Honorable mention (dark horse): Atlanta Hawks
After the moves that the Atlanta Hawks made during the offseason, it would be quite a disappointment if they didn’t, at the very least, make a push towards the postseason in the Eastern Conference. If Trae Young makes the jump that many are expecting him to in his third season, the Hawks could emerge as one of the most dangerous teams.
The Hawks finished 14th in the conference but were decimated by injury and suspension. They were a shell of their potential during the 2019-20 season. Over the course of the offseason, the Hawks added three potential rotation players to their roster.
And that’s not even counting the addition of Clint Capela at the NBA Trade Deadline last season. If all the stars align for the Hawks in 2020-21, there’s a chance that this is a team that becomes a great story in the Eastern Conference.