Jalen Johnson’s workload in Atlanta has been heavy, and the Hawks may have just found a way to ease some of that burden without asking him to do less on offense.
In Lu Dort’s preseason debut against the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta sent him straight into a job that immediately revealed his value. Instead of lining Johnson up against Pascal Siakam, the Hawks used Dort on that assignment. It was a small decision on the surface, but one that hinted at a bigger payoff for Johnson.
Dort has built his reputation as one of the NBA’s best defenders for a reason. At 6-foot-4, he still has the strength to check bigger players, which makes him a rare kind of defensive answer. Against Siakam, that skill set gave Quin Snyder another reliable option and kept Johnson from spending energy on one of Indiana’s most dangerous forwards.
That kind of help matters because Johnson already has a lot on his plate. After an All-NBA season, Atlanta needs him to drive the offense with scoring, rebounding, playmaking and transition creation. If Dort can absorb some of the most punishing defensive matchups, Johnson can save more of his fuel for the other end.
It won’t wipe away Johnson’s defensive responsibilities, but it could change how he distributes his effort over the course of a game. Over the grind of an 82-game season, that kind of relief can add up quickly.
The Hawks are still looking for another true star to put next to Johnson, but Dort could still end up being one of their most important pieces. Not every vital teammate needs to pile up points. Sometimes the value comes from handling the kind of work that frees a team’s best offensive player to do what he does best.
That could become even more important in the playoffs, where physicality and matchup pressure can swing a series. Atlanta saw that against the New York Knicks, whose physical style exposed some of the team’s weaknesses.
With Dort in the mix, Snyder has a chance to approach those situations differently. Johnson may no longer have to spend full games banging with opposing forwards while also being asked to carry Atlanta’s offense.
Dort alone won’t turn Johnson into a more efficient scorer or make the Hawks a contender overnight. But if he can trim some of that defensive load, he gives Johnson a real chance to attack with more energy.
Atlanta still needs another star down the line. For now, though, it may already have someone who can make its star better.
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