The Atlanta Hawks have gone from up-and-coming to an Eastern Conference afterthought. It wasn’t long ago that the Hawks were on the cusp of an NBA Finals appearance, but now their halftime show announcements are more exciting than what’s happening on the court.
Seemingly overnight, Atlanta went from the next big thing in the Eastern Conference to a team that needs to blow it up and start over. The dream backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray hasn’t worked out as planned. Despite both players being on the court for nearly every game this season, their pairing hasn’t equaled box office success.
The Hawks made a significant move over the summer by trading John Collins to the Utah Jazz. Without him, Atlanta is struggling and currently seven games under .500. Rumors of the Hawks and Collins parting ways had lingered for a while before the trade, and now the team is paying the price.
If the Hawks decide to trade Murray, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Young request a trade as well. Young is just 25 years old and already has six years of experience in the league. He loves the city and the fan base, but he needs to do what’s right for his career. Sitting around and barely making the playoffs for the next few years doesn’t sound appealing.
If Young were to hit the trade market, there would be plenty of teams interested in acquiring the two-time All-Star and former All-NBA selection. The Hawks have other talented players like Bogdan Bogdanović, De’Andre Hunter, Clint Capela, and Jalen Johnson, but even with Young still on the squad, they aren’t making any waves in the East.
At their current pace, the Hawks could find themselves on the outside looking in at the play-in tournament. If that happens, a complete retooling might be the best option for the team. It’s time for Atlanta to make some tough decisions and start building a roster that can compete in the Eastern Conference once again.
