The Atlanta Hawks were one of the biggest surprises of the 2020-21 NBA season, going from a lottery team to being a contender in the Eastern Conference. At the time of this writing, they are down two games to one in the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, it’s not too early to begin looking at their upcoming offseason and Marcus Smart could be a name to keep an eye on.
Smart is expected to hit the trade block this offseason following a disappointing season from the Celtics. He is the kind of 3-and-D guard that every contender loves to have.
Bleacher Report named Smart as the perfect trade target for the Hawks this offseason. Here is a bit of their reasoning behind the pick of Smart for Atlanta.
“Putting Smart on the floor next to Young allows the two-time All-Defensive team member to take on the toughest assignment every night. This means less strain on Young to defend, letting him focus his efforts on carrying the offense.”
With all of that being said, let’s take a look at whether or not Smart would be a good addition for the Hawks.
Should The Hawks Consider Pursuing Marcus Smart?
The easy answer to this question is that the Hawks should absolutely pursue a trade for Smart this offseason. He is exactly the kind of player that they need next to Trae Young in the back-court.
Atlanta has a great core built up around Young and a perimeter defensive threat is exactly what they are missing. If they were able to acquire Smart, their defense would improve immensely right off the bat. He brings leadership, experience, and some scoring ability along with his defense.
During the 2020-21 NBA season with the Celtics, Smart ended up averaging 13.1 points per game to go along with 5.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He shot 39.8 percent from the floor overall and knocked down 33 percent of his three-point attempts. Those numbers would look very good in the back-court alongside Young.
Obviously, the Hawks would not be making this move to turn Marcus Smart into a scorer. They would be making the move for his defensive ability and leadership skills. Those things alone would fit nicely with Nate McMillan, who was a defensive-minded and hard-nosed player himself back in the day.
Expect to see the Hawks look to make a move or two this offseason. Atlanta is a piece or two away from serious contention in the East. Smart may not end up with the Hawks, but he would absolutely be a perfect fit.
