The Atlanta Hawks find themselves facing an elimination game on Friday night against the Miami Heat in what appears to be another lost season. Even if the Hawks manage to make it past Miami, it is simply an extension to an inevitable ending. There isn't a reasonable NBA pundit who is going to give Atlanta any chance against the buzzsaw that is Cleveland. No matter how Friday night goes, things are heading for another frustrating ending.
Hawks fans might be quick to point out the team's exciting young core that does lend itself to hope for their future. While this is a valid point, it is one Atlanta fans have been offered for the last half-decade. Dating back to the young core of Trae Young, Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter, and DeAndre Hunter, the Hawks are only ever offered the promise of tomorrow. Even after the team's improbable 2021 run to the Eastern Conference Finals, the front office refused to make moves to contend.
Quin Snyder's Future in Atlanta Must Be in Question
As long as Atlanta's front office is content to sell the promise of tomorrow, nothing is going to change for the Hawks. If Atlanta is serious about making a move up in the Eastern Conference and contending at a notable level, it is going to require drastic changes. This means bringing in key veterans to support your young core as the team did ahead of their 2021 run.
This could also mean evaluating and making a change at head coach. What has Quin Snyder done or demonstrated that should save his job? What do the Hawks do well, or how has Snyder elevated star point guard Trae Young? Both of these questions have underwhelming answers that point to Atlanta's need to have a strong playoff run to secure Snyder's job.
Yes, the team has dealt with serious injuries, missing both Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson in the play-in. This doesn't excuse the back-to-back seasons of mediocrity in a wide-open conference or the inconsistent defensive effort we've seen from the franchise. With a number of established veteran coaches searching for their next landing spots, the Hawks must at least consider making a switch.
They cannot continue to be content to simply sit back in neutral and accept being a consistent play-in team. Whether it is committing to a painful rebuild or, more realistically, bringing in a second scorer alongside Trae, the Hawks must make changes. Changes that could include a reset at head coach, parting ways with Snyder in an effort to bring a fresh perspective.