The Atlanta Hawks have spent the summer making their intentions plain: this is not the same roster built around the Trae Young era.
Their latest move drove the point home. Atlanta sent Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard to the Houston Rockets and brought back Dorian Finney-Smith, a swap made with defense front and center.
Finney-Smith doesn’t bring much offensive punch at this stage of his career, but that’s not why the Hawks wanted him. They wanted another veteran who can handle his end of the floor, because the direction here is unmistakable.
That direction is defense first.
Atlanta already had a strong base on that side of the ball, and Finney-Smith gives them another piece who should fit right into that identity. The trade does come with some offensive risk, especially with the team’s lack of firepower at guard, but the Hawks appear willing to live with that. The bet is that their defense can carry them.
Quinn Snyder, apparently, is on board with that approach. The Hawks want to hang their hat on defense, which is a clear break from what defined the young era.
The potential starting group offers a few obvious reasons for optimism. Dyson Daniels is the headliner. Two years ago, he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and over the past two seasons he’s established himself as one of the NBA’s top defenders.
Onyeka Okongwu gives Atlanta another major piece. The Hawks’ starting center can protect the paint, but he can also survive on the perimeter against guards and quicker wings when the matchup calls for it. That kind of versatility matters.
There’s more depth on that side of the ball, too. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Mouhamed Gueye are all solid defenders, and Atlanta has kept adding to that group.
One of the earlier summer moves brought in Lu Dort, one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. He’s expected to be a major part of the rotation and could even start some games for Atlanta.
After years of leaning into offense with Young running the show, the Hawks have turned the page. The roster moves this summer have made the message loud and clear: defense is the identity now.
In Other News...
Hawks Are Clearing A Real Opportunity For Kingston Flemings
The Hawks have quietly opened a clearer runway for Kingston Flemings, and the timing matters for a rookie point guard trying to find his footing in the league. By trimming the backcourt through a waiver and a trade, Atlanta has made it easier to see the shape of its guard rotation, with fewer young players vying for the same development minutes and practice reps.
For Flemings, that does not mean a fast track into a starting job, but it does suggest the Hawks are willing to be patient with his growth. CJ McCollum gives Atlanta a steady veteran presence to help along the way, which could make the transition smoother as the team leans into development without forcing the rookie into more than he is ready for. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Training Camp Could Decide One Crucial Role After Latest Setback
Training camp is about to put the Hawks in a familiar spot, sorting out not just rotations but the small edge cases that can shape a season. The recent trade for Dorian Finney-Smith only adds another layer to an already crowded evaluation period, with roles still unsettled on the wing and more than one newcomer and holdover trying to carve out a clear place in the mix.
The frontcourt has become especially interesting after a setback thinned the depth chart and left Atlanta with one less experienced option to lean on. That opens the door for the staff to take a longer look at younger players such as Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Asa Newell, while the camp battle in the middle could end up telling the Hawks a lot about how much trust they can place in their developing pieces right away. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Just Put Onsi Saleh In Position To Strike Again
Onsi Saleh has spent the first part of his run in Atlanta showing a clear preference for keeping the Hawks nimble, and the latest contract moves only sharpen that approach. The front office has leaned into flexibility rather than long-term clutter, giving the team room to navigate the market while staying alert to opportunities as they come. For a roster that still has eyes on climbing the standings, that kind of financial breathing room matters.
It also puts Atlanta in a position to be active again when the midseason deadline arrives, especially if the right deal surfaces. The Hawks have built enough maneuverability into their books that they are not just planning for one trade window, but for a potentially busy stretch stretching into next summers free agency period as well. Saleh has made it clear the team wants options, and the way these contracts are structured suggests he intends to keep them. [Read more 🡒]