Are the Hawks ready to take the next step?

Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor is joined by David Thorpe to discuss Atlanta’s offseason moves and whether this is Trae Young’s best chance to make a deep playoff run. Check out the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

For the Atlanta Hawks, you look at their projected rotation this season with all of their changes around Trae Young, and now Dyson Daniels in that backcourt and Reesachd in year 2 and Jalen Johnson back, Porzingis, Okongwu getting better every year.

The team feels like, on paper, Trae Young’s best chance to take a team deeper than he ever has.

Do you think Atlanta actually is one of those just kind of cute offseason teams, David, or do you see a template here for them to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference?

I don’t see the deep run that roster right there.

They’re still a little weak at the guard spot.

Um, I do like NAW, uh, more off the ball than on the ball.

I like Kard just as a shooter, really love the especially if KP, if Porzingis can last a while.

I still worry about their backup guard spots.

You know how important it is to have great guard play in the postseason, when teams are just so well versed in how to defend you.

Having that 2nd or 3rd playmaker really mattered, I, I don’t see that, but I also do think they’re right there with Orlando, maybe a step below if Paolo and Franz can step forward as a team that could win half their games and I think Trae’s got something to prove, and I think Quinn’s got something to prove, uh, if they can stay healthy, uh, I think they’re gonna be a solid team.

Do you think a team can win a championship with Trae Young as their best player?

Yes, yes, it’s not easy.

You need to have someone on a rookie deal wildly outplaying his contract, or, like, especially in year 3 or even year 4, or uh a veteran minimum guy that suddenly found his game again.

I, um, it’s not easy to do this because of the money situation he’s paid so much, but yeah, you put a team together that I think can do very, very well.

Uh, the bigger question is, will Trae play the way he needs to play, share the ball, which normally he does very well, compete on defense, a fair question that we have, that to me, players have to do this, Kevin, I say this all the time, every player is allowed to grow up, and I think that’s the next phase for Trae is to recognize.

I can do less on offense, more on defense, and my team will win more.

I won’t score as many points.

I won’t be in the All-Star votes I got before, but we’ll win more.

James Harden had to go through that.

A lot of players had to go through that.

Trey, this is, it’s on you now, Trey, to recognize it’s more about winning than personal glory.

Are the Hawks ready to take the next step?

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