The Hawks made a major trade in the offseason, dealing away unprotected first-round picks in 2025 and 2027, a first-round pick swap in 2026, and Charlotte’s 2023 protected first-rounder to acquire All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray from the Spurs. Atlanta started the season strong, winning seven of 10 games, but has gone just 6-10 since and now sits at .500 (13-13).
A second trade received fewer headlines, but it was still significant, because they moved off Kevin Huerter‘s contract in order to dip under the luxury tax, and he was an important floor-spacer and ball-mover for Atlanta. The main player they received in return, Justin Holiday, has not been very effective, while Huerter is having a career year for the Kings.
As ESPN’s Zach Lowe noted in his “10 Things” column today (Insider link), the fit between Murray and star point guard Trae Young has been a little shaky thus far. Young opened the season actively moving without the ball, which is key with two ball-dominant players sharing the floor, but has basically abandoned it since. Lowe believes “something is off with the Hawks,” and there’s a chance that their season “could teeter into instability.”
As John Hollinger of The Athletic writes, the Hawks’ record doesn’t look too far off external expectations, but he also thinks “there is an impending sense that not all is well.” He lists several reasons for that, including Young’s reported tiff with head coach Nate McMillan last week and a worrisome shot profile (29th in 3PTA and 29th in 3PT%), among others.
According to Hollinger, perhaps the biggest factor in that “sense” has been Young’s poor start to the 2022/23 season. His counting stats look great — he’s averaging 27.5 points and 9.5 assists through 23 games. However, he’s shooting career lows of 47.0% on twos and 28.9% on threes, and until that changes, league observers will be keeping a close eye on the Hawks and what they might do at the trade deadline.
Entering Friday’s back-and-forth loss at Brooklyn, the Hawks ranked 21st in the league in offense, which a major drop-off — they were second last season. The defense has improved substantially, going from 26th up to 12th, but they still have a negative net rating (-1.0) despite being a .500 team.
With Murray expected to be sidelined for the next two weeks with a sprained ankle, and starting forwards De’Andre Hunter (hip) and John Collins (ankle) still sidelined, the spotlight will be on McMillan and Young to keep the Hawks afloat, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Amick notes that Murray did his part last week when Young and the two forwards were out against Denver, leading the team to a surprising victory with 34 points and eight assists. Amick makes the case that Murray has been more important to Atlanta’s success this season than Young, recording a +6.5 net rating versus Young’s +1.5.
Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s return to the lineup should help the shooting numbers stabilize and take some pressure off Young — he’s a career 38.2% marksman from deep on high volume, and has only played four games after offseason knee surgery. But there are still major depth question marks aside from the fit concerns, particularly at guard and forward.
This year’s first-round pick, wing AJ Griffin, has played well overall, but he’s only 19 years old and having a rookie as a key rotation piece is a little worrisome for a team hoping to contend. Last year’s first-rounder, forward Jalen Johnson, has looked pretty rough around the edges in his first real chances at extended playing time.
We want to know what you think. Are you concerned about the Hawks? Do you get the feeling that “something is off,” like Lowe and Hollinger? Or do you think they just need to get healthy and have more time to adjust? Is the roster good enough to contend as constructed? If changes are needed, what do you think they should do?
Head to the comments section and let us know what you think of the Hawks and their chances for the rest of the season.
Young isn’t a star he’s a volume shooter
Don’t forget about his lock down defense.
McMillan just makes people mad now. The Hawks are an underachieving mess right now
Both the Knicks and Hawks got fooled by some bubble success a couple of years ago and thought they were contenders. Years of rebuilding thrown out the window thinking their mediocre rosters were ready to contend. Honestly the future in Atlanta is scary bad. Best case scenario you make it to the second round, wordt case the team implodes and the Spurs benefit.
Hawks been going up for awhile…what were they suppose to do stall out ?
They’ll be fine by playoffs, the real Question is are they Ok with living and dying w Trae in those playoff series to come?
I think the answer is {silently} No, and McMillians fighting a dangerous battle right now trying to pull in some slack on the rope.
I commend it, and it’s admirable b/c he knows its his head on the stick in the end no matter what
I think we see them in the 4/5 matchup come Rd 1 , no clue what happens then
ATL’s current regime has followed one of the most popular NBA rebuild templates, and done it pretty well. Good drafts. Good trades, to balance out the roster and payroll. No bad FA signings. The template is designed to produce a roster with enough talent to contend, and I think it has. But it doesn’t promise a team that’s good enough, and here it hasn’t produced one.
That requires the whole to become greater than the sum of its parts. In ATL, right now, it’s closer to the opposite. Problem starts at the top, TY being their singular star and leading man. His individual offensive gifts are great, but they’re the kind that limit, not enhance, the offensive games of his teammates. His defensive deficiencies are just as great, and they impose almost unique defensive burdens on this teammates. Hard situation in itself, but made worse his lack of maturity, oversized ego and lack of leadership ability. The only thing that provides much hope for an upward turn is Murray. If he can become the team leader (with TY accepting it), his skill set might be one that can serve as a unity bridge between he and TY and the rest of the team. TY has to change his game, not just his attitude. More of his offense needs to come off the ball. He can still be the leading scorer, but not all of leading scorer, leading assist guy, leading ball stopper, etc. I’m sure McMillian wants this. I’m sure TY doesn’t, but I’m not sure how strongly he’ll oppose it.
Yup
Think this is McMillian trying to cross a bridge sooner rather than later, pretty brave Imo considering
Agree with Murray, in fact one has to believe that’s exactly WHY he was traded for preseason – So perhaps upper management is right in line with McMillian’s thinking as well just kinda hiding in the shadows (can’t blame um) Agree it’s on Traes ego from here ultimately, can still go either way , feel outside Bos/Mil ATL could take anyone come playoffs realistically
If Trae Young is the “star” on your team, than you do not have a chance at contending…
A volume shooter with no defence is a black hole for a team to build around…
Steph Curry……
Steph Curry is not a ‘volume shooter’. He’s a superbly efficient scorer that happens to get a lot of points from outside.
Trae – .539 TS%, career .579
Curry – .664 TS%, career .626
Curry does what Trae tries to do. He’s also a better defender than Trae, but that does without saying because nearly everyone is a better defender than Trae.
Curry is also in his peak of his career and Trae is improving as a young player.
@scarlett666 – Facts! Atlanta got delusional over a playoff win over the Knicks during Covid. The “real” Atlanta with Trae is what we saw last year, and this year.
Delusional? They were in the ECF after beating not just the Knicks, but the 76ers as well. And if not for Trae stepping on a referee they win that series. And you’re suggesting, they weren’t close? So they should tear down a final 4 team? Don’t lump the Hawks in with the Knicks, the situations are totally different.
Tear down the team??? Not that. I would trade Trae Young. Worst defensive player in the NBA. Not even assured of a playoff spot with him as your “best” player.
I would be on the Phone to OKC all day every day. OKC has assets. Trae is from Oklahoma. Win/Win. Don’t even need to get SGA. Giddey and picks. Trae’s trade value isn’t that high.
Think this team like a bunch of other teams I the league need a veteran presence among the players. Someone who can help be a leader, settle little issues, keep the locker room focused and help make the stars job easier.
Atlanta is a really young team and Trae is the leader who now has these huge expectations. Look at the team and who’s getting minutes and who is there to help lead the way. Clint Capela is the oldest guy but he’s not a vocal veteran leader at all, Justin Holiday is the closest to that and he’s lucky to get 10/15 minutes on the floor.
I think adding a credible vet that’ll get minutes would be a huge help. Jae Crowder is an obviously target. Maybe Harrison Barnes could be had.
Crowder and Shamet for Bogan and Kaminsky
Barnes and Alex Len for Collins and Kaminsky
Both
Hawks: Harrison Barnes and Jae Crowder
Kings: John Collins
Suns: Justin Holiday, Frank Kaminsky and C. Metu
Add some vets and it’ll sort the team out a little
Just for example off the last deal Line up
Trae Murray Hunter Barnes Capela
Holiday Griffin Johnson Crowder Okungwu
Trae is immature, that’s the bottom line with the Hawks. When he grows up, the Hawks (or whatever team he’s on by then) will be good.
This is the first time since Trae started playing basketball that things were not built around him, him, him only.
Bringing in people (other than a shooter)to compliment him in an attempt to make the team better is a forgien concept to him.
If you don’t need me in the way I have always been needed, I am not going to play that way as a result and see how you handle yourselves.
As for the team problem, they have gone coach deaf. Nate has become more like a parent to them and they are not trying to hear it as a result.
It shows in their play.