The Atlanta Hawks are headed into training camp in three weeks with a roster that finally looks more settled than it did at points last season. That matters.
Atlanta cycled through several versions of itself before settling on the group that went 20-6 after the All-Star Break and produced one of the best starting fives in the league. That lineup is back, and now the Hawks are trying to sort out the rest of the picture with added depth and a crop of intriguing rookies.
The biggest thing missing from the Hawks’ roster, at least in this view, is a true superstar. Jalen Johnson comes closest.
He’s coming off his first All-Star appearance and first All-NBA team, and he’s already gone from promising young piece to one of the league’s better rising players. The next jump is the brutal one: moving from really good to great.
If Johnson makes that leap, it could reshape where this franchise is headed.
His 2026-27 case is strong. Johnson posted career highs in points (22.5), rebounds (10.3) and assists (7.9), while adding 1.2 steals in 35.2 minutes per game.
That stat line put him in rare company - just the fifth player in NBA history to average at least 22.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists in a season, alongside Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook. He also finished top 20 in points per game, assists per game and rebounds per game, becoming the first Hawk in franchise history to land in the top 20 in all three categories.
For now, though, the Hawks are still leaning on a group of high-level starters rather than a centerpiece in the superstar mold. CJ McCollum is one of them.
He probably doesn’t have another major leap left, but he brings veteran scoring and was a hero in Atlanta’s two playoff wins. Dyson Daniels is another starter who still has room to grow, though his path is tied to his shooting.
If that improves, his star case becomes a lot more realistic.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker also stands out after making the jump from role player to quality starter. He may not be finished climbing yet, especially if his playmaking takes another step and his all-around game keeps expanding.
Onyeka Okongwu fits in this group as well, though he may be capped here even after making progress as a shooter last season. Luguentz Dort was one of Atlanta’s biggest offseason additions, and he arrives as a known quantity: a reliable starter and a tough defender.
Beyond the starting group, the Hawks are trying to make sure the back end of the roster is stronger than it was late last season. Jock Landale is set to back up at center.
Kobe Wiggins is expected to have a significant role after being acquired from the Thunder. Gueye is in the mix for the backup power forward job, if he’s still on the roster, while Nembhard is another name to watch if he remains with the team.
Then there’s the group of unknowns with upside. Flemings is projected to play a key role this season, but he hasn’t appeared in a game yet.
The same goes for Ejifor and Veesaar. Newell saw some action last season, but the sample size is still too small to draw much from it.
Carter is in a different spot: injuries have slowed his first couple of seasons, but he has flashed high-level defensive ability, and if he’s on the roster, he could be one of the more interesting wild cards on the team.
In Other News...
Jonathan Kuminga's New Situation Could Change How Hawks Fans Feel
Jonathan Kumingas move to Minnesota has plenty of ripple effects for teams that were watching his market closely, including Atlanta. The forward landed with the Timberwolves on a two-year deal and will enter a situation built around defense first, with his agent Aaron Turner pointing to the fit and the flexibility that comes with a player option in the second season. For a player still trying to carve out the right long-term lane, the setting matters as much as the contract.
Robert Horry has already raised the question that hangs over Kumingas next step, wondering whether his offensive chances could be limited in Minnesota. That kind of concern is exactly why this landing spot is getting attention around the league, because it could shape how Kuminga is viewed over the next couple of seasons and whether he is back on the market again in 2027. For Hawks fans tracking the wider conference picture, it is another reminder that one young talents choice can change the way the rest of the league evaluates the next move. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Front Office Shift Signals A Very Different Atlanta Plan
The Hawks have spent the early part of this offseason reshaping the people in charge as much as the roster itself, and the latest move is another sign the organization wants a different kind of structure moving forward. Atlanta has already brought in Tim Bontemps as a strategic advisor and moved on from Kyle Korver, changes that have underscored a broader front office reset around the teams long-term direction.
Peter Dinwiddie is now the latest addition to that evolving setup, with the Hawks elevating him into a key basketball operations role as they continue building around flexibility. Atlanta has put itself in a position to be patient, with a healthy cap situation and a stockpile of draft assets that give the franchise plenty of options as it tries to decide when and how to make its next move. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Give A Familiar Summer Standout A Real Chance To Impress
Devon Higgs got his next shot with Atlanta on Sept. 8, when the Hawks signed him to a training camp contract and brought back a familiar face from summer ball. Hell be around the team for practices and media day as he tries to turn a strong audition into something more permanent heading into the NBA season.
Higgs already gave the Hawks a glimpse of why he has lingered on their radar, flashing scoring punch and athleticism during Summer League. He was also one of Atlantas more productive scorers in Las Vegas, and that kind of production is exactly what can keep a player in the conversation when the roster starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]