NBA training camp is closing in, and for the Atlanta Hawks, the next few weeks will go a long way toward sorting out what this team really looks like heading into the season.
Atlanta’s offseason didn’t draw a ton of attention, but the franchise is trying to build on the strong stretch it put together after the All-Star Break last year. The Hawks went 20-6 after that point, reached the playoffs, and became the only team to beat the Knicks multiple times in a playoff series.
A lot of the core from that run is still here, and that matters. The Hawks brought back CJ McCollum and Jock Landale from last season, added Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor, and Henri Veesaar in the draft, and traded for Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Devin Carter, and Ryan Nembhard. The roster still needs to be trimmed, but the framework is already in place.
The first major question at camp is whether the starting five stays exactly as it was. McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu were one of the league’s best starting groups after the All-Star Break, and there’s no obvious reason to mess with that formula. Dort could potentially force his way into that group, but the expectation is that the Hawks keep the same starting lineup.
The bigger issue may be what comes behind that unit. Atlanta’s depth was shaky even during its winning stretch, so the front office has tried to shore things up. Dort, Wiggins, and Landale appear set in the rotation, and Flemings should get every chance to claim the backup point guard job.
That still leaves plenty to sort out. Mouhamed Gueye’s injury could affect his place in the rotation, and Asa Newell is another name to watch to see whether he can carve out a real role.
The rookie group will be one of the main camp storylines, especially with three newcomers and a Top-Eight pick in a draft that was loaded. Flemings already gave the Hawks some reason for optimism in Summer League, where his speed, decision-making, and playmaking stood out. His shooting and finishing at the rim still need work, but the flashes were there.
Ejiofor and Veesaar are in a tougher spot. Their paths are less clear, and developmental time in the G-League is a real possibility. Camp will be their chance to show they belong in the rotation conversation.
And then there’s the roster crunch. Atlanta has to get down to 15 players, which means a couple of current names won’t make it to the regular season and might not even make it to camp. Corey Kispert, Buddy Hield, Devin Carter, Ryan Nembhard, and Mouhamed Gueye are the most likely candidates to be moved, though it’s still unclear whether that happens through trades or waivers.
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