The Atlanta Hawks’ rebranding as the Golden State Warriors East is Before schedule.
As unfair as those Stephen Curry comparisons may have appeared, Trae Young’s explosive post-All-Star stretch demonstrates why they were created. The 20-year-old sharpshooter has rocketed up to 26.1 points and 9.0 assists per game because intermission when hitting 2.9 triples each night in a 41.4 per clip.
Then, there’s fellow freshman Kevin Huerter performing a good belief of Curry’s sibling-in-splash, Klay Thompson. Since snagging a fulltime beginning gig in late November, Huerter has tallied 11.2 points and 2.1 threes per game while shooting 39.6 percent from distance. For contrast, the freshman edition of Thompson went for 12.5 points and 1.7 long-range bombs while clearing 41.4 percent out.
John Collins may not match the Warriors’ mould, but the second-year big man might be the ideal player about whom no one speaks. He is one of only nine contributors averaging at least 19 points and nine rebounds, and his leap as a three-point shooter (0.9 threes per night on a 37.7 percent clip) reveals there’s plenty of helium left in his upside.
It is tough to say how a number of different keepers are on the roster, although Taurean Prince and Omari Spellman both provide Golden State-style flexibility at both ends. The fiscal books are mostly clean, save for Kent Bazemore’s $19.3 million player option and Miles Plumlee’s $12.5 million salary for next year. The Hawks may also amass as many as three extra first-rounders in the next several years.
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