Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Atlanta Hawks last season, a career year that came together as the franchise stopped trying to build around anyone else.
The Hawks were 19-21 and ninth in the East when they dealt Trae Young to Washington. They went 27-15 the rest of the way and took the eventual champion Knicks to six games, the only team in the postseason to beat New York twice.
So Onsi Saleh, Atlanta's president of basketball operations, left it alone.
The Hawks made no move this summer for a starter. They shopped the clearance rack instead, taking Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins off a Thunder team drowning in luxury tax, at a cost of five second-round picks between the two deals. Wiggins alone cut $61
million off Oklahoma City's tax bill. Atlanta stayed at No. 8 in the 2026 NBA Draft and selected Houston point guard Kingston Flemings, brought back CJ McCollum for one year and $21 million and declined Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3 million option.
Here's a breakdown of the Atlanta Hawks' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Atlanta Hawks offseason review
- Record last season: 46-36 (6th in Eastern Conference)
- Playoff finish: Eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks
- Coach: Quin Snyder (fifth season)
- 2026-27 title odds: +6600 (per BetMGM)
- Projected record : 43-39
- Offseason grade : B+
Key roster additions
- G Luguentz Dort (trade)
- G Aaron Wiggins (trade)
- G Devin Carter (trade)
- G Kingston Flemings (draft, No.8)
- G Ryan Nembhard (trade)
- F/C Zuby Ejiofor (draft, No.23)
- C Henri Veesaar (draft, No.52)
Key roster losses
- F Zaccharie Risacher (trade)
- F Jonathan Kuminga (free agency)
- G Gabe Vincent (free agency)
- G Keaton Wallace (free agency)
Biggest question entering training camp
Who scores in a playoff half court?
- Atlanta got outscored by 51 points in the closeout game against New York, the version of this team nobody in the building wants to talk about. Johnson is the engine, Dyson Daniels finished as runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker just won Most Improved Player after averaging 20.8 points as a starter. But, none of them has ever been the guy a defense builds its game plan around in May. McCollum, who turns 35 this month, was that guy three teams ago.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
- G CJ McCollum
- G Dyson Daniels
- G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- F Jalen Johnson
- C Onyeka Okongwu
Rotation players
- G Luguentz Dort
- Aaron Wiggins
- Kingston Flemings
- Ryan Nembhard
- F Asa Newell
- C Jock Landale
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Atlanta is going to be miserable to play against. Daniels and Dort on one roster gives Snyder two of the five best on-ball defenders alive, and Okongwu and Jock Landale can both shoot enough at center to keep the lane open for Johnson.
The shooting behind them is a real question. Atlanta gave up 116.0 points a game last season, and an offense that lives on drive-and-kick needs shooters standing in the corners. The Hawks also have more players than roster spots and will have to cut somewhere before opening night. Fifth seed feels about right in a conference that got considerably heavier at the top.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta Hawks season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
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