Quin Snyder has spent three seasons in Atlanta, and every one of them has ended with the Hawks in a better place than the last.
That’s the part of this story that keeps getting harder to ignore. The roster Snyder inherited in 2023 looked nothing like the one he’ll coach in 2026.
Back then, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray were running the show, with John Collins and Clint Capela anchoring the front line. Now all four are gone.
The only holdovers from Snyder’s first season are Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.
Even with that kind of turnover, the trend line has stayed pointed up.
Snyder’s first run came in a shortened stretch after he replaced Nate McMillan, and he went 10-11 in those 21 games. His first full season brought a 36-46 finish. Not close to where Atlanta wanted to be, but enough to hint at what might come if the pieces kept shifting in the right direction.
Then came a 40-42 season, the first one after the Dejounte Murray deal sent him to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Dyson Daniels, who the article describes as a franchise centerpiece. And after that, the Hawks made their biggest jump yet, riding a late-season surge into the playoff picture in their most recent campaign.
That run still ended in a first-round exit, but there was something different about the way it happened. Atlanta took two games from the eventual-champion New York Knicks, and that alone was framed as a step worth recognizing.
Now Snyder heads into his fourth full season with the Hawks carrying bigger expectations than ever.
The next benchmark is obvious: 50 wins. A 46-36 record last season makes that target feel within reach, especially with Atlanta bringing back most of a roster that was one of the league’s best after the All-Star break.
The newcomers also fit the picture. Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Kingston Flemings are expected to slide into the rotation and make an immediate impact.
In Other News...
Hawks Could Catch A Break If Detroit's Biggest Problem Drags On
Jalen Durens situation in Detroit is the kind of subplot that can ripple well beyond one front office. The Pistons All-Star big man remains in restricted free agency, and the two sides still appear to be working from different places in contract talks, leaving a key piece of Detroits roster in limbo as the season approaches.
For the Hawks, the timing matters because Duren was a problem for them last season, giving Atlanta serious trouble inside when the teams met. If Detroits biggest unresolved issue lingers and the Pistons head into the year without that kind of anchor settled, it could trim some of the edge from a team the Hawks may have to chase in the East. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Fans Have A New Reason To Debate Who's Underrated
With NBA2K27 now out worldwide, Hawks fans have a fresh way to size up the roster before the real games begin. Atlanta landed in Tier 2 with an 81 overall rating, a respectable mark that still leaves room for debate, especially when a game like this turns every lineup decision into a public conversation.
Jalen Johnson heads the team at 87 overall, but the more interesting discussion is around the players sitting just below him. Onyeka Okongwu, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are the names most likely to fuel the usual too low arguments, and their early ratings give supporters another reason to watch how the season unfolds. As always with a new 2K release, the numbers are only the opening statement, and the real argument will come from how those players perform once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Concerns Could Matter More To Hawks Fans Than Expected
Ira Windermans look at the Heats backcourt situation is the kind of neighboring-development Hawks fans should keep an eye on, especially with Miami expected to be in the same crowded slice of the Eastern Conference. Davion Mitchell gives the Heat a solid starting point at point guard, but the overall shape of the roster still matters for a team trying to stay in the contender conversation in a conference where small advantages can swing the standings.
FanDuel has Miami and Toronto projected to land tied for sixth in the East at 45 1/2 wins, which would put both teams in the mix for a play-in path and make every depth question feel a little louder. For Atlanta, that means one more rival whose margin for error could be tested over the course of the season, and the Heats ability to steady the position behind Mitchell may wind up being part of the bigger picture even if it does not look like it right away. [Read more 🡒]