The Atlanta Hawks are down to the final days of preseason, and the picture for opening night looks pretty clear. Next Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, the safest bet is that Atlanta rolls out the same group that worked for it late last season.
That group should be:
G- CJ McCollum
G- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F- Dyson Daniels
F- Jalen Johnson
C- Onyeka Okongwu
Even with Atlanta’s preseason featuring a rotating cast rather than a full regular rotation, there does not seem to be much reason for a shakeup. The Hawks were one of the league’s better starting lineups down the stretch last season, and that alone makes continuity the easy call to start the year.
The bigger question is not whether this is the opening-night unit. It is whether this is the group that can hold up when the games get tighter.
That issue showed up in the playoffs, where Atlanta ran into trouble once possessions slowed and elite opponents had time to load up. The Hawks thrive when they can get out and run, but that edge is harder to find in a half-court slog. Against the Knicks, that problem became even more obvious when they made it a point to take away CJ McCollum’s comfort.
McCollum still looks like Atlanta’s lead guard, but there is a real question hanging over him now that he is another year older. He shot the ball well in preseason and remains important to what the Hawks want to do, but the burden on him cannot get too heavy.
Alexander-Walker’s rise was one of the league’s better stories last season, when he won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and became a legitimate two-way piece. The challenge now is proving that breakout was not a one-season spike.
Daniels brings elite perimeter defense - one of the five best in the NBA on that end - but the offensive puzzle is still right in front of him. If he does not hit enough threes, defenses will continue to treat him like a non-threat. He is useful no matter what, but the spacing tightens when opponents can ignore a shooter.
Johnson took a leap to an All-NBA level last season, though the playoffs were not a smooth ride. Over the offseason, he has worked on his pull-up shooting and tightening his handle. Atlanta needs more than transition bursts from him, and it also needs him to be better defensively.
Okongwu is in a similar spot in his own way. He, too, put together a surprise shooting season on high volume a year ago, and now the question is whether that version sticks.
There is also a different look Atlanta could lean on later, especially if it wants to squeeze more pressure out of its lineup.
That group would be:
G- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
G- Dyson Daniels
F- Lu Dort
F- Jalen Johnson
C- Onyeka Okongwu
It would not be a surprise if the Hawks keep their usual starters on the floor to finish games, but swapping McCollum out for Dort is an option when they want to turn up the heat. The fit comes with obvious concerns because Dort and Daniels together create a tricky offensive balance.
Still, the defensive ceiling is huge. That unit could make life miserable on opponents, and if Alexander-Walker, Daniels and Johnson can carry enough of the shot creation, it has a chance to work.
Aaron Wiggins is another name to watch in closing groups on some nights. He brings spacing and enough perimeter defense to stay on the floor, even if he is not quite on Dort’s level on that end.
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 🡒]