When one Hawks executive talks about the team’s current success, he is quick to reflect on the offseason two years ago.
A big smile forms.
“That was a really, really good summer,” he said.
Through Thursday, nearly at the NBA season’s quarter mark, the Hawks are third in the Eastern Conference. They appear well on the way of extending their streak of seven consecutive postseason berths — with optimism that they won’t be one-and-done again. The current state of the team can be traced to a single week in July 2013 when much of the core of the team was formed.
Flashback.
Danny Ferry was one year on the job as general manager and well into his transformation of the organization that included the jettisons of Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams.
On May 28, 2013 Mike Budenholzer was hired as head coach, bringing the experience of four championships from his 19 years with the San Antonio Spurs.
The next month came the draft, with the Hawks holding two first-round picks. Days later came the start of free agency.
That brings us to the one fateful week.
July 10: Paul Millsap signs. The Hawks agreed to terms with Millsap and DeMarre Carroll on the first day of free agency. Ten days later, on the first day signings were allowed, the team inked Millsap to a two-year, $19 million contract. Carroll would sign his two-year, $5 million contract Aug. 3.
July 11: Dennis Schroder signs. The Hawks obtained Lucas Nogueira, Schroder and Mike Muscala in the draft held June 27. The team signed Schroder, the 19-year old point guard out of Germany, to a contract. Nogueria and Muscala would sign to play in Spain and continue to develop.
July 12: Kyle Korver re-signs. The sharp-shooter spent one season with the Hawks following his trade and had plenty of offers during the summer. He was so impressed with the work of Ferry and the franchise that he signed a four-year, $24 million deal.
July 13: Hawks match Jeff Teague's offer sheet. The Milwaukee Bucks came calling for Teague and signed him to a four-year, $32 million offer in hopes of luring the restricted free agent. The Hawks were quick to match the offer and lock up the point guard.
July 15: Elton Brand signs. The Hawks inked the veteran center to a one-year, $4 million contract to bring his vast experience to the franchise.
“Those guys have really fit in well with us and allowed us to start this building process,” Budenholzer said this week when asked to reflect upon the key moves made soon into his tenure. “We had strong feelings about them. Nothing changed. We all need to get better, including those guys, including myself as a coach. Those were important moments, important signings. It’s about the players. It’s about the people. We are certainly glad they are with us.”
In those few days in July, the Hawks secured Millsap, Carroll, Korver and Teague around Al Horford as the starting lineup. Schroder has been a key reserve at point guard early this season. Brand bailed out the Hawks last season when injuries decimated the center position and returned this year. Some week.
“I was here one year, Danny’s first year, and he kind of opened up salary space and a lot of options,” Korver said. “He made some decisions for that second year. I think he knew the kind of people he wanted to bring in. It starts with Bud really and a bunch of pieces that fit was he is trying to do. They made a lot of really good decisions.”
Millsap was crucial for the Hawks in this first season. He carried the team when Horford was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle after only 29 games. Millsap was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team, the first time the power forward was so honored after seven seasons with the Western Conference.
Carroll has become a defensive stalwart and has steadily improved his game on offense. In his time in Atlanta, the Hawks are 3-10 in the games he has missed.
Korver has stepped into the starting lineup after years of being mostly a reserve specialist. He ranked first in the NBA in 3-point field-goal percentage last season and continues to do so.
Teague had a solid regular season and then made a national name for himself during the playoff series with the Pacers. He proved such a handful that the Pacers had to put their best defender, All-Star Paul George, on him. He currently leads the Hawks in points and assists and his having an All-Star-caliber season.
Despite their current position, the 12-6 Hawks are flying under the radar nationally. They are not often mentioned with the top teams in the East. There are LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls, the fast start of the Toronto Raptors and the improving Washington Wizards. The Hawks are right there. They trail only the Raptors (two games) and the Wizards (one game).
“We just have to keep proving,” Horford said when asked about flying under the radar. “We have something to prove. We haven’t really done anything special to be recognized. I think it’s important for us to keep handling our business, keep winning and just keep building this momentum that we have.
“I don’t like (being overlooked), but it’s fine. I take on that challenge. I understand that you have to be able to win in this league and be consistent. That is something that we are trying to develop.”
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