The Atlanta Hawks will have a big decision to make, as the Jalen Johnson era could be defined by their actions this summer: Will they make trades to build on the roster they already have, or will they stand pat and trust their current group? The last time they had this decision to make, they stood pat, trusting the Trae Young-led Eastern Conference finals group, and that decision failed in a major way.
Johnson looks like a star in the making, and the Hawks have a ton of interesting pieces around him. But if they mess up this summer’s decision, it could put them in a position to live through the same issues they had last time. It will be a crucial summer.
And the Hawks need to make the right choice.
This Hawks offseason could define the Jalen Johnson era
It’s become painfully clear this year that Johnson is a star. He’s one of the best young players in the league, and now, the results are matching the development that has taken place this season.
Atlanta has won nine games in a row, and Johnson has been at the forefront of that success, with guys like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the recently acquired Jonathan Kuminga right behind him.
When Young was leading the way, and his Hawks squad made the Eastern Conference finals, the organization decided not to make any major moves. They held onto guys like John Collins, Kevin Huerter, and Clint Capela.
Now, none of those players are on the roster. That team failed miserably, and after making the conference finals, they didn’t ever make it out of the first round again.
Johnson’s Hawks now have a chance to be a playoff team in the East for years to come. But the way they handle this summer could determine whether or not they’re a team doomed to be bounced in the first round or a team that has a chance to do something special.
CJ McCollum’s contract is expiring. Do they re-sign him? Do they let him walk? How much would he want this summer?
Zaccharie Risacher hasn’t panned out as the team may have hoped. Do they capitalize on what value he has left? Do they keep him around?
Dyson Daniels had a down year, but he’s making decent money. Do the Hawks swing for a star with their draft capital? Do they count on a bounce-back year on the offensive end?
They could make some serious waves over the summer, but the wrong move could sink them. What should the Hawks do?
This offseason will be a critical one in Atlanta.