The Atlanta Hawks are entering one of the most important weeks in the franchise's history. For the first time, they will be picking first in the NBA Draft while they also face the critical decision of what to do with the future of their backcourt.
If there is anything that the Atlanta Hawks can take from the teams that went deep into the postseason, it's that they simply cannot afford to miss on draft picks.
"[The Draft] changes the trajectory of your franchise," Steak said about what defines a franchise. "Players. Stars, and surrounding them [with talent]."
He likens it to the recently crowned NBA Champion Boston Celtics, who have done an impeccable job of finding talent throughout the levels of the NBA Draft and surrounding them with strong role players. They consistently drafted the best overall players (namely Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown) despite not having the top pick.
"The [2024] title was won in 2016 and 2017 when the Lakers were taking Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram while the Celtics were taking Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum," Steak continued. "Then they filled in with stars. Jrue Holiday will probably go to the Basketball Hall of Fame, Derrick White is a star, [Kristaps] Porzingis is a great player, and Al Horford [is good, too].
"The Hawks have to get it right," he continued with serious inflection. "The Hawks have to get it right because they're picking number one. If they trade Trae or they trade Dejounte -- because one of them is going, if not both of them, they have to get it right in what they get back and with their draft picks."