NBA: Power ranking the top 10 teams as preseason begins

9. Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta’s big moves in free agency came the summer prior when the team acquired a plethora of serviceable role players in Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, and Rajon Rondo who they ultimately flipped for three-time 6th Man of the Year Lou Williams.

After only a year of these newly acquired assets running the floor behind Trae Young, the Hawks found themselves at the Eastern Conference Finals upsetting the No. 1 seeded Philadelphia 76ers in an electric 7-game series. Although the Hawks fell short in the end, this team proved that they have impeccable chemistry and are a lot more versatile than most anticipated.

With an offseason to reflect on an eye-opening playoff run, expect the Hawks to come back hungry to set the precedent that they are still that same Atlanta team that shocked the East just a few months prior.