The Hawks limped into the play-in with a 40–42 mark last year, exiting before they even reached the postseason. Now, 4 years apart from a thrilling Eastern Conference Finals run earlier in his career, Trae Young- just 27- finds himself in perhaps his prime. This offseason’s bold reshuffle added Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Asa Newell- while veterans Clint Capela, Larry Nance Jr., Georges Niang and Terance Mann exited. With Young’s own extension still undecided, the spotlight now also falls on Porzingis- the new cornerstone in this shot at redemption.

On his show, Zach Lowe stressed just how crucial Kristaps Porziņģis is for the Hawks. He said, “Porziņģis is not a bonus for them. He’s essential for them because you mentioned the shooting issues of the Dyson [Daniels], [Zaccharie] Risacher, Jalen Johnson trio who are all going to have to play a ton of minutes, including together. Various combinations of two or three of those guys don’t work without Porziņģis playing heavy minutes.”

Porziņģis, who came to Atlanta through a three-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics, could be a perfect fit alongside point guard Trae Young. On offense, he can shoot from long range and create space for Young. On defense, he protects the rim and helps guard the paint, making the Hawks stronger on both ends of the court.

This preseason, the Hawks looked smooth on both ends of the court in their game against Memphis. Jalen Johnson led the way with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porziņģis added 16 and 13 points each.

Trae Young and Keaton Wallace had an off night shooting but helped keep the offense flowing, combining for 15 assists. Defensively, Atlanta was solid, limiting Memphis to 40% from the field and just 29.8% from three. Johnson, Porziņģis, and Dyson Daniels were especially impressive. 

Dyson Daniels joined the Atlanta Hawks in 2024 as part of a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. Since joining the Hawks, he has become a key defensive player and even won the NBA Most Improved Player Award in the 2024-25 season and runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year- becoming a key player for their defensive identity alongside Porzingis.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker and sharpshooter Luke Kennard, along with the return of Jalen Johnson from a season-ending shoulder injury, give the team more scoring and defensive options.

The roster also features last year’s No. 1 overall pick, forward Zaccharie Risacher, creating a mix of youth and promise. With all this talent, expectations for the Hawks are high this season. However, injuries are already creating early challenges.

Jalen Johnson, Mouhamed Gueye, and Dyson Daniels are all expected to be out until at least October 22, leaving the Hawks thin in key spots. Commenting on the team’s depth, Zach Lowe offered cautious optimism. 

He said, “I love Alexander Walker. I love a Okongwu. Kennard’s fine, like the depth. I like Krejci even, but like once you get down to, like, the break-in-case-of-emergency group, I get a little nervous. And that makes me think, what does one injury do for this team? But I think if they are semi-healthy in the playoffs, I think they have a high enough ceiling to scare one of the favorites in the East.”

Coach Quin Snyder can use some smart ways to get the best out of Kristaps Porziņģis, even if other teams try to slow him down. Porziņģis is tall, can shoot from anywhere, and often pulls defenders away from the basket.

But what happens when a quicker defender is put on him? In Atlanta’s preseason opener against the Rockets, they tried just that: Jabari Smith Jr. guarded Porziņģis while their center, Alperen Sengun, stayed on Dyson Daniels. It worked for a few minutes, but is it enough to stop him?

Snyder has options. Could Daniels run the pick-and-roll with Trae Young to exploit weaker defenders? What if Porziņģis stays in the high post and shoots over smaller defenders? By mixing fast plays with smart half-court moves, Snyder can keep Porziņģis effective and make it tough for other teams to figure out the Hawks’ offense.

Contract talks stall for Trae Young and more

The Hawks also have some off-court matters to manage, as Trae Young, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Dyson Daniels are all eligible for major contract extensions, though nothing has been finalized yet. On his potential deal, Porziņģis told Fred Katz of The Athletic, “I know that’s an option. I wanna see how the year goes. I don’t wanna rush anything and say this or that, but I wanna take it one day at a time.”

The Athletic also reported that the Hawks and Trae Young will pause contract talks until the season begins.

Notably, this is Young’s final guaranteed year, and he could become a free agent next summer if nothing changes. But don’t worry, he’s still eligible to sign an extension during the season, and there’s no sign of tension between him and the team. So why rush? The Hawks likely want to see how the season unfolds before making any big decisions.

Young remains the centerpiece for the Hawks. Last season, he averaged 24.2 points and an NBA-leading 11.6 assists per game, and over his seven-year career, he’s averaged 25.3 points and 9.8 assists.

This offseason, the Hawks hope that a rebalanced roster, featuring two-way players like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu, can help take Young and the team back to the next level, similar to their run in 2021.

Money and planning also play a big role. With Young, Porziņģis (~$31 million), and Johnson ($30 million) taking up most of the salary cap, the Hawks have to be careful.

Other players like Alexander-Walker, Okongwu, Risacher, and Kennard all make $10 million or more, and Daniels’ $7.7 million will grow with his next contract. A new deal for Young could push the team deeper into the luxury tax, so waiting gives them flexibility. The season kicks off on October 22 at home against the Toronto Raptors: a good first test before any contract talks heat up.