8 Things To Watch For In The Upcoming 2021-2022 Season

Big Season Incoming..

 The Hawks unprecedented run answered a lot of questions this past season. Can this team compete for a championship? Is Trae the leader the Hawks have been looking for? Will his teammates pick up the slack and be able to contribute to a winning team? How will interim coach Nate McMillan perform in his new role of head coach? While Hawks fans got what we have been hoping for, there are still an abundance of questions to be answered. Here are eight things I think all Hawk’s fans should look for this season.

1. A Full Season of Nate McMillan

McMillan secured a four-year extension following last season’s playoff run, and Hawks fans should be ready for more of the same this season. While Nate instilled his signature grit and grind mentality to this Hawks team, this season will be a better example of how the foreseeable future will look. Trae’s role in the offense is one of this season’s most prominent questions, as he carried the burden of being the sole creator during the playoffs. From what has been said, it seems that this is likely to remain the same despite the addition of Delon Wright, a proven playmaker. One of Nate’s biggest struggles with past coaching jobs has been rotations, and boy, does he have his hands full this season. The Hawk’s boast one of, if not the deepest team in the NBA. A third unit that could win games by itself, a bench that has been proven in the playoffs, and a starting lineup that features budding stars, it will be complicated getting everyone the minutes they rightfully deserve. Finally, can he do it again? We have seen teams like the 2013-2014 Warriors, who, after an incredible Western Conference Finals run, went on to win three championships with much of their same core. However we have also seen teams have a great run and flame out, unable to repeat the successes they once had. The primary difference between the team that goes on to be successful and the team that falls apart is almost always a great coach. Can McMillan keep this team together and continue to be a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference? That has yet to be seen. 

2. The Emergence of Kevin Huerter

There are a ton of young prospects to be excited about on this Hawks team. It is a marvel to look at what Travis Schlenk has done to this franchise in the short time he has been the general manager. One name that does not always come up when talking about these young, budding prospects is Kevin Huerter. This is a massive year for Kevin, as he’s up for his first full contract extension. Unlike with John Collins, there has been nearly no media buzz about the lack of an extension this offseason for Huerter, who has been a critical piece in the Hawk’s arsenal of young talent. After an incredible game seven against the Philadelphia 76ers, where Huerter carried the team to victory, both the fans and the franchise are expecting big things from Atlanta’s sixth man this season. His role in the offense will likely remain the same, but look for Huerter to be more aggressive with the possessions he gets. In Lloyd Pierce’s offense, Kevin was relegated into an off-ball shooter role, whereas in Nate’s offense, Huerter will lead the second unit as the primary shot creator.

3. A Full Season of De’Andre Hunter

Much like Huerter, little has been said of De’Andre Hunter this offseason. The young wing was out the majority of the 2021 Playoffs, and his presence was sorely missed. Hunter’s role will likely be very different in his third season; he will be looked to be a secondary shot creator next to Trae. He has undoubtedly shown flashes of being able to run an offense, but as with most of the Hawks core, the consistency of these performances will be what Schlenk is looking for this season. Hunter will be eligible for an extension after this season and proving that he can fit his role will be crucial in receiving the most money he can get. Hunter will also be the Hawk’s best ball stopper this offseason and will draw the majority of the tough defensive assignments. I expect De’Andre to make a massive leap this season, becoming one of the best defenders in the league and asserting himself into the Most Improved Player of the Year conversation.

4. Cam Reddish’s Role

Cam has been a polarizing player to both Hawk’s fans and the NBA as a whole. Ask half of Atlanta, and they’ll tell you that Reddish is the second coming of Paul George, and the other half will tell you that he doesn’t even deserve minutes on this stacked Hawk’s team. I feel that he likely falls somewhere between the two, but Reddish has a lot to prove this season. It seems that every year we see these incredible highs and lows from him, and we are all just waiting for him to put it all together and turn those highs into an average night. This might be his last year to prove what he can do on a nightly basis, as his rookie contract is quickly coming to an end. Tony Ressler, the Hawk’s owner, said it himself that we can’t pay everyone, especially if the Hawks cannot make the jump to the finals this year. Management has been adamant that they are not willing to go into the luxury tax unless they are paying for a contender. Reddish would likely be a casualty of the cap if it comes to it, as he is the least proven of the young Hawks. However, if Reddish does have his breakout year that we have all been hoping for, Ressler’s cap decisions will become even more difficult. If Cam cannot prove himself this season, I would expect a trade for draft capital to be in the works. 

5. Rotations

As previously stated, the Atlanta Hawks are easily three deep at each position; this depth will be crucial to the Hawk’s success this season. However, it could cost players a lot of money. Players like Reddish and Huerter will no longer have the luxury of being able to shoot at will. Even De’Andre Hunter will likely have a limit of the nightly possessions he will receive. Recent draftees Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper will have a tough time breaking into the rotations, and even with injuries, they will be pressed to find a consistent role.

On the other hand, the Hawk’s will be able to make a lot of use of their depth during a season that will likely be marred with COVID restrictions and injuries. If this season is anything like last year, the deepest teams will find the most success. Not to mention the plethora of lineup options that Coach Nate McMillan has at his disposal. We saw many different lineups in last year’s playoffs, and Atlanta’s diverse wings allow Nate to plug and play almost any player at any position.

6. The Future of John Collins

John Collin’s extension does not change anything. The 23-year-old may have secured his big contract, but the drafting of lottery prospect Jalen Johnson says the Hawks may have other plans for the star forward. If anything, this contract just made John Collins even more tradeable. He can now be the centerpiece in a trade for a star player, given that the development of Jalen propels him past Collins. This is very much still a “prove-it” year of JC. If he can prove that he truly is the best partner for Trae and improve his defensive setbacks, he can secure himself a spot long-term on this Hawk’s team.

7. Trae’s Darkhorse MVP Case

Trae Young statistically has been one of the best young prospects in the NBA. However, when Trae was nearly leading the league in both scoring and assist, the argument was that he just wasn’t a winning player. Young flipped this argument on its head this past year, leading the Hawks to an improbable Eastern Conference Finals run. While his regular-season statistics did take a dip, his production and efficiency did not. Trae’s production in the playoffs was undoubtedly MVP caliber, so who’s to say he can’t continue this in the regular season? Young will have a strong case for the MVP if he can improve his three-point shooting efficiency and lead the Hawks to a 2-3 seed.

8. Are We True Contenders?

As easy as it is to get dragged into the hype that was the 2021 playoffs, the Hawks have yet to prove they can carry this success for a prolonged period. As a Hawks fan, it is a bit scary to think that outside of Trae, the biggest hole in our young core is their ability to perform at their best ability on a nightly basis. Are we one of the best young cores in the NBA? Of course. Do we have the talent to be a contender for years to come? Most definitely. This season can be a statement for Atlanta that we are not just a one-hit-wonder or a team that rides their single successful season. Now is the time for these Hawks to prove what they are made of. The nights of good teams coming to Atlanta and not playing their best are over. The NBA will be coming to the A to prove something rather than the other way around. If the Hawks come out and play the same way they did in the playoffs, with a massive chip on their shoulder, I do not doubt that they will be in the conversation of one of the best teams in the league.