There’s a reason why I split up this in to two parts since as soon as I posted that post, we got a bunch of new interesting information on the Hawks and a lot of moves. So again to remind you guys this part 2 will include:
Review of NBA Draft and looking back on my Part 1 and differences
Part 2:
Section 4: Extensions and resigning
Section 5: Free Agent options
Section 6: Goals for the next season
If you didn’t read part 1: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/hawks/p/g73YRkUWxZ2X9M/the-atlanta-hawks-offseason-preview-pivotal-offseason-part-1-pre-draft
If you didn’t read that post it was a lot of fun and I bounced off a bunch of ideas for the Hawks with recent rumours and trying to be innovative and unbiased while adding my own opinions as the end of each section and it will be similar here. I would go read it come back to this as. A good chunk of this is a review. Thank you for all the great feedback on the post and as I promised here is part 2 of this post.
Review of NBA Draft and looking back on my Part 1 and differences
This is a list of the moves from that post onwards that the Hawks made:
The Hawks acquired:
Kristaps Porzingis
2026 second round pick Worst of BOS-MEM
23rd pick and Drafted Asa Newell
2026 first round pick best of NOLA-MIL
The Hawks traded:
Terance Mann
Georges Niang
22nd Pick
2031 second round pick CLE
13th pick
As you guys can see a very busy week of business for the Hawks and I’ll just go over it, see what I mentioned or not in my original post as possibilities or not. Some of the nuance over these trades and my general opinions but those are things you can access in my trade grades.
Kristaps Porzingis Trade: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/8vtVF_TsA4S9l2/my-hawks-just-traded-for-kristaps-porzingis-for-the-last-time-today-lets-grade-this-trade
I did not mention Kristaps Porzingis as a trade option. Not that I didn’t think he would be available but maybe this is someone I really should have brought up, he fits great on the team and Is on the expiring deal that brings you 30 million next year if you let him walk. He is Injury prone but you’re getting him for way lower than what you can project his return value as a player for even as just a 1 year rental. You just hope for some relative health this year to keep it going. I did mention that Georges Niang and Terance Mann were the most movable contracts on the Hawks and we did end up moving the two of them to allow this to work without using one of our exceptions.
Draft Night Trade: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/qlelIJMRA5Ucwq/grading-the-trade-back-by-the-hawks-from-13-to-23
Well this was a home run deal for the hawks, picking up a 2026 pick that valuable for moving back 10 spots is perfect. But plus drafting Newell is great when you were considering him with the 13th pick so I’m a fan of this for them personally, I think everyone is so good job. I did not talk about trading down in my first part but I believe I did mention wanting Newell potentially.
Section 4:
Lest go over each option for the hawks in terms of resigning and extending.
FA:
Clint Capela
Larry Nance Jr
Dominick Barlow (Declined TO)
Caris LeVert
Keaton Wallace (qualifying offer paid)
Jacob Toppin (qualifying offer paid)
Garrison Mathews
Extension:
Trae Young
Dyson Daniels
Confirmed signings:
2 ways:
Edi John N’Diaye
Lamont Butler
E10:
Kobe Johnson
Let’s review the UDFA players so far signed.
Edi John N’Diaye I have made a post with thoughts on, here is the link: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/hawks/p/mUSKuqdv3SYrPH/quick-eli-john-ndiaye-summary-for-hawks-fans
Lamont Butler was a point guard at Kentucky who shone as a point guard at this level although in a low volume role. He is a real backup point guard option for the Hawks if he impresses with nice playmaking and off the dribble scoring to add needed playmaking, he is an effort player and a pretty high motor, his 100th percentile outcome is Scotty Pippen Jr
Kobe Johnson is a utility Swiss Army knife that really reminds me of Cody Martin who I mentioned in the first part as a trade option for the team. Kobe Johnson is the brother of Hawks star Jalen Johnson, he is a good efficient playmaker with accurate passing and ok handle that makes him an efficient point forward at times. Although he is a good creator for others on offence, he lacks scoring aggression and potential on that end he is a reasonable scorer when open but his main role is as a connector piece who flows in offence and as a transition player. Kobe Johnson is also an impressive defender with strong technique and works as a disruptor, strong positioning and incredibly high STL%, I wanna say the highest in college or the draft so he is more than just Jalen’s brother and maybe we see him in college park once his E10 is over but he does actually intrigue me as a prospect with a fun skillset that’s functional and can be good for us in the NBA, doubt this is the last we see of him.
Let’s go over the FA,
Clint Capela has been on the Hawks for a while now but after sitting out the end of last season, communication seemed to look like it’s the end for his stay in Atlanta, Hawks have already added multiple replacements positionally for him with Newell and Porzingis so I would highly doubt the Hawks used an exception or space to sign him. Capela had his moments but his time here has come to an end.
Prediction: Walks in FA
Larry Nance Jr joined the Hawks last season as a part of the Dejounte Murray trade and made immediate impacts when on the court with efficient shooting and some great plays as a depth piece. The highlighted part of this is that he didn’t get on the court as much as hoped, struggled to win game time early on and when needed he struggled with injuries. Nance Jr is a strong vet presence in the locker room and great as an end of the bench utility big who does a bit of everything. Rumours would make me believe the Hawks are intrigued to sign him this offseason to a cheaper deal.
Prediction: gets the Bi-Annual Exception or lower from the Hawks
Dominick Barlow struggled as a FA last season and ended up having to sign a two way contract with the hawks with a promise he would end up on a regular contract as he did post deadline. Barlow was unfairly thrown into the hawks rotation last season after numerous injuries which showed off his weaknesses as a player. Barlow had a Team option to continue as a hawk which was declined which tells me we likely will be moving in another direction this offseason.
Prediction: Takes a two way contract elsewhere
Caris LeVert was acquired by the Hawks as a part of the De’Andre Hunter deal at the deadline, where he filled the hole left by the trade by Hunter. LeVert was quite impressive as a hawk, although his shooting dipped he gave them needed self creation and shot making they needed and had a game winner during the season. LeVert and the Hawks reportedly have mutual interest in a return to Atlanta with numerous reporters expecting him to stay although there is heavy recent interest in the guard from the Pistons who’s shooting guard Malik Beasley who is a FA who widely was expected to return this offseason is now publicly investigated by the FBI for betting on NBA games. This has forced Detroit to look elsewhere and has threatened the Hawks who would like to resign LeVert.
Prediction: It’s going to be close but even though it’s swinging Detroit right now there has been continued momentum towards the Hawks before that and I think we get an NTMLE level deal done
Keaton Wallace was probably one of the most used Two Way players in the league last year, he was reasonable in rotation and played really quite well compared to the low expectations. The Hawks needed a backup guard after injuries and Keaton did the job even being the leader of the team for games specifically being the bulls game where Deaqwon Plowden and him won the game for the Hawks as two way contracts. The has been no information on Keaton Wallace returning or going anywhere beside the fact we paid his qualifying offer, so he will be a UFA and we can match any deal he gets.
Prediction: more likely than a lot of guys to be resigned as the last man on the roster, but he probably will get an actual NBA contract somewhere this year, he deserves it.
Jacob Toppin is someone I will touch on a little, was only with the hawks for a little bit and played one game at the end of the season, some good potential and a great athlete but he probably won’t return, we did pay his qualifying though so maybe.
Prediction: does not return
Garrison Mathews is someone I really love as a player because when he is hot he is hot and we saw that a lot this year with a couple high scoring games with a lot of threes. But he has limited usage and is unplayable a lot of the time when he doesn’t have super efficient games. No rim pressure or defence. Type of player that will win you a few games but you’re risking it playing him. Love him but I don’t think we end up keeping him around.
Prediction: signs a contract elsewhere
Predicted resignings:
Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr
Ok so I think I did a pretty good job recapping all the rumours on players. On to the extensions.
Trae Young: has been the star of the roster for years now since 2018, the guard is now in his prime with not too many years left in his prime. The Hawks have been “locked in” on Trae Young all offseason and it seems like they want to build for the future alongside the star. However, Trae Youngs extension will take him through to 31 years old and as a 6’1 guard who somewhat relies on his separation and athletes, it’s no guarantee in his age he will still be an all star level player. So to me this has to be a clear bargaining chip for the Hawks to try get Young on a cheaper deal and if he buys into the team Maybe you can resign him to a Jalen Brunson esque deal. However I highly doubt it’s the exact replica of the deal but I am predicting a cheaper deal for Trae, maybe in the region of 180/4.
Prediction: 180/4 deal at the end of the offseason
Dyson Daniels was a huge addition to the roster last season as the most improved player in the NBA, not only that but he’s one of the most ideal partners in the NBA for Trae Young in the Backcourt. This to me feels like a no brainer extension for both sides and Dyson projects to get a handsome contract this offseason. I think it’s going to be not much more or less than 30 million a year, similar to the Suggs and Jalen Johnson deal. If the Hawks do as good as a job as they did with Jalen last offseason and Dyson is willing to maybe cut a little money we could see a cheaper deal than maybe deserved as with Jalen. Ideally you try to use the Jalen Johnson contract as a bargaining chip, a common NBA deal that comes up in negotiations, saying Jalen is a better player which is a known fact and therefore Dyson should get less money. But I do think this ends up being around the same type of deal.
Prediction: 150/5 deal at any point this offseason
Section 5:
There has been many rumours for the Hawks this offseason but let’s first analyse what do the Hawks need to target this offseason.
The Hawks are In need of creation, guard depth and wing depth this FA. Let’s use our resigning projections of LeVert and Larry Nance Jr and we see open gaps still on the wing as well as a guard spot. With 3 roster spots left, let’s go over Free agent options and trade options.
This years point guard class is quite a lot deeper than some people will give it respect for with notable names being:
Chris Paul, D’Angelo Russell, Tyus Jones, Tre Jones, Ty Jerome, Dennis Schroeder, Brogdon, Russell Westbrook and other guard who could be classed as a point guard. For me the reasonable and most likely options that are intriguing would be a Tyus or Tre Jones, Dennis Schroeder and Malcolm Brogdon. Also key to note Keaton Wallace is someone who could fill this role on a minimum if he does get resigned
Tyus Jones had the option to join the Hawks late last year after an offer had been made but instead chose the Phoenix Suns where he had a larger role that ended up being a little down year for him. Phoenix wasn’t great but Tyus is an efficient playmaker and creator which his main role for the Hawks would be to fill in for Trae. So we do need to add a creator. To me though he doesn’t seem to be too interested in coming here and would likely get a bit of demand around the league elsewhere.
Prediction: Signs Elsewhere
Tre Jones is a young point guard with a lot of playmaking talent as a backup and as a general creator in a similar way to Tyus Jones. Still a lot more development needed as a player and is a lot less refined than other options so although I like him and he fills a need I think there’s better elsewhere. But I think we likely won’t be able to sign someone else who fits as well as he does. So I will predict him to be our signing for around the minimum.
Prediction: signs with the Hawks for around the minimum
Dennis Schroeder has garnered interest from multiple teams this offseason and one of those being the Hawks. Schroeder was an old Hawks draft pick and has just come of a year where he bounced around teams as a good backup and trade piece, ending up as a backup guard for the Pistons. Schroeder is probably one of the best free agent options we can get. A little more rounded and a better scorer than the other options but that means he gets a lot more demand and money, Money I don’t think we pay. The Kings are one of the strongest teams in the race and reports are pretty much moving their way so my prediction is he ends up with them, unless Chris Paul is convinced to sign there.
Prediction: Schroeder signs with the Kings for around to more than the Bi Annual exception
Malcolm Brogdon is one of the lore wildcard players who has a previous history in high level roles as a previous sixth man of the year winner, however he has not been a consistent player for teams since and has bounced around the league. However he probably ends up being a cheaper contract for whatever team gets him. I’m not the biggest fan of the mover and in my guess probably does not end up with the hawks.
Prediction: signs elsewhere
On to the wings section…
This one I will likely not bring up many options due to strong reports and the highly likely outcome that Nickeil Alexander-Walker signs with the Hawks. NAW is one of the best FA on the board and has a lot of demand but the Hawks have an open role for him and has the TPE to afford him. Now if this does happen which is likely to happen at this point, the Hawks will have to and reportedly will have to sign and trade for him. This means assets, whether thats picks or players or both. Now what this could mean is a player is off the roster and therefore we have an extra spot on the roster open which could interest me. But whatever position of the player we lose we likely add a player of that position in FA. Anyway I do expect the hawks to sign NAW for around 54/3 type of deal.
Prediction: NAW signs for 54/3 with the Hawks.
There are a few extra more intriguing options:
DFS, Dillon Brooks, Cameron Johnson etc. who are trade options for the TPE but there most likely and highly reported option and likely is NAW on a Sign and Trade. In my projected starters, I will not take a player away.
Projected Depth Chart: Point Guard: Trae Young, Tre Jones, Keaton Wallace
Shooting Guard: Dyson Daniels, Caris LeVert, Kobe Bufkin
Small Forward: Zaccharie Risacher, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Vit Krejci
Power Forward: Jalen Johnson, Asa Newell/Mouhamed Gueye, Larry Nance Jr
Centre: Kristaps Porzingis, Onyeka Okongwu, Asa Newell/Mouhamed Gueye
Realised I had an extra spot so I added Keaton Wallace on a minimum
Section 6
What should the goal be for next year, this is no matter what the Hawks do in Free Agency and from now on.
The Hawks have to see results from their additions, they need to be a top 6 seed at a minimum if they don’t have a really injury filled season. Ideally they should be better, especially in a weaker eastern conference. It’s wide open for them now and they should feel good entering the season. We saw addition by subtraction last year but now we need to see addition by adding this year. Short goals wise you have to see what combinations you can run in this front court, one of the more intriguing things you can run with this roster are different Center Forward duos as they all have decent spacing ability and there are some tweeters you ideally can pair together which can Create some tall interesting rotations. Testing and finding Ideal pairs for the rotation would be a smart idea early year. Debating what the cost of a Kristaps Porzingis resigning could look like, monitoring his health, consistency and what his extension could look like next season and whether this would be smart for the Hawks to do. If You go against that, who is available next year to fill in the role whether thats using our picks or the 30m cap space left over.
Can you win a championship with Trae Young, now Trae has a strong roster and there are more expectations for the Hawks in the next year he has to compete, have a good year and show he can play winning playoff basketball and regular season basketball that can win you a championship, if not you have To think about whether its smart to resign him to a high deal or using a pick on a higher potential, more winning archetype of guard.
Development of young players, Kobe Bufkin, Mouhamed Gueye, Asa Newell, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher are all very young. We need to see improvements in this next year and development in certain skills from Kobe Bufkin and Risacher and further refinement from the others although there is a lot less pressure on these guys to take large jumps in counting stats or more.
So thats it for this series of post, maybe my offseason review will be a part 3 for this but thats a while away and probably less in depth and less volume. This took ages to write so please leave a like to keep more of posts like this coming