On draft evening in 2018, the Atlanta Hawks executed what has grow to be probably the most consequential trades in latest NBA historical past. The Hawks held the third total decide and used it to pick a younger European guard by the identify of Luka Doncic who many believed had famous person potential. Two picks later although, then GM Travis Schlenk executed a decide swap with the Dallas Mavericks, who had simply chosen one other promising younger guard by the identify of Trae Younger.
Quick ahead six years, and Younger has blossomed into among the finest guards within the NBA. That being mentioned, he’s largely been overshadowed by his counterpart in that fateful commerce, with Doncic turning into a top-three participant within the league. Simply final season we noticed Doncic lead his crew to the NBA Finals for the primary time, ending prime three in MVP voting within the course of.
Whereas Doncic has actually grow to be the higher participant, this doesn’t imply the Hawks have been left empty-handed. It was solely three years in the past that we noticed Younger carry the Hawks to the brink of their first Finals look in Atlanta. Younger has the flexibility to be the man on a championship-winning roster, he simply has to have the appropriate co-star.
That is the place the Hawks have largely failed. They’ve tried a number of instances to pair Younger with a co-star, however none have panned out. 2017 draft choice John Collins was speculated to fill this function, and whereas we noticed flashes of what the 2 might grow to be, Collins by no means actually developed previous a strong function participant. 2019 choice De’Andre Hunter has been a step up from Collins, but it surely seems he’s reached his ceiling.
Following an early playoff exit in 2022, the Hawks determined to look exterior the group to fill this function. Newly minted GM Landry Fields made his first large transfer, buying and selling a number of first-round picks and Danilo Gallinari to the Spurs for all-star capturing guard Dejounte Murray. The transfer puzzled many, as pairing the undersized Younger with one other ball-dominant guard appeared like poor roster development.
Two years later, the Murray experiment has confirmed to be a failure. The disgruntled guard was despatched off to New Orleans in change for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr. and a first-round decide. Many outsiders checked out this newest growth as an abject failure for the Hawks. Those that had been paying a bit extra consideration to the crew, nonetheless, knew that the participant they had been on the lookout for all alongside was already on the roster.
Jalen Johnson was drafted twentieth total in 2021 by the Hawks. It took a few seasons for the younger wing to acclimate to the NBA, however final season was his popping out get together. Because the Hawks’ third choice for many of the 12 months, Johnson averaged 16 factors, 8.7 rebounds and three.6 assists on .511/.355/.728 capturing splits. Johnson shined throughout Younger’s 30-game absence as a result of damage, at instances taking up total video games.
This leap by Johnson was sufficient for the Hawk’s brass to go all in on the wing, signing him to a five-year, $150 million deal proper earlier than the season. It’s a giant gamble, however the Hawks imagine Johnson possesses all the mandatory traits to grow to be a famous person. Coincidentally, these traits additionally make him the right match subsequent to Trae.
Solely time will inform if Johnson is every part Atlanta hopes he turns into. One factor is for sure although, the potential is there. If Johnson can take that subsequent step, then Atlanta could have the subsequent dominant duo within the NBA.
