Previewing the Atlanta Hawks for the 2026-27 Season
The Hawks are coming off a pretty solid season, earning the sixth seed in the East and giving the Knicks their toughest series of the postseason. They made a couple of solid moves this offseason, acquiring Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder, two championship-caliber role players. Having the Pelicans' first-round pick also helped them add some guard depth by selecting Kingston Flemings with the eighth overall pick. This is yet another great team in a stacked Eastern Conference that is ready to take things to the next level.
The Roster
Point Guards: C.J. McCollum, Kingston Flemings, RayJ Dennis (Two-Way Contract)
Shooting Guards: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luguentz Dort, Corey Kispert, Keshon Gilbert (Two-Way Contract)
Small Forwards: Dyson Daniels, Aaron Wiggins, Dorian Finney-Smith
Power Forwards: Jalen Johnson, Asa Newell, Mouhamed Gueye, Jalen Wilson (Two-Way Contract)
Centers: Onyeka Okongwu, Jock Landale, Zuby Ejiofor, Henri Veesaar (Out for Season)
The roster had two major issues last season, and the Hawks were able to address one of them. The first was point guard depth behind C.J. McCollum, and they were able to bring in Kingston Flemings in the lottery to address that issue. The other issue was the center position, which was weak last season and will likely be a weakness again. Onyeka Okongwu is an above-average center, but other than him, they have Jock Landale and rookie Zuby Ejiofor. Rim protection and interior defense could be major issues for this team, and it will be interesting to see how they address those concerns as the year goes on.
The biggest question is whether Jalen Johnson can take the next step from All-Star to superstar. Johnson had an excellent season, making the All-NBA Third Team, but with some added depth around him this year, you would think he can only improve. If he turns into a superstar, he has plenty of nice pieces around him to elevate the Hawks to the next level. It will be interesting to see if he continues the trajectory he's been on.
Another question is one I already touched on: the center position. Since Onyeka Okongwu is an average starter, they will need Jock Landale to be one of the best backups in the NBA. If that happens, I believe the center rotation should be fine, but that is a big if. I definitely think that if this team is in solid playoff contention by the trade deadline, they will look to add a center and potentially go all in for a championship push. Losing Henri Veesaar for the season hurts them, as he was supposed to be a high-upside rookie option. However, that will give Zuby Ejiofor a chance to prove himself at the professional level.
How will the additions of the two Thunder wings look? Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort definitely had their moments in Oklahoma City, but now they could take on much bigger roles in Atlanta. They know what it takes to win, and these are two proven winners being added to an up-and-coming team. They could end up being much bigger additions than people expect, but time will tell.
Prediction Markets
Win Total: 43.5
To Win the NBA Finals: +7000 (16th Best Odds)
To Win the Eastern Conference: +2200 (9th Best Odds)
To Reach the Conference Finals: +900 (10th Best Odds)
To Reach the Conference Semifinals: +320 (9th Best Odds)
To Win the Division: +265 (2nd Best Odds)
To Make the Playoffs: -145
To Miss the Playoffs: +120
To Participate in the Play-In Tournament: +105
To Win the NBA Cup: +2800 (13th Best Odds)
These odds put the Hawks in the middle of the pack across the league. They suggest Atlanta will finish around the 8–10 seed range and potentially end up in the Play-In Tournament. I think this team can definitely earn a top-six seed and build upon the end of last season, when they were able to rally and secure the sixth seed. The Hawks fall into the category of being a real unknown this year, along with a few other Eastern Conference teams, simply because the conference is so deep.
Final Outlook and Prediction
I believe the Hawks will build off the success they had last season, and I think things will only continue to improve from here. I expect Jalen Johnson to take another step forward and continue developing into one of the league's best players. I also think the additions of Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort will be huge, and Kingston Flemings is talented enough to make a solid impact during his rookie season. Atlanta is one of the teams I am highest on this year when it comes to exceeding expectations.
Final Prediction: 47–35 | 6th Seed | Second-Round Exit
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