1. Atlanta Hawks
Arguably the biggest surprise of the 2020-21 season was the turnaround of the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta was sitting at 14-20 when they fired head coach Lloyd Pierce. Nate McMillan was tabbed to take over on an interim basis and he led the team on an impressive run.
The Hawks went 27-11 under McMillan, earning the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers in the first two rounds of the playoffs before losing to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
Now looking to establish themselves as true contenders in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks are on the lookout for established veterans that can help take them to the next level. Robert Covington would fit the bill.
Covington would bring a much-needed defensive presence to the Hawks, something they lacked when De’Andre Hunter went down with an injury. Having more players that can get stops when needed will help take the Hawks to the next level they are looking to achieve.
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The Hawks have been looking to cut some costs this season, with Cam Reddish being one player mentioned in trades. A trade involving him could be a good starting point for Portland, who will certainly be looking to cash in if they do in fact decide to move one of the most valuable players on their roster in Covington.
