The Knicks might’ve won it all, but it was the Hawks, yeah, the *Hawks*, who truly tested them in the playoffs, taking more than one game in their series. Forget the stacked 76ers with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, or the Cavaliers with their talented starting five, or even the Spurs’ generational big man. No, it was C.J. McCollum’s tough shot making, Onyeka Okongwu’s relentless two-way play, and Dyson Daniels’ suffocating defense, all with just enough from Jalen Johnson, Josh Kuminga, and Nickel Alexander-Walker, that pushed the eventual champions to their limit. Now, after that surprising deep run, the only team to take more than one game from the Knicks just got a little better… on paper.
Defense Wins Championships, Right?
The Hawks pulled off a three-team deal, snagging former Thunder Lu Dort and former Maverick Andrew Nembhard, while shipping out Zach Risacher. Looking at their new top eight lineup,McCollum, Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Dort, Johnson, Okongwu, Aaron Wiggins, and Jock Landale,it’s clear they are definitively better than they were last season. Dort brings a ton to the table: even more defense, much-needed toughness and physicality, plus that championship experience. He’ll provide great leadership for a relatively young squad. With Dort in the mix, their defense is set to be absolutely amazing. Opposing guards and wings are going to have an incredibly difficult time trying to score against this crew. They should be able to skate through the regular season without a real offensive star, purely on the back of their balance and devastating fast break scoring.
The Catch With Dort’s Declining Shot
But let’s be real, the Thunder are a smart organization. They don’t just trade away guys they deem irreplaceable. Dort played a pivotal role in their long journey to becoming champions, absolutely. However, he’s also seen a noticeable decline in his game. We’re talking four years removed from his career season, where he averaged 17.2 points per game. Since that peak, his scoring average has actually gone down every single season. He’s coming off a year where he shot just 38.5% from the field and a disappointing 34.4% from three-point range on 5.4 attempts per game. Some of that dip, from the Thunder’s perspective, came due to the undeniable rise of stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, but the numbers speak for themselves. What should concern Hawks fans is that these improvements mostly come in areas they were already good in.
So, yes, the Hawks are definitively better, especially on the defensive end. They’re going to make life a nightmare for opponents. But adding a player whose offensive numbers are trending consistently downwards, even with all his other strengths, leaves you with a big question mark. Can they truly “skate by” with just balance and fast break scoring in an Eastern Conference that looks more loaded and competitive than it has in years? This season will be a true test to see if this trade really moves the needle for them, or if Hawks fans will be left wanting more offensive firepower to legitimately contend.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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