The Hawks did plenty this offseason to deepen the backcourt, but the real question hanging over their 2026-27 outlook is simple: who else can truly run the offense when Jalen Johnson isn’t the one steering the ship?
Atlanta already proved last season that it can move the ball. The Hawks finished first in assists per game, third in assists-to-turnover ratio, fourth in assist percentage and only 10th in turnovers per game.
On paper, that’s a strong passing team. The catch is that most of that structure still runs through Johnson, and that’s where the concern starts.
Johnson’s case as Atlanta’s top playmaker is pretty clear. He ranked in the 94th percentile among forwards in points created and rim assists per game, while posting an AST% of 33.5%.
He also carried an on-ball percentage of 27.8%, which put him in the 95th percentile at his position. He was heavily involved, handled a huge share of the possessions and did a strong job creating quality looks for teammates.
The problem is availability. Johnson played 72 games last season, which was a gift for Atlanta considering he had only played 92 games combined over the two seasons before that. If he misses time, the Hawks need other answers in a hurry.
They’ve at least tried to build those answers. The team re-signed CJ McCollum, drafted point guard Kingston Flemings and added Devin Carter to what was previously the fourth point guard spot in the rotation. There’s also the possibility that Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker take steps forward as playmakers, which would help the overall picture.
Daniels is the most obvious candidate to grow into more responsibility. He’s listed as the point guard and ranked in the 80th percentile for his position in AST FG%, but he’s not close to Johnson as a creator.
Last season, he was only in the 47th percentile in rim assists per game, 40th percentile in potential assists and posted a 9.6% pass turnover percentage. The upside is there - he’s 23 - but Atlanta needs more than flashes.
He also has to improve as a shooter if he’s going to stay on the floor in late-game situations.
McCollum and Alexander-Walker should help, but neither looks like a clean solution on his own. Alexander-Walker was in the 91st percentile in rim assists, averaged a career-high 3.7 assists per game and had stretches where his reads really stood out.
McCollum averaged 3.9 assists and posted 12.1 potential assists per 100 possessions, which suggests he may have been a little unlucky last season. Still, he also had an 11.6% turnover percentage and hasn’t exactly been known as a special passer.
Flemings could add something too, though that figure figures to come in spurts. Rookie guards usually need time to adjust to NBA speed, and even a polished playmaker like Flemings is likely to hit some bumps early.
The regular-season numbers don’t make the Hawks look broken. The playoff picture is less comforting.
In their six-game postseason sample, Atlanta finished 10th out of 16 teams in AST/TO ratio and 11th in turnover percentage. McCollum and Alexander-Walker were both near the bottom of the postseason field among players who logged over 20 minutes per game and appeared in at least four games, ranking 89th and 80th in AST/TO ratio.
Their assist percentages were tiny, too - 11.5% and 11.6%.
That’s why the issue matters. Right now, Atlanta doesn’t have a dependable halfcourt passer who can take pressure off Johnson when defenses get physical and start jumping passing lanes. The Knicks already showed how much the Hawks’ offense can shrink when Johnson is forced out of his comfort zone as a creator, and the rest of the Eastern Conference looks better equipped to do that in 2026-27.
New York kept its top perimeter defenders. Miami added Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Philadelphia brought in Jaylen Brown and Dean Wade. Toronto is expected to add Kawhi Leonard to a group that already includes Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles.
Boston’s defense should get a boost from Paul George, even with his availability issues, and Charlotte added Royce O'Neale and Naz Reid.
So yes, Atlanta has a path to being less dependent on Johnson. That doesn’t mean Johnson is the problem. It means the Hawks would be a lot better off if they had more than one reliable way to organize the offense when he’s limited by injury or by the opponent’s game plan.
In Other News...
Hawks Could Be Headed For A Tough 2027 Draft Decision
The Hawks have stocked up future draft capital, but the outlook for 2027 may force a harder choice than usual when that year arrives. The top of the projected class is being viewed as thin, which makes any premium pick more complicated to value, especially for a team like Atlanta that also has extra first-rounders coming its way through deals with New Orleans and Milwaukee. A recent mock draft even had UConn forward Braylon Mullins going to the Hawks, a reminder that the front office could be looking at both immediate roster fit and long-term upside when it maps out that summer.
Atlantas current roster only adds to the uncertainty. With potential contract expirations already looming, the Hawks could enter that draft trying to balance keeping enough talent around Trae Young and company while also preserving flexibility for the next phase of the build. If the board really does end up top-heavy in all the wrong ways, Atlanta may have to decide whether to use its pick for a prospect, package it for help, or simply trust that the best value comes from patience. [Read more 🡒]