Where are the Hawks after free agency?

The Atlanta Hawks made one of the biggest moves of NBA free agency this summer by trading Dejounte Murray to New Orleans, but they have been quiet since. Atlanta has been retooling their roster to try to maximize Trae Young’s strengths and has done a good job of it in my opinion. While I’m not going to say the Hawks are a title contender or even a top-four team in the East, they are a tier above the bottom of the East and can contend for a playoff spot.

In the first power rankings since the end of free agency, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey placed the Hawks at No. 22:

“The Atlanta Hawks moved up nine spots in the lottery, selected Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick and acquired intriguing second-round pick Nikola Đurišić via trade.

Combine those two with 22-year-old Jalen Johnson and 23-year-old Onyeka Okongwu and it’s easy to get excited about this young core.

“Even Trae Young, who re-emerged as the unquestioned primary point guard after the Dejounte Murray trade this summer, is just 25. And he’s a good enough offensive engine to have Atlanta in the mix for a play-in spot even as the younger players develop.”

Will these additions and roster translate into more wins? That’s not what the bookmakers at Caesars Sportsbook are thinking right now in their first win totals released for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Atlanta starts with a win total of 35.5, which ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference, ahead of Brooklyn, Detroit, Washington, Chicago, Charlotte and Toronto. Boston has the highest win total in the Eastern Conference and the NBA at 58.5.

I don’t think it’s an unfair win total for the Hawks, but I wish they would talk about it now. I think the way this team is built can play to Trae Young’s strengths and better cover his weaknesses on defense. Daniels has an argument to be the best perimeter defender Young has ever played with and if he starts alongside him, he can be the point defender the Hawks need alongside Young. Daniels needs to find a way to be a consistent three-point shooter and contribute offensively, but having Young as a point guard should help in that regard.

The Hawks’ upcoming season could hinge on the development and growth of the players around Young. Jalen Johnson could have won Most Improved Player Award last season if he stayed healthy and he appears to be a future All-Star. If Johnson can make the necessary strides on both ends of the floor, the Hawks’ ceiling rises considerably.

But it’s not just Johnson. While Risacher isn’t as high-profile as other top picks in the past, he has the ability to help the Hawks sooner rather than later. Leading up to the draft, he was praised for his shooting ability, size, and defense. Risacher has struggled with his shooting so far in Summer League, but the other aspects of his game have lived up to expectations. Atlanta doesn’t need Risacher to be an All-Star in his first year, but for them to surpass that win total, he’ll need to provide scoring and versatility on defense.

What will the Hawks do at center? Currently, the Hawks have Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, Larry Nance, Bruno Fernando and Cody Zeller. Atlanta is unlikely to have all five players on its roster and must decide what to do. Will they keep Capela and make him and Okongwu the center tandem? Will the Hawks move Capela and ultimately make Okongwu the starter, with Nance as the likely backup? Regardless of their decision, either Capela or Okongwu will likely be the starter this season?

Bogdan Bogdanovic is going to be one of the Hawks’ best players and I don’t have much to say about him. He should have been 6th Man of the Year last season and will be one of the Hawks’ best players again this season.

Kobe Bufkin and De’Andre Hunter (if he’s still on the team) are two other players who could turn the Hawks’ season around. Bufkin could be used as a backup point guard on the team, but he’s had trouble staying healthy and that would be a big role for him. Hunter was good when he came on last season and I’m curious to see if Quin Snyder does the same this season.

The Hawks have a low win total to start the season, but they have the ability to surpass that total. A lot will depend on the young players they have and how they can fit around Trae Young.

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