Ideal vs Realistic scenarios for the Atlanta Hawks
In this article, I will breakdown the current state of the Atlanta Hawks, and offer a potential ideal (unrealistic) or realistic scenario, whether it be acquiring a player, a change in coaching, or a team focus, based on a detailed assessement of the 2025-26 NBA season and a close look at team needs.
Atlanta Hawks:
Current Situation: The Atlanta Hawks are in a tough spot. They have recently moved off of their franchise star in Trae Young, they have gone all in on 24 year old star Jalen Johnson. And while Jalen Johnson has been great in his star breakout year, averaging 22.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists in 72 games played this season, they still have holes in their play that hold them back from making the true contender leap, with them currently being 45-35, holding the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. It has become clear that their lack of rim protection and size + physicality has been a huge cog in their hopes of winning and has been made worse with them recently moving off of Kristaps Porziņģis in a trade deadline stunner with the Golden State Warriors.
Ideal Scenario:
With the Hawks heavy display of their struggles with rim protection and overall interior defense, there is seemingly one perfect fit that fits their all-in movement towards maximizing their young core, and that person is Donovan Clingan. Donovan Clingan has had a breakout 2025-2026 season where he has displayed his elite rim protection and shot blocking, averaging 1.7 blocks per game and having a defense field goal percentage at the rim of 50%, over 9% lower than his teams defensive field goal percentage at the rim. He has also displayed growth in his offensive role, improving his scoring output from 6.5 PPG his rookie year to 12 PPG his sophomore season, while also improving his 3pt% from 28.6% up to 33.8%, showing he can be very effective and beneficial to his teams offense whether it be in a small or big role.
How they will get it done:
Portland Trailblazers receive: (F) Zaccharie Risacher, 2029 Unprotected first round pick, 2 2027 second round picks
Atlanta Hawks receive: (C) Donovan Clingan
Why this works: The Hawks former 1st overall pick Zaccharie Risacher has struggled in his sophomore season. His rookie season he was a promising young player, averaging 12.6 ppg and playing a large role as a rotation wing, starting in 73 of his 75 games played. Despite his promise, Risacher has not shown any real improvement in his sophomore season. In the 2025-26 NBA season, his scoring has regressed, dropping to 9.6 ppg and remaining at the same TS% as his rookie year, and he has gone from being an active starter on his team to being largely a backup option, as we have seen him start in only 45 of his 65 games played, and in the later half of the season his minutes have been getting lower and lower, having recently logged only 7 minutes played in a recent loss to the New York Knicks. So with the Hawks trying to go all in on a young core built around Jalen Johnson, they should capitalize on the "Potential" that Risacher carries as a second year former 1st overall pick, and go all in on their future by giving up draft capital to get a young center with all-star upside in Donovan Clingan. Clingan will fit with the hawks like a glove, as his 3 point shooting improvements and physical deep post presence fits well with the hawks offense, and his incredible interior defense and rim protection makes up for the lack of defense we see in Jalen Johnson and fills the hole in rim protection left by Onyeka Okongwu's lack thereof. Contract-wise, this trade doesn't change much for either team, as Clingan is currently on a 4-year, $31.1 million dollar contract with an average salary of $7.75 million, and Risacher is on a 4-year, $57 million dollar contract with an average salary of $14.25 million. This trade also doesn't have much effect on the Hawks in terms of depth, as they have good wing depth to compensate for Rissacher's absence, this depth including newly acquired Johnathan Kuminga, Rookie Asa Newell, and an incoming potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Hawks Potential 2026-27 Starting Lineup + Bench
PG: Dyson Daniels SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker SF: Jalen Johnson PF: Onyeka Okongwu C: Donovan Clingan
(G): CJ McCollum, Buddy Hield, (F): Johnathan Kuminga, Asa Newell, Corey Kispert, (C): Jock Landale,
Potential top-10 pick
Realistic Scenario:
Continuing on with the previous goals of improving on interior defense while maintaining depth, here I am going to offer a more realistic scenario for the Hawks to pursue. As the season has gone by, there has been one player constantly mentioned in trade conversations that I believe would fit the Hawks perfectly, that player being Daniel Gafford. Gafford has proven that he can be a starting-caliber center on a contending team, offering efficient inside scoring, rim protection, and a strong rebounding presence. Gafford has also shown that he works best with good passers, leading me to believe that he would have little difficulty fitting in with Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels.
What they should do:
Contracts: The Hawks have the ability to pick up Johnathan Kuminga's team option for $24.3 million, however this isn't necessarily the best play. Instead, the Hawks should decline the team option and instead work on securing a more long-term and team friendly deal. They will also maintain their Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, which they can use to bolster their depth.
Free Agency:
Decline (F) Johnathan Kuminga's $24.3 million dollar team option, and sign him to a 4-year, $80 million dollar deal.
Use $15.1 million dollar Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception to sign free agent (G) Quentin Grimes of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Re-sign (C) Jock Landale to a 3-year, $18 million dollar deal.
Trades:
Dallas Mavericks receive: (G) Buddy Hield, (C) Jock Landale, 2 2027 second round picks
Atlanta Hawks receive: (C) Daniel Gafford
Why this Works: The Hawks need to go all in on these coming seasons, and Gafford's 3-year contract fits this timeline very well. Gafford brings the veteran leadership as well as interior defense this team needs, and will be a great backup option at the center position. They also get off of Buddy Hield's expensive contract, and have to give up little draft capital in return. The re-signing of Johnathan Kuminga on a long-term, team-friendly contract gives the Hawks long term stability and depth in their forward position, and the signing of Quentin Grimes gives the Hawks extra depth and defense at the guard position, with Grimes bringing a skillset similar to that of Dyson Daniels. They also have an incoming potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Hawks Potential 2026-27 Starting Lineup + Bench
PG: Dyson Daniels SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker SF: Jalen Johnson PF: Johnathan Kuminga C: Onyeka Okongwu
(G): Quentin Grimes, CJ McCollum, (F): Zaccharie Risacher, Corey Kispert (C): Daniel Gafford, Mouhamad Gueye
Potential top-10 pick