With the 2019-2020 NBA season fast approaching, Our First Draft is providing team previews for all 30 NBA teams. These are intended to inform the reader about important roster changes for all teams, as well as summarizing the outlook of the team ahead. This includes the Vegas Over/Under line, OFD’s recommendation on which side to take, as well as a projected record for the team.
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Conference: Eastern
Wins O/U: 33.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Last Year’s Record: 29-53
Projected Roster (Projected Starters marked with asterisks): D. Bembry, V. Carter, J. Collins*, A. Crabbe, B. Fernando, K. Huerter*, D. Hunter*, D. Jones, A. Len*, J. Parker, C. Parsons, C. Reddish, E. Turner, T. Young*
Key Offseason Moves: Lost D. Dedmon, Traded K. Bazemore for E. Turner, Drafted D. Hunter, C. Reddish, Signed Parsons, Crabbe, and Parker.
Overall Summary: The Hawks are generally regarded as one of the up and coming teams in the NBA, led by young stars Trae Young and John Collins, as well as great wing depth. While they finished 29-53 last year, the team was far stronger in the second half, with a pace that would easily surpass the O/U total this year. The offense should take its place in the top half of the league, but the defense remains a question mark, especially as Young and Collins look like significant negatives on that end of the court.
Verdict: Take the over. With Young and Collins looking to earn all-star berths in a weakened Eastern Conference, I expect the team to get off to a quicker start than last year. Having added Hunter from the title Virginia team should improve both spot-up shooting and on-ball defense. While I don’t necessarily expect a playoff berth, I believe Atlanta will finish somewhere between 7th and 10th in the Eastern Conference, with an estimated record of 36-46.
