NBA Lockout: 6 Reasons Work-Stoppage Benefits the Atlanta Hawks

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The NBA lockout is upon us and shows no signs of letting up anytime soon.

But in the end, it could be a good thing for the Atlanta Hawks. 

While an extended layoff may be a bad thing for Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady and the rest of the players on their last legs, it may actually turn out to be a positive for a young Hawks squad. 

I've always been a glass-half-full kind of guy, and maybe you will be too when it comes to this topic after reading through the rest of this slideshow. 

Here, the comments section is a place to be positive, so fill it up with other reasons the lockout could benefit the Hawks.

Enjoy!

Kirk Hinrich Has Time to Recover

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

In Game 6 of the Atlanta Hawks' first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, Kirk Hinrich went down with a hamstring injury that would not only sideline him for the rest of the Orlando series, but also the rest of the playoffs. 

In his absence, Jeff Teague took over and won the hearts of Hawks fans everywhere (we'll get to that later) as the veteran point guard sat on the bench looking quite dapper. 

At this point in his career, the 30-year-old Hinrich isn't quite the same player he once was on offense, but he remains one of the premier perimeter defenders in the league.

With the extended time off and the lack of scheduled workouts with the team, Hinrich will have an even longer period to fully rehab his hamstring and make sure he's completely healthy when basketball activities resume.  

Jeff Teague Has Time to Win over Everyone

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Atlanta Hawks fans need to begin embracing Jeff Teague just like Josh Smith is in the picture to the left. 

The young point guard from Wake Forest is the future of the Hawks' franchise at that position, if the playoff series against the Chicago Bulls is any indication. Despite losing to the Bulls, the Hawks have to consider the postseason a success because Teague was finally given an opportunity to shine and didn't let the bright lights of the playoffs faze him in the least. 

Atlanta fans need to support him, and the extra time may give them time to process his playoff series and let it all sink in.

To all of you out there, go watch some Jeff Teague highlights during the lockout. 

Keith Benson Gets Time to Develop

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

At the beginning of this offseason, the Atlanta Hawks deemed Keith Benson worthy of their one and only pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, selecting him out of Oakland at No. 48. 

The former Golden Grizzlies center fills the Hawks' biggest positional need. Benson has the potential to be a massive upgrade at the five-spot, considering Zaza Pachulia, Jason Collins and whoever else the Hawks can find in the league's scrap pile currently man the spot. 

While "one man's trash is another man's treasure" may be a saying that has withstood the test of time, "NBA teams' trash at the center position is the Hawks' treasure" is not one that has. But Benson, who was passed on 47 times in the draft, has the ability to change that.

A two-time Summit League Player of the Year, the 6'11" center is the first player to ever make it to the professional level from Oakland. The all-time leader in blocks in his conference is just as talented on offense as he is on defense; he averaged 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game during his senior season.

The biggest knock on Benson is that he needs to put on some extra muscle so he doesn't get pushed around in the paint by the NBA's other centers.

Well, with the extra time provided by the lockout, he could hit the weight room even harder.  

New Rules Could Prevent Another Joe Johnson Fiasco

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

While there's really no way for me to know exactly what the financial rules included in the new CBA will eventually be, I have to assume there will be a harder salary cap that doesn't allow teams to waste money quite as often. 

This could be good news for Hawks fans who have been doomed to watch their team struggle with money issues after Joe Johnson signed a maximum contract during the free agency bonanza of last summer. 

Johnson is a great player, but he's not worth a maximum contract. 

Let's not repeat this mistake, please. 

More Time to Think About Trading Josh Smith

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Josh Smith needs to be traded. The lockout gives the Atlanta Hawks' management even more time to think about doing so. 

If you aren't convinced of this, allow me to provide you with a few links:

 

Here are five reasons that Josh Smith needs to go.

Here are five potential deals that the Hawks should seriously consider accepting.

Here is why the Hawks and Smith can no longer coexist.  

Fans Will Be Excited When Basketball Is Back

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Phillips Arena may be known as "The Highlight Factory," but that's only because of the plays the Atlanta Hawks put together on the court. During the regular season, the support of local fans is really rather lacking. 

In fact, the Hawks ranked just 20th in the NBA this past season in terms of attendance. Throughout the season, only 83.6 percent of the seats were filled during Hawks games, according to ESPN's NBA attendance figures.

For a playoff team, that's kind of pathetic.

MVP chants can sometimes be heard for players on the other team. That's not just pathetic, that's inexcusable.

Perhaps an extended lockout will make Atlanta fans so thrilled to have their team back, especially without the Atlanta Thrashers, that they'll fill up The Highlight Factory.

We can only hope.  

More on the NBA

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Adam Fromal is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer. Follow him on Twitter.

 

Which of the NBA's Top 50 Are Past Their Prime?

100 Most Exciting NBA Stars Ever

Top 25 NBA Stars' Historical Counterparts

Each and Every NBA Team's All-Time 12-Man Lineup