Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks’ rebranding as the Golden State Warriors East is Before schedule.
As unfair as these Stephen Curry comparisons may have seemed, Trae Young’s explosive post-All-Star stretch demonstrates why they were made. The 20-year-old sharpshooter has rocketed around 26.1 points and 9.0 assists per game since intermission while hitting 2.9 triples each night at a 41.4 percent clip.
Then, there is fellow freshman Kevin Huerter performing a good impression of Curry’s sibling-in-splash, Klay Thompson. Since snagging a fulltime beginning gig in late November, Huerter has tallied 11.2 points and 2.1 threes per game while shooting 39.6 percent out of distance. For comparison, the freshman version of Thompson went for 12.5 points and 1.7 long-range bombs while clearing 41.4 percent out.
John Collins may not fit the Warriors’ mould, but the second-year major man may be the best player about whom nobody talks. He is one of only nine contributors averaging at least 19 points and eight rebounds, along with his leap as a three-point shooter (0.9 threes per night on a 37.7 percent clip) shows there is plenty of helium left in his upside.
It’s tough to say how a number of other keepers are on the roster, though Taurean Prince and Omari Spellman both offer Golden State-style versatility at either ends. The financial books are largely clean, save for Kent Bazemore’s $19.3 million player option and Miles Plumlee’s $12.5 million salary for next year. The Hawks may also amass as many as three additional first-rounders in the coming years.
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