The Hawks beat the Nets Wednesday night in their home opener behind tremendous performances from Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwu.
It’s a much different looking team than a year ago, with Dejounte Murray now in New Orleans, but that’s no reason to be down on the direction of the organization. The chemistry between Murray and Young never got off the ground. Individually, they were outstanding, but when on the floor together, it was a disaster. The band-aid needed to be ripped off, and it’s possible that the departure of Murray proves to be an addition by subtraction.
However, the primary reason for Hawks fans to be excited for what’s to come over the next six months is the youth. Trae Young is now the grizzled veteran of the bunch, and he’s still just 26-years-old. Jalen Johnson is an emerging star at 22. Dyson Daniels, who was the centerpiece of the return the Hawks received for Dejounte Murray, looked fantastic in his Atlanta debut and is only 21. 23-year-old Onyeka Okongwu had 28 points off the bench, going 11-for-12 from the field, and Zaccharie Risacher is a 19-year-old that was just taken first overall in the NBA Draft a few months ago.
That’s a lot of talent under the age of 25 oozing with untapped potential, and the Hawks have a coach in Quin Snyder that’s known for squeezing the most out of his players, particularly offensively. The name value of the roster may have been downgraded following the Dejounte Murray trade, but the team could be significantly better, featuring a lot more potential when looking toward the future as well.
On the latest episode of SportsTalkATL, Chase Irle and Alex Lord break down why this year might feel a lot different for Hawks fans, which could end up being a pleasant surprise.
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Photographer: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire
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