The Atlanta Hawks have had a busy offseason; let’s take a look at what they’ve done so far and how these moves will affect the team moving forward.
It’s no secret the Atlanta Hawks entered the offseason with lofty expectations. Usually, one would say the playoffs should be every team’s goal (at the very least), but for a franchise that has failed to win more than 29 games for three consecutive seasons, a post-season appearance seemed a bit farfetched.
The beauty of professional sports is that everything is a matter of perspective, and things can change in the blink of an eye. Just one week in, and the Hawks have had one of busiest front offices this offseason, spearheaded by team president and general manager Travis Schlenk and his vision of a playoff berth this upcoming season and establishing a foundation for sustained success.
If the Hawks are to have a real shot at making the playoffs, some holes need to be filled on this roster. This team is in desperate need of shooting, defense, and, most importantly, depth and experience.
Schlenk looked to the draft and free agency to fill out a thin Hawks roster and give the team the boost needed to get over the playoff hump. Let’s explore the path that Hawks have taken thus far to rise from the depths of mediocrity, starting with the 2020 NBA Draft.
NBA Draft
Onyeka Okongwu (No. 6 overall)
Onyeka Okongwu is a versatile scorer who averaged 21.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per 40 minutes in his lone college season while posting .616/.250/.720 shooting splits. Though Okongwu can score in a multitude of ways, he is better known for his defense.
He is even more versatile and productive on the defensive side than he is on offense. He averaged 2.7 blocks and 1.2 steals in 30.6 minutes per game last season, and his 76 total blocks ranked 17th in the nation. Okongwu boasts the potential to be the elite two-way player everyone is waiting for Collins to develop into. He was the best player available and fit with what the team needs right now.
Skylar Mays (No. 50 overall)
Skylar Mays is a proficient scorer and tenacious defender. After four years, he leaves LSU as the first player in the University’s history to record at least 1,600 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, and 200 steals. The 6’4” combo guard averaged 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game last season and was named First-Team All-SEC.
Schlenk was ecstatic when speaking about Mays:
"“A four-year guy, an extremely smart basketball player, a very good body, a combo guard, a high basketball IQ, skilled player. We were excited when he was there because, like I said, we had him ranked much higher than that.”"
Barring an unforeseen trade or significant injury to a rotation player, Mays will likely spend a large chunk of his rookie season in the G League, after signing a two-way contract with the Hawks over the weekend.
Grade: A+
Now let’s take a look at the moves the Atlanta Hawks made in free agency.