Trae Young did some incredible things with the Hawks, posting absurd numbers, running elite offenses, and guiding Atlanta to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020-21. But after years of persistent questions about his future with the organization, the Hawks ultimately decided to move on. Atlanta traded Young to the Wizards in what amounted to a virtual salary dump on January 9, parting ways with the former face of the franchise.
The Hawks then played extremely well the rest of the season, going 28-15 to earn the sixth seed in the East and post Cleaning The Glass’ seventh-best Efficiency Differential at +6.2. They also gave New York a tougher postseason test than anyone else, taking a 2-1 series lead before the Knicks went nuclear the rest of the way.
Heading into 2026-27, Atlanta is hoping a full offseason together will bring this group even closer. The front office also added Oklahoma City wing Luguentz Dort, giving the Hawks another source of perimeter toughness and defensive tenacity.
It’ll be interesting to see how it all comes together, but Quin Snyder had his team playing some beautiful basketball down the stretch. He seems to be at his best with a more equal-opportunity offense. With heliocentric “Trae-ball” now a thing of the past, the question is whether Atlanta can build on what it found late last season.
I believe Atlanta is building something real. However, someone in the Eastern Conference has to fall short of expectations. To me, this is a candidate. I won’t personally go Under on the win total, but I feel better about it than I do the Over.
BURNING QUESTIONS
What does Dort bring to the Hawks?
Atlanta needs to maintain the defensive metrics it posted after the Young trade. The Hawks ranked seventh in the NBA in Efficiency Differential after moving Young to Washington, driven largely by a sixth-place finish in points allowed per 100 possessions (111.5). Dort should help them keep defending at a high level.
Dort made the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team in 2024-25 and has finished in at least the 81st percentile leaguewide in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus in back-to-back seasons. He’s wide, extremely strong for a wing, and outrageously physical. He makes life hell for perimeter options and is sturdy enough to guard up against bigger players.
The issue is that Dort can be a bit of a spray-and-pray shooter, so defenses will leave him open in the postseason. But unlike some other shaky shooters, Dort will at least let it fly. The players who really kill you offensively are the ones too scared to launch.
Dort is a natural fit for a team that wins with its ability to guard, and he brings championship experience to the locker room.
Does Atlanta have enough offensively?
Acquiring McCollum from the Wizards was largely about finding a salary match in the Young deal, but the veteran combo guard became Atlanta’s primary source of shot creation in the playoffs. The Hawks are hoping Jalen Johnson can become that go-to option moving forward, but will he be ready for that role this year? After averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game last season, you’d have to think he’ll eventually find a way to shoulder that kind of load come April.
Even so, Atlanta is light on individual scoring between McCollum, Johnson, and a little Nickeil Alexander-Walker. That’s concerning when the game slows down in the playoffs.
The Hawks will be hoping Aaron Wiggins and 2026 first-round pick Kingston Flemings can provide more punch, though that is more likely to come during the regular season.
And in the regular season, Atlanta should be fine. After the All-Star break last year, the Hawks ranked fourth in Net Rating (9.7), tied for 10th in Offensive Rating (118.3), and second in Defensive Rating (108.6). They also shot 40.0% from three.
That’s all well and good if you’re looking at potentially going Over on the win total. But Atlanta will need to level up offensively when it matters if it wants to make real noise in the East.
Is this a make-or-break year for Dyson Daniels?
Daniels is one of the best perimeter defenders in basketball. He made the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team in 2024-25, followed it with an All-Defensive Second Team selection last year, and led the NBA in steals in 2024-25 at 3.0 per game.
The problem is that Daniels’ offensive development completely stalled last season. His counting stats were solid — 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game — but he shot just 18.8% from deep, and his confidence completely disappeared. After shooting 34.0% on 3.1 three-point attempts per game in 2024-25, he took only 1.5 per game last season.
If defenses can play 10 feet off Daniels, it will be difficult for the Hawks to justify keeping him on his current contract. Atlanta has plenty of defenders in the rotation, and it’s entirely possible the team eventually decides it needs more offensive juice in his spot. As things stand, the Hawks are paying nearly $48 million to Daniels and Dort, two players who likely won’t be able to share the floor in the playoffs.
WIN TOTAL LEAN: Under 43.5
