The Atlanta Hawks’ offseason began over a week ago, but only after the New York Knicks bounced them out of their own building.<\/p>\n
Though that Game 6 loss didn’t overshadow what the Hawks accomplished in the preceding months<\/a>, it did much to put the team’s weaknesses under the microscope. There will always be those on the extreme ends of the spectrum, one group believing the Hawks’ series against the Knicks wasn’t meaningful, the other acting like it’s the end of the world. However, most of Atlanta’s endearingly loyal fan base seems to be on the same page.<\/p>\n Following the Trae Young<\/a> trade, Jalen Johnson<\/a> is officially the present and the future. Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a>, the 2025-26 Most Improved Player, punched above his weight as Johnson’s second option. Between their young pieces and draft capital, their front office is rife with options. On that note, Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh has shown himself to be a capable and forward-thinking lead executive.<\/p>\n This has lent itself to there being a sense of comfort around the Hawks entering the offseason. It’s not exactly peace or serenity, with anxiety<\/em> making its presence felt. Her pessimistic sister, doubt<\/em>, is hanging around the corner. Nonetheless, they’re not in the chaotic state that they were over the past two seasons. Now, they’re ready to build, calmly and confidently.<\/p>\n With the lottery order<\/a> set, the Hawks will officially have the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, by way of the New Orleans Pelicans. They also have control of their original draft selections, which are slotted at No. 23 and No. 57 pick overall. Given all the hoopla surrounding their acquisition<\/a> of the Pelicans’ top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, having a selection that landed outside of the top-five was disappointing. Nevertheless, Atlanta still finds itself with prime real estate on the draft board, as top-10 picks are typically seen as having star potential as well.<\/p>\n When the Hawks find themselves on the clock on June 23, they’ll likely be in position to add at least one of the top true freshman point guards. Darryn Peterson<\/a> (Kansas), a prolific scorer with playmaking upside, will have likely been scooped up by then. The most outstanding lead guard in the NCAA last season, Darius Acuff Jr.<\/a> (Arkansas), is unlikely to make it past the Sacramento Kings’ seventh overall pick. However, there’s a solid chance that at least one of All-American playmaker Kingston Flemings<\/a> (Houston) and All-ACC creator Mikel Brown Jr.<\/a> (Louisville) are still waiting to hear their name called.<\/p>\n Between Flemings and Brown, the former is the more polished product.<\/p>\nWhat Should The Atlanta Hawks Do In The 2026 Offseason?<\/h2>\n
2026 NBA Draft<\/h3>\n
Kingston Flemings (No. 8)<\/h4>\n