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NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s best case scenario

By John Hugar

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks

When you take Trae Young when Luka Doncic is still on the board, well…that means you’ll be getting second-guessed for quite sometime. That being said, it’s at least understandable that the Hawks would bet on the Oklahoma prospect; he led the nation in scoring, and while the comparisons to Steph Curry are a bit dangerous, he was a thrilling scorer, and it’s hard to blame the Hawks for being enticed there.

How far the Hawks go will depend a lot on what Young is capable to do as a rookie. The addition of Jeremy Lin provides them with a nice veteran presence (and a fun scorer in his own right), but the Hawks would like to see Young contribute right away. The problem here is that one-and-done guards have struggled a bit lately; D’Angelo Russell, De’Aaron Fox, Lonzo Ball, and Malik Monk all come to mind. If Young shoots the lights out in year one, he’d be diverging against recent trends.

The optimistic outlook for the Hawks relies on seeing their last three lottery picks (Taurean Prince, John Collins, and Young) come together to form a solid core. You don’t have to squint here; Collins is relentless around the rim, Prince is adept at the driving to the basket, and Young’s greatest strength is his outside shooting. This team is probably too young to win much, but they have enough talent to at least lose entertainingly, while establishing a firm foundation for the future.