The NBA has always been filled with surprises, from the New York Knicks making the playoffs in the 2020-21 season to the Phoenix Suns reaching the NBA finals. While both of those teams made great improvements to reach that level last season, the Atlanta Hawks have had one of the most under appreciated rebuilds in recent memory.

The Atlanta Hawks three years ago were regarded as the worst team in the NBA when looking at the Atlanta Hawks. After their mid-2010’s brief dominance in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks managed to accomplish one of the fastest rebuilds in recent history by drafting John Collins late in the first round and Trae Young, a future MVP! This young duo, among many other players on the Hawks roster, has been put to the test. As a result, they have managed to make the playoffs last season and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals!

The Hawk’s recent success in the playoffs should not go unnoticed. They managed to defeat the first-seed and take the eventual champions to a six-game series. While they were very close to making the NBA finals last season, the Hawks hope to replicate their dominance in the East this season while silencing those who doubt the Atlanta Hawks.

This season, the media chose the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and even a Ben Simmon-less Philadelphia 76ers as contenders in the Eastern Conference. From ESPN to the NBA power rankings, those four organizations have been the consensus contenders in the Eastern Conference. With that said, where do the Atlanta Hawks rank in the Eastern Conference? Are they better, or are they worse than those four teams previously mentioned?

Atlanta currently has one of the best roster rotations in the NBA. At every position, the Hawks have managed to add tremendous depth to accommodate the starters if the starters need an extended break. The Hawks rotation is as follows:

Atlanta Hawks Roster/ Rotation

PG- Trae Young, Sharife Cooper, Delon Wright, (Lou Williams can play point guard minutes).

SG- Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter, Lou Williams, (Delon Wright can play shooting guard minutes).

SF- De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, Timothe Luwawu-Cabaret, (Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danillo Gallinari can play small forward minutes).

PF- John Collins, Danillo Gallinari, Jalen Johnson, Solomon Hill (De’ Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu can play power forward minutes).

C- Clint Capela, Gorgui Deng, Onyeka Okongwu (John Collins can play center minutes).

As listed above, the first players mentioned at each position are starters for the Hawks. The players after the starters are bench players. When looking at the Hawks bench unit, every position is filled with competent players that have proven their worth in the NBA today. While the center position is the weakest in their rotation, Gorgui Deng and Oyeka Okongwu are decent enough to relieve Capela for a few minutes.

The aspect about this roster that stands out is their offensive potential from the perimeter. Almost every player on the Hawks roster is a threat from the three-point line, making this team one of the more challenging teams to defend in the NBA. With Trae Young being one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA today, the Hawks have a great chance of returning to the Eastern Conference finals through his dominance.

If the Hawks are not viewed as contenders now, they will be in the future. It’s hard not to include this team as a contender in the Eastern Conference, especially after their blowout victory against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. In terms of where this team is ranked in the NBA today, the Hawks have the potential to be the best regular-season team in the Eastern Conference but wouldn’t be the favourites to win the championship. In the 2020-21 season, the Utah Jazz had the best record in the entire league and was viewed as serious threats in the West but never favourites to win the championship. The Atlanta Hawks are in a similar situation as they can be the best regular-season team in the NBA but will not be the favourites in winning the championship.

Closing Thoughts

Over the last few seasons, the Hawks have built a fantastic roster that complements their style and culture of basketball. Trae Young is currently one of the best players in the NBA and will be a future MVP in years to come. While their roster is one of the best in the NBA, the Hawks’ floor is a top-three regular-season team in the East Conference. However, if the Heat, Nets or Bucks have severe injuries to their roster, expect the Atlanta Hawks to swoop in and take their spot as serious finals contenders in the Eastern Conference.

Are the Atlanta Hawks legitimate title contenders in the Eastern Conference?