How do the Indiana Pacers stack up in the new East?

Tier 3: The Young and the Spunky

Atlanta Hawks | Chicago Bulls

The Hawks had a patient summer, electing to trust their player development and allowing other teams to rent out their cap space (Chandler Parsons, Allen Crabbe, and kind of Evan Turner, although that was a player-player trade) in return for further draft capital.

This is fine for Atlanta, as they’ve had two consecutive strong drafts (17: John Collins, 18: Trae Young and Kevin Huerter) and the 2019 draft offered gave them two rangy wings in DeAndre Hunter and Cam Reddish. The prudent move is to let the youth develop, and that’s what the Hawks have done this summer.

Chicago was equally prudent. Draft pick Coby White is the type of pass-first point guard that will pair well with that vast swath of offensive-first players on the Bulls’ roster. But it was the Bulls’ free agent signings that were surprising in how smart they were.

Thad Young and Tomas Satoransky are two players that do what it takes to win. Pacers fans know Young well, and Satoransky can plug in at three different positions and has a strong handle. Chicago might not be deep, and there is definitely a lot of growth needed from their calves, but they have added two role players who’ll help them improve. Don’t sleep on Chicago.