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Danny Green Says He Has Hawks Above Heat in Eastern Conference
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- Danny Green Says He Has Hawks Above Heat in Eastern Conference
(Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
While the Miami Heat have had a big offseason headlined by their deal for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo , three-time NBA champion Danny Green doesn't think they have enough around the newcomer to be real threats in the 2026-27 campaign.
During an episode of Gil's Arena this week, Green named some teams that he'd take over the Heat this season. The Atlanta Hawks were one of them.
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"I have them (the Hawks) above Miami," Green said.
Green mostly doubled down after being asked if he really has the Hawks over the Heat.
"Probably," he said. "Probably a little bit."
It's worth noting that Green's comments came before Atlanta struck a deal with the Charlotte Hornets this week in which the team gave up Buddy Hield , Ryan Nembhard and cash in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith .
That, however, doesn't seem like a trade that would force Green to change his position.
Green did say the Hawks are going to have to show improvement this season, but he seems to feel strongly that the Heat don't have the pieces they need around Antetokounmpo. That may be the biggest reason why he feels better about Atlanta than Miami.
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After years of failed superstar pursuits, the Heat finally got their guy this summer by trading for Antetokounmpo. The 10-time All-Star, who helped the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 NBA title, gives Miami a championship-level No. 1 option.
But some -- including Green -- seem to feel like the rest of Miami's roster has holes.
Antetokounmpo has a strong running mate in Bam Adebayo , which should give the team a lethal defensive frontcourt, but there are some questions about whether that can be a championship-level duo on the other end of the floor.
There's also a question of whether the Heat's supporting cast will hold up behind the star bigs, even though the team has done a nice job of adding rotation pieces this summer.
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The Hawks, meanwhile, have had a busy offseason themselves. Wings Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins are among the newcomers, adding to a roster that is now built around star forward Jalen Johnson . Atlanta has been praised for its offseason, with one NBA executive calling it " terrific " during a conversation with Hawks Roundtable.
Last season, the Hawks made the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. While they were eliminated in the first round, they were the only team in the playoffs to push the New York Knicks to six games.
They're hoping to take another step this season, and if all goes well, they will indeed be a team the Heat will have to worry about.
