Atlanta Hawks: Season Preview
A Hawk is only as good as its wings…
So Why Watch?
High Flyers in Transition, Pick and Pop 3's, and the Great Barrier Thief.
Wings: While none of the roster's biggest names are in the wing spots, the depth at the 2 and 3 positions will ultimately be the biggest contributor to this team's success. Dyson Daniels is coming off of a season where he won the Most Improved Player award and finished 2nd in defensive player of the year voting. He inked his first selection on an all defensive first team, lead the league in steals with over 3 per game (the first player since Alvin Robertson to do so in 1991), and took a huge leap as a secondary playmaker. His constant rim pressure as a big guard that can drive to the basket and finish either above or below the rim helped steady the offense when Trae was off the floor or off his mark. Newcomer Nickeil Alexander-Walker will provide elite perimeter defense behind Dyson as someone who can guard the other team's best guard and serve as a reliable catch and shoot option. Luke Kennard is a knock down sniper leading the league in catch and shoot 3 point percentage over the past 5 seasons and he can also provide serviceable ball handling duties when Trae isn't playing lead guard. The former 1st overall pick Zaccharie Risacher finished the season strong, and the hawks love what they see in this 6 foot 9 off ball threat. He's only recently turned 20 years old and as his confidence grows so will his impact on both sides of the ball.
Ice Trae: The Atlanta Hawks have been the poster child of mediocrity for the past 4 seasons, but that all could change going forward. Trae Young is coming off of his 4th All-Star campaign and entering his 8th season. He's made a living as the organization's offensive engine and this year he has more help than ever on that end. The point guard has averaged double digit assists his past 3 seasons and became the first Hawk ever to lead the league in that category. You can expect a top 6 offense with this core.
JJ: Arguably the second best player on this roster, Jalen Johnson, will look to take another leap this season with the added help on the interior and increase in spacing. Johnson does his best work in the open floor when he's able to show off his athleticism and handle. In the half court, the addition of Kristaps Porzingis will help his offensive potential exponentially. With The Unicorn stretching the floor, Johnson can hang out in the dunkers spot and catch lobs from Young, or go to work in the low post against smaller defenders. With Porzingis inside the 3 point line, Johnson functions well as a short-roll passer and can find his Center for easy points at the basket or kick out to his wings for 3 point opportunities. Expect the 23 year old to average upwards of 20 points and 5 assists per game in this new offense.
The Unicorn: Kristaps Porzingis was one of the more interesting additions to any team this offseason. He barely played at the tail end of last year, as he was sidelined with a mysterious illness; still, the Hawks see him as more than just a rental. The veteran big man is undoubtedly one of the more talented 5's in the league, combining limitless range with dominant shot blocking upside. He but his lone all star selection was back in 2017. The reason- his health. He's only played 65 or more games 3 times in his career as he enters his 11th season in the association. He won a championship in 2024 with the Boston Celtics, however he barely saw the floor in the finals. Last season he took a step back averaging under 20 a game for the first time since the 21-22 campaign in which he played just 34 games for the Dallas Mavericks. If the Hawks want to cement a playoff seed and potentially home-court, they'll need KP to be more available than he has been. With his contract ending after this season, that should be all the more reason for him to want to stay on the floor.
Additional Weapons: Onyeka Okongwu will be an excellent bench center that will inevitably find himself starting at the 4 or the 5 when one of either JJ, KP, or both go down. Expect double digit scoring and serviceable rebounding and rim protection with an intriguing jumper on the way. Mo Gueye looks to fortify the defense as a lengthy big that can switch onto the perimeter and guard the rim at 6'10. Asa Newell is a hometown kid that might not see a lot of burn in year one, but his 3 point shot already looks to be more than expected and he can play either the 4 or the 5 when his time does finally come. Vit Krejci finished the team as a premier 3 point option that can pass with the best of them, and Keaton Wallace and Nikola Djurisic will fight for minutes in the backup point guard spots. These two add grit and toughness to a lineup that could use it.
Biggest Weaknesses: The Hawks are headed into the 25-26 campaign without competent point guard play outside of Trae Young. This has been the case for the entirety of his career, with his best help being half a season of combo guard Lou Williams in 2021. It appears that coach Quin Snyder will want to run Dyson as the backup PG, sharing ball handling responsibility with NAW, Luke Kennard or Jalen Johnson. If they're smart, they'll search for additional talent at the PG spot whenever it becomes available before the postseason comes around.
Offenseive Weapons Pictured on Media Day.
