There is nothing wrong with average, is there?
A lot of people believe being average is a good thing. After all, it is better to be average than below it.
Stop asking yourself, “where is he going with this?” I am getting there. Ironically, the Atlanta Hawks aren’t going anywhere.
Atlanta has been a team lost in space, hovering the Eastern Conference in the mid-to-lower playoff region of the standings for a few years now — in an atrocious Eastern Conference, I might add.
I mean, come on. Atlanta won 38 games last season and made the playoffs.
If you need me to utter that ridiculous statement in a Jim Mora voice, I would be glad to. It wouldn’t be any worse than the Hawks.
Again, the counter-argument is how Atlanta gave the Indiana Pacers a run for their money in the first round of the playoffs last season. The winning argument, however, is how Indiana was not the same basketball team after trading Danny Granger away, and Roy Hibbert became the latest victim of the Monstars.
It does not matter how you slice it, Atlanta does not have a championship roster. It has a playoff roster — in the East. But the legitimacy of their team is cemented in Al Horford and Jeff Teague.
Jeff Teague is one of the few bright spots for a middling Hawks team. Photo by David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
The question now is: where are the Hawks going?
My guess is backward.
Let us look at the competition:
The Cleveland Cavaliers set off a flurry of fireworks signing LeBron James and a series of quality role players, and the Chicago Bulls have Derrick Rose back and added Pau Gasol to form the best passing front court in the NBA with Joakim Noah.
It does not take a genius to know Chicago and Cleveland are going to finish in the top-two seeds in the East.
The Charlotte Hornets improved their roster with the addition of Lance Stephenson, and many people expect a sizable contribution from rookies Noah Vonleh and P.J. Hairston. Plus, another year under coach Steve Clifford should prove beneficial for Al Jefferson, who thrived in his first season as a primary offensive option.
Even the New York Knicks improved their team and added a brain to that scarecrow that once was the Knicks’ front office. Phil Jackson has already made some under-the-radar moves with the hiring of Derek Fisher and acquisition of Jose Calderon to play point guard. And in the triangle offense, anything can happen.
So as for this upcoming season, again, might want to grab a new bulb, Atlanta . . . it is looking kind of dim right now.
Let us redirect the focus to the Hawks’ future.
They played well in spite of Horford being injured all of last season, but will it soon be a moot point? Horford is under contract through next season, and personally, I do not see how he accepts a deal to stay in Atlanta.
He is due $12 million this year and next year, but if you do not think the Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers will throw their wallets at him, then you and Ron Artest must be sipping the same Kool-Aid.
Even Paul Millsap might be on the way out because the last of his $9.5 million will be coughed up this season before he hits the market and draws plenty of interest as a free agent.
Adreian Payne could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft. Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
One bright spot is rookie Adreian Payne, who I thought should have been a top-10 pick. With the team option and qualifying offer, Atlanta will have him for the next five years — potentially. He can shoot. He can rebound. He is not a defensive liability. Payne can be a solid player for the Hawks.
Though one player cannot do it all — excluding Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Elton Brand is on his last toenail, let alone his last leg. Dennis Schroeder has shown flashes, but right now he is a back up for Teague.
If the Hawks pull a rabbit out of a hat and keep Horford, that is when I will admit they have something cooking . . . especially if Payne turns out to be a quality player and Teague continues to grow.
For now, I am grounding the birds from “Hotlanta.” And the future for them does not look that much brighter.
