ATLANTA — The guess is that the Hawks aren’t done. They did well in the draft, landing AJ Griffin with a non-lottery pick. They traded for All-Star guard Dejounte Murray at a cost of Danilo Gallinari, who couldn’t defend, plus three – ouch! – No. 1 picks. They shed Kevin Huerter, whom Murray rendered expendable, receiving Justin Holiday and a No. 1 pick.
Oh, and they signed Aaron Holiday, Justin’s brother. Neither is the best player in the family. That remains Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday, who along with Khris Middleton ended the Hawks’ run to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals with Giannis Antetokounmpo indisposed.
If the Hawks stop here, they’ve effected an upgrade. Griffin is intriguing. Murray probably is — though not certainly — a better fit alongside Trae Young than Huerter. Murray does defend, and the Hawks haven’t done much defending since … oh, the 2021 Eastern Conference finals. He’s not the shooter Huerter is, though.
