The end of every NBA season brings a moment for reflection, and for the Atlanta Hawks, that moment is now. After a 51-point playoff exit at the hands of the New York Knicks, some might call for a complete overhaul. But if you look closer—and Hawks General Manager Onsi Saleh surely will—you'll see a team that's closer to Eastern Conference contention than you might think.

This season was a rollercoaster for Atlanta. The Hawks parted ways with franchise cornerstone Trae Young amid an injury-plagued campaign, watched Jalen Johnson rise to All-Star status, and saw their playoff roster look drastically different from the one that opened the season in October. Given all the turbulence, the Hawks actually overachieved. They were projected as a play-in team, but a strong second-half surge locked them into the top six of the conference.

But success doesn't mean the roster is perfect. There are clear holes to fill—and the good news is, Atlanta has the tools to do it. The Hawks enter the NBA Draft with three picks, including two in the first round, plus plenty of cap space to make moves in free agency.

The most glaring issue? Size. Especially in the frontcourt. It's ironic, really, because Atlanta started the season as the tallest team in the NBA, averaging 6-foot-7. That advantage came largely from 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis, acquired from the Boston Celtics. But Porzingis's availability issues forced the Hawks to trade him at the deadline, bringing in Jock Landale instead. When Landale went down with an ankle injury and missed the playoffs, the Hawks were left with a major void behind starting center Onyeka Okongwu.

Okongwu is a talented player, but at 6-foot-8, he ranks as the 79th-tallest active center in the league. That lack of height was brutally exposed against the Knicks. New York dominated the paint and the boards, finishing the series +54 on the glass. Over the final three games, the Knicks were +52 in scoring in the paint. It was a mismatch that Atlanta simply couldn't overcome.

For all his strengths—Okongwu ranked in the top 20 in total blocks with 79—his size limits his ability to protect the rim and control the glass against bigger opponents. The Hawks need to address this if they want to take the next step. With draft capital and financial flexibility, this offseason is the perfect time to find a solution. The foundation is there. Now, it's about building on it.