The Atlanta Hawks are 39 games into the 2024-25 NBA season, and as we near the All-Star break, they find themselves in a similar position to previous years as the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Casual viewers will assume they’re the same Hawks from the last couple of seasons because of their 20-19 record, but instead, they have flashed greatness with multiple victories over the Eastern Conference giants.
Hawks’ Early Success
From early November to the middle of December, they defeated the Cavs (twice), the defending champion Celtics, Lakers, Bucks, and Knicks (twice). On Dec. 11th, most of the league watched their Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinal matchup against the Knicks and witnessed the Hawks’ new brand of basketball in their 108-100 win in Madison Square Garden.
These multiple upset victories helped the Hawks gain the respect of the national NBA media after three seasons of obscurity.
ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps praised Trae Young for leading his team to a win after trailing by 14 points.
Zach Lowe also praised Young’s passing ability.
Senior NBA insider Brian Windhorst declared Hawks forward Jalen Johnson a future All-Star after witnessing his growth this season.
The pair has formed a star duo. Young leads the league in assists with 11.9, while Johnson averages 20/10/5 and is a leading candidate for the Most Improved Player Award. The national stage was a coming-out party for the star duo, and De’Andre Hunter also had a masterful performance off the bench, finishing with 24 points. He has averaged 20 points all season while leading the second unit and has become a Sixth Man Of The Year candidate.
Dyson Daniels is a Budding Star
Head Coach Quin Snyder allowed rookie Zaccharie Risacher to become the starting small forward, and Hunter has improved in his new role after stagnating for the last two seasons. His spectacular play has caught much attention this year, similar to teammate Dyson Daniels, who has taken Atlanta by storm after trading places with Dejounte Murray.
The 21-year-old Australian has flourished as the starting shooting guard alongside Young, increasing his average from 5.8 points last season to 12.8 this season. His new role as a starter has allowed his defense to take center stage as he leads the league in steals per game with 3.1.
Daniels is the youngest candidate for the All-Defensive First Team, and his rise to fame is one of the many things Hawks fans should be excited about, regardless of their .500 record.
Multiple Hawks are leading the NBA in statistical categories, and the young roster has displayed newfound resilience in numerous comeback victories, including a flawless 50-point fourth quarter that completed a 21-point comeback over the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 26th. This roster could grow into one of the greatest Hawks teams in franchise history, but they will miss their opportunity to be great if they do not remove their weak links.
2 Moves This Off-Season Could Improve The Hawks
Atlanta is unlikely to compete for a ring this year, but there are many positives to build on heading into next summer.
Thirty-nine games have provided enough sample size for the front office to analyze the roster’s strengths and weaknesses.
The front office should prioritize Young, Daniels, Risacher, Johnson, Hunter, Garrison Mathews, Vit Krejci, and Onyeka Okongwu, who have all been healthy. All eight players have proven useful, while some of the Hawks veterans are beginning to decline.
Time to Part Ways With Bogdanovic?
Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic hasn’t been healthy long enough to make an impact this season. After a stellar performance leading Serbia to a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, he has only played 18 games for the Hawks thus far. When Bogdanovic has suited up, the performances have been relatively underwhelming.
His regression can not be ignored. Multiple knee injuries have affected his speed and agility, making it harder for him to perform catch-and-shoot threes off screens, one of his specialties. Trading the fan favorite is not ideal, but a 32-year-old 35% three-point shooter has value in the trade market.
Multiple shooting guards in the league can replicate his 11.2 points per game, and they will be healthy enough to contribute nightly. In March 2023, General Manager Landry Fields extended his contract on a team-friendly $68 million four-year extension, and if they put together the right package, it would be pretty easy to get a trade done.
Moves More Likely to Come This Offseason
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6th, but Fields will likely make a move during the off-season when they are also forced to address Clint Capela‘s future. His contract has been the elephant in the locker room all season because this is the last year, and as of Jan. 15th, there are no reports of an extension.
He is averaging the lowest stats of his career since his sophomore season, with 9.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game as a starter. His athleticism has taken a massive dip after suffering numerous leg injuries, and his inability to score has been detrimental.
Hawks fans have ridiculed Capela for his blunders at the rim, and it’s evident that he hasn’t added anything new to his repertoire in years.
At 30 years old, he should be in his prime, but it will only worsen as time goes on. If the Hawks want to transcend to the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, they must ‘trim the fat’ as the roster heads in a different direction of youth, size, and athleticism for the future.
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