In my estimation, there is no league more "top heavy" in sports, than the NBA. The NFL has their dynasties through great coaching and an adaptive mind frame to the way the game is played. Just see, the Patriot Way. Major league baseball, more top heavy than the NFL, has its teams that often spend like Babyolonian Kings, yet the sport is too fundamentally sound, where a jack of all trades can make up a team that can compete over an all too long season. See Billy Bean's Oakland A's. Or Brad Pitts Oakland A's. But, in no major sports organization, are you "allowed" to opt out of long term contracts, team up with a quarter of the U.S. Olympic team, and change the title forecast of your city overnight.

Chip chasing free agency has created nearly a more electric off season, than the season itself. This has potentially, never been more accurate than this NBA free agent season.
In the NBA arms race, when so few teams take so many of the weapons, some houses are going to be left with enough firepower to defend themselves, but not actually be in any contention for a Chip.

If you have paid even glazed over attention, you'll know who the power players are. There are a few select teams in the Chip hunt though, that are being gravely disrespected, as well as some pedestrian teams, that are in no way a threat to stealing a banner from your favorite team, but, night in and night out, will be absolute headaches in the middle of a four game road trip. Teams that will get into dog fights with any team, for the entirety of an 82 game season.

For example if I said don't sleep on the Magic, or don't sleep on the Blazers, these statements sound very similar, but the sentiment implied is on vastly different ends of the spectrum. Don't sleep on the Magic because they may sneak in the playoffs. Don't sleep on the Blazers because they may actually contend in a deep and chaotic Western conference.

With that foundation, each week the closer the team I'm deliberating that you should not sleep on, is to 1, the more likely I consider them legitimate title contenders, not receiving the respect they should.
Let us start with the pedestrians.

6. The Atlanta Hawks will enter the 2019-20 NBA season touting the youngest roster in the league (avg. age 23.6). Hawks fans will be expecting serious growth out of the core trio of Young, Collins, and Huerter who, once Collins returned from injury, appeared to mesh very well.

I know it's hard to not sleep on a team (or even pay attention for that matter) that went 5-15 to start last season, losing 14 of 15 games within that stretch. But as this teams core paces through obvious growing pains, a storm is brewing on the horizon. A storm that could potentially take the Eastern conference by surprise, if they do not pay attention to Atlantas future basketball forecast.

Having young talent to develop is not uncommon in the NBA, but the Hawks have so much of it (young talent) that they are rapidly changing the expectations in Atlanta. The majority of Hawks fans are optimistic about the future, while some are predicting the 8 seed in the East already. The playoffs are unlikely this season, but they are not unrealistic. Star PG "Ice" Trae Young appears to be progressing into everything Atlanta could dream of. Trae finished last season chomping at the heels of budding superstar Luka Doncic, who many thought Atlanta made a mistake passing on. Trae is a special PG with "no shot is a bad shot" Steph Curry type range. Expect Trae to further sharpen his all ready strong game which includes a filthy handle, exceptional passing, and ice cold scoring ability. To really become a complete player, Trae Young will need to work on his defense, as he appeared to struggle on that end of the floor. Rumor has it though, that Ice Trae has packed on ten or more lbs. of much needed muscle, even though he already plays bigger than his size.

NOT MY ART. Check out @LegionHoops on Instagram for more amazing pieces like this one!

John Collins is a freak of an athlete, with the ability to jump out of the gym anytime he decides to. In fact, John Collins may be one of the biggest doses of Nyquil in the league as everyone outside of Atlanta seems to be sleeping on him. Reddit user u/Sinekure compiled some interesting data on John Collins. Cherry-picked? Possibly. But it's a solid gold cherry if I ever seen one...and it's the off season in Atlanta, come on, what do you want?

Since 1993, only 7 players have posted 60+ true shooting percentage, alongside least 18 points and 6 boards a game through their first 4 seasons. Those 7 players?
- Shaquille O'Neal
- David Robinson
- Yao Ming
- Nikola Jokic
- Kevin Durant
- Dwight Howard
- Amare Stoudemire
Karl Anthony Towns and John Collins are the only two players to post this line by their second year. I don't care how cherry-picked a stat is, that list is an incredibly elite list to be trending towards.

John Collins has an all around game that demands respect, we may be talking about a future perennial all-star here. Pay. Attention.

When it comes to Atlanta sharpshooter Kevin Huerter, if cold nicknames put points on the board, the Hawks would go undefeated, because of this kid alone. Kevin Huerter, aka Red Velvet, aka Red Dot, aka Ron Threesley, I mean the list goes on and on. Huerter is considered a spot up shooter when in reality he's much more dynamic of an athlete than he is currently given credit for. Huerter spreads the floor well, can catch and shoot in transition, but he can also put it on the deck at anytime, and take most defenders off the dribble. The buzz on Huerter as of late, is that he also has added some solid muscle mass to his lanky frame. Huerter may always be a supportive piece to the young stars developing in Atlanta, but in today's game, a perimeter sniper that can also penetrate, has never been more valuable.

This trio, is the kind of trio, when developed together, that changes the culture of a team. Throw in DeAndre Hunter, who the Hawks traded a buffet of picks to move up and select with the 4th overall spot, and you are talking about a team dripping with so much offensive talent, that the Hawks will be hard to shake this coming season.

A future this bright demands attention, now. This is the kind of team that free agents may look at in the future and think, "those kids are special right there, I like what they're doing in Atlanta". This is the kind of team that's built to out gun, and dog you to the finish. So once again, never sleep on a Hawk this season, I mean, that's just sound advice.

Written by Tyler Hines