The NBA’s talent pool keeps getting deeper, and versatility is quickly becoming the currency of title contention. Across the league, we’re seeing a clear trend: championship-caliber teams are built around rosters full of players who can do a little bit of everything - score, defend, pass, and switch across multiple positions.
And while the top of each draft class still features generational talents like Victor Wembanyama or Cooper Flagg, the value of late first-rounders and even second-round picks has never been more pronounced. These days, if you can play multiple roles and stay on the floor in crunch time, you’ve got a spot in a contender’s rotation.
Take the 2025 Oklahoma City Thunder, for example. Their rise wasn’t just about the star power of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams - it was about the depth and versatility behind them.
Cason Wallace brought two-way toughness. Lu Dort was a defensive wrecking ball.
Alex Caruso added championship pedigree and all-around savvy. Even Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe gave head coach Mark Daigneault the kind of plug-and-play flexibility that championship teams need to survive deep playoff runs.
Or look at the 2024 Boston Celtics. Their six-man core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Derrick White was a masterclass in roster construction.
Every one of those guys could shoot, defend, make plays, and play multiple positions. It wasn’t just talent - it was the seamless fit, the lack of glaring weaknesses, that made them so dangerous.
That kind of switchability and balance is what separates great teams from merely good ones.
Now, contrast that with what’s happening in Atlanta.
The Hawks have some intriguing pieces, but they’re still a few steps behind when it comes to building a truly versatile roster. Jalen Johnson has been a major bright spot.
His breakout campaign - especially on the defensive end - has turned heads around the league. He’s evolved into a legitimate two-way force, capable of guarding multiple positions, pushing the pace, and making plays in transition.
His development is one of the most encouraging signs for Atlanta’s future.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another name worth highlighting. Much like Caruso or Holiday in past years, NAW has carved out a role as a high-level perimeter defender who can knock down shots and guard across positions. He’s the kind of connector piece that good teams rely on - not a star, but a glue guy who helps everything run smoother.
There’s also real potential in Mouhamed Gueye. He’s not there yet, but the flashes are loud.
His defensive instincts and finishing ability already stand out, and if his jumper and playmaking continue to develop, he could be a serious two-way contributor down the line. He’s raw, but the upside is real.
But here’s the issue: Atlanta is still giving significant minutes to players who just don’t bring that same level of versatility. Luke Kennard, CJ McCollum, and Corey Kispert are all elite shooters - no question there - but each of them struggles defensively and lacks the size or switchability to hold up in playoff-caliber lineups. When those guys are playing 18-plus minutes a night, it limits your flexibility and puts pressure on the rest of the roster to cover for their shortcomings.
Then there’s Dyson Daniels, who’s in a bit of a tough spot. Defensively, he’s still a standout - long, smart, and disruptive.
He rebounds well for his position and has shown flashes as a playmaker. But his shooting has fallen off a cliff, and it’s becoming a real issue.
In today’s NBA, if you can’t space the floor, you better be elite at everything else. Daniels has the tools, but until his jumper comes around, he’s at risk of being played off the floor in key moments.
The bottom line? The Hawks aren’t there yet.
They’ve got a few key pieces who fit the modern mold - Johnson, Alexander-Walker, maybe Gueye in time - but the rest of the roster needs work. If Atlanta wants to make the leap from fringe playoff team to legitimate contender, it starts with building out a rotation full of players who can stay on the floor no matter the matchup.
That means developing the talent they already have, and being aggressive in the draft, trade market, and free agency to find more do-it-all types who can elevate the team on both ends.
Versatility isn’t just a luxury in today’s NBA - it’s a necessity. And until the Hawks embrace that, they’ll be stuck watching the playoffs from the outside looking in.