The sun has set on the Trae Young era in Atlanta, Georgia, but his departure marks the dawn of a new era led by Jalen Johnson. At 24 years old, he is averaging 23.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in 35 games with the Hawks.
As of January 9th, the Hawks are struggling with an 18-21 record, but they were 16-13 without Young in the rotation. Now, with the addition of CJ McCollum and Cory Kispert, the Hawks have a new-look roster with 43 games remaining in the 2025-26 season. Signing these two players gives them two solid rotation pieces, one of whom is on an expiring contract.
The 34-year-old McCollum is set to earn $30.6 million this summer, while the 26-year-old Kispert arrives in Atlanta in the first season of a four-year contract worth $54 million. Both players will make an immediate impact on this young Hawks roster, but the best is yet to come for Atlanta.
Every notable mock draft has the Hawks securing a top-3 pick via the New Orleans Pelicans (8-31). It’s business as usual for the Pelicans as the worst team in the NBA, but this year is different, given the loaded 2026 draft class.
It’s divine timing for Atlanta’s new front office, spearheaded by General Manager Onsi Saleh, as they prepare to go all in on Johnson’s potential.
Drafting Jalen’s co-star is the next step
Luckily for Saleh and his staff, the three best players in this draft play different positions. Darryn Peterson has led the Kansas Jayhawks at point guard, Dybantsa has shined on the wing for the BYU Cougars, and Boozer has dominated in the post as a Duke Blue Devil.
All three possess star potential, and no clear consensus has formed on which player will go first overall. The Hawks have an excellent chance at landing one of those top-3 picks, and Saleh has made his intentions clear with his passion for proper roster construction.
During his post-draft press conference on June 26, 2025, he admitted it was hard to give up the 13th pick, which was used to select rookie standout Derik Queen.
“It was really hard to give up that pick at 13, that’s a lottery pick. Just given the context and where we’re at, it just made sense to do something like that. Just for different purposes when it comes to roster building,” Saleh said. “So it just felt like it was the right move, it was a good fair deal when it came down to it at the end of the day.”
Saleh did an excellent job with the Asa Newell selection, so he’s already gained the trust of the team and fanbase alike. He’s put emphasis on drafting the best player available regardless of position, so it’s hard to predict who their selection will be this summer.
Based on the current roster, drafting Darryn Peterson would be the best course of action. The 2025 Naismith Player Of The Year would fit in the Hawks’ system like a glove, occupying Young's former role. Standing at 6’6 with a 6’10.5-inch wingspan, he’ll complete Atlanta’s ensemble of size and athleticism in the starting five.
The only issue pundits have with Peterson is his lingering hamstring injuries. During his most recent game, Darryn was surgically dismantling TCU’s defense, but he checked himself out of the game in the final moments.
Fans immediately took to X and ridiculed the teenager for nearly giving up on his team at a pivotal moment in the game, but it was the right decision to prioritize his health. He checked himself back in and hit three clutch free throws to send the game to overtime, where the Jayhawks defeated the Horned Frogs 104-100.
Peterson finished the game with 32 points, six rebounds, and one assist. If he’s producing these kinds of numbers while battling injuries, a fully healthy Darryn will be something truly spectacular.
It’s poetic that the Hawks trade the greatest point guard to ever wear the red & white, and five months later, they're able to draft a worthy replacement. Having a star point guard and power forward as franchise cornerstones has been successful throughout the NBA's history. Given the potential Johnson and Peterson possess, these two could continue that tradition.