The Atlanta Hawks have already been active this offseason, extending CJ McCollum and landing Oklahoma City Thunder wing Aaron Wiggins, among other moves. After getting to the NBA playoffs last year and falling in six games to the eventual champion New York Knicks, Atlanta is still looking for ways to strengthen the roster.
Frontcourt depth remains one obvious area to watch. The Hawks were undersized at times last season, and there has been at least some curiosity about whether they might circle back to a name that set off plenty of frustration in Atlanta.
That won’t be happening, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
“We know Atlanta isn’t going after Goga Bitadze, Hawks fans, as the Magic aren’t talking trade for their reserve center, sources say, while anticipating Mo Wagner will leave Orlando in free agency,” reported Fischer on X, formerly Twitter.
Bitadze became a villain to many Hawks fans after a dirty foul on Jock Landale last year. The play injured Landale and ended his season early, and Bitadze was ejected for the incident. The reaction from Atlanta fans was immediate, with many taking to social media to question why he wasn’t suspended.
So if Hawks fans were worried about having to welcome Bitadze into the fold, that concern appears to be off the table. He looks set to remain in Orlando.
Atlanta has also tried to address its size through the draft, taking Zuby Ejiofor out of St. John’s and Henri Veesaar out of North Carolina with its second and third picks. Even with those additions, though, the possibility remains that Onsi Saleh could still look for another big man through a trade or free agency.
In Other News...
Hawks Just Got A Huge Break In The Southeast Division
The Southeast Division just got a fresh jolt, and the ripple effects should matter in Atlanta. With Miami and Charlotte reshuffling the top end of their rosters, the short-term balance in the division suddenly looks a little friendlier for the Hawks, who have spent the last few seasons trying to climb back into the East's upper middle class.
Atlanta also has some history of preparing for the division's biggest problems in creative ways, especially against Giannis Antetokounmpo, using unusual defensive looks since 2021 to try to slow his path into the paint. If those kinds of matchups become less frequent in the division race, it could give the Hawks a cleaner runway while Charlotte's timeline gets pushed back a bit more. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hawks Big Suddenly Lands In A Much Bigger Free Agency Battle
The Lakers are shopping for frontcourt help, and Jock Landale has surfaced as one of the bigger names in that mix. The former Hawks center spent part of last season in Atlanta after being waived by Utah, then appeared in 23 games for the Hawks before moving on, and his value around the league has only grown since then. With his physical style and size, he fits the kind of depth teams tend to chase once the market opens.
Atlanta, though, may have a familiar reason to keep an eye on where this goes. Landale is drawing interest from multiple suitors, including teams that can put together a much more aggressive pitch than a simple depth spot, and he is expected to command offers beyond the bi-annual exception. For a Hawks team that already knows what he brings, the question is less about whether he belongs on a roster and more about whether his next deal gets pushed into a range that changes the entire competition. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Are One Costly Offseason Decision Away From Changing Everything
After a busy stretch of roster shuffling, the Hawks have already checked off a handful of offseason items by re-signing CJ McCollum, adding Aaron Wiggins in a trade, drafting three players and picking up Mouhamed Gueyes team option. Even with those moves in place, Atlanta is still working through how to balance its depth chart with the hard realities of the cap as free agency approaches.
The biggest pressure point is the front offices next contract decision, one that could push the roster into a far more restrictive financial lane if the club decides to keep moving forward with its current plan. Atlanta is also weighing whether it can clear enough room by exploring trades involving Buddy Hield, Corey Kispert and Zaccharie Risacher, a reminder that one more move could reshape not just the rotation but the teams entire offseason flexibility. [Read more 🡒]