Atlanta Hawks to have a different look in 2025 NBA season

Strong points

• The Atlanta Hawks traded Dejounte Murray for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels and future first-round picks.
• The Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick, showing potential for future growth.
• Trae Young remains in trade talks, with multiple teams interested in acquiring the star player.

After multiple exchanges and decisive decisions during the NBA draft, Atlanta Hawks will enter in 2025 NBA season with many new players in the team.

The team has already made a huge trade that sent the star point guard away Dejounte Murray and there are rumors that they will make an even bigger move. The Atlanta Hawks are looking to enter a different phase regarding their franchise, and because of that, the team could have a completely different look heading into the new season.

Dejounte Murray trade

I traded a star for assets

On July 28, 2024, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Atlanta Hawks had officially traded Dejounte Murray to the The New Orleans Pelicans . This comes after weeks of rumors that Atlanta was looking to offload at least one of its two big stars.

This trade will see Larry Nance Jr. ., Dyson Daniels and two future first-round picks (2025 and 2027) are being traded to the Hawks in exchange for Murray. The trade itself has already put the Hawks in a completely different situation as it is clear that they are looking to begin rebuilding their franchise.

Daniels, 21, is a young player who has shown promise in his first two seasons with the The New Orleans Pelicans . The point guard averaged nearly six points per game last season and showed solid finishing efficiency, though he needs to continue working on his three-point game. Nance is a solid veteran player who will make key contributions as a backup, but nothing more.

Dejounte Murray had two solid years in Atlanta, though his playmaking and defensive abilities have deteriorated since he was benched. San Antonio Spurs Hopefully Murray will improve in those categories once again, especially now that he’s on a contending roster.

Written by Zaccharie Risacher

The Future of the Atlanta Hawks

Luck was on the side of the Atlanta Hawks in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, as despite being a play-in team, they managed to climb to the No. 1 overall pick. On draft day, it became clear who the best player in the draft was, and it was none other than forward Zaccharie Risacher. Atlanta followed the mock drafts and selected Risacher with their pick.

Even though it won’t have an immediate impact on the game, it’s very obvious why Zaccharie Risacher was selected first overall. Risacher has become a decent shooter as he shot a good three-point percentage in the 2024 season. He has seen a huge improvement from the previous year when he struggled to make shots from beyond the arc, showing his ability to learn quickly.

Risacher has become a solid passer and is learning how to create shots for his teammates. He is also a lockdown defender known for his versatility and ability to alter shots with his long reach. His biggest flaw is his finishing ability, although that has also improved from the 2023 season.

One of the biggest positives about Risacher’s game is his background as a professional basketball player. Luka Doncic And Victor Wembanyama He made a name for himself playing in Europe. He was able to win the Eurocup Rising Star award and became an LNB Elite champion. Risacher’s experience and skills make him a very valuable player for the Hawks.

Looking to get rid of Trae Young?

The young star can bring many assets

After a lackluster season for the Atlanta Hawks, there has been speculation that the franchise could be looking to offload one of its top stars. While Atlanta has already dealt Dejounte Murray in a trade, there have been discussions about Trae Young have not left.

Several teams have already offered to trade the young superstar, while others have chosen not to offer a package to the Hawks. According to ESPN reporter Zach Lowe, neither the Los Angeles Lakers nor the San Antonio Spurs are interested in adding Young to their rosters, despite his excellent play, which could benefit both teams.

However, Trae Young is still in trade talks and there are plenty of teams that need him. Two teams that immediately come to mind: Miami heat And Orlando Magic teams that are contenders and certainly have the assets to trade for Young, and can use him, as they both struggle at point guard.

If Atlanta decides to trade Trae Young, the only thing that is certain is that they will certainly get some promising players in exchange for him. Young has always played like an All-Star talent and has averaged a double-double in his last two seasons, making him one of the best point guards in the NBA.

A young and promising team

Zaccharie Risacher leads the charge

Whether the Atlanta Hawks decide to trade Trae Young or not, they still have a young, promising team and a great foundation for a rebuild. Jalen Johnson took a big step forward in his NBA career, as last year he had a breakout season and is now one of the best rebounding forwards in the league.

Onyeka Okongwu He also had two good seasons in 2023 and 2024, though he needs to learn how to better use his size to his advantage. The Hawks also brought in Dyson Daniels, a young player who has shown promise but has areas for improvement, particularly in shooting.

Zaccharie Risacher will become a mainstay for Atlanta and will most likely be at the forefront of an inevitable rebuild. The young star has already shown promise as a professional player as he had a huge season in the LNB Pro A.

Although still young, this Atlanta Hawks team has shown tremendous potential and has already found its key pieces for the future. With that, a rebuild for them will be much easier than it normally would be for a franchise.

All stats courtesy of ESPN