The Atlanta Hawks may have launched a new era on Wednesday night with their selection of Zaccharie Risacher as the number one pick in the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-9 wing will instantly bolster a roster that is in dire need of defending and consistent outside shooting. The Hawks are certainly in a better place today than they were yesterday.
On the other hand, the pressure is now on as another decision looms over the front office. Will they move one of their dynamic point guards?
Assuming they move Dejounte Murray, which was the consensus on The Steakhouse on Thursday morning, then a new chapter has been opened in the Trae Young story. With that new chapter, the pressure has never been greater.
"You're not bringing him here not to play," Shapiro said about the Hawks' top pick. "He'll play the two or the three and you'll tell Dejounte that we appreciate the effort. You keep Trae Young. You give Trae Young Jalen Johnson -- who's now becoming a major star -- and you give Trae Young the number one pick in the draft, you give Trae Young another piece for Dejounte Murray coming back [in that eventual trade].
"And you say, 'Alright Trae, how are things going to be different?"
This will be the newest of several different iterations of the Atlanta Hawks with Trae Young as the centerpiece. What started with Lloyd Pierce back in 2018 turned into Nate McMillan, which turned into Quinn Snyder and Dejounte Murray as his running mate. Outside of the one electric run in 2021, the results have largely been the same: .500 basketball with several disappointing finishes.
According to Shapiro, the return for Murray in a trade could land them a future first-round pick and a strong role player. Perhaps that will be enough to give this team the needed shot in the arm alongside its number one pick in Risacher.
"Now we're going to have a new era," Steak said. "And it's time to start winning."
Most Popular
Comments / 0