Hello and welcome to the game theory offseason preview series where Bryce Simon and I break down

all 30 NBA teams upcoming summers and how they can reshape their team in order to better

achieve their goals. Today we're talking about the Atlanta Hawks, a team that a couple months ago

looked like they were in an excellent position to potentially have a top four pick in this draft on top of having a crazy amount of cap space.

Now, to be honest with you, Bryce, I'm wondering if they end up with either of those things, depending on how they choose to attack this summer.

They have the number eight overall pick for sure.

They have the number 23 overall pick if sure. They have the number 23 overall pick

if memory serves. We'll get that right in a second. And then on top of it, they have traded for

Jonathan Kaminga and Kaminga would take up a good amount of their cap space to the point

where it might make sense for them to operate over the cap if they decide to retain Kaminga. I think a lot of their work just kind of has to be done early, it feels like,

right? They have to know where they stand in the marketplace.

Yeah. I mean, it's the thing with them is, and what makes them so kind of intriguing,

is they have a really talented roster and a roster that obviously made the

playoffs this year, had the Knicks down in that series at one point, and it's like, okay, where do

you go with it now? I think my first thing, Sam, is answering the question of what does this

roster need? What is Jalen Johnson? What is not Jalen Johnson?

What is Jalen Johnson not? Yeah, there you go. What do they need at the center position?

Is Akongwu a starting center, but then you really need a very good backup. You went the Trey Young route.

Obviously, they decided that wasn't it, but C.J. McCollum kind of filled the role of this

offensive bucket getter.

I know we're going to answer the question if you bring him back or not.

So to me, that is the question at the center of everything else that then branches out to all

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