A Secret Factor That Will Lead The Hawks To An NBA Championship In The Next 5 Years

  • Sunday, January 13, 2019
  • Jackson Cook

June 21, 2018, a day that started it all.


After two draft picks, it was time for the Hawks to select who they wanted to be the new face of a slowly crumbling franchise.

After much anxious waiting, the Hawks decided to go with the 6’7’’ Slovenian small forward, Luka Doncic.


This pick was a bit surprising and the Hawks knew it. Followed by one more pick, the Dallas Mavericks selected Trae Young, the 6’2’’ point guard from Oklahoma who most famously scored over 40 points against Oklahoma State.


With the Hawks planning to trade their point guard Dennis Schroder, for Philly’s Justin Anderson, it seemed that a point guard would be helpful to have. So out of fear of not having a solid point guard, the Hawks proposed a trade to the Dallas Mavericks for Young, which was soon accepted.

 

This move will forever haunt Atlanta fans.


Or will it?


If the Hawks had decided to keep Doncic, they would be in line to make the playoffs and also have an All-Star starter small forward that averages 23 points per game.


However, Young has not been a disappointment at all shooting 80% from the free throw line, leading the rookie class in assists, and scoring almost 16 points per game.


I believe Young and other young players will turn the Hawks into a championship contending team within a few years. Yes, the team that’s near the bottom of the NBA cellar currently will fight for the title by 2024.


On Friday, Hawks shooting guard Kevin Huerter played a game that will be remembered. The Hawks were up against the 5 seed Philadelphia 76ers in a closely contested matchup. With the shot clock expiring, Huerter fired a deep three-ball that swished through the basket to tie the game.


After this shot, Hawks power forward John Collins shot a fadeaway jumper.


Ball game.


Sure, every team has moments like this.


But not every team that has two rookie starters who can knock off a five seed that's playing at home.


Huerter and Young are putting up unbelievable stats and both of them are rookies. Collins is averaging 13 points per game while battling an injury.


The craziest part is Collins is 21 years old, Young and Huerter are 20, and other starters Kent Bazemore and Dewayne Dedmon are only 29.


If you give these players a few years to develop more, I promise they will lead the Hawks to be a high playoff seed, a title game participant and representing Atlanta in the All-Star game.


A final reason that the Hawks will own the league in several years is this year's NBA draft. The Hawks have the second and tenth pick in the NBA draft.


With the second pick, the Hawks will likely select the 6’7’’ forward from Duke, RJ Barrett, who averages 4 assists and 23 points per game. Drafting RJ Barrett is an easy example of an addition the Hawks could make to turn this team to playoff projections.


With the tenth pick, it is likely that the Hawks will select Bol Bol from Oregon. The strangely named center from Oregon is likely to make a starting five addition to the Hawks lineup and ultimately cause a pivotal move for the Hawks’ big man game.


With these two additions, the Hawks’ starting lineup will be two second-year players, two rookies, and one first year all star who will average at least 15 ppg. A recipe for a championship team.

   

Overall, while the Hawks are currently a 12 seed, yet with several clever draft picks and some time, Atlanta will prosper with the wealth of a Larry O'Brien trophy.


While there are two or three players that are reaching retirement like Vince Carter and Jeremy Lin, almost all of the team will have at least 15 more seasons to play.


The Hawks are about to take off and if I lived in Georgia or Tennessee, I would hop on this bandwagon as soon as possible.


Jackson Cook

Chattanooga

 

* * *

 

Jackson Cook can be reached at

 

jacksoncook23@mccallie.org

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