What’s Next for the Atlanta Hawks?
The Atlanta Hawks had their most successful season in 2021 when they managed to make the Eastern Conference Finals. Since then, they've been stuck in the NBA Play-In Tournament and haven't made a deep playoff run. The Hawks are looking at a grim future if they aren't able to retain the star point guard Trae Young. Trae's contract is coming to an end this season with a player option, and the Hawks have done their best to put a competent roster around him. This upcoming season will hold an important place in deciding the future of the team.
Trae Young is one of the most underrated players in today's league. His playmaking, shooting, and reliability in clutch have remained a constant facet of his game. The Hawks acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics this offseason, and his pairing with Trae is an exciting prospect. Kristaps is a solid defender and a desirable stretch five. With a facilitator like Trae managing the offense, Krisptaps could likely have a career year. The only concern is whether or not he can stay healthy, as his injury history has gotten worse with age. The Hawks also have a promising young core behind Trae. Dyson Daniels had a career year last season, leading the league in total steals and steals per game. His defensive prowess is a vital strength on the team to cover up for Trae's weakness on defense. The Hawks also have a promising forward in Jalen Johnson. Johnson has consistently developed his game each season and finished the 2024-2025 season averaging a double-double with almost 19 points per game.
The Hawks finished ninth in the Eastern Conference standings in the 2024-2025 NBA season. In the 2025-2026 season, the Hawks will aim to advance out of the NBA Play-In Tournament and secure a playoff spot. To achieve this, they must outperform three teams that have previously performed better than them. The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers are both missing their top stars due to injury. For that reason, both teams are effectively considered to be taking the next season off, ideally to allow other rotation players to shine and gain trade value. It's in their best interests to do poorly in the regular season and hopefully land a top draft pick. With the improvements made to their roster, the Hawks should easily outpace both of these teams. The next team the Hawks should be easily beating is the Miami Heat. Last season, the Heat traded their star small forward, Jimmy Butler, to the Golden State Warriors mid-season. Butler was an integral part of the Heat's success, and now they'll have a full regular season without him on the roster. The Hawks should be able to beat all three of these teams in the regular season standings.
The Hawks could also eclipse the Milwaukee Bucks in the regular season. While they still have Giannis Antetokounmpo at the peak of his powers, the rest of their roster is disappointing. This season, the Hawks have a very real possibility to finish in the top five in the conference, and now that reliable defenders surround Trae, they could even make a deep playoff run. Although teams like the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic have great rosters with a lot of potential, Trae has more experience in clutch situations. With this improved roster, his expertise could easily best these younger teams.
