Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
If any team has reservations here, it may be the Atlanta Hawks.
After all, they already made a big move this summer, acquiring Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs for three first-round picks. Murray is great – he’s a walking triple-double who provides some of the best point-of-attack defense in the NBA.
Still, questions about his fit alongside the ball-dominant Trae Young as a poor shooter continue to persist.
With that in mind, why would the Hawks acquire Ben Simmons? He’s a walking triple-double who provides some of the best point-of-attack defense in the NBA and is an outright non-shooter.
Well, landing two elite defensive players serves to protect Young – one of the worst defenders in the entire league. Perhaps the Hawks wouldn’t be done making moves after this deal. We’d like to see Simmons transition into a new role as a pick-and-roll finisher, but that’s currently Clint Capela’s role with this team.
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On the other hand, Young, Murray, and Simmons are all members of the 25-and-under club. The Hawks would have some time to work with following this trade.
If they could land a stretch big over the next couple of seasons, and Dejounte Murray could improve his three-point shooting a little, they could become one of the most formidable two-way teams in the NBA sooner than later.
