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Atlanta Hawks Will Need To Draft Well To Correct Course

By W. M. Lawson

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 30: Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after a foul during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Philips Arena on December 30, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 30: Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after a foul during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Philips Arena on December 30, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks (11-31) aren’t exactly killing it this season. As the reclamation process begins in earnest, even in January it’s obvious that the NBA Draft will be key.

Frankly, it’s difficult to write about our beloved Atlanta Hawks and not be pessimistic or negative. At (11-31) they are currently dead last, not only in their conference, but in the entire NBA. That’s right. Basement dwellers. There are some positives, but you have to mine the earth to find them. One obvious thing, though. A new foundation is needed, and that foundation will have to come from better Draft results.

Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way. Dennis Schröder isn’t the answer. The light may come on for him at some point, and he is still young, but he isn’t good enough to lead a team. Let’s also get out of the way: Kent Bazemore’s contract is a train wreck. Both of those situations have to be addressed.

Please understand. That isn’t to say that those dudes aren’t easy to cheer for. They are. Both would be great pieces to a puzzle that Hawks fans would love seen put together. But they aren’t centerpieces. Or shouldn’t be.

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So, where does that leave the team? Presumably, the NBA draft. Certainly when they are poised to get, at minimum, at a top 3 pick. The problem is that Atlanta will need to draft much better in the future to make any difference.

A quick review of the Hawks roster and you’ll see that 1st Round Draft picks who contribute aren’t there. You have John Collins. He looks like a star in the making. But then you have to go back to 2013 (Schröder) to find a first round draft pick who starts or contributes significantly.

You want to know why our Hawks are the worst team in the NBA? There you have it.

The point is that this can be fixed rather quickly. It doesn’t have to be a 5 year reconstruction like in football. If new GM Travis Schlenk can drive a successful draft room for the next few years, our Hawks could be back near the top of their Division sooner than later.

But they have to do it. Losing at this clip, and then failing to have successful drafts, would cripple our beloved Hawks for a long while.

Yes, this is a NBA Draft column in January. Because that is where our hope rests.

Next: Atlanta Braves Move on From Another Transition Player

It also wouldn’t hurt to get rid of those god awful jerseys and go back to our traditional colors. I don’t how any team could win in those.

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