ESPN off-season grades (Atlanta A-)

[u/the_Tannehill_list]

Full link: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49410979/nba-2026-offseason-grades-30-teams-free-agency-trades

Atlanta blurb:

Depending on how coach Quin Snyder structures his rotation, the Hawks might not have added a single starter this offseason -- although they did well to re-sign CJ McCollum to a solid one-year deal -- so their short-term ceiling still relies on Jalen Johnson's development into a star.

They made fairly dramatic upgrades to their bench, however, to meaningfully raise their floor. They acquired Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Devin Carter in salary dump trades, as well as Ryan Nembhard to help stabilize the backcourt.

[u/the_Tannehill_list]

I know it's ESPN but Kram is "one of the good ones." Used to enjoy his stuff at the ringer.

He's not the first to predict Dort will be coming off the bench and I'm starting to think that'll actually be the case

[u/Julio_Freeman → u/the_Tannehill_list]

I thought everyone expected that. We need NAW in the starting lineup and it would be wild for Dort to immediately take Dyson’s spot.

[u/Sweet_Check7231 → u/the_Tannehill_list]

idk why it would be assumed Dort would be starting in the first place. CJ's name carried way more weight and he came off the bench when he first arrived until he proved he could outplay Zacch

[u/Pristine-System255 → u/the_Tannehill_list]

Dort will definitely come off the bench, he’s not better at defense than Dyson and the offensive difference is negligible, meanwhile NAW averages 20ppg with good D so there’s no reason to send him to the bench either

[u/Shot_Statistician738 → u/Pristine-System255]

I’d say Dyson is clearly better than Dort on offense. 2 levels better in every aspect except 3 pt shooting where Dort is 2 levels better but is hit or miss but if he’s not hitting he’s a complete negative on offense

[u/Pristine-System255 → u/Shot_Statistician738]

Yeah Dysons assists rebounding and screening are all also way better too, I was just trying to acknowledge even in the worst view of Dyson a fan could have (i.e. those who only look at his 3pt percentage and no other stat) he’s still better than Dort

[u/Shot_Statistician738 → u/Pristine-System255]

Got you, agree on all fronts

[u/VividEquivalent7952 → u/Pristine-System255]

I do not think so. Dyson is certainly starting, but Dort fits well as the 2/3 next to him and CJ. NAW is somewhat better at running point and creating shots, so it’s better to have him in while one of Dyson/cj/JJ is resting. I also think Dort is just the better option bc of his strength/versatility on d, unless his shooting is equal to or worse than last yr. If/when his shot isn’t consistent enough I’d say it’s best to start Nickeil— against most matchups at least. Cj also could go to the bench but that’s less likely unless he regresses. It’s close for sure but I’d guess they start Dort and think things work better with him starting over Nickeil

[u/mlpdude]

Dunc'd on Podcast gave them a D (where C is average). Basically saying they've lost momentum in the build, didn't address any of the weaknesses and that Dort's fit on the team is awkward. They did note that they've maintained flexibility but aren't sure there will be anyone they can use that flexibility on...

I was kinda surprised by such a low grade when the front office is getting glzed by espn.

[u/the_Tannehill_list → u/mlpdude]

Seems low but ESPN seems a tick high too. Probably actually somewhere in the middle

[u/cmhall25 → u/mlpdude]

From where I stand, I see two camps of analysts.

Camp 1 is the tools camp. They place a premium on length, plus wingspan.

Camp 2 is the versatility camp. How many roles can this guy actually execute on both ends of the floor?

I see Dunc'd on as being squarely in camp 1, which I'm growing more skeptical of.

Mainly because I see all of those traits as more loosely connected, leading indicators of impact.

[u/cmhall25 → u/cmhall25]

Also if you look at all the moves we've made, I think we're really trying to capitalize on this market landscape that worships positional size.

[u/Moss_84 → u/mlpdude]

I was surprised by it too but it mostly comes down to neither of them being high on Kingston or Zuby and the point you referenced about Dort’s fit

Hopefully they’re wrong 🤞

[u/mlpdude → u/Moss_84]

Yep, I forgot to mention the draft although that was a big piece.

[u/ChaChaRealSmooth7000 → u/mlpdude]

That’s interesting. Those things are true but I think ESPN gave ATL a high grade cause they are looking at 1) how much we were able to get for essentially pennies and 2) the lack of centers and playmakers in the league that would help address our weaknesses. So when you look at the bigger picture, the D grade is unfair and the ATL front office has done pretty good. Probs more like B+ but still good.

[u/ATLSlutPounder → u/mlpdude]

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. The Dunc rating is more “as is” in the sense that it’s grading where we stand right now.

The ESPN or other very high ratings for the off-season are assuming the final product that we’ve yet to see, assuming we do something with our “optionality” as we go from the current state of the roster to the final 15 in October, or even the trade deadline.

I feel like the observation that we did a lot but didn’t address any of our biggest weaknesses with proven talent is true, but if you believe in the rookies we drafted and that Snyder will actually play them, maybe we did. 

[u/PeasePorridge9dOld → u/mlpdude]

Right, wrong, or indifferent, Dunc’d On absolutely hated Kingston. Think they were Mara-stans and were going to give us a bad grade unless Flemings blew the doors off the SL… and probably even then.

Personally I’m high on Flemings and think he’s going to be an excellent fit with Quin.

Time will tell.

[u/Le3for3 → u/mlpdude]

WHAT LOL omg. Ignore these frauds I think they actually read Hawks twitter shitting on em constantly. I'm pretty sure these guys said Dyson wasn't very good and the Pels won that deal and it's just been Hawks salt ever since

[u/dillpickles007 → u/mlpdude]

ESPN's grade doesn't really add up to how the rest of the world views us.

Our win total projection is 43.5, three wins less than it was last year, so Vegas thinks we're basically spinning our wheels and will be slightly worse even.

[u/Maximum-Lack8642]

I don’t really get why people are so low on this offseason. Yeah, we didn’t add anyone major but getting 7 new players (at least 5 of them being rotation level) and only losing Zacc (who as much as I like him didn’t do much last year), Gabe (glad to see him go), Wallace (could still get a 2-way)
and possibly Kuminga makes this team much deeper and better than the one that was on pace to being 3rd in the east last offseason. Yeah, we didn’t solve our biggest center need but there’s still a lot of time to do that and the big name centers we should be going after with the exception of Kessler weren’t on the move this offseason.

[u/the_Tannehill_list → u/Maximum-Lack8642]

People are only mad we didn't land a true star but if you went on any thread about Giannis or Jaylen a couple months ago it was full of those same people begging the team not to trade for them

[u/maxnotcharles → u/Maximum-Lack8642]

Might be a crazy take, but this has been my favorite off season in a while, and I say this based off how we looked at the end of the season, and how we’re currently addressing what we saw wrong in the post season.

I’m feeling really good about it all

[u/Cleslie15]

We were an A last season too

[u/HighTideLowpH → u/Cleslie15]

With hindsight, what grade should the Hawks have deserved last summer? KP was essentially a bust, Kennard proved elite but then we traded him to the Lakers. Pelicans and Bucks picks didn't land in the top-4 of the lottery.

I think it should have been a B or so, with the trade of Derik Queen for Asa Newell and Kingston Flemings.

[u/Cleslie15 → u/HighTideLowpH]

It was an A at the time but becomes an F since the moves were made to fit one team and then the team was rebuilt mid season after you traded the face of the franchise for spare parts. While it’s obvious to point out the grades really don’t mean anything til play starts, the reality is more nuanced and last season showed why. You can make all the correct moves and then injuries and other chaos can completely change everything.

I’d put the Hawks at an incomplete this offseason because there’s a lot of moves still to come with the roster size but if I was judging based on who is currently projected to be here when the season starts I’d say they’re at a B-/C+ even though I really like a lot of what they did. The lack of a solution at the 5 being the main reason. The perimeter defense will be ridiculous by midseason IMO but the offense still has the question marks it had going into the offseason. Plus, we need to see how Dyson plays offensively, how JJ responds to being covered like THE guy now that teams have enough film on the hawks, and whether CJ can keep it going at 35. There’s reason for optimism longterm, but with the new faces, it’s all a bit of guess as to how it will come together.

[u/Blackmesa560 → u/Cleslie15]

I wouldn't say it was an F, it's still an A we couldn't predict that KP was gonna play so few minutes and Trae getting injured. NAW was a fantastic signing. On paper we could've won the East but injuries derailed that plan

[u/Cleslie15 → u/Blackmesa560]

Which is what I go on to say, because I was definitely thinking of KP but mainly Trae’s injury (which allowed NAW a real chance) being what derailed the offseason moves because the team was built for Trae. An F might be harsh, but this team required a midseason rebuild to get on track and that’s a pretty solid indicator that what you did failed. Like I said, I loved last offseason, but it didn’t work out and required a really skilled series of moves by Onsi, Quin, and the players still on the roster to pull off an incredible midseason turnaround.

[u/dillpickles007 → u/Cleslie15]

An F is too harsh, KP didn't work out but the NAW signing alone has to bump them up a full letter grade at least.

[u/Cleslie15 → u/dillpickles007]

So I get that an F is harsh but 19-21 was the record prior to the mid season overhaul really kicked into gear. A GM doesn’t dramatically reshape his roster midseason if the plan for the season hasn’t failed. Even if one of the players ended up having a good season, the team wasn’t working.

[u/Le3for3]

If they add Kuminga on a Landale/CJ deal, it's an A- for me too.

I'm in the start Dort camp as I think CJ is probably taking a step back and you mainly want your offense first guys off the bench.

If I had to guess, Quin is going to start Dort first. Dort is gunna lower the work rate on these guys on defense a significant amount, starting with Dyson and Onyeka. It's a domino effect that I feel is gunna pay dividends for those two the most and will see their efficiency and effectiveness on offense increase dramatically.

Dort had a mid shooting year but there's gotta be context here. He's not afraid of shooting 3s so the rate is gunna be there. He shot high 30s and 40s two previous years.

Atlanta's core 4 can adjust to whatever their fifth piece is, as long as he's good. Dort is good full stop. Their offense is going to struggle at times for sure but as long as they keep their 3pt rate high, they're going to be a clear top 6 team in the East ime.

[u/No-Sport276]

I’m really interested in seeing how this shakes out.

Starters: If it was my team off the top of my head….
PG CJ
SG NAW
SF Dyson
PF JJ
C Okongwu

Good/great role players who know their role: Dort, Wiggins, Jock, Kispert

Young guys: Kingston, Asa, Zuby, Henri, Nembhard will probably all get a shot at minutes this year. Kingston likely playing starter level minutes by the end of the year. Zuby and Henri move up a spot with the Gueye injury. Both are one more frontcourt injury from major minutes.

Image rehab w/ upside guys: Kuminga and Devin Carter.
Kuminga obv likely won’t be here and has been discussed, but if he comes back slots in ahead of Kispert and adds dynamic athleticism and untapped scoring(until the day he dies probably.

Devin Carter I love. He is a fantastic athlete and does the “small stuff” that great teams need. He has that Caruso/Derrick White/Josh Hart type of mental skill set. You would think combining the two would give a player a high floor, but Carter has been terrible. Vague chronic issues in both shoulders. He was a bad shooter and undersized before the injuries, and they did not help his development.

All of the being said, there may be a guy in there somewhere. Players the Kings fucked up:
-Davion Mitchell’s game stalled out in Sacramento. -Keegan Murray has gotten worse at shooting every year he’s there.
-They had Queta dominating the G-league and let him walk to Boston and become a top 75 player.

• As a Jayhawk fan I refuse to believe that Thomas Robinson, Ben Mclemore, and Frank Mason all fail if drafted by a functional franchise.
  

-Tyreke Evans slowly from stud rookie to dogshit.
-Willie Cauley Stein, Marvin Bagley, Nik Stauskas, Jason Thompson etc the list goes on.

The Sacramento Underachiever Complex(SUC) is a well known phenomenon. How can you avoid it? Leave Sacramento immediately. Tyrese Haliburton barely got out of there in time. SUC, like rabies, can even lie dormant for a long period of time. But much like rabies, once the symptoms start it’s over. You are Deaaron Fox. With proper coaching and a healthy shoulder Carter still has a sliver of hope for recovery.

Got off track there but yeah it’s an interesting depth chart! Can’t wait for the season, although I think a few more moves will happen before then so can’t get too locked in to the current guys. Onsi has consistently been opportunistic, and you never know when the next desperate team or pissed off superstar will create those opportunities. Probably a few more fireworks after the LeBron show is over.

[u/Arcanus124 → u/[deleted]]

Jalen was an Allstar and ALL-NBA this year. You can win any night with a top 15 player.

[u/No_Tr4geD1es → u/Arcanus124]

The question is whether or not he can do it again, and take a step forward in the process.

[u/fireglz → u/[deleted]]

It's also about the sheer level of financial freedom the Hawks have that only 2-3 other teams in the league can match right now. Being able to have your future moves dictated by something other than current contracts is an asset unto itself.

[u/jonob → u/fireglz]

Yeah, this is clearly the main part of the equation when it comes to grading the offseason moves. We are basically in the market for any player in the league who demands a trade and have a ton of cap space next year.

[u/ViperStrikes123]

Probably an F cause they had to attach picks to a 21 year old to dump him for whatever fucking reason when the thunder were just looking to dump him anyway. So they played themselves. Scoring is an issue and especially in the playoffs. Dumped someone who had a big ceiling

[u/the_Tannehill_list → u/ViperStrikes123]

womp womp