Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Southeast Division offseason and outlook

By Zachary Bethel

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 23: Ernie Grunfeld and Scott Brooks help introduce Dwight Howard #21 of the Washington Wizards to the media during a press conference at the Capital One Arena on July 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 23: Ernie Grunfeld and Scott Brooks help introduce Dwight Howard #21 of the Washington Wizards to the media during a press conference at the Capital One Arena on July 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Trae Young, Atlanta hawks
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 11: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks handles the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 11, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks

All eyes will be on the Atlanta Hawks to see if the Trae Young experiment pans out. And for so many reasons. The potential archetype shooter and the entertainment chief among them.

We all want to see if he will actually be able to succeed in the NBA.

Certainly, concerning the circumstances, the trade-down to allow the Dallas Mavericks to draft Luka Doncic with the third overall (Doncic still remains criminally underrated in too many national media discussions), and see Young go to the Atlanta Hawks with the fifth overall will be a significant point in both franchises moving forward.

After moving Dennis Schroeder to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Trae Young naturally fills their need for a starting point guard. The writing was on the wall for Schroeder’s departure for some time as this now allows for both parties to move on and for new coach Lloyd Pierce to set the groundwork for the rebuild.

Or “retooling”, as the front office has said.

Atlanta obtained two solid veteran acquisitions in the offseason in Vince Carter and Jeremy Lin to lead this team and help them grow. Grabbing Carter was a great disguise for putting an additional coach on the floor. As for Lin, if he does not work out, it is not much spent for the team.

Lin has bounced around the league considerably in the last few years. He can be a solid threat if he is able to stay healthy and find a role within the squad. Young and Lin could potentially be fun basketball. And Young can learn a lot from Lin who has always been a good teammate.

Lin, along with Carter, will provide decent veteran leadership from the bench which will hopefully instruct the likes of Trae Young and forward John Collins.

Between the aforementioned and Kent Bazemore and Taurean Prince, who both had solid seasons last year, the Hawks will be a team that may string together some wins here and there.

But with this team, everything starts and ends with the rookie point guard who took the NCAA by storm last year.