5 Lineup combinations that could work for the Atlanta Hawks

For the Atlanta Hawks, lineups and matchups will be the key to their success. But how exactly can Atlanta use their depth to their advantage? Trading away John Collins opened up more opportunities for younger players like Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu to get more playing time. Drafting Kobe Bufkin (who the Hawks would not trade for Siakiam) adds depth to the guard position that can be crucial for Atlanta this season. There are so many opportunities for growth within the team and many more opportunities for depth and talent to show itself.

Hawks’ potential starting lineup

PG: Trae Young

SG: Dejounte Murray

SF: De’Andre Hunter

PF: Jalen Johnson/Saddiq Bey

C: Clint Capela

Barring any trades this offseason, the Hawks should come back with almost the same starting five they did last season. There will be a battle at the four spot with Johnson and Bey competing for minutes and a starting role. The key to this lineup working is the cohesion between Young and Murray. If both players can mesh well and improve, the sky is the limit for the starting unit. Aside from that, Hunter provides good perimeter defense and an adept mid-range shot, but an improvement in ball-handling, finishing, and three-point shooting can take his game to the next level.

Bey and Johnson have contrasts in their games that can both help the team win. Bey is an excellent shooter—especially in the catch-and-shoot. However, his defense is not his strong suit. As for Johnson, becoming a more willing shooter is a key to improvement. But he does the little things that don’t show in the box score but are important to winning. Although Bey would be a great pick-and-pop option for Young or Murray, Johnson’s elite finishing ability makes him a perfect partner in the pick-and-roll—much like Collins was before him.

Atlanta Hawks have a number of multi-positional players

The Hawks have quite a few players that can fit at multiple positions. The ability to be versatile is a major plus and Atlanta has a ton of players in the rotation who can be just that. This makes for plenty of lineups that Quin Snyder has available to him.

Kobe Bufkin: PG/SG

Dejounte Murray: SG/PG

De’Andre Hunter: SF/PF

Saddiq Bey: PF/SF

AJ Griffin: SG/SF

Jalen Johnson: PF/SF

Bogdan Bogdanovic: SG/SF

While there are some positions that would not be ideal for guys to play at, based on need or situation, the ability to place players there can make a difference. With that said here are some of the lineups Snyder can use this season to have an advantage over the opponents.