coach Kenny Atkinson

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks’ young core is both tantalizingly talented and incredibly young. Trae Young, Cam Reddish, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, and De’Andre Hunter are all under 23 years old.

While this suggests a team calling for patience and gradual development, events this season have telegraphed management’s desire to quickly become more competitive. They have traded for established veterans, and reports have suggested that Trae Young is frustrated with their poor record this year.

If Atlanta’s front office loses patience with coach Lloyd Pierce, Atkinson’s track record of improving young players and maximizing a team’s talent will greatly appeal to them. Atkinson guided the Nets through a rebuild to the playoffs, and Atlanta fans and ownership undoubtedly believe they belong in the playoffs within the next season or two.

Atlanta will see the leap that D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Caris LeVert took under Atkinson and imagine the potential magic he could work with talents like Young, Reddish, and Huerter. His experience in developing players’ skills will pair perfectly with John Collins, who has the athleticism and versatile game to become a star once his skills are refined.

After having a bottom-three defense this year and last year, Atlanta fans will look to Brooklyn’s defense last year – average despite limited defensive talent – as a hope that they could take a step forward on that end with Atkinson.

It is far from certain that the Atlanta job will be open next year. However, as Trae Young and his fellow lottery picks gain experience, their patience and that of the front office will eventually wear thin. Young and his teammates are already capable of bursts of dazzling offensive outbursts. The league would be in for a treat if that potential is combined with Atkinson’s experience and leadership.