In the first of 30 NBA previews prior to the start of the season, we will take a look at the Atlanta Hawks–a franchise still looking for their first NBA championship since moving from St. Louis in 1968. (The St. Louis Hawks did win the NBA World Championship Series a decade before moving to Atlanta in 1958). In these previews, we will take a look at the key acquisitions, fantasy stars and predicted finish.
Key Acquisition
The Hawks made a blockbuster deal with the San Antonio Spurs on June 30. Atlanta traded Danilo Gallinari, and four first round draft picks (2023, 2025, 2026 and 2027) to San Antonio for point guard Dejounte Murray of Seattle, Washington and Australian center Jock Landale, who hails from Malvern East. Gallinari was not a member of the Spurs for long, as he was waived by San Antonio nine days later and signed a contract with the Boston Celtics.
Murray was an All-Star for the first time in 2022. He averaged 21.1 points per game, 9.2 assists per game, and 8.3 rebounds per game. Murray also led the NBA with two steals per game (and 138 steals overall), and had a field goal percentage of .462, three-point percentage of .327, and a free throw percentage of .794.
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Fantasy Stars
Atlanta’s two top fantasy stars at the guard positions. Murray is seventh among point guards and fifth among shooting guards. The Hawks superstar in fantasy is point guard Trae Young of Lubbock, Texas, who is ranked first overall among all point guards in 2021-22.
In 2021-22, Young averaged 28.4 points per game, 9.7 assists per game, and 3.7 rebounds per game. He also had a field goal percentage of .460, three-point percentage of .382, and a free throw percentage of .904.
Projected Finish
Joel and I both predict the Atlanta Hawks will be in the middle of the pack in the Central Division. I have them finishing third behind the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat. Joel has the Hawks second in the Central behind only the Heat. As far as the conference goes, Joel has the Hawks in seventh place, and I have them 10th. We both have the Hawks in the NBA Play-in Tournament.
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