3 Best Offseason Moves for the Atlanta Hawks to Win Now

The Atlanta Hawks are once again a perennial playoff contender, but they are now aiming higher. Led by All-Star guard Trae Young in an era where the league has more parity than ever, the franchise is aiming for an NBA championship. Since all 30 teams will each claim their desire to raise a title banner, that may not mean much. However, only a handful of teams truly believe they have a team made for this.

That said, the Hawks are missing something. Their championship elixir is a bit off. For most, the simple solution is to trade Young or Dejounte Murray in order to improve the team’s balance and chemistry. Yet the problems run a little deeper than that; one spectacular move won’t propel the Hawks into the ethereal realm occupied by dynasty teams like the Golden State Warriors. Three key offseason decisions could be made, however.

Draft a franchise player

Alexandre Sarr is an ideal modern-day center

With the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select… Perth center Alexandre Sarr.

There are several directions Atlanta could take with this pick. JL Bourg forward Zaccharie Risacher has a nice shot and defensive versatility. He could be a great 3&D player for years to come, fitting in perfectly alongside rising star Jalen Johnson. Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard will almost certainly be considered because of his efficiency, IQ and pedigree. The Hawks would have a fairly small backcourt depending on the starting guard they trade, but potentially also two excellent shooters.

However, Sarr is the biggest game changer for Atlanta. He’s more capable of guarding in space than Clint Capela, but a better interior defender than Onyeka Okongwu. It’s the best of both worlds, you could say. That said, he’s exactly the type of center the Hawks need to compete in the modern NBA. Additionally, while Nikola Jokić may now be the king of big men, Sarr is the ideal player to guard the Victor Wembanyama of the world due to his length and mobility.

As the Hawks continue their Okongwu-at-the-4 experiment and deploy stretch big Mo Gueye, Sarr’s rim protection becomes even more attractive. At this point, with the return of Twin Tower lineups, it might make sense for Atlanta to have more size in its frontcourt. That said, the league is still more skilled than ever, so Sarr’s guard skills — particularly his inside-out shooting — are extremely valuable as well.

Sign a role player

Royce O’Neale is one of the best 3-D players in the NBA

Although the Hawks are over the cap, they will have the $12.9 million mid-level exception for non-taxpayers and the $4.7 million semi-annual exception this offseason.

This is how Atlanta will land an excellent 3-and-D player in Royce O’Neale. It’s no coincidence that O’Neale also has experience in Quin Snyder’s system from his time with the Utah Jazz. That familiarity and excellence on both ends makes him a great addition. Indeed, he could even be slotted into their starting lineup if Young or Murray were to be traded. Capable of playing both on the wings and on the attackers, he even diversifies their alignment choices.

In 2023-24, O’Neale shot 37.0 percent from 3, and he has made at least 37 percent of his 3s in each of the last six seasons. He has also played in at least 71 games in each of the last six seasons. He may not require the full MLE, but with his consistency and defensive technique, it will likely take more than the two years to sign him.

Redeem for a star

Dejounte Murray for Brandon Ingram is the smartest trade

The smartest trade for the Hawks is moving Murray and Clint Capela for New Orleans Pelicans star forward Brandon Ingram. This isn’t necessarily a fair trade, as the Pelicans receive a bit more talent than they give. However, the move improves backcourt chemistry while keeping a significant scorer in the starting lineup. This also helps Atlanta lose some of their salary (around $11.7 million), which is something they have been trying to do since last offseason.

If the Hawks follow the first two steps, they will start Young, O’Neale, Ingram, Johnson and Sarr. Their bench will be led by Okongwu, Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter. All things considered, this isn’t a bad way to approach 2024-25. The Hawks may not have more firepower than in 2023-24, but it’s worth noting that Atlanta hasn’t struggled to score, averaging 118.3 points per game ( ranked 5th in the NBA).

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