Over the past three seasons, Atlanta Hawks fans have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions.
After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals under the leadership of Nate McMillan, who took over midseason, there was a sense of optimism that the team had found the right coach. McMillan replaced Lloyd Pierce and came close to reaching the Finals.
The following season, 2021-22, didn’t yield better results, but fans’ hopes were reignited when the Hawks acquired Dejounte Murray from the Spurs, giving Trae Young his first All-Star teammate. Excitement buzzed around Atlanta.
Unfortunately, the 2022-23 season turned out to be even more disappointing than the previous year. The Hawks struggled, but that wasn’t the only concern.
Unexpectedly, Travis Schlenk stepped down, and shortly after, McMillan followed suit. Team owner Tony Ressler removed the general manager who had drafted Trae Young, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, Onyeka Okongwu, and Jalen Johnson.
The franchise’s situation hit an all-time low in the Trae Young era. In a mid-season move, Quin Snyder was hired, raising hopes among the fan base.
Formerly the head coach of the Jazz, Snyder replaced Joe Prunty, McMillan’s interim successor, and led Atlanta to a first-round exit, even pushing the Celtics to a Game 6. It was a promising conclusion to a forgettable season.
Now, fans find themselves in a situation similar to a couple of years ago, believing that Quin Snyder is the right head coach for the Hawks. Expectations are high for the Quin Snyder era, but what should we realistically anticipate?
On the surface, expectations shouldn’t be significantly higher, given that the team’s roster is quite similar to the previous year.
However, one key change could have a significant impact on the Hawks. John Collins is no longer with the team, and Jalen Johnson has joined.
While Johnson may not start over Saddiq Bey, he is likely to assume most of the minutes left by Collins. This change might not be getting much attention now, but it could turn out to be a case of “addition by subtraction.”
In any case, most of the optimism centers on Quin Snyder, who has already left his mark on the organization. The decision of Dejounte Murray and Onyeka Okongwu to bypass free agency and sign team-friendly contract extensions has added to the positive outlook.
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