A bit late for a season preview with already 11 games played for the Hawks but I had not much time to check on the team during the off-season and just now getting slowly back to try different things and get a feeling what we got on the roster for this year.
Still in full rebuild mode, the talent level of the team is probably the lowest in the CSL and unfortunately it will take some time to change that.
Speaking of talent, the team had two top 10 picks available during the last draft and used it to draft a talented but raw wing in Isaac Okoro and after that a more traditional big man with Asbjorn Mitgaardt.
The preseason revealed that, as expected, Okoro is long ways away from being a useful CSL player. The lack of alternatives will give him still plenty of time to play and hopefully develop, but it will not be pretty during the first two season or so.
Mitgaardt had a tough preseason as well, shooting way below what was expected close to the basket. But during the regular season and his move to the bench, he surprised the training staff with steady and efficient play and the team strongly hopes he can still grow from there.
Main goal is to use the financial flexibility and whoever player on the roster fetches interest to acquire more future draft picks or young player with hope that some of them can be turned into solid CSL talent and the one or other star player needed to compete.
With same games already in the bag, it looks like TJ Leaf will be the scoring leader of the team for this season. He cooled a little off after a very hot start, especially from 3-point range, but he is in line with his career numbers and what he showed during preseason as well.
Kostas Antetokounmpo seems also more comfortable in his starting role this year and we may look at a role player the teams would like to keep long term. The other player the team hoped to establish as a long-term team member is Lonnie Walker, just extended during free agency. Unfortunately, he struggles mightily since his new contract and it has to be seen if he can stay in the league.
Overall, the outlook seems bleak but the motivation throughout the whole team is high and everybody is chipping in. Time to test how different lineups work. Time to give some player crucial time to prove themselves and of course excitement in the draft department during the whole season and the hope to luck out on maybe the future face of the franchise.
Let's see how the young Hawks will do and if some deals can be found.
2028
