The Atlanta Hawks have made some underrated moves in the 2026 offseason and look to be among the East’s best in the upcoming season. They were the only team in the playoffs to win more than one game against the Knicks, which should tell you all you need to know about this young team.
Losing in the first round isn’t how they wanted their season to end, especially in that decisive Game Six. They lost by a staggering 51 points at home, but there were a lot of positives. They showed that they aren’t too far off when it comes to competing with the league’s best, and with the offseason they’ve had, a deep playoff run isn’t out of reach.
Their most recent move was acquiring NBA Champion and all-defensive player Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Zaccharie Risacher and three second-round picks. Dort provides elite defense to a team that hangs their hat on that side of the ball. He had averages of 8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game on 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from the three-point line. Definitely a down year shooting the ball, but maybe a new scenery will get him back on track.
The Hawks also acquired Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder in exchange for two second-round picks. Wiggins averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 43.1% from the floor and 35.6% from three. Also a down year for him, but that isn’t the reason the Thunder let him and Dort go; it was a financial move that saved them millions of dollars. Not to mention, Atlanta drafted Kingston Flemings with the eighth pick in the draft; add him to the guards they already have on the roster, and it’s some of the best guard depth in the league.
Offseason additions for the Hawks
Atlanta had a 46-36 record last season. With all of the new talent they acquired, along with their star Jalen Johnson continuing to develop, they should easily exceed that number next season. They had solid records against the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and look to place higher than the sixth seed next season.
Records against top four teams in the East:
Boston Celtics: 2-2
New York Knicks: 1-3
Cleveland Cavaliers: 2-2
Detroit Pistons: 1-2
They could use some extra help in the frontcourt, and more specifically, the forward position, as they’re pretty guard-heavy right now. Their projected starting lineup is Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. This team just added major depth that needed to be able to withstand injuries throughout the season and be able to keep guys fresh for the playoffs.
We are in the parity era of the NBA, and more teams are finding out just how close to contention they really are, with the Hawks being one of them. They played the Champions the best out of the teams that the Knicks faced, which says they do have what it takes to win. They found the formula, and they have a core of guys they want to build around. All it takes is a healthy season, and they are most certainly a team that can contend for a championship.
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