Atlanta Hawks 2025-26 NBA Season Lookahead

Dan is joined by Lauren Williams (@WilliamsLaurenL) from the AJC for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Atlanta Hawks. CHECK OUT LAUREN' WORK HERE. TIMESTAMPS⬇️

0:00 - INTRO
1:14 - Biggest takeaway from last season
3:16 - Continued development of Jalen Johnson
5:54 - The offseason and front office
14:05 - Future of Trae Young 
21:26 - Kristaps Porzingis-Onyeka Okongwu fit
26:43 - Secondary ball-handling
30:40 - The rise of Dyson Daniels
38:16 - Zaccharie Risacher development
45:41 - Hawks’ offensive pace
48:03  - Atlanta’s defensive ceiling + Impact of Mo Gueye
51:21 - Early impressions of Asa Newell
54:39 - Vit Krejci + other youngsters
57:38 - Biggest needs/weaknesses, under-the-radar storylines
59:41 - Top-10 rotation
1:01:11 - Go-to closing unit
1:01:55 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
1:04:45 - PREDICTIONS!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
What is up? Fellas it goes on Dan for Valley
coming at you with another twenty twenty five twenty twenty
six NBA season look ahead. We're onto the Atlanta Hawks,
which means I have the distinct pleasure of being joined
by Lauren Williams covers the Hawks for the agec Ajac
excuse me, does a fantastic job doing it. She's back
for this is year four, year three for you, So

(00:27):
now it's a fair You're four for coming back on.
Thank you so much for being here. How the heck
are you doing?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Thanks for having me. It's it's really good to be back.
I mean, year four, this is gonna be a good year. Obviously,
we're gonna be talking about it. I just I can't
believe the fact that the Hawks are a team that
is being talked about to be in the top five,
top six. Just unreal, unreal.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
This team's gonna be fun for me to talk to
you about because I've been told that I'm just too
high on them based off stuff that we've recorded, like
my Coast and I previously in the offseason. So this
is either gonna be validation or a reality check for me.
This is why I'm very excited to get clarity on this,
so I want to start here, though, What was your
biggest takeaway from last season? Giving how just everything sort

(01:19):
of unfolded injuries again, like the weirdo rotations, What was
just your single biggest takeaway from last year?

Speaker 2 (01:27):
They really need Jalen Johnson.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
Was that your biggest takeaway from the season to sports?

Speaker 2 (01:35):
I don't know about the season before, but definitely last season,
just because how good they started the season. Obviously, Jalen
had a couple of games to begin last year that
were kind of shaky, but once he got his footing
under him, they kind of took off. I mean at
some point, you know, early in those first twenty to

(01:55):
thirty games, they were in top four, top five team,
which blew my mind. And I didn't expect I always
said last name, I didn't expect the Hawks to be
a good team, but I expected them to be a
fun team, and so for them to kind of package
it and do both. They were a team that went
all the way to the semifinals of the NBA In
Season Tournament or NBA Cup, losing to the Bucks who

(02:18):
eventually won it. I just thought that they were gonna
like kind of climb. I remember writing a story about
how the Hawks were a team that were knocking off
giants and that was all because they had Jalen Johnson
in the mix, just because when they won that first
NBA Cup game, they didn't have Trey Young, but Jalen
Johnson and Dinston Daniels were just kind of steering the
ship and keeping them right. And they were really really

(02:41):
fun and actually good and entertaining to watch. And then
he got hurt and it's like everything kind of imploded. Obviously,
they got krsel Vert, George Niang and Terrence Mann at
the trade deadline, but those moves just weren't enough to
kind of, you know, get them back into that playoff conversation.

(03:03):
They kind of flamed out in the play in and
here we are in the off season and you look
back and you're like, yep, the turning point of that
season was them losing Jalen Johnson.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
What do you think He's what has impressed you the
most about how he's improved the past couple of years,
That being Jalen Johnson.

Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, I think it's just I know this word gets
used a lot in the NBA, but his versatility, I
think the one thing that's holding him back is that
inconsistent shot from three. But the fact that he can
do it all is such a huge X factor for
the Hawks. He's a great target for Trey Young in
the pick and roll, he can create his own shot,

(03:45):
he can push the ball in transition. He was honestly
a huge part of why the Hawks's pace was so
fast at the beginning of last season. His defense can
be you know, hit or missed sometimes, but for the
most part, he's a depend double person that you can
turn to on the defensive side of the ball. And
so I think the fact that he's did all of

(04:06):
that and was still, you know, at the point before
this you know injury happened, he was under the age
of twenty three is huge. So that tells you that
he still has a pretty high ceiling. So I think
the big thing is that if he can stay healthy,
and that's always you know, the caveat and the NBA,
right is if so so can stay healthy, you know,

(04:26):
big things are going to happen for him. I think
he has the makings of a guy that can be
a perennial All Star. I mean last season he was
in the conversation for most improved early on before the
injury happened, And so I definitely think he's a guy
that can be somebody who, you know, if the Hawks
ever get into a spot where they're consistently in the playoffs,

(04:49):
consistently in the conversation for you know, making it to
the NBA Finals, he could be a guy that could
have maybe MVP, you know, congress around him. But the
caveat is can he stay healthy?

Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah? And I think you also hit it with the
three point shot too, where I think he's at like
thirty four percent on catching shoots over the past two years,
and that number can come up to like even thirty
seven becomes a big deal. And I think if we
would have had this cup, which we probably did, had
this conversation two years ago, I would have actually wondered,
can he be the type of playmaker that doesn't need
the full floor type of runway or operating off movement

(05:26):
And the fact that he can do that, which I
think is just kind of the biggest thing that's popped
to me over the past two seasons, is like if
you want him to use a ball screen or create
from a dead stop and like do things in the
half court you know, the lineups without Trey are what
they are, but like in general, him being able to
do that is not I don't know if I would
have said I didn't predict it, but he's definitely like
the player from two years ago where I was kind

(05:47):
of questioning or a year and at whatever it was,
can he do that? I have no question that he
can do that now, which is kind of huge, especially
when you look at which is now. I want to
ask you about like what they did over the offseason
to where you've now added more spacing around Trey Young,
Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Just in general, what did you
make of their off season though, and what it says
about their direction? My bonus question would be is what

(06:09):
does this front office have on the Pelicans? Like what
is the dirt? What's the tea there? And by the way,
I was ready to probably crucify the Hawks this past
off season because it didn't look like the front office
was like going to have like any decision makers in
place at one point, and so they go from that to, oh,
this team might have had like one of the two
or three best off seasons in the league.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
Okay, So if we could like back up to that office,
the front office talk for a second. I don't think
anybody was, at least in Atlanta, was truly surprised when
they moved on from from Landry Fields, just based on
you know, his first couple of seasons. Obviously he had
a huge you know off season and getting Dyson Daniels,

(06:53):
and part of that could be having you know, a
c stillat kind of there to help advise and you know,
with all the things that maybe he Landry feels wasn't
necessarily strongest at. I think we were all more so
surprised with the timing. I thought that you know, him
getting Dison Daniels would have gotten him at least another year,

(07:15):
especially just based on sort of like trajectory wise in
terms of the Hawks having at least a somewhat improved
looking team, even though again they were still a playing team.
But you know, it happening just a couple of days
after we had exit interviews. Talked to Landry about how
the season ended in him kind of talking about you know,

(07:37):
the front like ownership having fathing him. Only a couple
of days later for them to say thank you for
your services goodbye. I think that's what kind of shocks everyone.
But you know, them getting Auntie Sillay and then you know,
we're more so promoting Auntie sill and then saying that
they were still going to look for a president of
Basketball Operations always struck me as weird, because why are

(08:00):
you going to promote somebody and then look for his boss.
That always seemed you know, kind of strange to me.
I you know, figured that maybe they would have just
at least promoted to him and kind of dangled the
president of Basketball Operations title and maybe you know, promoted
him to that based on performance and everything like that.

(08:22):
But maybe that's how it is right now, just based
on them giving him the keys and allowing him to
bring two other people in Peter Dinwiddie and Bryce and
Graham over from New Orleans and you know Philadelphia formerly.
So it's just I think it's huge that they were
able to add these pieces that you know, could continue
to you know, give at the support and just he

(08:46):
seems like a very solid guy based on the reputation
that you hear from several people. I talked to Bob Myers,
not Bob Myers, So why am I blanking on Dunlevy
Mike Dunlevy out in Golden State, and he just keeping right.
I just you know, to hear how he spoke about

(09:08):
Anxie and just the trust that he and Admires kind
of put in him to sort of do some big things.
Obviously he never told me what those big things were,
but right it spoke volumes to sort of the things
that Ancey was able to do, and for him to
take big swings on a guy like Kristaps for zingis,
but it has, you know, kind of minimal risk but

(09:31):
can pay off pretty big, you know, if they only
have him for one year and if they choose to
resign him, they can. It's not it's like, yeah, we tried,
it didn't work. Obviously. The sign and trade bringing over
Nikila Alexander Walker is another big one, just because he
just adds so much to this team defensively. But then obviously,

(09:52):
as you mentioned, the spacing being another option that Trey
can turn to for threes consistently. And then obviously Luke Kenard,
who you don't need him to be a defensive stalwart,
but you know he can knock some shots down when
you get the ball in his hands. So those are
just huge moves and some of the anciliary stuff that
add a little bit of depth to guys who haven't

(10:13):
necessarily proven themselves yet but have high reward potential. Is
it just speaks to, in my opinion, a guy that
can be pretty forward thinking. It understands you know that
there are consequences to the moves, but you know, you
try and mitigate those as much as possible. So I

(10:33):
like some of the moves that the Hawks have made
over this past off season. I think it'll just be
interesting to see how it all pays off long term,
especially with the fact that they get a first round
pick that has the potential to be a lottery pick
in the draft.

Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, if that's not a lottery pick.

Speaker 2 (10:53):
New Orleans will have to be way better than we
expect them to be. But to answer your question, I
have no idea what kind of dirt this front office
has on the New Orleans front office. I think the
only thing that you can take away is just gram.
You know, he came over from New Orleans. I think
he was kind of a little bit of a transitional

(11:15):
piece with Troy Weaver and Joe Dumar, so he kind
of understood what they were looking for and maybe he
took some of that insider information and used it to
their advantage.

Speaker 1 (11:27):
What I find interesting is that it's not quite a
two timelines approach in Atlanta. But I guess you could
argue to this is that they clearly went in for
this season, but not in a way that mortgage is
more of their future. It makes you say, like, no,
this team is all in on now. Do you ultimately
think like that was I guess, especially when you're looking
at their own draft obligations being owed out. Do you

(11:49):
think that that was a deliberate approach towards we don't
want to necessarily marry ourselves to this one direction, but
like we need to be relevant, Like, do you think
it was deliberate the way they like you mentioned porzingis
just one year left on his deal, Like, I don't
think it was necessarily it was opportunistic on their part.
You got off the Terrence Man contract as well, but
it was also just like no, like this is someone

(12:09):
who actually helped it. Do you think that this was
a very deliberate approach the way they went about things?

Speaker 2 (12:14):
Oh, definitely you have. I don't know how you don't
come away with that conclusion, you know, especially when you
look at the fact that Trey Jung is up for
an extension.

Speaker 1 (12:23):
Oh is he? I haven't heard anything else, So I.

Speaker 2 (12:28):
Just think that it's definitely they kind of again, they've
set themselves up so that they're not necessarily put into
a box long term. But the moves that they've made
has set themselves up to be a team that can
still compete long term. And that's something that Landry Feels
talked a lot about before the Hawks ultimately moved on.

(12:49):
And I think that's something that you know, of course,
Anti Silat is obviously, you know, very much interested. They
want to set this team up for a team that's
not necessarily just competing this year. You know, Trey has
been on the record saying that he wants to win,
and he wants to win now. He doesn't want to
be on a team that's developing. He was on that
for you know, at least four of the years of

(13:12):
his early years in the league, and so I think,
you know, they definitely want to compete now. I think
you know, ownership wants to see them compete now. Being
a team that was in the Plane Tournament for four
consecutive years, not making it out of the first round.
It's demoralizing for not just a team, but also the

(13:34):
fan base. So I think they understand that this team
needs to see some kind of results now, but they
ultimately know that that's something that also takes patience that
you can't, you know, necessarily put things in a microwave
and expect to see results right away. In the NBA,
we saw that with Okay see, we're kind of seeing
maybe the start of it with Boston, but at least

(13:57):
with the Hawks, they didn't completely tear things down. They're
still in a position that they can compete.

Speaker 1 (14:04):
What do we make of the whole Trey Young extension
situation and if he ultimately doesn't sign one, how big
of a distraction could that become for the rest of
the season, knowing that he has that player option next year.

Speaker 2 (14:19):
You know, And maybe this is me being very optimistic,
but it I think Trey understands that in order to
see results, he's going to have to focus on what's
going on on the court, and so I think we
saw the beginnings of that last season with how you know,

(14:42):
him being the league leader in assists and how much
he was working to build up guys like Dyson Daniels,
and Zachary resa Che and ultimately the Hawks want to
see him be the kind of guy that's a leader
in the locker room and not just on the court.
And so I think a big part of him, you know,
earning that contract extension is him performing on the court,

(15:05):
and so part of that is being able to see
those results in wins and losses. And I think that's,
you know, something that has always been big for Trey
as being a competitor. And so again, maybe this is
just me being optimistic and seeing how Trey Young has
matured over you know, my three now fourth year covering
the team. I just it's hard for me to see

(15:28):
him letting it be a distraction. But maybe I'll eat
my words in a few months and people are gonna
crucify me for saying that, But I'm gonna take the
optimistic route.

Speaker 1 (15:39):
Is there do you have? It's I view him as
like it was him and the Aaron Fox as I
viewed as a gauge for whetherfront offices we're gonna be
more specific about the type of players they gave these
max contracts to in the era of aprons, and you
look at a guy like the Aaron Fox ends up
getting the max. If I'm Trey Young, I'm pushing for

(16:01):
something like, do you view him as a max player
in this league or even through the Hawks' lens. What
I find interesting is, I think Jalen Johnson's excellent, but
I don't know that you look at anyone else on
this roster and say like they could be even Jaleen
Johnson included, say they could be the best player on
a contender, and maybe the Hawks could potentially feel equivocate
the same way on Trey Young. I just find it fascinating,

(16:23):
given how much I think he means to the organization's
on court livelihood, that he's maybe not viewed as just
this automax or close to it guy.

Speaker 2 (16:34):
Yeah, it's it's tough just because and obviously I know
that these aren't necessarily the same things, but you look
at what his reported trade markets have been and not
necessarily hearing a lot of uh, you know, offers coming
in to to get him, I think does kind of

(16:55):
give the Hawks a little bit more leveraged, not necessarily
to give him the max. So I think this is
definitely a proven year for him, and so obviously he
loves being in Atlanta. I think the Hawks really value him,
but I do think that you know, he's been here
for seven years and the peak of it so far

(17:16):
has been that Eastern Conference Finals run in twenty twenty one,
and since then again it's been those four consecutive plans.
You know, either something has to change, whether that's you
know him on the court, or it's looking elsewhere for
that change. So that's why it's hard for me to,
you know, take the leverage away from the Hawks in

(17:36):
terms of them feeling the need to give him the max.

Speaker 1 (17:40):
That is an excellent employing about whenever his name is
even meandered about on the trade deadline, it's always, well,
who's going to give up the mega offer for Trey Young?
And that's that's a form of leverage. When you look
at him on the court last season, at a very
tough time wrapping my head around what he did. The
passing insane, still great at generating looks at the rim
for everybody, but like dealing with the Achilles tendonitis, I
think they called it, some of the efficiency slips doesn't

(18:02):
necessarily look the same or move the same when he's
taking the ball downhill. Is there a level of concern there?
How much do we just chalk it up to the
injury or even the spacing environment around him? Just what
do you kind of make of how he played last year?
And the other thing I want to note, because I
don't think people know this enough, he is off the
ball a lot more than he was pre Quinn Snyder,
and so like, this is not someone who's shown he

(18:22):
can't adapt, but you also want someone in his role
on ball to be especially from three, like that's supposed
to be part of his bread and butter.

Speaker 2 (18:31):
I and maybe again I'm taking putting too much stock
in what he and you know, coach Schneider have talked
about with them asking a lot more of him, and
so it's almost like when you go to any other
job and your job duties increase, some parts of your

(18:53):
efficiency or your productivity slip a little bit. And so
I do think, you know, with them asking him to
raise his standard on the defensive end and then also
obviously be a little bit more of a leader, you know,
distributing the ball even more than he's done in the past,

(19:13):
I do think it kind of took its toll, and
then you know, him having to be the best player
consistently for you know, several years of his career minus
twenty twenty three twenty four when he had that you know,
finger fracture or whatever. It does take its toll on
your body. But I do think the Achilles it certainly

(19:34):
played a role in him not necessarily having the same burst,
but the fact that he was still trying to place
through it. I don't know, I feel like that speaks
to his commitment, but I do think it definitely impacted
his efficiency and ability to get to the rim, ability
to knock shots down from deep.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
I'm curious if the RIM frequency will go up for
like what feels like the first time and a half
decade now that in theory like Johnson' question marks, but
you might just have spacing in every space because even
you mentioned k Alexander Walker hasn't necessarily translated to the playoffs,
like we're four years into. I think just like, oh,
that's real volume from three and they're going in mm hmm.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
I do think we should. I mean I think part
of it too, is like with Clint working so closely
to the rim, I do think that did impact Trey's
ability to actually pick defenses apart and get some of
those floaters, get some of those shots, because especially toward
the end of Clint's tenure in Atlanta, Clint Capella's tenure
in Atlanta, he didn't really see him and that's just

(20:33):
wasn't his game. He's not somebody that really moved away
from the rim, and so I do feel like we'll
see a little bit more of that. We see Trey
trying to put I know it's a little controversial when
people looked at what the weight was of, you know,
a video he put on social media of him lifting,
But we see him trying to add some more strength

(20:53):
to his routine. So could that be an indicator that
he's looking to play through more contact, especially with referees,
may not giving him the calls that he's used to
in the early part of his career. I mean, I
don't want to speculate, but you have to think that
that's something that's in the back of his mind. Is
really trying to take advantage of the spacing with Lukenard

(21:15):
and Chris STAPs and Nikiel and maybe even Jalen Johnson
taking more shot Zacharyuisache. You know, you can go down
the list of people who can space the floor for him.

Speaker 1 (21:25):
The front court dynamic between on Yaka Kungu and KP.
They could play together and I'm sure they will, But
when that's happening, Jalen Johnson's not on the court. So
I'm just who do you see this team starting between
the two? When you look at and I think if
they pick, like let's say they choose one of those starters,
do you think it'll say a great deal about who
they think is the best to help optimize Trey Young

(21:48):
to wheres they'd rather see him next to Porzingi is
his shooting or they would rather see him next to
Onyaka Kungu's defense of versatility.

Speaker 2 (21:57):
It's listen. I have been debating this so much because
to me, I have Ayeka Okongo penciled in as a
starter solely because I figured that, you know, the Hawks
would be able to manage for Zingis's minutes more off
of the bench. But obviously, you look at what KP
did in EuroBasket where he was taking shots from some

(22:20):
of the activity he had around the rim, you have
to wonder, like, okay, maybe, especially with him making thirty
million dollars this year, that's kind of an expensive bench player.
But it's just tough for me to you know, move
away from Anyeka being the starter solely because they went
through all of that effort to move him to the

(22:41):
starting lineup, and especially toward the end of the season,
his production went up. So I think it's gonna certainly
be a battle in training camp and maybe that's where
a lot of the nitty gritty will be ironed out
as far as why the Hawks want so and so
to be the starter. But I think the big thing
is just more so who finishes the game, and that

(23:03):
to me is more indicative of maybe who the Hawks
and especially Quinn Snyder values more in that five's position.

Speaker 1 (23:13):
I'd be curious to see what, just having known some
background on Chris stops, how he'd react to coming off
the bench is like indefinitely or like as his role,
especially in a contract year. But I also kind of
wonder is the selling point Hey, like, we don't necessarily
have a traditional backup creator so you can get some
of those like elbow touches that you like to really

(23:35):
work the turnaround faderway jumpers, or if you want to
have some more traditional post ups. Is that the way
that they would sell him on Hey coming off the bench.

Speaker 2 (23:44):
Yeah, And I think it just they're gonna I think
they're gonna stagger their minutes anyway, and it's hard for
me to like And I think that's what it ultimately
comes down to, right, is how many minutes each guy
is playing per night. And so to me, if you
start seeing it's skewing one way or the other, then yeah,
that should tell you again what they value more. But

(24:06):
I don't know. It's just hard for me to see
or make even make the argument, especially if you're resting
Kristaps on back to backs, why Anyeka shouldn't be the starter,
you know, But.

Speaker 1 (24:18):
Yeah, Jane Johnson's health history, they might both be starting
at like some point like by the end of the season.
If that follows that trend, who do you think is
the not the better fit? But if you're looking at
a kung Wu Porzing is like, who do you think
does a better job of optimizing Trey Young? Is it
on Yaka kung Wu? Because of they both provide stuff
on defense and offense. I think if you could tell

(24:40):
me that a kung Wu is making like thirty six
or thirty seven Porner threes, I think he might be
the answer for me. But I just look at all
the space that KP can create. And I think that's
where I'm leaning personally, is towards the ladder.

Speaker 2 (24:53):
And I see and I see that point for sure,
and I think when you see Ayaka's volume in three
points excuse me, three point shooting going up toward the
end of the year, then yeah, but you might be right.
You might be convincing me that that three point shooting
really might be the nail in the coffin, especially since
that's something that Quinn Snyder values so much and it's

(25:15):
it's part of the reason why he's been focused on
focusing on it more in terms of Anyeka's game and
trying to improve that. And if you already have that
in Porzingis, then maybe that's the answer. You might be
you might have just convinced me.

Speaker 1 (25:29):
That finally on this podcast.

Speaker 2 (25:33):
I don't know, it's.

Speaker 1 (25:34):
A good problem to have. I'm just curious how it
pans out. I guess logically what you said at the
top of if you're trying, if he's if Porzingis isn't
gonna play back to backs, if you're trying, because he
had that illness whatever he was dealing with last year
that was so mysterious and you're trying to keep his
minutes in check. Yes, you can stagger, you could do
whatever if he starts, Like, the easiest way to keep
a player's minutes in check is to not have them

(25:56):
begin games in the first place, and so the otherwise
if his health or like preservation wasn't necessarily no, I
probably healthy. Yeah, that's what makes it. But also like,
how long did we wait for a congu to just
be the starter? He becomes that for forty whatever games
last year, then it's all right, And that's what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
It's just it's it's and it's just in having conversations
with with somebody you know, close to his camp, I
just it's just hard for me to see that going
over well where you're kind of building him up to
be the starter. He finally earns that position, he plays,
like you said, for half a season at that point,

(26:35):
and then it's like, well, we got somebody else see
you on the bench.

Speaker 1 (26:42):
The other thing we've talked about this about this team,
I think basically every year you've been on the podcast
is not as much of an issue anymore. You have
Jon Johnson. We know what he could do as a playmaker.
We saw some stuff with Dyson Daniels running the show.
You have Niki Alexander Walker bring some ball handling to
the table. Luke nar can do some of that stuff.
Does this team have enough to subsist on offense finally

(27:03):
without Trey Young to where if I go back and
look at the on off numbers this time next year,
it's not, Oh, the Hawks offense was in like the
you know, blasphemous percentile.

Speaker 2 (27:19):
I think if Jalen Johnson is healthy, I think if
Dyson Daniels, because we saw him, you know, taking a
step in the direction of being one of the Hawks's
primary creators when Trey Young was on the bench, If
those two guys have taken a step forward as you
would expect young players in the league to do. Oh,
we haven't even mentioned Zacharyriisache. I don't even think that

(27:41):
they their former number one overall hick from last season.
I think if those three guys kind of take a
step forward, and then you obviously mentioned Nikhil, alex Sander
Walker and Luke Canard, I do think the Hawks can
up their offensive production when when Young is on the bench,

(28:01):
But it's just so contingent on you know, three young
players really taking a step forward, and it's still a
question mark until you actually see it. But based on
what Jalen did last year and how solid it was
in that and I just think back to Boston when
they had absolutely no chance before the game to take

(28:22):
that one, and how well they played. I believe Dyson
had like eight assists. Jalen might have been close to
his first triple double that game. It just it just
looked productive. And then you factor in they have a
two way guy and Keaton Wallace you mentioned, I mentioned
Zachary Resa she already. I don't even think they really

(28:42):
utilized that's ability to handle the ball last season, and
so it'll be interesting to see if that's a part
of his game that they they tried to develop a
little bit more, especially because we saw that awesome between
the legs pass, you know, preseason last season. So well, again,
I do think they have some pieces that if they

(29:03):
can really kind of, you know, buckle down and really
try to bring those guys up, then you expect to
see a little bit more production on the offensive end,
and maybe that means Trey gets a little bit more
rest on the bench.

Speaker 1 (29:19):
I feel like I would like to see more of
Dyce and Daniels in that role around, especially if like
we can get Porzingis in some of those minutes, because
I like what he brings is like just a decision
maker when he's getting into Laneter the way that he
can keep the ball moving. But I kind of have
this suspicion that, aside from Jalen Johnson of course, that
there's gonna be a lot of like I might look
back on the season and say that Luke Canard was
handling the ball too. Now if you told me that

(29:42):
what you mentioned before, like, oh, they're really testing Zachary
res Che there to give it. But I'm totally fine
with that, even if it goes poorly because I like
experimenting with youngsters. But the Luke Canard at the spacing
he provides short and he can do some of that.
But this just it makes me a little uneasy because
I feel like he's going to have more backup or
tertiary ballhand responsibilities that I want him to.

Speaker 2 (30:02):
You know, I may and I don't know. I think
we saw some good things out of Dyson Daniels in
stretches where they won't need to rely on Luke Nard.
I mean I think a lot of people forget that
Dyson is only twenty two, and so he's again he's
another young guy that you can experiment with the ball
in his hands a little bit more, and it's just
sort of, you know, working on his confidence and his quick,

(30:26):
quick decision making a little bit more. And so Dyson
is a guy that you know, watches a lot of
film especially, that's what helped him defensively, so you have
to imagine he's doing the same thing on the offensive end,
you know what I mean.

Speaker 1 (30:39):
So, Dyson Daniels completely flips the script on that second
to Jane Murray trade. Aside from the steals in deflections,
what stood out most to you about the way that
he played Slash improved last season.

Speaker 2 (30:53):
To me, I think it was just how much he
really utilized that floater down the middle, and I think
defense has really started to kind of pick up on it.
Toward the end of the season. You saw some of
that production go down a little bit. But I think two,
I was surprised with how much the Hawks had him
shooting the ball from three, knowing his reputation as a

(31:16):
three point shooter. But if you know, they're very much
committed to trying to get that sort of number up,
even if he's taking just say, three attempts per game,
I think that'll be huge. But yeah, I think I
was also just surprised at how much they had the
ball in his hands as well. But it clearly worked out,

(31:38):
and you see the foundation for it to be something
that they can try to work on and develop a
little bit more, especially because he's a guy that just
sort of to me, opened up their offense in a
way that you didn't expect, just because you had Trey
looking to him as a guy that could knock a
shot down from three even if it didn't go in,
he was still willing to take that shot, and I

(31:59):
think that's still a big step for him, especially since
that wasn't something that he did in New Orleans those
first two years.

Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah, the some of his getting to his floater and
those slowed down situations what stood out to me the most,
because even in New Orleans when he he could get
to that floater, but it felt like it was always
happening in transition or already gets utilt to defense. So
being able to do that was huge. How much value
or importance do you ascribe to the three point volume
either staying the same or coming up to four attempts

(32:29):
a game or something, because those threes he's taking, Yeah,
sure he shot, what did he end up at thirty
five percent or something like That's great? Like defenses really
still just don't care. And I don't know when you
look at the way he shoots, I also just don't
know what needs to happen for them to start caring.
And so I wonder if it's yeah, is there something
more important than that three point shot when you're looking

(32:50):
at the continued development of his game?

Speaker 2 (32:54):
Uh, I do think hmmm. And it's funny because I
did have a congress station with somebody about what it
was about his shot, and they would say that, you know,
it's like his arc is too flat and he doesn't
It's like you can see him thinking in real time
to take the shot.

Speaker 1 (33:13):
Like buf internet with a yeah, even when he was
lied open.

Speaker 2 (33:18):
So I do think if maybe you can work on
sort of that release time, that maybe that's something that
can allow him to get that volume up. But I
think the big thing, too is maybe some moves in
the post is something that he can maybe unlock in
his offensive game. He's a bigger guard Obviously you're not
gonna want him doing that against like a seven foot

(33:38):
center or even a six to eleven power forward or whatever.
But if you can get him doing it to a
guy that's smaller, you know, a Trey young S guard
or even a guard that's like six', FIVE i think
that could be something that could really unlock his. Game, Especially,
sorry go, Ahead.

Speaker 1 (33:54):
Oh, no, NO i was JUST i hadn't really thought about.
That and then it's, well if you have LIKE kp
on the, floor you can have caught Likek, alexander you
guys or who canard moving around, Him but that could
be that could unlock his playmaking even more.

Speaker 2 (34:05):
Too but especially and especially because he does have the
natural instincts to cut to the. Basket so it's kind of,
like obviously that's mostly off ball, movement but if you
can sort of find a way to like put that
together with his moves on the, Ball, LIKE i don't,
know there's just something. There Maybe i'm again maybe this
is my optimism coming. Out Maybe i'm too optimistic about

(34:25):
what these players can. Do BUT i don't, KNOW i
JUST i just like to see the potential in. People
MAYBE i don't.

Speaker 1 (34:32):
Know, YEAH i mean HE i think on, DEFENSE i
doubt the stealing deflection numbers will be the, same but
he might be better because you have someone Like Nikil
Alexander walker to where you don't Need dyce And daniels
to be, like he's not the lockdown, guy like he's
the create havoc, guy and now he can just do
that without having to worry about being the lockdown guy as.
MUCH i just STILL i don't know what he's going

(34:54):
to be on offense long. TERM i think there's real value.
There but if you're that's just What i'm, curious and
you mentioning like post touches or maybe even like he is,
strung can you use him as more as a screener
even more and have him do stuff out of the
short roll if you have enough, space it might just
be okay. Cool if he's shooting thirty five percent from
three that, grit that's, Great but there's probably other skeleton
keys they need to try out to see if that

(35:15):
can sort of, unlocked.

Speaker 2 (35:16):
Especially because he's still so. Young he's STILL i, mean,
yes he's, yes he's entering year four in the, league
but again he's only twenty. Two he doesn't turn twenty
three until like the end of next, season basically In.

Speaker 1 (35:26):
March so there was his first like play a lot
of minutes season in year three, two which is the
other thing that gets. Discounted do you do you think
an extension gets done for him or is this something
that gets taken in restricted free? Agency BECAUSE i could see,
SHOCKER i could see both sides to where, it's, oh
like we need to lock him down after the season
he just. Had but on the flip, side, it's, well

(35:48):
it was one, season and so if he wants to
go out and get The i've seen a lot of
the comps As jael And suggs at like five, years one,
fifty and, like if he wants something like, that like
we'll just take this into restricted free agency because, surprise,
surprise that doesn't normally pan out too well for. Players
Though Josh giddy right before we recorded this made out pretty,
well so.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
Right, Exactly AND i do think that that's a. THING
i do Think dyson is a guy that they, valued
especially because when you look back on that trade last off,
season a lot of people you, know seem to think
he was the throw in. Guy but from everything THAT
i was, hearing he was somebody that they truly. Valued
and that's not to Say larry Nance junior was the

(36:27):
throwing guy. EITHER i think the other two, players, well,
NO i was gonna say the other two players that
ended up coming over in that trade that they ended
up sort of waving and moving on from those were
the throw. Ins. YEAH i, MEAN i think If larry
Hadn't Like larry's injuries weren't even like the soft tissue
injuries that you could really blame on a player for
not taking care of their. Body he literally had a

(36:49):
fractured finger and a fractured, patella like those are, like
those are just freak injuries that.

Speaker 1 (36:56):
Just he's like the extreme alternate version of what if
These Anthony davis random injuries were more? Serious?

Speaker 2 (37:05):
Yeah, SO i JUST i do think that they valued
both of those, guys Especially, dyson a young, player high.
Upside SO i do think something gets. DONE i do
think they want to bring him, back and so we'll
see if it actually ends up. Happening this front, office
especially now under you KNOW A sila's kind of, leadership

(37:28):
is not one that really likes to talk about player. Extensions,
shocker a guy from you know who has spurs lineage
isn't going to talk about, so BUT i do think
that he's. Somebody AGAIN i keep saying, this BUT i
do think they value, him especially after that one. SEASON

(37:48):
i mean that's. Huge it was a huge. Season so
you have to reward a guy that you sort of
went out and got with showing that you want to
keep him.

Speaker 1 (37:58):
AROUND i think there's she's gonna get done BECAUSE i
believe he's probably willing to accept less than a lot
of people, think Like i'd be if he got The
jaalen sucks like five and one. Fifty that would actually
surprise me because he has the uncertainty of those first
two years, baked and so that's WHY i THINK i
would expect something to get. Done you Mentioned reiche. Before
what were kind of your year one impressions of?

Speaker 2 (38:19):
HIM i thought he was fabulous considering when he got
into the, league he was only nineteen years old and
to have THE i know a lot of people look
at his two playing games and you, know use that
as a little bit of a knock against him being
ready for the, Moment BUT i also, remember like he's. Nineteen,
yes he had experience in postseason Playing, europe but that's

(38:43):
not the same AS nba postseason. Play and when you
look at both of the teams that The hawks, played
they're both very physical. Teams The hawks aren't exactly known
as a team that you know handles physicality very, well
and so it's understandable, that you, know that's sort of
the end that he had to a year where he

(39:03):
was In rookie of The year. Conversations, now obviously the
start to his season wasn't. Great he wasn't shooting the
ball particularly. Well there's some questionable decision making in terms,
of you, know things that he try to do trying
to get to the. Basket but you could see in
real time sort of like the development and like tangible

(39:23):
results to what The hawks were doing to try and
build him. Up and then another thing, too is just
he was very like, SLIGHT i hate to use that,
word but he was very slight when he came into the.
League so you have to expect. That you, know not
only did he put on a lot of like muscle,
mass when you, know he progressed throughout the, season which
ultimately helped him play very or play much better than

(39:45):
he did at the start of the. Year but you
have to, wonder like did he continue that in the off,
season and you saw a little bit of it in
Euro basket with some of the creation that he had
against other, players but also just the force that he
was able to to the ball. With AND i love
his off ball movement and he's willing to do. It

(40:06):
that's the. Thing he's willing to consistently move without the,
ball get to the right. Spots and again you saw
little pieces of his ability to create for, others AND
i think that's something THAT i want to see more
of in his sophomore. Year BUT i thought he had
a really great year last, season considering you, know people

(40:27):
were questioning whether he was a number one overall, pick
and he certainly to me looked like one towards the
end of the.

Speaker 1 (40:32):
Year, yeah the off ball movement is, BIG i, think
just because that is still someone if you put him
on the, BALL i don't know how much rim pressure he,
generates but off the, ball like you look back and it's,
oh a good amount of his attempts came at the,
rim and his off ball movement getting out in transition
is a big part of. THAT i also was impressed
with for someone who was to use the word slight
WHICH i mean as a teenager slight and he's also
an oversized, team like the weight just can't be as easily.

(40:55):
Distributed his on ball defense kind of impressed me. Too
is like someone with his frame and, yeah there could
be some off ball. APSES i Guess i'm Just I'm
I'M i Guess i'm excited and intrigued that you're interested
to see what he can. Do is maybe more of
an on ball playmaker Because i've not paid as much
attention To EuroBasket AND i also just don't know that
that part of his game ever pop to, me and
if he could do something like that or if The

(41:15):
hawks think he, can LIKE i hope they tried to
like baptize him by fire and put him in those
situations this season just to see what it looks like.

Speaker 2 (41:23):
And the type of players that they've brought in to
kind of potentially help with. That, Nikhil Alexander, Walker kristaps
porzingis like those are, two you, know And Luke. Canard
those are two solid players to help mentor him and
like bring that side of his game. Up and then
you also have to think, about you, know the player
development coach that he's worked a lot With Ryan schmidt
and the work that he's done over the course of the.

(41:44):
SEASON i JUST i feel like it's it's a tool
in his bag that we just haven't seen nearly enough,
of AND i Just i'm very curious to see if
it's something that they really try to highlight this coming year.

Speaker 1 (42:00):
And how much do we buy WHERE i guess not
even buy into, it but, like where's the happy medium
for him from deep because like you mentioned the slow
start on fire to basically close the. Season when you
watch him shoot or the way he's getting his, shots
do you see this as somebody who might just be
a plus percent three point shooter or is this you,
know let's see if he can hover around like thirty
seven thirty eight percent for THE i was going.

Speaker 2 (42:21):
To say THIRTY i was gonna say thirty, eight thirty nine.
Percent not, quite especially if the volume ticks. Up but,
YEAH i think thirty eight percent is pretty pretty, solid you,
know marker for him to be, around just because toward
the end of the, Season, yeah we saw him around
like forty forty one, percent AND i just think that's

(42:45):
kind of like the higher end of his kind of like.
CEILING i guess not, ceiling but kind of higher end
of you know what he's able to. Do so AND
i think like the lower percentage is probably like thirty,
five which isn't tear as a. Floor, yeah, yeah SO
i definitely feel like thirty eight is like the good

(43:06):
median for, him just because his shot. Arc we were
seeing him take quicker. Shots when the ball got in his,
hands he wasn't bringing it. Down it was like he
was catching the ball at like the right spot or
like moving a hand right and just letting it, fly
and it was right on. Brand SO i think the
big thing for him is just really really finding like

(43:28):
his center so that when he does kind of take
some of those, shots it's not like too, off if
that makes any.

Speaker 1 (43:35):
Sense, yeah we'll get into the rotation a, second but,
like is he gonna start because he was a START i,
Know and then it's what needs to happen for him to?
Close like what has he done If Quinn snyder Decides
zacharysichet is closing games for this, team, well.

Speaker 2 (43:51):
Okay SO I i do have him penciled in as the,
starter just because it's hard for me to imagine them
moving Say Jalen johnson to the. Three if they're trying
to keep On yeka in the starting, LINEUP kp at the,
Four dison at the, two and then Obviously trey at.

Speaker 1 (44:12):
The, one gotch a wild four players Around Tree young.

Speaker 2 (44:17):
LISTEN i that's, LIKE i know we usually talk about
the wonky lineups at, that but that's probably. Mine but if,
anything if it's Not, sack then you have to wonder
if it's gnaw right.

Speaker 1 (44:31):
Right because you want to keep.

Speaker 2 (44:33):
Right you want to Keep jalen at the, four and
then for, me it's On yeka at the, five just
Because jalen And nyeka just play so well. Together their
chemistry is just so like chef's. Kiss it's like they
know where each other is gonna. Be they know where
to sort of like pick up where the other one
sort of drops, off and we just don't know where
that will be WITH, kp especially with him being new

(44:55):
to The Quinn snyder's. System so, yeah so it's like
the alternative is not BUT i see it being something
similar to what happened With DeAndre hunter last, year where
they brought him off the bench and that Allows Alexander
walker to get into the flow of the game and
then have the impact that he is expected to have

(45:17):
from the. BENCH i see not as sort of like
your sixth or seventh, man depending on IF kp is
coming off the. BENCH i HAVE kp as a sixth
man Giving, onyeka you know that staggered minute sort of
he comes off maybe like seven minutes in and THEN
kp plays the last for five minutes of the first

(45:37):
quarter and.

Speaker 1 (45:39):
Interview the team is still built to maintain its like
league high transition frequency from last. Year it could dependence
on Like canard AND kp slow things down a little.

Speaker 2 (45:49):
BIT i, do especially If jalen is. Healthy it's just
hard to not play that. Pace If jalen's on the,
floor it's either he's going to be finishing at the
basket in transition or you have guys Like Zachary trey
kind of filling in for him when they come. Up
SO i don't, KNOW i. DO i do, think, YEAH

(46:12):
kp kind, of BUT i think the expectation IS kp
is gonna have to match that, pace don't you think
with him being.

Speaker 1 (46:18):
The threes, TOO i guess still like that's still part
of his.

Speaker 2 (46:21):
Game, true same With, canard, right.

Speaker 1 (46:24):
Yeah AND i guess with the number of turnovers we
Know Dyson daniels is going to force What Jalalen johnson's
gonna do after every single rebound, basically and now you
Add Niki Alexander walker into the, fold there should be
enough pace driving. There but it's kind of, REFRESHING i
guess would be the word to just, wonder, like, oh
this is team is built Around Trey. Young are we
worried about him slowing things? Down AND i think he's.
Done we saw this towards the tail end Of lucas

(46:46):
time In. Dallas trey's done a better job of like
maybe himself not always playing with more, pace but allowing
the players around him to play with more pace when
he's on the. Court like that's that's not. Insubstantial, No
and AGAIN i think you have to go back to
is like what is he playing?

Speaker 2 (47:02):
For, like if you want to prove to your front
office that you can lead this, team you gotta play
ball Right.

Speaker 1 (47:10):
Well there has to be a level of like it
has to be a sobering reality to even if you
hear your name mentioned in trade, rumors and there's never
been like a team that's we're gonna throw everything in on.
You and now you've just watched maybe two of the
teams that you were linked. To where was The spurs
went out and Got Dearon, fox The magic went out
and got The Desmond. Bane and now it's like your
name just hasn't even been thrown. There so there. THERE

(47:32):
i don't know if there would be a chip on
your shoulder if it's just like kind of a reality
check for, him but like that has to be at
least in the back of.

Speaker 2 (47:38):
Him wasn't he linked to The lake to The clippers as, well.

Speaker 1 (47:41):
So that they still might be linked to the to
The clippers and.

Speaker 2 (47:46):
They ended up getting like Beside chris fall like that
should that that that is a little sobering and.

Speaker 1 (47:52):
HUMBLING i, think, well, look if he goes to The,
clippers at least they'll figure out a way to get
him more THAN maxi money so he can at least
rest Easy sea knowing.

Speaker 2 (48:00):
That oh, lord what's the expensive.

Speaker 1 (48:04):
Ceiling for this?

Speaker 2 (48:06):
Team, WELL i mean the facts that they went from
being you, know thirtieth to twenty nine thirtieth in the
league in defense to like middle of the, PATH i
think it's obviously higher when you factor in the addition
Of Nikhil Alexander, WALKER i think that raises it to,
them you, know potentially being closer to, ten maybe even
inside top. TEN i don't think they'll, DEFINITELY i don't

(48:29):
think they can be as high as top, five but
maybe you, know somewhere around nine, ten considering they were
what like fourteen fifteen towards the end of the, season
well not the end of the, season but at least
midway through the.

Speaker 1 (48:43):
Season, man if they're top, ten LIKE i wonder what
that says about where they are in The Eastern, conference
BECAUSE i think that the If Trey young is even
slightly more efficient if you Assume Jalen johnson's, Healthier like
the offense When trey's on the floor when he's not
at his best is like going to be decided the
above league. Average top ten feels, ambitious but, again the
personnel Around Tree young feels like it's and like they

(49:05):
don't have you Mentioned Jalen johnson very early on this,
podcast not an excellent, defender but someone who could be
moved around. Defendively now both your, centers Like Christaps porzingis's
rim protection On Yukka congo's, VERSATILITY i kind of, wonder,
like are they a LITTLE i don't want to use
the word, small but are they gonna be physical enough
on like the glass like when you look At kPa
and then.

Speaker 2 (49:26):
YEAH i think the physical, no, no, SORRY i think the
physicality is the only thing that concerns. Me but we
didn't even mention a guy Like, mogay WHO i do
think is gonna end up being. RIGHT i do think
he's gonna end up being in the, rotation even if
he's not necessarily playing like fifteen twenty minutes to, NIGHT
i still think he somehow gets like maybe eleven, ten ten,

(49:49):
minutes just because, again to monitor a guy like her
stops as, minutes you're gonna have to sprinkle in some other.
People and he has the depth to play both the
four and and SO i do think that he's somebody
you got to mix in. There and he's a guy
that has such a high defensive. Flour he covers so
much ground his great instincts at the. RIM i, mean

(50:11):
he was blocking shots almost left and right last, season
and SO i think with him adding so much more
muscle to him this, offseason you've got to expect him
to be somebody that they throw into the.

Speaker 1 (50:24):
Mix what is he on? Offense aside from a.

Speaker 2 (50:28):
DISASTER i, mean his shot mechanics are, there but it's
just like they weren't going in and they were either
like he just has either too much power from the
corner or he's like just slightly off when he's on the.
Wing BUT i, MEAN i just that's the thing that
is the big question, mark is can, he you, know

(50:50):
be somebody that maybe works inside the. POST i think
part of it might have. Been, again he's kind of
Like zach where he's. Slight he's kind of, small you,
know smaller than your traditional power, forward but he has
the strength and when you add a little bit more to,
THAT i, mean maybe that opens up something. MORE i
Just i'm not particularly confident in his ability to handle the,

(51:11):
ball BUT i do feel like he's somebody that can
certainly take advantage of more. Mismatches he just has to find.

Speaker 1 (51:19):
Them do you have any early impressions of the other
part of That pelicans, trade which is Rookie Asa. NEWELL
i Like.

Speaker 2 (51:28):
ASA i just don't, think especially with how much depth
This hawks team, HAS i don't think he's going to
get a lot of minutes in the main. ROTATION i
think he's probably gonna spend a lot of his time
At College park with the with The, skyhawks THEIR G league,
team just because like again you, said we're going to
get into the rotation a little bit more too down the,
line but you, name you, know you got nine players

(51:50):
ahead of, Him, Trey, Dyson zach.

Speaker 1 (51:54):
And he's like hippie BECAUSE i don't think he could.
Play maybe at some point he could play the, five
BUT i don't think it's right, now and he definitely
probably shouldn't play the. Three and so when you're just
at that four, spot when you Have Jalen, johnson what's?

Speaker 2 (52:09):
That, yeah, SORRY i was just saying it kind of
limits him a little.

Speaker 1 (52:12):
BIT i did like WHAT i saw from him in
summer league Sum, yeah, yeah he felt very plug And
playven hads a moment where he like got to is
put the ball on the deck and was able to
make things happen if he can just if he hits
outside shots, consistently AND i know we say this about
a lot of, players but that becomes like a huge
swing skill for. HIM i.

Speaker 2 (52:32):
THINK i think one of the things that The hawks
has done a really good job, of especially Since Quinn
snyder has come, here is really they haven't really baptized
their rookies by. FIRE i, MEAN i Think zach is
a little bit of the, outlier solely because a number
one overall pick you got, to you. Know but WHEN i,

(52:55):
think Like, kobe they've brought. Him, GRANTED i Know kobe,
BUFFIN i know he's been, hurt but they didn't play
him a ton his rookie, year and when they, did
he had some good. Moments same With mo he didn't
play much until last, season and part of it was
because they needed him. To but they've really tried to

(53:15):
develop their like they really tried to give their rookies
a plan and sort of follow. It so it's tough
for me to see, them you, know really Throwing asa
into the, mix especially because they have so many veterans
around him and so much versatility that they don't necessarily need.

Speaker 1 (53:32):
HIM i guess If Jalen johnson missed his time and
you're looking for someone, like the thing that impressed me
In Summer league is he was making his corner. Three
he's like getting in the, corners And i've just, wondered
now you translate some of the catches he's making now
those are coming From Trey young instead of whoever else
is on The hawks'. Roster there might be something, there
But i'm with, you it doesn't feel like there's going
to be if they're. Healthy there just doesn't feel like

(53:52):
there's gonna be room Unless mogay is so bad on
offense they're, like, hey let's throw some newell in there
to get like the third string four minutes or.

Speaker 2 (54:00):
Whatever AND i JUST i don't think. That and that's the.
THING i just it's hard for me to think that
Mo gay will be so bad.

Speaker 1 (54:08):
That his defense will always just be like.

Speaker 2 (54:11):
Because they're gonna need. It they're gonna need. IT i,
mean one of the things that and obviously this isn't
something that you, KNOW asa. Lacks it's like they've always
talked about needing, size and you, know with a guy
who has at least SOME nba game, experience you're gonna
want to put the guy in, that you, know you
who can guard some of those bigger guys and you

(54:32):
know he can handle it than the untested rookie who
hasn't quite GOTTEN nba speed under his belt just.

Speaker 1 (54:39):
Yet are there any youngsters that interest you long term
for this team if it's not next season or we,
like what's The Kobe buffkin experience gonna be? Like And
Sally dante they wanted some trouble to get. Him they
Have Nicola jurisic on, there and he had some interesting
summer league.

Speaker 2 (54:55):
Moments, yeah it's this team is so strange once you
get past those top seven eight. GUYS i really want
more for Vit, crachi just because there's like when he
when he, Flashes when he, flashes he, flashes and especially

(55:18):
with him getting some consistent. Minutes last season he was playing,
well and it's like almost as he builds up to playing,
well he gets hurt and then it's back to not
necessarily square, one but maybe square five before doing ten
squares or something like. That But i'm curious to, see

(55:38):
you know what ye'r a chitch is. THOUGH i just
don't anticipate him playing a lot of. MINUTES i just really.
Don't he's probably like your fifteenth, man and that might
be the. CEILING i, MEAN i can anticipate them Playing
Keaton wallace over him, slowly Because Keaton wallace has minutes

(55:59):
in an end. Game Jacob toppin will probably play minutes over,
him so solely because he's he's a guy that you
can throw in at the, three and then Obviously ellie
And jay who came over From Real madrid who's had
some injured, history but again he he just plays a

(56:20):
position that doesn't necessarily have as much logjam as or
maybe not, logjam but just durability With Trey, Young Dyson
daniels and a few other, Players Kobe, buffkin who is
ahead of your chich in sort of the rotation or
the guardroom or. Whatever, YEAH i really want to see

(56:42):
what your chich is because he just he looked so
good In Summer, league.

Speaker 1 (56:46):
Going off the Two Summer league games WHEN i saw
of him the stuff with the ball in his hands
and like kind of the passing, ESPECIALLY i think it
was that game against The, rockets like six' eight can.
Do that but then IT'S also i say the same Thing.
About vic cragie did a few minutes on him. LAST
year i think when he's hitting, his threes the stuff
that he could do on the ball and be moved
Around of fensley like that is one of the NBA's.

(57:07):
Hidden gems if he's healthy and again hitting, his threes
which is.

Speaker 2 (57:12):
So inconsistent it's, selling consistent he'll do it for like
a stretch where he's going, like sick like four of
six or like five, to seven and then all of
a sudden it just drops off and he's like one of,
five again and, you're like what?

Speaker 1 (57:28):
Is happening We Know john hollinger will always ride for,
him though so. GO on I Love.

Speaker 2 (57:33):
John Hollinger He's beat crachey's. Biggest supporter.

Speaker 1 (57:38):
Are you ready to Enter The Cookie Cutter Slash lightning
round portion of?

Speaker 2 (57:41):
The?

Speaker 1 (57:41):
Podcast.

Speaker 2 (57:42):
Yes always we've.

Speaker 1 (57:44):
Talked a lot about, strengths weaknesses but looking at the roster,
right now what do you view is its single biggest
weakness or need heading into? The season.

Speaker 2 (57:54):
Single? Biggest Need m it's it's TOUGH because i guess
maybe the same thing as last season is just like
that question mark is who handles the ball Outside of Trey, And,

(58:16):
jalen like what's your? Third option and you don't have
a clear cut in, my opinion. Third option it's all,
by committee and it would be kind of nice to
have a little bit more of a clear.

Speaker 1 (58:26):
Cut option is there anything whether it's, a storyline, a strength,
a player or whatever about this team that you think
is flying under the radar that deserves. MORE spotlight.

Speaker 2 (58:37):
I think the big question is just What Is kobe
buffkin able to do. FULLY healthy i think that's the
storyline that's probably flying under the radar just because he's
been in the league two years but only has about
twenty seven games under his belt in. Two YEARS so
i think a lot of people want to see what
he can do and if he is that viable third

(59:00):
Option behind Trey and dyson And sorry Trey.

Speaker 1 (59:03):
AND jalen i remember saying some pretty inflammatory Things About
kobe buffkin coming out of, a draft where it's like
he'll get to the rim and, he'll like this is
Gonna be he's gonna, be good, and man a.

Speaker 2 (59:16):
Lot of us had very high hopes For, for KOBE
and i do think the tools, are there but it's
just like if you can't stay on, the court like
and his injuries have just been like, ankle injury he
had a back injury, last season it was his shoulder
that ruled him out for. The year so it's just
kind of. Like weird it's just, weird stuff, You, know.

Speaker 1 (59:40):
Yeah which leads me to this question building a ten
man rotation for. THIS team i have, nine locks AND
so i just want to read them off for you.
To see if YOU think i got the, NINE locks
I have Trey Reesis, Cha, daniels johnson porzingis A kung
Wu gnaw lukenardan mogay as the nine as a? Nine
locks who gets?

Speaker 2 (59:59):
The, Tenth, crachie Yes, but macavea that's my that's. MY
ten i think they're probably gonna Go with Buffkin over
crachie solely because high, draft pick well not high. DRAFT
pick i think what was?

Speaker 1 (01:00:17):
He fifteen he was close to the, lottery right he?

Speaker 2 (01:00:22):
Was fifteen and so you know you draft a guy
in the, first round you know you you're three of
your lot or two of your last three first, round
picks aren't? You know giving? YOU Minutes aj griffin is
out of, the league And Then tobe buffkin has been
hurt his first two years in. The league you're gonna

(01:00:43):
want to see what that first round pick is. Capable of.

Speaker 1 (01:00:47):
So is HE like i GUESS that i was gonna,
ask you is there an well you could see be, Like,
surprised oh he's in the mix for like a top
eight spot. Or something you think there's a chance that Maybe.
It's kobe by virtue of like draft especially Maybe canard
is could he? Be, HEARD.

Speaker 2 (01:01:03):
No I think i think your top nine is. Pretty
solid that's that's kind OF who i have as my. Top.

Speaker 1 (01:01:09):
Nine uh next question, would be this is to some extent,
matchup dependent but what do you think ends up being
their most used or go to?

Speaker 2 (01:01:19):
Closing unit go to closing unit will Probably Be? Trey,
Dyson nah Jalen porzingis.

Speaker 1 (01:01:31):
Ooh so porzingis Over on yekka for.

Speaker 2 (01:01:33):
Closing, unit yeah just because of his ability to shoot
size just seven, TO three, i mean like solid rim Protected.

Speaker 1 (01:01:46):
Instincts uh He Makes DISON daniels i think a lot
more valuable to just if you have the spacing on
the floor at.

Speaker 2 (01:01:53):
That?

Speaker 1 (01:01:53):
Spot agreed is there a weird o lineup You Want
quinn snyder to try?

Speaker 2 (01:01:59):
This year weird o? LINE up, i mean? How weird
are we talking.

Speaker 1 (01:02:05):
As weird as you? Want, we honestly the weirder the
better in. My, book like do we need to get
five centers? Out there i'm fine.

Speaker 2 (01:02:10):
With that Do the hawks have five center kidding Five
bigs i'll, CALL them, I kid? I. Kid uh weird?
O lineup I think i touched on it a. Little
bit is that You're playing jalen at, the three and
then YOU'VE got kp at, the four at, The five
dyson And. Then trey but if we're being like, SUPER

(01:02:31):
weird i could see like super super weird Is Like
trey dyson or, like no Like, Hmmm trey, Uh yeah

(01:02:54):
I'll Go, Trey dyson Resa Che k See.

Speaker 1 (01:03:04):
And, ogay, okay.

Speaker 2 (01:03:14):
Yeah that's probably like the weirdest lineup that you'd, probably
see just because Between between Moe, and dyson you're just
not getting a ton of. Consistent threes but you might, be, Okay,
Defensively okay.

Speaker 1 (01:03:33):
I'm gonna Steal your i'm gonna steal your initial Lineup, Of, Dyson,
jalen Yaka, kunglu kp and then let's Either throw recearch
At your vic crag in there Instead. Of trey. MM
hmm I think I Trust cragie moore as a, ball

(01:03:54):
handler but if you want, some shooting like is clearly
the more trustworthy shooter at this point already.

Speaker 2 (01:04:00):
Sure, For sure but you, know, WHAT listen i feel
like the one Thing about quinn is that you don't
get a ton of weird. O lineups he's very like
consistent with, his rotations but. WHO knows, I mean i
remember ONE time i asked him if there was a

(01:04:20):
world where they would play and this is like three,
years ago where they would Play like Bruno and Anjeka.
AND jalen i. FORGOT who i think it might, have
Been probably Murray and trey as, a lineup and he's
like he looked at ME like i had. Three heads.

Speaker 1 (01:04:39):
That means you just asked a good question before we
get into just a couple. Of predictions is there anything
we haven't discussed about this team that You think warrant's
conversation before we. MOVE on.

Speaker 2 (01:04:52):
I feel like this team is one that WILL probably,
I mean i know expectations, are HIGH but i, think
again with the NBA's biggest caveat so long as everyone,
IS healthy i think this team has probably a higher
CEILING than i probably feel optimistic ABOUT because i went

(01:05:14):
into the season thinking that they were going to finish
the year like finish the, regular season not. EVEN eighth
I think i had them at like ten, or eleven
and then they ended up at least making it seven.
To Eight so i'm just gonna say that they'll probably exceed.
My expectations But maybe i'm JUST again i think too highly.

Speaker 1 (01:05:37):
Of that, so realistically how many games during the regular
season could you see? Them winning and where would you
see them landing in the, you Know The eastern conference
playoff picture when we're looking.

Speaker 2 (01:05:48):
At, SEATING yeah i have them at like, forty eight forty,
nine games and, TO me i have them at like
fifth JUST because I do detroit. Is WEIRD but i
Do have detroit just a little bit higher Than, the

(01:06:10):
hawks solely because kid played so well out of. HIS
mind i think the Addition of Lavert and robinson add
a little bit of a layer of shooting that, you
know they make up for a little Bit without BEASLEY
and thhj and Then, Obviously Orlando New york cleveland are

(01:06:31):
probably like my top four in, REVERSE order.

Speaker 1 (01:06:34):
I think as a sign of how Far the hawks.
HAVE come i think the only teams that you could
sit here and guarantee will be better than them are
the three that. You Mentioned so i'm not saying four is,
their ceiling like if they end up three, or something
but it feels like five or six might actually be
their floor when you Like add detroit. In there it's
who else even prepared to guarantee is going to be
Better at you Could, say philly but like that then
you're just a masochist at. That point if you're, GONNA invest.

Speaker 2 (01:06:57):
I can't i wouldn't Even.

Speaker 1 (01:06:58):
PUT philly i Would, Put milwaukee Yannis plus turner. And,
DUDES yeah, I mean i'm a little raptors, pilled too
like they just have so. Many GUYS but I think
i do Think the hawks will finish in the. Top
six like there might be some, wild CARDS but i
think they'll finish in the.

Speaker 2 (01:07:15):
TOP six I have i Definitely have hawks. TOP six
i have them top FIVE because i have them, at
FIVE but i. DON'T know i Don't. Know milwaukee i'm High,
on milwaukee but that's just Maybe because i'm too High
on giannis and what he's capable.

Speaker 1 (01:07:31):
Of doing now let's fast over to the twenty twenty.
Six Postseason the hawks are in it as of right
Now in september twenty. Twenty five what do you view
as like a particularly compelling whether, it's, difficult concerning or.
Fascinating matchup if you had to identify, one team it's.

Speaker 2 (01:07:49):
Gotta be Hawks In, new york right or Or probably
Hawks and magic solely because us from, my observations last
year they hate the magic and just how that sort

(01:08:11):
of playing game sort, Of unfolded trey getting ejected because
of him making a mockery of. THE game I Know
anthony black does his best to Get under. Trey's, Skin
obviously Paolo, is Polo and i'm really curious to see
what that battle between Him and jalen looks like and

(01:08:33):
who gets the better of. The other, RIGHT now i
sort Of, edge Paolo but jalen can. Surprise YOU so
i think that's a very, intriguing MATCHUP and i think
that's something that, you know the fans are gonna have
to look forward to, a lot especially with the Addition,
of baine and just that level of shooting that they

(01:08:56):
have now is. Just, Unreal Obviously, franz Wagner Big franz.
Wagner fan they're just such an. Intriguing team but to
go back to my original answer, as well You Know
new york fans Obviously Against trey young is always going
to be somewhat compelling for. Whatever reason and when you
couple that with the rolling the dice on the Logo

(01:09:18):
At Madison, SQUARE gardens i know that sid. ME too
i know that. Inside it and then obviously early in,
the season he's told them to take their butts home
after they beat, them early so sore that's always going
to be compelling. To me, but yeah those are those
are probably my two Matchups that i'm really.

Speaker 1 (01:09:37):
EXCITED about i Think it's orlando for me, as Well
or detroit because those two teams seem the best built
In the east to Stress test atlanta's like second non tree,
young OFFENSE and i really just want to, see, how
like if they can get to a point where they're
able to handle those types, of defenses that just becomes.
Absolutely monstrous so those are. The TEAMS just i don't

(01:10:01):
know how they would, match Up but, I'M like i
want to see what their offense looks Like against Detroit
and orlando. THIS season i really want to.

Speaker 2 (01:10:06):
See, IT yeah I just I. LOVE detroit i do
think durn tends to get the Better, of anyeka so
it'll be in.

Speaker 1 (01:10:20):
P durn thing when you look at how Much like
duran's gonna be A CAT like I know, KP's different,
but yeah like that adds a whole different layer to that. Entire,
matchup YEAH.

Speaker 2 (01:10:30):
And I also i'm really curious to see what they're
able to do With. LIMITING kid i know that was always,
an issue like they Would Put dyson daniels, on him But.
It's kid he would just get the Better. Of Dyson
so i'm curious if they do some sort of double
Team with Non and dyson and like what that is gonna.
Look like the chess match is certainly gonna be interesting

(01:10:54):
to See what quinn. THROWS.

Speaker 1 (01:10:55):
At, Jb LAUREN can i get one additional prediction About
the hawks for this coming season? From you it could
be whatever you want?

Speaker 2 (01:11:03):
Who, prediction like what are do? You mean like award?

Speaker 1 (01:11:13):
An award it could be any a players, breaking out
a player gets squeezed out. The rotation it could be.
A trade it could be it could. Be, anything hmmm.

Speaker 2 (01:11:21):
A trade it's hard for me to predict a trade
just YET because i haven't seen how. Everything Looks so
i'm gonna go with and maybe this is low, hanging
Fruit but i'm gonna Pencil in jalen for.

Speaker 1 (01:11:37):
Most improved if they get back to back most, improved
players that would.

Speaker 2 (01:11:42):
Be insane i'm Gonna pencil jalen in for most improved
just because he was in the, conversation early so That
means I'm saying I'm predicting jalen's gonna have A healthy
that might be the.

Speaker 1 (01:11:55):
Spicier prediction at, this point he's already been in the
Most improved. Player Discussions why Dalen the I'M just i
wonder if if he's turned the corner too much now to, everyone's,
like well he was supposed to win that award last
year and just wasn't, healthy enough AND so, i think
like he was In The all star mix, last year
if he's, healthy enough like him getting Into The All

(01:12:15):
star game, like that especially If the hawks are good
and now more people are Watching the hawks that might
be because he's clear they. Don't have Maybe if christops
has an, insane season but aside From, like trey they
don't have, like that it's jailing as The Obvious all.
STAR candidates i would Think, maybe dyson but that's a
LITTLE too i think that's too.

Speaker 2 (01:12:32):
Deep, CUT yeah i Feel like dyson might be a
slight reach SOLELY because i just don't know how his
offense turns the. Corner yet, uh yeah, SO yeah i
would Probably say jalen is probably their second guy who's
like they're per like, banked in not banked in but

(01:12:54):
Just like Clearcut count runner for somebody who could be
voted As An, all.

Speaker 1 (01:13:00):
Star he does that on a contract he's on because
his contract already. Looks good but like it once you
Tie The, All star like let's say he does win
The screw player because, he's healthy that's when it, Really
encapsulates like how much of a bargain that. Contract becomes.

Speaker 2 (01:13:15):
I'm curious to, see. THOUGH too i think my, BIG
question i think my big prediction Is that anyeka has
a really. Big. Year one he's going to, be competing,
you know Internally With. Chris STAPs he's a guy that's
sort of been adding that three point shot consistently over
the last couple, of years AND so i feel like
he could be, really good especially now that defenses know

(01:13:39):
that he has that in. His back to, THE point,
i mean granted. They don't they still don't take it
as SERIOUSLY as i think that. They SHOULD but i
think he's somebody that they might start looking at as
not necessarily, a threat but somebody that they should pay
attention to in terms of if he's on, the perimeter.

Speaker 1 (01:13:55):
Who shoots a higher percentage from three? THIS Year a
Kungou Or, jalen johnson.

Speaker 2 (01:14:02):
Oh. O.

Speaker 1 (01:14:03):
CONGO wow i love. THAT one i.

Speaker 2 (01:14:06):
LOVE it i love it just. JUST solely i say,
that because as, they say right, the cliches shoot, or
SHOOT and i just Think that onyeka has shown over
the last couple of years a more consistent willingness to take.
Those shots jalen will sometimes get the ball on, the

(01:14:29):
PERIMETER and i don't know if it's just in the
heat of the, you know the speed of, the game
you kind of second guess how much space you have
to try and let that, shot go and he'll pump
fake and then drive to, the Basket whereas onyeka will, just,
Like well i'm on, The perimeter i'm gonna. Shoot IT
so I think i Think that's i'm gonna go With.

Speaker 1 (01:14:50):
The congo to, be fair the quality Of like okungo's
threes will just be better and easier that he's getting his,
teed Up Whereas jalen johnson will have to take more.
Contested Ones but i've still that's if, that happens that
something's gone Wrong With joan johnson or right with a
cover with.

Speaker 2 (01:15:04):
My answer i'm sticking with. My.

Speaker 1 (01:15:05):
Answer lauren this was great. As always thank you for
me so so much of. Your time you're able just
to tell our audience where they can find you in
all the great work that.

Speaker 2 (01:15:14):
You do thank you support. Local journalism you can find
all my work AT the ajac, dot com Especially after,
january first Or after december, thirty one twenty, twenty five
it's going to be. All digital, and then Of course
i'll be promoting that work On my TWITTER because i
still will not call it X on twitter At WILLIAMS.

(01:15:37):
Lauren o.

Speaker 1 (01:15:39):
The link to, her stuff her social media profile AND
her ajac profile will be in the podcast on. YouTube prescription.
As always thank you so, Much. Again lauren as you know,
BY now i will be pestering you again in.

Speaker 2 (01:15:51):
The future, of course You know i'm. Always here