Learning more about new Atlanta Hawk Nickeil Alexander-Walker W/ Jon Krawczynski

Learning more about new Atlanta Hawk Nickeil Alexander-Walker W/ Jon Krawczynski

Welcome in Hawks fans. Your boy Bryce Lewis back at it again for more Believe in Hawks. Obviously, this free agent period for the Hawks has been a very exciting time. And one of the key additions from free agency was Nquille Alexander Walker. And today I wanted to bring in someone who has watched the last few years of his career covering the team that he’s been on, the Minnesota Timberwolves, John Krinski from the Athletic. He covers the Minnesota Timberwolves. How are you doing today, my guy? I’m doing good, Bryce. Thanks for having me, man. When any chance I get to sing Nquille’s praises, I’m happy to do it. So, let’s get after it. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And obviously, like I said, we were able to do a sign and trade with the Timberwolves to acquire him. And my first question really to you about it was before all the signings happened for Minnesota when you looked at the three guys, you know, you had Randall, Nazri, Walker, did you was it always like he was the odd man out or was there did you think there was like we might go with him and then maybe Nas walks because we did hear there was some interest in Nas if he hit free agency. Yeah, I mean I think that kind of the way that it all shaped up, the the biggest expectation was that Nikquille was going to be the odd man out. And there’s a couple reasons for that. One is uh Nquille did a great job of establishing his value on the open market as a three and D guy as you know really good perimeter defender. Excellent guy off of the bench with some ability to start if you if you want to and and just getting himself to that midlevel or above type of money was going to say all right this was going to be a difficult decision financially to keep him. Um the other part of it though uh that when you look at Nazare and Julius Randall as the other two components and you had to pick two of those was um one is Naz Reed is like a he could run for mayor here in Minneapolis and and and win. You know, he’s that popular. It’s a he’s a huge part of kind of the Timberwolves lore and he’s six man of the year and all those things. And um and with him and Julius, there was less depth behind them in the front court than there was on the wing behind Nquille Alexander Walker. The Wolves have Terence Shannon Jr. They have Jaylen Clark. They have Rob Dillingham. So there’s a belief that maybe there isn’t one singular player like Nquille who can kind of do everything that Nquille can. But I think that they felt that they had enough stocked behind him with young talent that could come in and assimilate or or just get, you know, approximate contributions uh that Nquil Alexander Walker gave them and it would have been harder for them to replicate losing to Nazi, losing to Julius Randall. So, um, not very few people surprised that Alexander Walker was the one who left, but that doesn’t make it any easier for for most people to say goodbye to him here. He’s just a a beloved figure uh, with the Timberwolves. Yeah. And, you know, you before we hopped on, I was looking at some just some articles that have been posted the last couple weeks, and I’ve seen Minnesota fans kind of be like, man, I’m I’m going to miss him. like, you know, they were talking about him locking up like Tyrese Maxi and different guys over the last few years and it was just like they they really saw his value in what he did for the team and also going through his career, I completely forgot he played in Utah for for a couple years. I just remember Pelicans and then Minnesota. So that was interesting to see. But so for for him, you know, coming to Minnesota, one thing you heard a lot was how much he improved his game since being in Minnesota. Can you touch on that a little bit? how much work he put in to get where he is. Yeah, he was so the when uh he came to Minnesota from Utah, it was in the three-team trade with the Lakers where the Wolves got Mike Connley and Nquille Alexander Walker. They sent D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers in that deal. And when the when it happened, um, it was largely kind of an analyzed as the Wolves got their starting point guard that they wanted in Mike Connley. So that was the big that was the big fish that they landed. And there’s this other little there’s this other guy, Nquil Alexander Walker. He was a former first round pick, but he hasn’t really done a whole lot. So it’s more of like just a throw in to make the trade work financially for everyone involved. And so there wasn’t a lot of expectation right away that Alexander Walker was going to be much of a contributor to the Timberwolves uh when they first pulled the deal off. And you know, he was a guy that came into the league, you know, with New Orleans as a lower first round pick and more envisioned himself more as a scoring guard, as kind of an offensiveminded uh driver o of the offense. and that just hadn’t really come together in his in the start to his career either in New Orleans or in Utah. And so there was a sense kind of when when Nquille arrived in Minnesota that he was sort of hanging on to the league by his fingertips a bit like that he needed something good to happen or else he was looking at having a hard time finding another job, you know, here local in in in the United States. Maybe he has to go overseas. Maybe he has to do something else to try and re repair his value. And once he got here though, what the Wolves discovered was a player who understood finally I think that he just had to make sacrifices in his game and he had to adapt to the league rather than have the league adapt to him. And so he really focused on becoming a highle defender on on becoming that kind of perimeter stopper. and he worked tirelessly on his shot to make sure that that was a more consistent weapon for him, especially behind the three-point arc. And and slowly but surely, he got opportunities to play, you know, in that in that first year that he arrived and then going into the next season. and he just kept on taking advantage of those opportunities and really playing well and bringing consistent energy every night, being the hardest working guy, uh, and being a real kind of pseudo leader with with just the way that he went about, uh, preparing himself and then and then being a part of the team. And so he eventually turned himself into a an elite perimeter defender and a reliable shot maker from the the perimeter as well. And so that just all of a sudden made him one of the top eight guys on the roster and a guy who was playing so well that Chris Finch, the head coach, couldn’t get some of these younger guys more minutes that he wanted to give them just because Alexander Walker and Dvenenzo were kind of eating up the bulk of the the backcourt minutes off the bench for the Wolves. And so, uh, yeah, he really is a success story and and some of it was the Wolves and their, um, their coaching and their player development. And a lot of it was Tequille Alexander Walker just kind of finally accepting how he was going to make an impact in this league and and then going out and doing it like every single night. You know, he’s one of their most reliable players. Yeah. And it’s funny you mentioned kind of the trade that kind of got him there. It kind of reminds me of the trade we just made last year with Dyson Daniels. I know that trade was happened. Some people were like, “Okay, like what what is Dyson about?” You look at the stats like, “All right, he hasn’t done a lot.” You’re just like, “What what are we getting?” And then he ends up being the most improved player in the league this past year. So, there is very similar uh stories there. Plus, people view with us now, you’re getting high level defensive 48 minutes of defensive play between those two guys. So talking about Aquil’s fit in Atlanta now, um just what do you think about that bit? Obviously you probably we would probably say he’s playing with Trey Young. So in terms of think about how he shot in Minnesota, there’s a very good possibility that could get even better potentially in Atlanta. Yeah, I think so. I mean I I really like the fit with the Hawks. Um he is a guy that you can play with Trey Young or that can do some of the uh point guard stuff uh when Trey Young is on the bench and and so is he like a prototypical point guard? No, he’s not. But he can handle playmaking and offensive initiation in smaller doses when you need it for smaller portions of the game. So he can give you that. Um, but then yeah, I mean when you look at, you know, him and Tyson Daniels and Jaylen Johnson and, you know, and Aongu and like what the the Cox can be defensively, Rese I think that he will bring another dogged wing defender to a group that does look like it has the ingredients to be one of the better defensive teams in the East. And I I think that one thing that really helped the Wolves catapult from where they were to Western Conference Contender was they just embraced the defensive end and they played so hard on defense in the regular season in particular. And so Nquille brings that sort of mentality and that mindset every night like he always plays hard. He always gets after opposing scorers. And so, uh, he’s going to set a tone and help set a tone on a nightly basis for the Hawks that can be can in and of itself win you games in the regular season. You know, there are teams that go through the motions. There are teams that, you know, that that hits pockets of the schedule where they’re just not really kind of given everything they’ve got. And Nquille does that every single night. And so if you can establish a team that just plays harder than than everyone else, you’re going to win games, especially in the East. So, um, his ability to hit threes, his ability to make a few plays. Um, and mostly, you know, his overall personality is I mean, Atlanta fans are going to just be taken by the guy. Like, he’s so thoughtful. He’s so introspective. He’s so uh engaging. He’s a an incredible human being to go with, you know, a really really good, you know, either bench player or starter depending on how you want to configure your roster. He can do he can do so many different things for you. And the other thing, knock on wood, never missed a game in Minnesota. Played every single night. He’s really durable. He takes care of his body. Um, and he just uh he is one of those guys that’s just so reliable night in and night out. And so I think he’s going to fit in great with Atlanta. Yeah. And you know, it’s interesting talking about, you know, his fit and where he’s playing because I’ve seen through some things that I’ve seen him at times listed as a point guard. Yeah. Even though primarily I think he’s a two. Um did did Minnesota use him at three at times? Was that something they would do? Is that And is that And was that like a did that work out well when he was playing at three? Is he kind of versatile in that way? Yeah, I mean, you know, the the thing is is you are who you can guard and he can guard threes. Um and and so yeah, like they can do that. They they have gone small in the past. Maybe it’s Connley, Ant, and Nquille at some sometimes or or um Devincenzo, Alexander Walker, and Edwards. Like you can play that way. And it’s not, you know, he’s he’s small in that he is not he’s not a big dude. He’s he’s skinny. Um, but he’s long like he’s, you know, he is a guy who can absolutely hold up to most threes uh when when you’re talking about defending them and then he makes enough shots offensively to make the spacing work that he can work in three guard lineups. And so that that versatility defensively gives you different kind of options to play. And you I mean, yeah, he’s not a true one, but you could play him and Dyson Daniels in the same back court and like just watch other teams never score, like you know, and um and and he could you can get away with that. You could put him, you know, in lineups with Rese and Jaylen Johnson and Congu and all of a sudden they’re really big and they’re really and they’re really physical and they’re just nasty defensively. And so, uh, the Quinn Quinn is going to have a bunch of different options to deploy him or, you know, you use him as a sixth man, use him as an eighth man. You know, there’s all sorts of different ways that you can do it. And now that he’s gotten his financial uh, future taken care of. I even think that there’s going to be even more willingness for him to just do whatever it takes. He’s always been that way here, but here he had sort of the uh pressure to prove himself that he deserved a contract like he got from Atlanta. Now he has that contract. Now that peace of mind is going to be even greater and I think he’s such a team guy that you’re going to just be able to put him anywhere you want and he’ll be like, “Yep, I’ll do that and I’ll take on that challenge.” And you know what’s interesting too is when I think about the two teams and I think about Nquille, you mentioned how, you know, when he was early in his league, he was kind of like an offensive guy, right? In terms of like a driver of the basketball, things of that nature. In Atlanta, you know, we we added Kristoff Rosingis and I think one thing Quinn has really harped on his spacing. Spacing, which creates lanes to drive and do things. And I feel like in Minnesota, obviously when Rudy was on the floor, you know, he’s in the paint for the most part. you know, you you know how you how how it went. And obviously that was why it was so valuable for him to develop a shot. But do you see maybe with the amount of spacing the Hawks could have Nikquil impacting the game even with the shot but more in the paint attacking the rim just because now there may be more lanes for him and and him being effective in that role because Quinn very much values cutting and you know he values playmaking and passing and trying to find guys on the run. Yeah, I mean I I do think he can get to the basket. Uh we we saw it in Minnesota and we saw him able to create his own there there, you know, it’s it’s a fun experience, I guess, watching him play because like a lot of his drives, you’re like, “No, no, no, no, no.” And then he Yes. Then he makes it, you know, like it’s not, you know, it’s a little haphazard, but generally effective. I think one of the times the the the the the times that we’ve seen him struggle or um or not work out as well is when he really tried to be like a a prototypical one. And he, you know, I think that he came into last season uh really saying I’m going to try to be the point guard and I’m going to establish myself that way. And when he is doing that and and and trying to put on his shoulders, not only creating offense for himself, but creating for other teammates and like running an offense and being a quarterback, I think that that’s a a has been a tougher fit for him. But if it’s a combo guard, if it’s if it’s drive and and and and kick, if it’s get to the basket and score on your own there, he has those capabilities. Um, and so he is not just one-dimensional 3 and D. He’s not just a catch and shoot guy. Um, he is capable of getting stuff off of the bounce and and he did have success running pick and roll with Rudy um and and doing things that way. And he is crafty around the basket. So, um, so there are definitely more facets to his game than just the outside shot. And it’s just a matter of Yeah, I I do think that with Porzingis, with, you know, with a little bit more spacing with the bigs that Atlanta can provide. Um I I think that that could make life easier for him and maybe even make him more effective in that area of his game where we saw we certainly saw it in Minnesota, but you could see him take another step in Atlanta. Yeah. And you know, obviously, like I said, spacing being so important in today’s game in general, you know, and everybody being able the ability to drive and kick, that’s obviously going to be something that, you know, we’ll keep an eye on in Atlanta. Now, kind of shifting it back over to you guys, obviously losing him. Obviously, you mentioned some of the young guys that you guys have. Um, as of right now, are you confident? Are you feeling good about who you have ready to step up to replace him? Because, like I said, know a lot of fans in Minnesota were like that’s going to be a tough loss. Mhm. Yeah. I mean, look, I think both things can be true. One is it’s going to be a tough loss because he legitimately is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Like, that’s that’s that’s a legit title and tag for him to take on. And then he could also make shots and he could also get to the basket. He could do a lot of things for you. And he’s just like a he was a veteran presence that was important in the locker room as a voice as well. So, they are going to miss him. There’s there’s no question about that. But as we’ve seen in this new kind of financial environment that these teams are operating in, what you have to be able to do is adapt and move on when players develop and price themselves out. It’s happening all over the league. And the Wolves are just in that position with Nquille. And so they have done a good job of stocking the shelves with Terren Shannon Jr. with Jaylen Clark, with Rob Dillingham. And so they have guys who are ready to contribute. Um, we will see if they are ready to contribute at the level that Alexander Walker was able to give them, but at some point they were going to have to get this chance. Like that’s just the nature of the league and, you know, the the um the older guys kind of phase out and price themselves out and then you have to have young guys come in behind them. And so I I think that they will have different elements um and it’ll be a little bit of a different feel with kind of Shannon is really more offensive, Jaylen Clark is a more defensive specialist and then Dillingham is a point guard point guard and so um they’ll probably have to do it mixing and matching in different ways, but I do think that they feel confident and Tanner Channon Jr. in particular has looked great in summer league. So that’s a good first start and uh good first step. And so I think that they uh they have the pieces going forward to be able to make up for the loss, but um more so in the locker room than on the court even is going to be where his presence is is really missed. Yeah. And and obviously as you mentioned the second apron is, you know, we’ve seen that what that does to teams. So, you know, and obviously the year previously I remember y’all traded a cat and everybody was like or before the season was like whoa, you know, and so you got to be able to adjust. But Julius Randles worked out. So I can’t be can’t be mad at that. I did want to ask you about Rob Dillingham because he’s a guy who I’ve seen because I I have some I have some Minnesota fans, they’re friends and everything. They’re just like, you know, I think they they really want him to get a bigger role because they want to see because you see the creation because he’s more of an offensive guy who kind of create and do some different things. And I know with Mike Connley getting a little older, some people are like, we just need a little bit more juice from the point guard position. You know, you know, are you expecting like, hey, Rob, we need you to go out there and kind of you an ant or or where are you easing him in? Like how do you see that going with Rob? Yeah, I mean it’s going to be a big key to their season is is what how much he’s ready to uh assume as in terms of responsibility because yeah, point guard is thin with Mike Conley getting older with Nikquil gone now. Um and so there’s a couple of options that they have and one is Dante Dvenenzo can play it. He’s still more of a combo guy and not a natural point guard. Um so Dillingham is much more natural that way. Um, but you know, he’s 20 years old. He turns the ball over. He’s been inconsistent. And so, a lot of their off season though has been sort of geared towards setting up to give him real minutes. And just like, hey, we went and got the eighth pick overall last year to get Rob Dillingham. We believe in him. It’s time for him to really sink or swim kind of a thing. And last year he didn’t get to play all that much because of how deep the Wolves were, because of Alexander Walker and Devenenzo and all the the minutes that they got. And so now you have seen them kind of stay away from adding into that back. I still expect them to sign some kind of veteran point guard, a Malcolm Brogden type player. Um, but uh I it’s all geared toward letting Rob Dillingham cook a little bit. And what the Wolves are going to have to do is they’re going to have to be okay with him making mistakes, especially early and learning on the job a little bit. Now, it doesn’t mean he’s going to start, but I do think that he has an electricity to his game and an excitement and a dynamic element that not many other players on the roster have. And so one thing they missed in the Oklahoma City series was a guy, another guy who could really create his own offense. And Dillingham can do that. And he’s going to make mistakes. He’s going to turn it over. He’s going to be targeted on defense, but he also brings juice to the floor that they need. And so I do think he’s going to get plenty of chances to play. And there is an opportunity if he plays well enough and shows that he’s ready. Could he be the starting point guard by the end of the season? Yeah, that’s possible. Um, and so they they they do need him though. And so, you know, giving him th all those chances and letting him play through it is going to be a a big part of the early portion of next season for them. Yeah, I was just wondering about that because like I said, I know people are like, you know, especially I think summer league last year, I think people were kind of like he’s kind of cooking like, you know, maybe maybe he would be he’d be great with Ant in the back court, but Okay, so let’s let’s shift it now to Ant. Um, obviously Anthony Edwards has been a guy who’s, you know, from Atlanta, played at Georgia, still wears a lot of Atlanta gear. Um, some people wonder, you know, especially right now, Minnesota is an interesting spot because, you know, you’ve made the Western Conference Finals last couple years. You’re wondering, okay, are you taking the next step? Do you fall back? What what is it looking like? And obviously right now Ant probably isn’t thinking of any type of future things outside of right now ahead. But let’s just say hypothetically the season doesn’t go as planned and let’s say first round you guys get eliminated. Seems like you guys took a step back. Obviously we can get into Rudy Goar, whatever. Um but do you see any rumors? Do you see anything potentially being started maybe especially with the second apron if you don’t feel like you’re moving ahead that maybe and I don’t it’s not even maybe him looking but just the rumors of that possibility maybe do you consider moving him and then especially because a lot of Hawks fans feel like you know he said in the draft process that he would love to play in Atlanta one day obviously you know things happen but do you see any potential for that in the next couple of seasons if things don’t work out in in Minnesota and things go downhill just because especially now the Hawks also have that pick from the Pelicans if that was the direction y’all wanted to go in and etc. Yeah, I mean like no. Um but I we you know I understand the question for sure now. One is I can tell you like yeah aunt loves Atlanta. I’ve been to Atlanta with aunt. I’ve been in his neighborhood with him. He’s beloved there. His family loves it there. Um, and I’m sure that he thought about it before he got drafted. And who knows, way down the road, maybe like you can never rule out um, Anthony Edwards or any star, you know, kind of figuring, you know, looking other places and and moving along. That’s the nature of the league now. There are just so few players who stay in one place for their entire career. But for the next couple of seasons, definitely not. I mean, um, you know, one of the reasons that the Wolves made the Rudy Go Bear trade was because they wanted to show Anthony Edwards that you can win in Minnesota. Like, we we don’t have to worry about you looking elsewhere and and going elsewhere because we’re going to win here. And they’ve been to the conference finals backto-back seasons. Like, so they’re established as a team that can build a successful team around him. Now, they have to get better to take that final step for sure. Um, and and but one of the reasons also that they traded Carl Anthony Towns was because they wanted to stay flexible enough to build around Ant going forward. He is the center of the Timberwolves universe that that ownership is tight with him. The community loves him. Um, you everything done here is done for Ant. And so it would take a lot more than just one rough season. Um I believe for you know for the questions to start kind of really circulating and having any real um validity to them and and so like uh and he’s also under contract on the max deal for four more years. And so, uh, there’s just there’s no he is one of the most popular and important players in the entire league and he’s in Minnesota and there’s no way a market like Minnesota is going to let him leave without, you know, an enormously difficult circumstance that they’re finding like they’ll move heaven and earth before they trade Anthony Edwards. So, um, so as of for for yeah, the next 2 3 4 years, no, I think he’s going to be here for that duration. After that, we’ll have to see like where things are and how how the team has adapted and what has been built around him and how far they’ve gone and and and all of that. But, um, for now, you know, the Ant owns the Timberwolves just as much as Mark and Alex Rodriguez own the Timberwolves. Like, that’s just the way it is right now. No, I definitely get that. I just figured that out just in case, you know, some people. He does love Atlanta. I’ll tell for all your listeners, he loves Atlanta. He loves being from Atlanta. He um I’m you know, he’s definitely thought about the Hawks before and and who knows down the road, but and and so like, you know, I understand that part of it for sure. Uh he he he he’s always wearing Atlanta Braves hats, you know, in the locker room and stuff like that. He’s always talking about what, you know, where he’s from and, you know, the food and the and the culture and the family and all of that stuff. It is in it is incredibly important to him that he is an Atlanta kid and and so uh he reps Atlanta hard up here as well. Yeah. Hey man, like I said, definitely definitely seen it, you know, obviously love that. I still remember, you know, years ago they were doing with Jaylen Brown when when there were some things like, oh, you know, so I I definitely get that for sure. And you know, I I think to, you know, it’s interesting. The last two regular seasons, obviously, we played you guys like four times. We play twice a year. That’s very interesting games between the two teams as well. Um, so I definitely definitely always I think a good experience whenever I think Atlanta and Minnesota link up. And you never know. I mean, finals potentially one day. Who knows? You you can never know. It’s the NBA. You you have you have no idea. I would be stupid to sit here and say that. Yeah. You know, Ant Timberwolf for his life. He’s ne he would never that would never happen. I mean, he loves it here. He loves Minnesota. He loves the way he’s treated, the way he’s taken care of, the way that the fans have embraced him. But who knows? Like, I would say that about every single player in the league. I’d say that about Wanyama. I’d say that about any any other star as well. That’s just like you just never know in the NBA with what can happen four, five, six years down the road. Yeah. I mean, shoot, we go through it every year with Trey Young. every every year Trey Young out was like I mean no but I mean I hear you guys but n I I definitely get that for sure. Um just last thing for you. Um is there any final things you want to say about that you want Atlanta fans to know about him and just the the player he is? What anything else on the court just overall? Yeah, I I would just say I’m really excited for Atlanta fans to not only watch him play, but like really get to know him as a person because there are certainly players in the league that are guarded that, you know, kind of keep the walls up that don’t really share a lot that just kind of want to be about their business on the court and and and and do it that way. That’s not Nquille. Nquille will cut open a vein for everyone in every interview that he does. And he’s very transparent. He is very He shows vulnerability. He is so introspective and thoughtful that you know after about three or four you know press conference sessions and and and and and sessions with the media you are going to see just what kind of heart that he has and and so I I do think that was one of the big reasons that Wolves fans just fell in love with him in addition to what he was as a player but they really felt like they got to know Nquille as a person because he was so um open to sharing whatever he was thinking, feeling, going through, experiencing and and and he became kind of a spokesman for the team because he is just so thoughtful about everything. and and so I’m just really excited for Hawks fans to kind of now get to know him and watch him sort of really stitch himself into the fabric of the team the way that he did here and into the community. um he’s got, you know, he’s got a a a young family that he’s bringing that he dotes on and um and so there will be just I think a real connection that builds very quickly with Hawk fans because you’re just it’s impossible not to like him and just when you listen to him talk, when you listen to him kind of uh illustrate what he’s been through in his life and and how important all of this is to him, um it’s it’s it’s really endearing. And so I think, you know, Hawks fans will very much enjoy that part of him almost as much as they enjoy him hitting those like little sideep threes that he always does and and locking up an opposing, you know, wing scorer. So, uh, it’s it’s a great fit. Um, and he’s just, uh, he’s a great all-around person and player. And so, I’m, you know, I’m I’m happy for Hawks fans and for the Hawks in general to to land someone like that. and and and they’ll en I’m I’m sure you guys all will enjoy him as much as we did here o over the last two years. Yeah, man. Very exciting times with him. Very big part of what we’re going to do this season. So, really excited to see how he fits in with the group. And, you know, with the expectations kind of changing for us this year um trying to get up, especially in a wide openen Eastern Conference, I think we think he could be a very big key part of that. And I know you guys also still trying to fight just to, you know, maintain and move forward. So, both both teams, man, fighting for something this year. But John, I appreciate you, man, coming on, man. and talk and talking with me about Nquille and just you know some Minnesota stuff, some Atlanta stuff as well. Let people know where they can find you. Yeah, you can find me you know on X at J O N K R A W CZ Y Nski. Um you can see me on Instagram at byj Krinski and then um I’m at the athletic uh theathletic.com is where all my all my writing is and uh and so you know check out everything there. I wrote I’ve wr written extensively about Nikquil over the years and been super fun. So, good background pieces there as well. So, I appreciate you having me, Bryce. Thanks, man. Yes, sir, man. I appreciate you for show. And obviously, guys, if you enjoyed this episode, like video, leave a comment down below, subscribe. Audio listeners, same thing. If you can leave five stars, it’s always great. Five stars probably will bring John back on the show. So, but but overall guys, and obviously if y’all follow me on on X Twitter, Bryce_2K for all my Hawks takes and everything that’s happening with the team. I appreciate all y’all. But I think that’s about it for Believe in Hawks. That’s John. I’m Bryce. See you next time.

Jon Krawczynski who covers the Minnesota Timberwolves for The Athletic joins the show. We discuss NAW and his impact on the team and other topics

Topics

00:00 – Intro
00:50 – Did Min expect to lose NAW?
3:30 – Alexander-Walker growth as a player
8:15 – Fit in Atlanta
17:10 – does Min have enough to replace NAW
23:40 – Ant to Atlanta one day?
29:40 – Last words on NAW

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