Taking a look back at the best and worst moves the Atlanta Hawks made during the 2023 NBA offseason.
During the 2020-21 NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks made an unlikely run to the Eastern Conference Finals. After not qualifying for the postseason the previous three seasons, it was an anomaly for such a young team to make such a deep run. Nevertheless, as unlikely as it may have been, it appeared that the Hawks were perhaps on the verge of a new era of sustained greatness for the franchise.
Over the next couple of seasons, that’s not exactly what has transpired. Instead, the Hawks have had back-to-back disappointing seasons and have emerged as somewhat of an afterthought in the Eastern Conference. With changes made to the head-coaching staff and the front office, the belief was that there were going to be more tangible changes coming this offseason.
A somewhat underwhelming offseason for the Atlanta Hawks
Overall, considering the chatter that surrounded them heading into the offseason, it’s not outlandish to say that it was a somewhat underwhelming offseason for the Hawks. The expectation was that big moves were potentially on the horizon for the team. However, the big move that perhaps many were anticipating before the start of the summer didn’t come to fruition for the team.
In the end, the Hawks did make some moves this offseason but, for better or worse, the immediate vision of the franchise has not changed much. Before we get to training camps and the start of the regular season, we look back and take a deeper look at some of the best and worst moves the Hawks made this offseason.
The worst offseason moves the Atlanta Hawks made
Starting at the top, I can’t say that I was in love with many of the moves that the Atlanta Hawks made this offseason.
Trading two prospects in a salary dump
Trading for TyTy Washington and Usman Garuba and then trading both of those young prospects in essentially a salary dump to Utah is not high on my list of smart moves made this offseason. I understand that the Hawks have somewhat of a loaded backcourt with Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, and now Kobe Bufkin, but Washington would’ve been a good flier to take a chance on.
The same could be said about Garuba. You can make the argument that he didn’t get a fair shot in Houston and even though the Hawks were trying to thin out their frontcourt, I still don’t get why you don’t at least give Garuba and/or Washington a training camp to prove themselves.
Signing Wesley Matthews
What makes all that even worse is the fact that the Hawks signed Wesley Matthews, a veteran guard, to finish up their offseason moves. I understand that Matthews is going to be viewed as much more than an on-the-court asset but if we’re being honest, the Hawks are not in a place where they should be signing veteran win-now players.
The best offseason moves the Atlanta Hawks made
Even though there were some moves that didn’t exactly make the most sense for the Atlanta Hawks, there were also a few moves that could help this franchise take the next step in their progression.
Drafting Kobe Bufkin
The first was the decision they made with their first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft – selecting Kobe Bufkin with the No. 15 overall pick.
I believe he has the chance to develop into one of the better players from this year’s draft class. If nothing else, he also represents a potential big trade asset the Hawks could use in the future. The Hawks have their starting backcourt of the foreseeable future with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, but Bufkin certainly gives the team a bit of flexibility moving forward.
Signing Dejounte Murray to an extension
The extension that Murray inked was very team-friendly that will only look better and better as we enter a new NBA CBA. Officially, Murray signed a four-year, $120 million extension. It’s not $120 million guaranteed, but it’s a number he can hit. That should be noted.
Murray had an up-and-down first season next to Young in Atlanta, but this was almost a move the Hawks had to make.
Trading John Collins
And finally, trading John Collins was finally a decision that was made. You can argue that it was a decision made a year or two too late but the fact that the Hawks finally traded Collins is a good thing.
The return for Collins wasn’t great but to finally put that chapter of the franchise to bed was important heading into this offseason.