In what may be one of the most surprising outcomes this season, the Atlanta Hawks have been surging after trading star Trae Young. Young was shipped to the Washington Wizards midseason in what looked like a salary dump with the Hawks not wanting him to opt into his player option.
Considering their desire to have cap space, that move was understandable, but few expected the Hawks to go 22-9 post-Young. What's more, he was just erased from Atlanta's record books by Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Alexander-Walker was signed away from the New Orleans Pelicans, and that has proven to be a great move in more ways than one.
Trae Young was just erased from the Hawks' record book
Alexander-Walker recently broke the Hawk's single-season 3-point mark, drilling 251 threes. That shatters Young's mark of 233. Having Alexander-Walker break Young's mark in just his first season is impressive enough, but he could also be in line for a major award.
He could win Most Improved and would be deserving. What has to be all the more satisfying for the Hawks is that he was signed away from the Pelicans, who owe Atlanta an unprotected first in this year's draft.
That means ATL actively made New Orleans worse to improve the Pelicans' pick for the Hawks. That's some four-dimensional chess right there.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been a massive addition for Hawks
Alexander-Walker has helped to fuel the Hawks' dramatic turnaround, with him seeing his role increase post-Young. The soaring Hawks are suddenly the team that no one wants to face in the NBA playoffs.
If I were young, I'd feel some kind of way about what's going on in Atlanta. Young is on the Wizards now, a team that is a perennial loser. While they could get lucky in the NBA draft and pair a talented young prospect with Young and Anthony Davis, they still face an uncertain future.
The same can't be said for the Hawks, who have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA and also have three first-round picks in this year's draft. Adding Alexander-Walker to the mix and having him break out only further proves that Atlanta is on the right track post-Young.
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