The Atlanta Hawks know all too well the negative impact that having an imbalanced roster can have, including players’ chemistry. Their opponent on Thursday, the Phoenix Suns, is experiencing that to an even more extreme degree.
Stacked on paper with All-Stars Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and former MVP Kevin Durant, the Suns find themselves three games below .500 entering tonight’s matchup.
Suns owner Matt Ishbia is very much the polar opposite of Hawks owner Tony Ressler.
However, Ishbia’s results better serve to underscore the prescience of Ressler’s MO rather than his own. And the Suns owner – and their front office, for whatever final say they might have – would be wise to examine the Hawks’ ability to course correct.
Hawks a shining example for Suns
Beal has been moved to the bench to help alleviate the issue, but it has only created another, with the former Washington Wizards star displeased.
He sounded more ruffled by the idea that his demotion could lead to a trade, though.
"If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards. Until I'm addressed and somebody says something different, then I'll be a Sun."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 7, 2025
Bradley Beal on if coming off bench is related to bigger picture as far as NBA trade talks.
Has no-trade clause in his contract. #Suns pic.twitter.com/f54au9MWFS
The Hawks’ issues were obviously not on the same level as the Suns’, but they were still similar to the Dejounte Murray era in Atlanta. The Hawks acquired Murray in 2022 as a way to take some pressure off Trae Young.
Two years later, the Hawks flipper Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, reverting to a roster that more closely resembles the one they had during the Eastern Conference Finals run in 2020-21.
Having a player like Jalen Johnson tends to help with those kinds of decisions.
The Suns still have Booker and Durant, and whatever they could get for Beal – who has a full no-trade clause – would go a long way toward fleshing out the roster around them. That is likely a decision for the 2025 offseason, though.
Jalen Johnson’s ominous turn
This season, Jalen Johnson picked up where he left off in 2023-24 and even took a step forward with increased responsibility in the Hawks’ offense with Murray gone.
Johnson is averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game this season. Those are all career-high marks and should warrant All-Star consideration for the fourth-year forward.
There is an ominous threat to Johnson getting the recognition he deserves: himself.
More specifically, Johnson’s durability could impact his standing when it comes to accolades, especially with the NBA’s 65-game minimum already thinning out the pool of contenders.
Johnson has missed just five games, and we are so close to the halfway point of the season, so he is on track to finish with enough games played. If his current pace keeps, then Johnson will finish with 10 or 11 missed games. But there is a significant caveat to that.
But this recent string of absences due to a shoulder issue looms large.
He has missed the Hawks’ last two games and three of their last four. Hawks fans will remember it was a nagging ankle injury that limited him in 2023-24, ending his award candidacy.
“Per source, Jalen Johnson stayed in California to rehab his shoulder,” “Locked On Hawks” podcast host Brad Rowland reported on X on January 8. “He’s expected to meet the Hawks back in Atlanta.
“Still TBD on his return.”
The Hawks are 2-3 without Johnson this season. The Hawks are wrapping up their six-game road trip against the Suns.
They return to Atlanta for a two-game homestand against the Houston Rockets and Suns again before heading back out for a three-game, Eastern Conference road trip. That should be a softer landing for Johnson than now even if he is not able to make it back during the homestand.
Zaccharie Risacher finding another groove
It has not been pretty for Zacchrie Risacher, the 2024 NBA Draft No. 1 overall pick, especially as a scorer. Risacher has struggled to shoot the ball well consistently with a 28.5% mark on the season.
He has found ways around being a detriment by defending well and making smart decisions even when the shot is not going down.
It has led him to another solid stretch.
Risacher has averaged 11.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over the last nine games. He is still not shooting well, canning just 32.4% from long distance in that stretch. But he has not posted back-to-back games with single-digit points in that stretch.
This has been the second-most productive stretch of the season for the rookie, though it would be even better to see his shot start falling more often in the second half of the campaign.