If the Atlanta Hawks are going to compete for a playoff spot in 2024-25, a lot has to go right for them.
The Hawks aren’t loaded with established stars, unlike the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers. They don’t have multiple players who averaged at least 20 points per game last season, unlike the Milwaukee Bucks or Indiana Pacers. They don’t have a firm defensive base to rely upon, unlike the Miami Heat or New York Knicks. Entering next season, their offensive ceiling, perimeter defense, and durability are legitimate concerns.
Can Hawks’ Four Horsemen Lead Them To NBA Playoffs?
Despite the obstacles Atlanta faces, there are a couple of reasons to believe in them.
The Hawks do have a frontcourt with a lot of defensive potential, which is key for title-contenders. They aren’t lacking for 3-point threats, which is essential in the modern era. They also have four players who have the potential to put up 20 or more points per game. In fact, one of them has averaged at least 25 points and 10 assists per game the past two seasons.
Between this quartet and their supporting cast, the Hawks have a puncher’s chance to clinch a postseason berth. It’ll be that much easier if Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, who led the Utah Jazz to seven consecutive playoff appearances, is at the top of his game.
Trae Young
There’s a lot that point to Hawks engine Trae Young having his best season in 2023-24, despite being sidelined by a thumb injury for an extended period.
The 2018 No. 5 pick averaged 25.7 points, 10.8 assists (career-high), and 1.3 steals (career-high) per game. He made 37.3 percent of his 3-point attempts, the second-highest mark of his career. It was his first season averaging at least 25 points, 10 assists, and 1 steal per game while shooting at least 37 percent from 3.
Numbers aside, he was a more assertive point of attack defender. As the season wore, he stopped dominating the ball as much. With Dejounte Murray gone, it would be easy for him to go back to hero ball, especially for a player with his offensive ability. However, he needs to build off of last season, embracing his teammates tapping into their potential.
Jalen Johnson
Jalen Johnson being the Hawks’ only untouchable player should tell people all they need to know.
At 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, the former first-round pick is an all-around player with plenty of upside. Last season he had a career year, averaging 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. He was so dynamic he even started drawing comparisons to four-time MVP selection LeBron James.
His partnership with Young, an elite facilitator, will help determine his offensive ceiling. So will his own guard skills, as Johnson needs to sharpen up his 3-point shooting. Lastly, he has to clean up his finishes under the rim.
With Murray in New Orleans, Johnson has the biggest chance to step up into a star role. With his upside, there’s a genuine belief that he can. Not many players have his combination of youth, athleticism, skill, and versatility.
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bogdan Bogdanovic is almost a walking contradiction. He’s only been in the league for seven years, but he’s already 32 years old. He’s a known product, but not a household name. The Serbian shooting guard is a sixth man in the U.S., but the captain of a team that has three-time MVP selection Nikola Jokic on it.
All he might need to reconcile the difference between his identities a larger role in the NBA. With questions about who will start alongside Young in the backcourt, he just might.
The scorer averaged a career-high 16.9 points per game in 2023-24, shooting 37.4 percent from 3. In his NBA career, he’s still yet to convert under 36 percent of his 3-point attempts. If looking for a catch-and-shoot guard who can play off Young, there may be none better. Playing with the defensive intensity he displayed with Serbia in the Paris Olympics would help his case.
De’Andre Hunter
Due to the expectations of a fourth overall pick, De’Andre Hunter is characterized as an underwhelming player. He simply hasn’t taken over enough games at either end of the floor. Yet, there’s too much focus on what Hunter hasn’t been than what he has.
In three of the last four seasons, he’s averaged at least 15 points per game, proving himself capable of scoring on or off the ball. In two of the last three seasons, he’s converted at least 37 of his 3s. Though he doesn’t generate many turnovers, he’s been the Hawks’ most reliable perimeter defender for the past two seasons.
He is imperfect. The chiseled forward needs to become a more inspired rebounder, especially at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds. He needs to play with a consistent fire offensively, like he did when averaging 21.2 points per game in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Nonetheless, if Atlanta is going to steal a playoff spot, they’ll need him at both ends.
