Atlanta Hawks 2024-25 season preview: Why the stakes are high for Trae Young and Co. |Max Sporty|

The 2024-25 NBA season is here! We break down the biggest questions, best and worst case scenarios and fantasy prospects for all 30 teams. Enjoy!

ATLANTA COOPERS

2023-24 end

Offseason moves

• Additions: Zaccharie Risacher, Nikola Đurišić, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., Cody Zeller, David Roddy, Keaton Wallace, Dominick Barlow

• Subtractions: Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, Wesley Matthews, Bruno Fernando, Trent Forrest, AJ Griffin, Dylan Windler

• Complete roster

The Big Question: Can Atlanta build a decent defense around Trae Young?

I know: Not exactly the most original question. But despite the All-Star pick-and-roll playmaking dynamo producing three top-10 finishes in offensive efficiency in six professional seasons, Atlanta won only 45% of its games since edited by Young. The only season in which it advanced past the opening round of the playoffs? You guessed it: the only one in which it fielded a league-average defense.

So: If the Hawks don’t trade Young (and you’d think they wouldn’t, judging by the fact that they moved his backcourt partner instead, for a return obviously bigger than they could to recover of overturning the $138 million remaining on Trae’s contract), and if they don’t tank (safe bet, considering the Spurs still checking their 2025, 2026 and 2027 first round picks of the 2022 Murray trade), then they have to try to be good enough. (What a concept!) And that would seem to require building a more watertight defense than the unit that finished bottom five in points scored per possession in five of the last seven seasons.

The good news: Quin Snyder has some tools to work with there.

Jalen Johnson raised eyebrows with his offensive success in his third season: 16 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, shooting 68% at the rim and 38% on over-the-break 3-pointers. But the 22-year-old with the 6-foot-9, 220-pound frame and 7-foot wingspan made his presence felt on the other end as well, averaging 4.4 combined steals, blocks and deflections per 36 minutes of floor time.

A player with the size and speed to guard both forward spots who also grabs a quarter of available defensive rebounds can help a team just by eating up space. With Johnson on the floorthe Hawks’ mostly flawless defense allowed almost four fewer points per 100 possessions than when he was away from it.

The return of the Murray trade should also help. Veteran Nance brings smarts, leadershipversatility and active hands, constantly posting elite steal rates for big man. The prize, though, could prove to be former lottery pick Daniels, a 6-foot-8 Aussie with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, enough speed to stick with smaller ball-handlers, enough strength to incorporate bigger wings, and inclination . to make a mess; among players to log 1,000 minutes, only Matisse Thybulle, Alex Caruso and Dennis Smith Jr. steals and deviations per minute last season.

If Daniels can get his jumper online – just 31.2% from deep as a Pelican, and 36.7% from the short corners – he could be perfect fit next to Young in the backcourt, taking on the toughest defensive assignments while serving as a complementary playmaker and off-ball cutter on offense.

Between Johnson, Daniels, Nance and De’Andre Hunter, that’s a lot of defensive options to deploy in Young’s isolation project. And if top pick Risacher, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound swingman with a 6-foot-10 wingspan who profiles as a versatile and intelligent defender, looks as comfortable on that end as he did offensively in his preseason debut …

… then this could be the best combination of length, physicality and athleticism on the perimeter that Atlanta has put around Young yet. Make some improvements containing the ball, pair that with solid rim protection from Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, and maybe these Falcons climb out of the bottom 10 in defensive efficiency.

And with a stable floor under him, maybe Young – who is now one of only three players ever with multiple seasons averaging 25 points and 10 assists per game, and who had the Hawks offense humming like the nasty Celts in the minutes he played without Murray last season …

… may offer more reminders of why Atlanta went all in to build around him in the first place.

Best case scenario

The new arrivals produce something like the 18th best defense in the NBA, marking this edition of the Hawks as a bit more serious than the last couple of iterations. With that steady backstroke behind him, Young rips off a face-melting solo regular season, leading the league in scoring. and helps as he winds Atlanta back into the top three in points scored per possession. With Trae at the controls, Johnson earning (some) All-Star buzz, Risacher showing promise and Bogdan Bogdanović competing for Sixth Man of the Year, the Hawks are hitting over .500 all the way … to 46 wins , which at least gets them out. of the lower half of the play-in-bracket. Progress!

If everything falls apart

Another disastrous defense leads to progressively rancid vibes as the nagging feeling that you can’t build a winner around Young permeates the organization and fan base. We’re reminded that progress isn’t linear, as Johnson struggles to build on his near-Most Improved Player status now that he occupies a more prominent spot on the scouting report. Risacher fumbles more than he flashes, leading to renewed lamentations about the bleak luck of winning. this lottery The Hawks are a little better on defense and a little worse on offense, and the result is another mid-30s win total followed by either making the play practically by default or – even worse – missing it, thus handing the Spurs. golden ticket in the Cooper Flagg lottery.

A fancy spin

There is a precedent of Young being worthy of a first-round pick in fantasy. Young finished 12th in per-game value and fourth in total value in the 2021-22 season before Murray went to the A’s. Now that Murray is gone, expect Young to carry 30 percent more usage and average 25 points with 10 assists. this season.

Johnson missed 26 games last season, but he has an elite fantasy profile. He’ll cost a late-third rounder, while Bogdanović’s ADP remains too low despite trending up over the past week to a mid-eighth-round pick. Bogi is a good source of points, 3s and steals. Look at Daniels as a late flyer.

I’m still drafting more shares of Okongwu (ADP 117) than Capela (91.5), mainly because of ADP. Capela is an automatic double-double. I was just worried about his minutes decreasing over the past four seasons and the Hawks’ long-term financial commitment to Okongwu. Okongwu was effective per minute while also helping fantasy managers in FG%, blocks and rebounds. – And Titus

schedule 2024-25

Moving on from Murray represented a talent downgrade, but I think this roster fits better than its predecessor, which won 36 games despite Young, Johnson, Okongwu and Hunter combining to miss 106 games. Slightly better health fortune, slightly better depth and slightly better performance in crunch time – Atlanta was only 21-26 in games that were within five points in the final five minutes – might do a slightly better result. I will take over (although not much).