There is a familiar ring to the offseason for the Atlanta Hawks.
This franchise once again will have a lottery pick, cap flexibility, a young roster and of course All-Star Trae Young.
Now the question is: Can Atlanta parlay all four building blocks into a roster that can compete for a playoff spot?
Let's look ahead to the draft, free-agency and trade questions facing the Hawks as they attempt to rise in the Eastern Conference.
Note: The financials in here are based on the salary cap and luxury tax holding at the 2019-20 levels, as expected.
MORE: Biggest trade, free agency and draft decisions for every eliminated NBA team
The options with cap space
Since Travis Schlenk arrived as president of basketball operations in 2017, Atlanta has always had at least $20 million at the start of free agency. However, Schlenk has taken a deliberate approach, building the roster via the draft, trades and short-term contracts in free agency.
That above philosophy changed at the February trade deadline when the Hawks became a buyer -- trading for Clint Capela and Dewayne Dedmon in exchange for a future first-rounder and cap fillers. The $29 million owed to Capela and Dedmon in 2020-21 is comparable to the Hawks going free-agent shopping eight months early.
Now with a projected $43 million in room -- the highest in the NBA -- Atlanta once again will have the below options in free agency:
1. The two-phase spending plan
Schlenk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution back in April: "What we'd like to do, ideally, is add guys to our core that we feel like are still growing, maybe not 20-year-olds, 21-year-olds like we have, but maybe guys in their mid-20s who still have room to improve and are maybe coming off their first contract, or that we feel like would be good additions to our group, and try to increase our depth a little bit."
If the Hawks do not extend John Collins, they can use a two-phase approach in 2020 and 2021. Because they have five players on rookie contracts in 2021-22 along with $13.3 million in non-guaranteed contracts, the Hawks could spend $30 million this summer and still have close to $30 million in room next offseason.
The Hawks have at least five open roster spots and a lack of depth on the bench, and they return six players under the age of 23 (not including both draft picks in October). Free agents who fit the description Schlenk mentioned above include: De'Anthony Melton, Derrick Jones Jr., Torrey Craig, Davis Bertans, Malik Beasley and Bogdan Bogdanovic. The issue that will arise is that only Jones is an unrestricted free agent and the Hawks would have to overpay to get him.
There is also not a mandate that Atlanta has to spend all of its cap space in a 24-hour window. The Hawks can use $30 million on roster upgrades and the balance to target teams looking to shed contracts. Most importantly, though, they should not be conservative when it comes to cost and length of the contract if the right player is available.
2. Turn cap space into draft assets
Jamal Crawford and Carmelo Anthony never put on a Hawks uniform, and Allen Crabbe played in 28 games. But the salaries for the three players helped Atlanta acquire three future first-round picks in trade. Would the Hawks go through another offseason of avoiding roster upgrades to take back salary dumps?
That approach would contradict what transpired at the deadline with the Capela move.
Don't forget that Trae Young is set to enter the third year on his rookie contract. Although he would be a restricted free agent in 2022, the clock is ticking to add talent around him. Year 4 of this rebuild should not see Atlanta punting on free agency.
The John Collins rookie extension
Collins has been open about saying he deserves a max extension this offseason.
"I just feel like the work I put in speaks for itself," Collins told reporters in June when asked about a potential max offer. "The other players who are doing what I'm doing are in contention for those things. It's something hopefully we can come to an agreement to this summer because I feel like I'm definitely putting in a lot of work, showing my value, my worth."
Collins is certainly deserving of a lucrative contract.
After he served a 25-game suspension for violating the rules of the anti-drug program, the forward put together career highs for minutes (33.2), field goal percentage (58.3%), 3-point percentage (40.1%), rebounds (10.1) and points (21.6).
But the decision to extend Collins is complicated. Because he was drafted with the No. 19 pick in 2017, Collins has a $12.4 million free agent hold in 2021. An extension starting at $25 million would cost Atlanta $12.5 million in flexibility.
The question of a new contract is based on two things:
Does Atlanta commit salary in free-agent contracts into 2021-22?
What is the value placed on having the maximum amount of flexibility?
If the Hawks spend $30 million on free-agent salaries that extend into 2021-22, they will have up to $30 million in room, including Collins' free-agent hold. An extension would shrink that number.
So, what should Atlanta do? Treat Collins like a franchise player. Instead of pitching Collins on why he should stay in Atlanta, explain the value of how holding off on a new contract would be beneficial to the team.
In the free-agency presentation, it is critical for Atlanta to show Collins and his representatives a salary-cap breakdown in 2020 and 2021, plus the free-agent targets. Allowing Collins to be part of the process of how the Hawks should be built and not a bystander is critical in building trust between the two sides.
One thing Atlanta cannot afford is to have Collins come to training camp disgruntled because there is a miscommunication about why there is no extension.
"Regardless if everything doesn't go exactly how I wanted, business is business, things happen, negotiations and so forth, but for me, always sooner rather than later," Collins said. "I would always want to get it done now than later... security-wise and going forth I could say a million reasons why I want to get it done now... so, sooner. This summer."
Offseason cap breakdown
Notes
Atlanta will start the offseason over the salary cap. However, removing the free-agent holds for Jeff Teague, DeAndre' Bembry and Damian Jones leaves the Hawks with $43 million in room.
The Hawks will have the $4.8 million room exception to use once cap space is extinguished.
Resources available to build the roster
The draft: Lottery pick, first-rounder and second-rounder (via Houston)
Cap flexibility: $43 million
Internal development: Six players under the age of 23
$4.8 million room midlevel
$2.5 million cash to receive and $5.6 million to send in a trade
Dates to watch
• Guard Brandon Goodwin has $100,000 guaranteed of his $1.7 million contract for 2020-21. The Aug. 1 guaranteed date is expected to be amended to early November. Goodwin played in 34 games, averaging 6.1 points in 12.6 minutes.
• The Hawks have until Oct. 17 to extend one-year qualifying offers to Skal Labissiere ($3.5 million), DeAndre' Bembry ($3.7 million) and Damian Jones ($3.5 million). If offers are extended, the player will become restricted free agents.
Restrictions
• For trade purposes, $100,000 of the $1.7 million in Goodwin's salary can be used in a trade.
• Until the start of free agency on Oct. 19, Atlanta can receive only $2.5 million in a trade.
The draft assets
The Hawks own all their future first-round picks.
Here's how ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have Atlanta selecting in October:
No. 6 (own): Onyeka Okongwu | PF/C | USC
No. 50 (via MIA): Cassisu Stanley | SG/SF | Duke
In 2022, Atlanta will receive a lottery-protected first from Oklahoma City. If that pick isn't conveyed, the Thunder will send second-rounders in 2024 and 2025.