The Atlanta Hawks have kept things relatively quiet this offseason, and that leaves their rotation looking more settled at the top than it does on the back end.
After finishing 20-6 following the All-Star Break and becoming the only team to beat the Knicks multiple times in a playoff series, Atlanta could have taken a bigger swing. Instead, the front office passed on a major move, chose to keep key pieces in place, and tried to strengthen the depth around the edges. The result is a roster that still feels unfinished in spots, even if the starting group appears locked in.
Right now, the top five looks straightforward: CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu.
McCollum is back on a one-year deal and should continue to give Atlanta veteran shot-making in halfcourt possessions. He had clutch playoff moments and still scores at a high level heading into his age 35 season.
Alexander-Walker is coming off the best year of his career and the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. After a rough playoff series, he’ll be looking to prove last season was no fluke.
Daniels remains one of the league’s best perimeter defenders and one of the Hawks’ most important players. He rebounds, gets downhill, and brings real value on that end. The next step is obvious: he has to shoot better and attack more aggressively offensively.
Johnson’s season was a big one. He stayed healthy, made his first All-Star team, earned third team All-NBA honors, and finished fifth in the NBA in assists. The playoffs were rocky, but Atlanta’s ceiling still depends heavily on whether he can take another leap.
Okongwu made major progress as a shooter and continues to matter as a rebounder and team defender. Keeping his minutes in check would help, and that’s where Jock Landale comes in.
Landale is the clear backup center after landing a one-year deal worth $14 million. Atlanta missed him in the playoffs, and his shooting and physicality give the Hawks something they need behind Okongwu.
The bench is where things get murkier. Atlanta still has 16 players on the roster and has to get down to 15 before the regular season begins, so this group could shift.
Aaron Wiggins looks like one of the safer bets to stick in the rotation after arriving for just a pair of second round picks. He’s a strong shooter and a versatile defender, even if he’s not elite on that side.
Kingston Flemings also appears to have a real path to minutes. Based on what he showed at Summer League, he projects as the backup point guard and could open the year playing around 15-17 minutes a night before his role grows.
In the frontcourt, the Hawks will likely lean on one of Mouhamed Gueye, Asa Newell, or Zuby Ejiofor as a main reserve. Gueye gets the nod here because of his experience and defensive ability, though Ejiofor has been excellent in Summer League and Newell is a player Atlanta is excited about.
Risacher should get every chance to stay in the mix as long as he remains on the roster. Nothing is guaranteed, though, and if the Hawks bring back Jonathan Kuminga, that changes the picture for his minutes.
Ejiofor has done enough in Summer League to deserve attention, and the same question hangs over Newell: is he ready for a bigger role in year two?
There are also a few names that could surface on certain nights. Buddy Hield and Corey Kispert might see minutes if they’re still around when the season starts, but Atlanta’s preference for defense could leave them near the back of the roster.
Devin Carter is another player worth watching. Atlanta acquired him, and he brings real defensive ability, but injuries and limited offensive production have kept him from making much of an impact so far. That makes him a possible reclamation project, with a chance to fight his way into the rotation.
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The Eastern Conference has spent the offseason collecting reasons to be taken seriously, and Paolo Banchero is among the latest to say the balance of power has shifted. With recent trades and team upgrades reshaping the landscape, the Orlando forward pointed to the Easts depth and the way several teams have improved as evidence that the conference is no longer the easy side of the league.
For the Hawks, that only sharpens the pressure heading into next season. Atlanta is part of the group trying to move up in a conference that looks more crowded by the day, and the Magic are approaching the year with their own expectations after a disappointing finish last season. Banchero said Orlando wants to prove it belongs among the elite, and if the East keeps tightening, there will be fewer places to hide. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Hawks, the subtext is less about the outside target and more about Zaccharie Risacher, who now has a nearby benchmark for what a useful two-way wing can look like early in his career. If Atlanta is serious about upgrading that spot, Risachers path to a bigger role gets narrower and the expectations get sharper, because the comparison is no longer theoretical. It is sitting right there in the market, with other contenders also circling. [Read more 🡒]