Trae Young

As the Atlanta Hawks embark on a new season, the 2020-21 campaign could be pivotal for head coach Lloyd Pierce.

The Hawks finished 29-53 in Pierce's first year, a record that wasn't too surprising since the franchise was still in the early stages of a long-term rebuild. But Trae Young showed enough flashes to inspire optimism.

Atlanta took a step backward in 2019-20. The team started 6-27 en route to finishing with the second-worst mark in the Eastern Conference (20-47).

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported last December that Pierce wasn't on the hot seat but still painted an unflattering picture of the Hawks behind the scenes: "Frustration in the locker room has been building for some time as teammates have complained to each other about selfishness, not putting in the necessary work to turn things around and players not being held accountable."

Playoffs or bust shouldn't be the mindset for ownership and the front office, but the Hawks should at least make some tangible progress toward a top-eight position in the East. Failing to do so could put Pierce in serious jeopardy.

General manager Travis Schlenk made significant moves to improve his roster during the offseason. Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic are reliable scoring options who can ease the burden on Young. 

2020-21 Hawks Schedule Details

Season Opener: Dec. 23 at Chicago Bulls

Championship Odds: +10000 (via FanDuel)

First-Half Schedule: NBA.com

Top Matchups

Orlando Magic: March 3

One issue for the Hawks in terms of contending for the playoffs is that the top seven teams seem pretty set unless the Indiana Pacers trade Victor Oladipo and look toward the long term.

None of the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat or Philadelphia 76ers should see a big drop. And the Brooklyn Nets will obviously be better now that they can utilize a healthy Kevin Durant.

That leaves the Orlando Magic as the most vulnerable 2020 playoff team.

The Magic seem to have reached their ceiling in each of the past two years. They made the postseason and took two combined games off the Raptors and Bucks.

Orlando has assembled a solid roster but one that lacks a true foundational star. For all of the Hawks' team-building flaws to date, they at least have a player who fits that standard in Young.

Overtaking the Magic in the standings won't be easy since 10 wins separated them from Atlanta prior to last year's restart. But Orlando is arguably the Hawks' most direct competition for a playoff bid.

Washington Wizards: Jan. 29

While the Magic are probably the most likely to fall out of the top eight, the Washington Wizards are the most likely franchise to climb up.

John Wall's absence allowed Bradley Beal to truly shine. Beal averaged career highs in points (30.5) and assists (6.1) while shooting 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. With the benefit of hindsight, his All-Star snub looks even more puzzling.

If Beal can carry his form into 2020-21 and Russell Westbrook can rediscover some of the form that allowed him to shine with head coach Scott Brooks in Oklahoma City, then the Wizards will likely be back in the playoffs. That adds some stakes to Atlanta and Washington's head-to-head encounters, assuming the Hawks have some level of postseason aspirations.

Season Forecast

The Hawks haven't won 30-plus games since 2016-17. Barring a complete catastrophe, that run will end in 2020-21.

Young's scoring average jumped from 19.1 as a rookie to 29.6 in his second season. More importantly, he became a more efficient shooter despite his average attempts climbing from 15.5 to 20.8. The 2020 All-Star hit 43.7 percent of his shots and 36.1 percent of his three-pointers.

His 4.8 turnovers per game is still a concern, and his defense remained dreadful. That latter factor will probably always be an issue, but he can continue outweighing that with his contributions on offense.

The 22-year-old should continue to improve, and he'll benefit from having Clint Capela as a pick-and-roll partner for an entire season.

The Hawks' improvement as a whole will likely hinge more on the contributions of Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish and De'Andre Hunter. Huerter looks like he can be a solid rotation piece, but Reddish and Hunter fell well short of expectations as rookies.

Hunter is the most critical. The 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, he's supposed to be the three-and-D wing Atlanta sorely needs to complement Young.

Gallinari and Bogdanovic are the reliable options on the roster outside of Young, but the Hawks' ceiling will be determined by how well those other young players develop in 2020-21. 

Getting to .500 might be unrealistic for the Hawks because that would effectively mean making a 17-game improvement based on last year's winning percentage (.299). The upper 30s and possibly low 40s is an attainable goal based on Atlanta's offseason.

Record Prediction: 38-34

Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins is eligible for an extension this season, and team general manager Travis Schlenk "would love" to keep the former No. 19 pick around, according to Hawks writer Brad Rowland.

USA Today's Mark Medina added that talks are "still ongoing" regarding the terms of a possible extension for the 23-year-old, who had a career year in 2020. He averaged 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds on 58.3 percent shooting from the field and 40.1 percent from three—all career highs. 

Collins, whose rookie deal will expire at the end of this season as he earns the remaining $4.1 million of his $11 million contract, has been vocal about what he's expecting out of an extension. 

"When we're talking max numbers and money, I feel like I definitely [am in] the conversation to have earned that money with the Hawks specifically, but obviously I know there's business and we don't always get exactly what we want," Collins told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Sarah K. Spencer back in May.

While he acknowledged that he wants the most he can get out of Atlanta in a future deal, Collins also noted that he wants to remain with the team that drafted him out of Wake Forest in 2017. 

"I feel like we've both invested ourselves in each other ... I feel like we both want to see our investments in each other pay off. In that sense, I just want to know where I am."

Since Collins spoke about his desire for a max contract—months after he returned to the court following a 25-game suspension after testing positive for a growth hormone—the Hawks have made some other changes to account for their 20-47 season. 

Atlanta has boosted its forward core as of late by trading for Clint Capela in February, then drafting Onyeka Okongwu and signing Danilo Gallinari to a three-year deal. It remains to be seen how all of this will affect what value an extension holds for Collins, but at least it seems as though the Hawks plan to keep him around. 

Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo got paid this offseason, signing designated rookie extensions for five years and up to $195 million. A number of players will be eligible to sign such deals next season, including Luka Doncic and Trae Young. 

So, what will those deals look like?

First, some background. Players on rookie deals can sign five-year extensions that go up to 25 percent of a team's salary cap in the offseason before the final year of their rookie deal. This is the designated rookie extension, and teams can have up to two such players on their team at any given time (they can only acquire one via trade, however). 

Additionally, the Rose Rule allows teams to sign players entering the final season on their rookie deals to even more money, up to 30 percent of the cap. To qualify for such an extension, however, players have to hit one of the following benchmarks:

• All-NBA selection in the most recent season, or in two of the past three years.
• Named Defensive Player of the Year in either the most recent season or in two of the past three years.
• Named MVP in any of the past three seasons.

Doncic and Young will almost assuredly sign such extensions that go for five years and up to 30 percent of the cap. What exactly the cap figure looks like heading into the 2021-22 season remains unknown, but it's a safe bet to assume that those players sign deals that can go up to somewhere close to $200 million. 

Signing both players to those deals is a no-brainer for Dallas and Atlanta, respectively. What will be far more interesting is if any other players in the 2018 draft class hit those benchmarks and get max extensions next summer. 

DeAndre Ayton will present an interesting choice for Phoenix. While he's been good to this point in his career (17 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG), it's fair to question if he's been max-extension good. This upcoming season is important for the young center in that regard.

And of course, teams like the Suns don't have to sign young players to these early extensions. They could let Aytons's final year of his rookie deal (2021-22) play out and either sign him to an extension in the Summer of 2022 or match any offer sheets he signs as a restricted free agent. The Pelicans essentially took that route with Brandon Ingram before signing the restricted free agent to a five-year, $158 million max extension this offseason. 

Other teams that may take that approach could be the Memphis Grizzlies with Jaren Jackson Jr., Sacramento with Marvin Bagley, the Oklahoma City Thunder with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Denver Nuggets with Michael Porter Jr.

The only two players who seem like absolute guarantees to sign a designated rookie extension next offseason are Doncic and Young. Big 2020-21 seasons from players like Ayton, Jackson and Porter could add them to the list, however. 

The Atlanta Hawks have crawled out from the early stages of their rebuild and reached the point where contending in the Eastern Conference is a realistic expectation.

That notion is supported by free-agent agreements with Danilo Gallinari and Rajon Rondo only days after the Hawks added big man Onyeka Okongwu in the NBA draft.

Rondo reportedly agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal, while Gallinari reportedly agreed for $61.5 million over three years.

Here's how that altered the roster:

• PG: Trae Young, Rajon Rondo
• SG: Kevin Huerter, DeAndre' Bembry
• SF: Danilo Gallinari, De'Andre Hunter
• PF: John Collins, Onyeka Okongwu
• C: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu

While Rondo will add a veteran—and two-time champion—presence, this is still Trae Young's offense to lead.

The addition of Gallinari may prove most beneficial. A 32-year-old combo guard who can move to the front court when needed, Gallinari shot 40.5 percent from behind the arc last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder while averaging 18.7 points per game.

Considering Atlanta scored 111.8 points per game last season (17th in the NBA), it certainly needs extra offense.

The Hawks finished 20-47 and dead last in the Southeast Division. They should be able to take a big step forward next season and challenge for a playoff spot alongside the Charlotte Hornets.

The retooled roster likely isn't enough for the Hawks to catch the Miami Heat atop the division, but the potential is there to close that gap sooner than later.

The Atlanta Hawks have a young star in Trae Young and some intriguing pieces around him, and it sounds as though the team is ready to transition from rebuilding to starting to compete this season.

According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, "The Hawks are by far the most active team on the trade market, according to opposing front offices. They could attempt to be players for a veteran guard (such as Jrue Holiday or Victor Oladipo), but could also trade down for a younger player and a pick in the teens."

If the Hawks do keep the selection, Givony projected them to take USC big man Onyeka Okongwu:

"Though Okongwu doesn't represent an immediate need with Clint Capela and John Collins in the fold, he is considered by some people around the league to be the best big man in this draft. His defensive versatility as a switch-all, rim-protecting center with a strong feel for the game makes him an excellent fit in the modern game, and he has significant upside to grow into offensively, thanks to his reliable hands and soft touch."

In Young, the Hawks have a franchise cornerstone to build around. In Capela, Collins, Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish and DeAndre Hunter, they have a number of solid young players surrounding him, but they also have a number of intriguing trade chips they could package with the No. 6 pick to get Young a more veteran star. 

Both Holiday and Oladipo would be nice fits next to Young. Both are solid defenders, with Holiday offering secondary playmaking and scoring ability, while Oladipo is a bigger question mark given his injury concerns but was absolutely fantastic in 2017-18, when he averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Oladipo was one of the best wings in basketball, and if he wanted to re-sign long-term in Atlanta, it would give the Hawks one of the best backcourts in basketball. At 28, he's also two years younger than Holiday, putting him somewhat closer to the 22-year-old Young's timeline.  

But the Hawks don't need to rush into contention either. Alongside Young, Capela is 26, Collins is 23, Hunter and Huerter are 22, and Reddish is 21. The Hawks could make the pick at No. 6 and add to a very intriguing young roster, allowing them to grow together. There will be good players available. 

The other issue the Hawks may encounter is that teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, both with veteran stars in place, may also be looking to move off the Nos. 1 and 2 picks, respectively, in exchange for stars who can contribute immediately. Teams with veteran stars may be more inclined to court those picks before engaging with the Hawks on trade talks. 

It's setting up to be a fascinating week in Atlanta regardless. It's a win-win for the Hawks, who either will add another star via trade or select a talented prospect at No. 6. Either way, the team is moving in an exciting direction. 

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young has made civic engagement one of his core priorities as he continues his NBA career. The guard helped establish the voting rights advocacy group More Than A Vote with LeBron James and Phoenix Mercury point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, which in turn recruited 10,000 poll workers for the 2020 election. 

Young kept up his involvement Friday by buying lunch for all of the poll workers at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, the Hawks' home arena, which had been used as a polling location during the election. 

In a tweet, Young showcased boxes for lunches from Jason's Deli set up to feed the volunteers at the downtown facility while officials continue counting votes. 

Players with the Pittsburgh Steelers made a similar gesture, purchasing dinner for poll workers in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, earlier this week. 

Both Georgia and Pennsylvania remain critical states up for grabs as the 2020 election gets closer to solidifying the next president of the United States. 

The Atlanta Hawks reportedly have been shopping the No. 6 pick in next month's NBA draft as they look to make a playoff push next season.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported the team wants to "win now" and is expected to be aggressive looking for veteran help in free agency and potentially trading their pick. 

The Hawks' plan to push for win-now talent is at once understandable and probably also not the best thing for the franchise long term. Neither De'Andre Hunter nor Cam Reddish showed much pop as a potential future co-star to Young last season. John Collins and Kevin Huerter are good long-term rotation pieces, but neither project as a star. Clint Capela is a solid rebound-and-dunking big but little else.

There's the core of a fine team here, but no young player on this roster looks solidified as the second in command to Young long-term. There is also a legitimate question as to how far a team led by someone with Young's defensive deficiencies can go.

On the other hand, the Hawks have a lot of young talent already on the roster. At some point, they're going to have to consolidate it into a trade for one player with high-end potential. Extension time is also rapidly approaching, and the cap space available on the Hawks' books is burning a hole in their pocket. A max extension for Young, on top of potential deals for Collins and Huerter and Capela's existing contract, will all but wipe out Atlanta's books and lock them into a core.

Making moves now to acquire veteran pieces with long-term contracts could eventually allow the Hawks to flip those assets at a later date, while also getting them into playoff hunt in the immediate future. There is also the real-life benefit of getting these young players a chance to play in games that actually matter.

All of which is to say the process of building a young roster talented enough to make the playoffs is more complicated than it seems. 

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young has apologized after a hacker sent out offensive comments from his Twitter account Friday:

Paolo Songco of ClutchPoints provided screenshots of the tweets, which were deleted after Young regained control of the Twitter account.

The 22-year-old averaged 29.6 points and 9.3 assists per game in his second NBA season and made the All-Star Game for the first time.

Young isn't the only high-profile athlete or team whose Twitter account has been hacked in 2020.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo's Twitter, email and bank accounts, as well as his phone, were hacked in May, according to his girlfriend, Mariah Riddlesprigger (via Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

In January, hackers took over social media accounts of nearly half of the NFL's teams as well as the league's official account, per Jay Peters of The Verge.

FC Barcelona's Twitter accounts were hacked after the club's 2-1 win over Getafe in February, according to the Associated Press.