The Atlanta Hawks may very well be higher than anticipated heading into the 2024-25 season. Step one to enchancment is being conscious of the issue, and this offseason, they lastly acknowledged that the Trae Younger-Dejounte Murray duo has run its course. For Younger to succeed, he wants defensive-minded gamers who could make their open pictures, and the Hawks seem to have gamers higher suited to him for subsequent 12 months, which may result in extra success than anticipated.
This offseason can solely be thought of successful for the Hawks. They’ve introduced in some youth, with Dyson Daniels anticipated to begin alongside Younger at guard, and so they’ll additionally be capable of rely on the companies of 2024 NBA draft No. 1 decide Zaccharie Risacher.
The Hawks are constructing one thing extra sustainable and they are going to be a significant supply of leisure with Younger and Jalen Johnson as the 2 finest gamers on the workforce. They’re the one ones who can play within the Hawks’ beginning 5, as they’re the 2 franchise pillars that the workforce is trying to construct round within the close to future.
However other than Younger and Johnson, the opposite three beginning spots look like in play. Subsequent coaching camp will decide which Hawks participant earns the favor of head coach Quin Snyder. However that being mentioned, there may be one participant whose beginning spot is in clear jeopardy.
Analyzing the Hawks’ potential roster for 2024-25
As talked about above, Trae Younger and Jalen Johnson’s spots within the Hawks’ beginning 5 are safe. So long as these two are wholesome, they need to be within the beginning lineup. Younger may very well be a 30-10 machine subsequent season now that he is again to his position because the workforce’s heliocentric supply of offense, whereas Johnson has confirmed to be a flexible ahead who may very well be a risk to go 20-10 subsequent season.
The opposite three spots must be decided in coaching camp. However the favourite to begin alongside Younger within the backcourt is Dyson Daniels. Daniels was the centerpiece of the Dejounte Murray commerce, and in contrast to Murray, Daniels is definitely a real lockdown defender who has the scale (6’4”) to defend the opposing workforce’s finest participant each day. He additionally doesn’t command many touches, which leaves Younger with loads of alternatives to take over the offense.
That leaves the wing and heart positions open. The Hawks’ heart battle has been powerful to navigate over the previous few seasons. Onyeka Okongwu seems more and more able to take over for Clint Capela, however Capela continues to begin each time he is wholesome.
Capela, alternatively, has averaged fewer and fewer minutes over the previous three seasons. Okongwu’s taking part in time has elevated. Final 12 months, he averaged practically the identical variety of minutes as Capela (25.5 for Okongwu, 25.8 for Capela). Is that this the 12 months Capela lastly loses his grip on the beginning job?
Nevertheless it’s not like Capela is geriatric; he is solely 30 and nonetheless has lots of synergy with Trae Younger, a participant who likes to make pictures. Capela’s veteran presence may give him the inexperienced gentle to begin out of coaching camp, however do not be shocked if Okongwu takes over midseason. In any case, Capela is within the final 12 months of his contract.
De’Andre Hunter is the participant most definitely to lose his beginning job, as a result of presence of somebody the Hawks take into account an important a part of their future.
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Zaccharie Risacher says the longer term is now
It is uncommon for a first-overall decide to be benched in his first season. The 2024 NBA draft class might give us a special thought, on condition that many expertise evaluators imagine it is one of many worst draft courses in historical past, however the Hawks ought to give Zaccharie Risacher as many alternatives as potential to study the ins and outs of NBA basketball.
By prioritizing Risacher’s growth, De’Andre Hunter might don’t have any alternative however to step apart. Hunter would have been in a position to begin the vast majority of video games on the three if it weren’t for Risacher’s presence, however growing the primary total decide to his full potential is a precedence.
Hunter solely began 37 of his 58 video games final season, so it isn’t like he does not have backup expertise. His progress as a participant has stalled, and no workforce appears keen to commerce him on his huge contract. So far as the long-term way forward for the Hawks franchise goes, benching Hunter in favor of Risacher must be a simple resolution.
