Fresh off the heels of a 60-win season that put them at the top of the Eastern Conference in the 2014-15 regular season, the Atlanta Hawks came into the next season expecting to be in the discussion again. With DeMarre Carroll as the only significant loss and Kent Bazemore ready to fill his shoes, it seemed that the drop-off would only be a slight one.

However, the team battled with early inconsistency and found themselves 12 wins behind where they finished a year prior. Additionally, a second-round playoff exit left fans wondering just how far this Hawks team could go in a LeBron James-dominated conference.

This offseason shows that GM Wes Wilcox and head coach Mike Budenholzer are ready to swing for the fences and see what kind of success a new lineup can have in an extremely fluid NBA.

The Continuities

The most important continuity in this Hawks team is undoubtedly all-star PF Paul Millsap, who has established himself as one of the league’s most skilled and versatile big men. The 31-year-old averaged 17.1 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists and will be called upon to play just as big of a role this season. Also remaining in the starting lineup are wing players Kyle Korver and Kent Bazemore.

While Korver struggled some with his jumper last season, he is now a year removed from ankle surgery and should be primed for a bounce-back year. The undrafted Bazemore was one of the most improved players in the NBA last season, averaging over 11 points and providing some much-needed energy on both ends of the floor. He has been rewarded with a 4-year, $70 million contract and will look to expand on his abilities with some experience under his belt.

Several key bench pieces also remain with the Hawks, including 3-and-D veteran Thabo Sefolosha, Tim Hardaway Jr., and bigs Mike Scott, Kris Humphries and Tiago Splitter. Splitter missed most of last season with an injury and is dealing with a new injury, so his ability to contribute is in question. Intriguing 7’3” center Walter Tavares could get some playing time if he continues to work on his offensive game.

The Changes

The outcome of the season will almost surely be determined by the changes made by the Hawks front office, both in the draft and free agency. The first move of the offseason involved longtime PG Jeff Teague being traded to the Indiana Pacers for the 12th overall pick in the draft. The Hawks selected Baylor forward Taurean Prince with the pick, and then St. Joseph’s guard DeAndre Bembry with the 21st pick. The most immediate implication of this trade is the insertion of German PG Dennis Schroder into the starting lineup. There is no question that the 23-year-old has the confidence and ability to fill the role, but he will have to be more consistent and disciplined as a starter.

Source: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
The Hawks lost two faces of the franchise this offseason in Al Horford and Jeff Teague. (Source: Scott Cunningham, Getty Images)

The other major swap of the offseason saw another longtime Hawk in Al Horford depart for the Boston Celtics and Atlanta native Dwight Howard arrive from the Houston Rockets. This change has come under much criticism from close followers of the NBA who fully appreciate the value that Horford brings to the game.

However, Howard is rejuvenated to be playing in his hometown and is playing under a top-notch system for the first time since his days in Orlando. This could be a major comeback year for “Superman” as he looks for redemption. Additionally, the Hawks brought in two new backup point guards in Malcolm Delaney from overseas and Jarrett Jack, who will provide mentoring for Schroder.

The Prediction

The Atlanta Hawks are a deeper team than they were last year and have one of the most talented lineups in the conference. The only question is how all of the pieces will gel together over the course of 82 games. This team may have some growing pains early in the year, but they should find their groove and become a top-4 team in the East. Dwight Howard will be a force on the boards and defensive end and Schroder will make up for occasional lapses with the ability to take over games. While they still won’t be able to compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Hawks will be able to keep up with just about anyone else in the East on their way to another solid season.

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About the author
Austin  McConnell
Sport Management/Economics student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill who writes primarily on the Atlanta Hawks