Despite the skepticism surrounding them, the Atlanta Hawks are shaping up to be one a potentially underrated team in the NBA this season. While many see their decision to trade Dejounte Murray as a sign of a rebuild, the reality is that the Hawks have taken a more strategic approach to roster-building. Trae Young, who is often over-criticized, remains the centerpiece of the team, and with Quin Snyder – considered one of the league’s top coaches – at the helm, the Hawks have the potential to exceed expectations.
Snyder’s coaching has already brought improvements, and as he enters his second full season, he’s poised to continue developing the young talent on the roster. Players like Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu are expected to take on larger roles, and the team added Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick and Dyson Daniels, both of whom bring versatility and two-way potential. Okongwu may even step into the starting lineup with Clint Capela in the final year of his contract, signaling a possible transition to a younger core.
However, despite the talent and Snyder’s leadership, the Hawks face tough competition in a stacked Eastern Conference. With several teams ahead of them in the pecking order, expecting more than a play-in spot this season may be a stretch. The development of their young players will be crucial to their future success, but for now, Atlanta’s best bet might be aiming for a play-in berth as they continue to build for the long term.
The team has a payroll of $176,823,735 for the 2024-25 season, ranking them 17th in the NBA.
Returning: Trae Young, Clint Capela, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Onyeka Okongwu, Jalen Johnson, Kobe Bufkin, Garrison Mathews, Mouhamed Gueye, Vit Krejci
Additions: Zaccharie Risacher (JL Bourg), Dyson Daniels (New Orleans), Larry Nance Jr. (New Orleans), David Roddy (Phoenix), Cody Zeller (New Orleans), Keaton Wallace (Atlanta)
Subtractions: Dejounte Murray (New Orleans), Saddiq Bey (Washington), AJ Griffin (trade), Bruno Fernando (Toronto), Dylan Windler (Perth Wildcats), Trent Forrest (Baskonia)
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Youthful energy and maintaining a Top 5 scoring offense under Quin Snyder are key. Strategic cap management enables integration of new talents like Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels, focusing on building chemistry around Trae Young to compete for a playoff spot.
Recent trades, including the loss of Dejounte Murray, have thinned the roster’s depth and experience. Dependence on less proven young talent may introduce inconsistency, with key players like De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic being somewhat injury-prone it could push inexperienced players into critical roles.
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HoopsHype: 3rd in the Southeast Division, 11th in the Eastern Conference
ESPN: 3rd in the Southeast Division, 11th in the Eastern Conference
Sportsbooks: 35.5 projected wins
HoopsHype compiled the consensus win averages by gathering win projections from eight sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN BET, BetRivers, Caesars, and bet365
