Opening night is closing in, and the Hawks look like they’ve mostly sorted through the churn. Atlanta is set to begin the season on the road against the Orlando Magic in a Southeast Division matchup, and after a stretch of roster maneuvering, the picture is finally coming into focus.
The Hawks spent much of the offseason working through a crowded roster before getting things down to the regular-season limit of 15. September brought the final cleanup: Devin Carter was waived, while Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard were traded. Unless something unexpected pops before next Wednesday, this should be the group Atlanta takes south to Orlando.
What stands out first is the guard room. It’s deep, versatile and, in one respect, a little thin.
The only true point guard on the roster is rookie Kingston Flemings, and he has been one of Atlanta’s most impressive preseason performers. He looks ready to handle the backup point guard job right away.
Around him, the Hawks have plenty of creation. Dyson Daniels is a guard-wing hybrid who brings elite defense, plus underrated passing and rebounding on the offensive end. He may not fit the classic point guard mold, but he is going to be a major shot creator for this team.
Then there is C.J. McCollum, the playoff addition who still knows how to get buckets.
Even at his age, he can make shots at a high level and score in bunches. The concerns are clear - he is not a great passer and there are defensive issues - but Atlanta brought him in to provide veteran scoring, and that remains his calling card.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the reigning NBA Most Improved Player, is trying to show last season was not a one-off. Atlanta needs him to keep scoring, keep shooting and keep bringing the kind of perimeter defense that gives this group balance.
Anfernee Wiggins is another major offseason addition, and the Hawks are asking for more than what he did in Oklahoma City. There, he was more of a 3-and-D wing.
Here, they want him on the ball, creating shots and taking on a bigger offensive role. If that jump happens, it could be a big season for him.
There are also a couple of younger names who may not factor into the NBA rotation much, but still matter for depth. Keshon Gilbert and Tyson Dennis are expected to spend most of the year in College Park, though both give Atlanta workable bench options if needed.
One thing to watch: the Hawks could waive Gilbert and convert Kobe Johnson into their other two-way contract before opening night. Johnson has been excellent in College Park, carried that form into Summer League and preseason, and is on an Exhibit 10 deal right now.
Atlanta has until opening night to make the move.
Johnson has been the best player on this team, and if the Hawks are going to push back into the playoffs in a crowded Eastern Conference, he may have to keep rising.
On the wing and up front, the Hawks added toughness in Dorian Dort, though preseason gave everyone just one look at him in uniform. Even that brief appearance showed what he brings: physicality, perimeter defense and the kind of edge that makes a team harder to play against.
Dorian Finney-Smith has not played much in the preseason, and the question is whether that’s just about getting comfortable in a new spot or whether Atlanta prefers to lean younger in those minutes.
Kevin Kispert, meanwhile, has had plenty of chances and the results have not changed much. The defense has been a problem, and he has not hit enough three-pointers to justify major minutes. The Hawks would probably like to move him, but his salary and lack of production make that a tough ask.
In the frontcourt, rookie Asa Newell should get an early opportunity because of Mouhamed Gueye’s injury. Newell’s preseason has been uneven.
The flashes are there on the glass and as a scorer, but the defense and three-point shooting have come and gone. The big question is whether he can hold his place early before Gueye returns.
Gueye could end up being one of the more important pieces on this roster. He is a strong defender, and with Jock Landale and Newell both vulnerable on that end, Gueye may be vital as a defensive complement to Landale. There still has not been an update on when he will be back.
Jacob Wilson has also made a strong case as one of the league’s better two-way contracts, and he has had a strong preseason of his own.
At center, Onyeka Okongwu remains one of the league’s most underrated bigs, and he is trying to prove last year’s shooting was real. He remains one of Atlanta’s most valuable players.
Landale is slated to open the season as the backup center, but this is the biggest role he has had, and his preseason has already exposed some defensive problems. If Ejiofor can keep making progress on offense and become dependable enough, it would not be surprising to see him take that job later this season or force Atlanta into another move.
Ejiofor has also been used as a power forward at times, but throughout the preseason he has mostly filled the third-center role. He brings defense, toughness and rebounding, but the offense and floor spacing are still real questions.
For now, though, the expectation is that Atlanta is mostly done. Barring a late surprise, this is the roster the Hawks should have in place when they head to Orlando next Wednesday.
In Other News...
Hawks Still Have One Roster Hole They May Need To Trade For
The Hawks have spent preseason trying to sort out a few lingering roster questions, and the biggest ones remain on the defensive end. Atlanta has looked for more stability behind the starting group, especially at backup power forward and in that tricky third-center spot, where the margin for error gets thin quickly once injuries or foul trouble show up. For a team trying to firm up its identity, those are not minor details.
One proposed fix would send Josh Hart, Corey Kispert, Asa Newell and future second-round picks from Atlanta to the Clippers in exchange for a more dependable third center and some defensive depth. It is the kind of deal that would ripple beyond the Hawks, since the Knicks and Clippers would also have to weigh the roster and contract fallout, but it speaks to a basic reality Atlanta may still be facing: even after preseason, one more move could be needed to close the gap. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Rotation Battle Is Heating Up Right Before The Opener
With one preseason game left before the opener in Orlando, the Hawks are still sorting through a rotation that has not been fully available for evaluation. Key players have sat out at different points, which has left the staff balancing recent strong showings from Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum against the bigger question of how the group will actually fit once the games count.
Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, Kingston Flemings, Mouhamed Gueye and Jock Landale are shaping up as the top rotation candidates, with Flemings expected to have a meaningful bench role. Beyond that, the picture remains fluid for Corey Kispert, Dorian Finney-Smith, Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor, whose minutes could swing depending on health and how they perform in the final tune-up. [Read more 🡒]
Zuby Ejiofor Just Gave Hawks Fans Hope For A Real Weakness
A few encouraging signs emerged for Atlanta in the recent matchup with Oklahoma City, and Zuby Ejiofor was right in the middle of it. Playing 23 minutes off the bench, he finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists while giving Quin Snyder useful minutes behind Jock Landale. The most eye-catching part was on the glass, where Ejiofor kept possessions alive and flashed the kind of energy the Hawks have been looking for.
For a team still sorting out its identity, that kind of bench production matters. Atlanta has been searching for more bite in the rebounding battle, and Ejiofors showing offered a reminder that help can come from unexpected places while the roster continues to develop. It was one game, but it was the sort of performance that can make a weakness feel a little less fixed. [Read more 🡒]