Despite the doubts surrounding them, the Atlanta Hawks are shaping up to be one of the most underrated teams in the NBA this season. Although many see their decision to trade Dejounte Murray As a sign of a rebuild, the truth is that the Hawks took a tactical approach to roster construction. Trae Youngwho is often over-criticized, remains the backbone of the group, too Quin Snyder – regarded as one of the best coaches in the league – at the helm, the Hawks have a chance to exceed expectations.
Snyder’s coaching has already brought improvement, and as he enters his second full season, he’s poised to continue developing the young talent on the roster. Players love it Jalen Johnson again Onyeka Okongwu they are expected to take bigger roles, and the group added Zachary Risacher with No. 1 pick and Dyson Daniels, both of whom bring versatility and two-point power. Okongwu may enter the starting lineup Clint Capela in the final year of his contract, showing the evolution of the small spine.
However, despite Snyder’s talent and leadership, the Hawks face tough competition in a crowded Eastern Conference. With several teams ahead of them in the standings, expecting more than a playoff spot this season could be a challenge. The development of their young players will be crucial to their future success, but for now, Atlanta’s best bet may be aiming for a playoff spot as they continue to build for the long term.
The team has $176,823,735 in payroll for the 2024-25 season, ranking them 17th in the NBA.
Returns: 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)
Extraction: Dejounte Murray (New Orleans), Saddiq Bey (Washington), AJ Griffin (trade), Bruno Fernando (Toronto), Dylan Windler (Perth Wildcats), Trent Forrest (Baskonia)
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
The power of youth and maintaining a Top 5 hitting offense under Quin Snyder is important. Strategic cap management allows for the integration of new talents like Zachary Risacher and Dyson Daniels, focusing on building chemistry around Trae Young to compete in a playoff spot.
Recent trades, including the loss of Dejounte Murray, have reduced the depth and experience of the roster. Relying on young, less-proven talent could create tension, and key players like De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic being injury-prone 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
Sports books: 35.5 expected wins
HoopsHype compiled the odds-on-win ratio by collecting winning points from eight sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN BET, BetRivers, Caesars, and bet365
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