Now that the Hawks are suddenly working with a lot more future cap space as a result of trading Trae Young, they now have interesting decisions to consider when it comes to adding to their roster.
The first big trade of the NBA season went down this week when the Atlanta Hawks dealt star point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. It marked the end of an era for the Hawks as Young is one of the best and most popular players in franchise history.
Earlier this week, the Atlanta Hawks closed the book on the Trae Young era. The franchise reached some of its greatest heights under Young’s leadership, including an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
The Atlanta Hawks have been one of the few teams consistently linked to Anthony Davis for weeks leading up to the trade deadline, and that noise only grew louder after Trae Young was traded, with ESPN’s Shams Charania suggesting a move for Davis could be coming down the pike.
In a statement performance on the road, the Atlanta Hawks stormed into Ball Arena. They handed the Denver Nuggets a resounding 110–84 defeat, showcasing elite defense, crisp ball movement, and a balanced scoring attack.
Part of what makes the NBA, or any pro sports league, so compelling to watch is the narratives, especially those centered on rivalries. Throughout the decades, the NBA has fostered a number of rivalries, some long-lasting and others short but sweet.
Tonight, the Hawks faced another dominant West Conference opponent, the Denver Nuggets, and came away with a much-needed win. While the Nuggets were without some of their starters in this game, it was still a sloppy one for them, and the Hawks took advantage.
Jalen Johnson scored 29 points, Dyson Daniels finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and the visiting Atlanta Hawks outscored Denver 36-12 in the fourth quarter to beat the Nuggets 110- 87 on Friday night.
Atlanta was turning the page tonight a couple of days after trading Trae Young. This was now the Jalen Johnson era against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
For tonight's game between the Hawks and the Nuggets, it might be easier to list who is not going to play than who is going to be on the court for both teams.
The Washington Wizards didn't have a lot of competitors when they dealt for Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. They still made the move a month before the trade deadline.
While they were not on the original injury report heading into today, both Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and Zaccharie Risacher (left knee inflammation) had been downgraded to questionable earlier in the afternoon ahead of the Hawks' matchup vs Denver tonight.
The NBA had its first blockbuster trade of the season when Young was sent from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, and the four-time All-Star has now addressed the move.
In the midst of Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Atlanta Hawks made a franchise-altering move. They traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, shifting the face of the franchise duties to young star Jalen Johnson for the time being.
The Hawks value veteran combo guard CJ McCollum as more than just an expiring contract, according to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com, who hears from sources that Atlanta has discussed the idea of offering the 34-year-old a one-year extension worth around $20MM.
The Hawks have waived center Malik Williams, who had been on a two-way contract with the team, according to a press release. Because the move occurred prior to the league-wide salary guarantee date, Williams will receive just a prorated portion of his two-way salary.