The 2024-25 NBA season is less than a month away. The Atlanta Hawks will enter the campaign with a new-look roster after trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. General Manager Landry Fields made many critical decisions this offseason, including the Murray deal and drafting Zaccharie Risacher with the first pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Over the summer, the Hawks added more youth, size, length, and versatility to the roster. Trae Young and Jalen Johnson are the only two locks in the starting lineup. It is up to Head Coach Quin Snyder to figure out how the newcomers and Hawks’ veterans fit best alongside each other. Atlanta’s leaders in the front office and on the hardwood spoke at Hawks Media Day on Sept. 30 before training camp begins.
Landry Fields
Fields consistently uses the phrase “Hawks DNA” to describe the culture he wants to build for the organization on and off the court. He opened with a confident statement regarding the Hawks’ style of play he wants to see this season.
“I do believe we’ve made progress, as it relates to our brand of basketball, which I speak out at length about… Playing unselfish basketball, playing with the pass, making sure that we’re connected out there. Those are very important for us,” Fields said.
In exchange for Murray, Atlanta received Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell, Cody Zeller, and two first-round picks. Daniels is the most intriguing of those players because he adds another unselfish playmaker and ballhandler on offense. However, his biggest role will likely come on the defensive end of the floor, guarding the best opposing scorer and boosting the Hawks’ point-of-attack defense- an area where they struggled for the last two campaigns.
Fields emphasized the importance of moving without the ball as a core characteristic Atlanta searched for in adding new players this offseason. Due to Snyder’s fast-paced, motion offense, the Hawks constantly run off-ball actions for shooters to create open looks or driving lanes to the rim.
(Jenni Girtman/ Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Defensive Upgrades
Fields feels confident the Hawks also improved defensively heading into this campaign. Last season, Atlanta ranked 27th in the league with a 118.4 defensive rating.
“Defensively, I think we needed to upgrade as well, and that was something we wanted to go into the offseason looking to address…[We] Wanted to… get bigger at the wing, and I think we did that,” Fields expressed.
The additions of Daniels, Nance, Risacher, and David Roddy give Snyder more size and versatility to work with on the wings. Fields specifically talked about Roddy’s passing ability, toughness, and voice in the locker room as traits the front office identified to trade for him this summer. He also had high praise for Daniels.
“Dyson [is] an incredible defender, continuing to evolve in his offensive game… He has that playmaking ability and the versatility, and when he doesn’t have the ball, he’s still effective out there,” Fields said.
On the injury front, Fields updated Kobe Bufkin, Mouhamed Gueye, Seth Lundy, and Onyeka Okongwu. He said Bufkin and Gueye are “back to full health.” However, Lundy and Okongwu are still working their way back from ankle and toe injuries, respectively.
“Seth is almost back. Onyeka… has made some strides right now. There’s been no setbacks with any of those guys,” Fields clarified.
Bogdan Bogdanović is the oldest player on the roster at 32 years of age, so Atlanta enters this season with a young squad looking to take big steps forward. Fields concluded his opening address with hope for the future.
“We’re not a finished product. We’re a work in progress right now and I’m really excited about this group.”
Quin Snyder
Unlike his first full season as the Hawks head coach last media day, Snyder did not have opening statements. He welcomed the media back and wanted to create a loose environment for everyone involved. “I’ll open as we go,” he said with a smile.
Snyder talked about the excitement around the team, as the Hawks head to training camp at the University of Georgia to begin official practice.
“I think the most significant thing is that we’ve had everyone in the building, which is… reflective of a level of enthusiasm and a focus on using all the time we have, whether it be in the summertime, games, or practice, to get better,” Snyder said.
Snyder stressed “consistent, continued improvement” when asked what he wanted to see out of Risacher in his rookie campaign. The skipper emphasized this phrase not just for the number one pick but also for younger guys veterans like Young, Bogdanović, and Daniels.
“In order to achieve that [consistent, continued improvement], adversity is required,” Snyder explained.
Snyder wants Risacher to “not be afraid to fail.” Regardless of draft selection, this quality is essential for a rookie’s confidence in establishing a path for a long, successful NBA career.
Additionally, Snyder highlighted Daniels as a potential factor in their new lineups.
“His ability to make plays. Whether it be off the dribble or even making the simple pass… His ability to cut, which is, I think, an art form that’s lost in today’s NBA. Cutting is something that can go with shooting. They’re both equally effective,” Snyder expressed.
Xs and Os
Atlanta lacked size and versatility throughout the rotation last season, especially when Johnson and De’Andre Hunter went down with fractured wrist and knee injuries, respectively. Snyder mentioned Daniels (6-foot-7-inch guard), Nance (center/forward), and Risacher (6-foot-9-inch guard/wing) as guys who can help cover up Atlanta’s size issues from last season.
“I think it’s important for us to be bigger throughout those positions… Size creates versatility because those guys aren’t single-position players… That allows them to play in combination, and those combinations are what create depth… I’d like to see those players and others really complement each other,” Snyder explained.
Johnson had a breakout 2023-24 campaign, averaging 16 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. These numbers more than doubled his totals from two seasons ago. When asked about how Johnson can improve heading into his fourth NBA season, Snyder focused on the 22-year-old’s versatility and defensive promise.
“When you do have the ability to pass and shoot and handle, it gives you that chance to… impact the game in a variety of ways… The one thing that we’ve continued to impress upon him and that he’s embraced is his ability to impact the game defensively as well,” Snyder continued.
Snyder’s teams have a history of playing fast. The Hawks ranked sixth in pace last season with 100.84 possessions per game. The skipper mentioned Johnson’s ability to grab more defensive rebounds and push the ball up the floor himself with his handle and passing ability.
Balancing Youth and Winning
The Hawks have a young roster but are not trying to rebuild. They expect to take a step forward after a disappointing 2023-24 season. Can Fields and Snyder steer the Hawks back in the right direction? We find out beginning Oct. 23, as Atlanta hosts the Brooklyn Nets to start the 2024-25 campaign.
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