It would not have made a difference in how deep into the playoffs the Hawks made it this season. No brilliant scripted play or defensive coverage or any player short of a LeBron James clone was going to make them better than the Cleveland Cavaliers in this second round.
But they need help. They need a star. They need a go-to offensive force, somebody who can be counted on the last five minutes of a game, every game.
It’s not Paul Millsap, who too often was absent offensively in this postseason. It’s not Al Horford, who isn’t strong enough physically to be counted on inside, nor a consistent enough shooter outside.