Quin Snyder offers insight into approach for Hawks' long-standing issue

For years the Atlanta Hawks have struggled with one not-so-simple quandary: How can they keep their offense rolling – or even functioning – when three-time All-Star Trae Young is not on the floor?

That issue was part of the logic behind their blockbuster trade for Dejounte Murray in 2022. 

Now that they have traded Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, it is back to the drawing board for the Hawks in that regard. But Hawks head coach Quin Snyder has a plan.

“Trae, the way that he plays and what he does for our team, is unique,” Snyder said, per The Athletic Journal-Constitution’s Lauren L. Williams wrote on October 19. “So, I don’t look at it as a positional thing where (we) talk about backup this. It’s the same way you look at a wing.

“It can change game to game. It can change minute to minute. We still have to play defense. We still want whoever’s in there to dance the ball with the pass as much as we can and play team basketball. So, there’s primary ball handlers, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a secondary ball handler, given that it just, it’s not real complicated, but it isn’t like black and white.”

Snyder explained that the coaching staff does not view any particular player as another’s “backup.”

It would be impossible for anyone on the Hawks' current roster to replicate what Young does when he is on the floor.

Instead, Snyder said it is more important that the group on the floor is well-functioning.

The Hawks cycled through various lineup combinations during the preseason. But they also dealt with injuries and rest for Onyeka Okongwu and Bogdan Bogdanovic, respectively, making it difficult to discern some of the pecking order.

However, the Hawks have enough returning players to draw an educated guess about who Snyder would turn to in certain game situations.

This could leave the door open for a fluid starting lineup, though.

Hawks rotation could change from game-to-game (for now)

The Hawks return 11 players who saw minutes for them in 2023-24. Many of them can handle a significant level of playmaking responsibility. That includes, Williams notes, 2023-24 rising star Jalen Johnson.

Healthy and with a new plan to keep himself that way, Johnson was a strong candidate to contend for Most Improved Player before injuries got in the way.

The Hawks also added jumbo guard Dyson Daniels who will likely be Young’s de facto backup.

Bogdanovic, Daniels, and Johnson – who Williams noted often orchestrates the offense in transition – mean the Hawks do not have to rely on youngster Kobe Bufkin. The second-year man has showcased his two-way ability as a scorer and defender.

But his lead guard chops are still a work in progress, as is to be expected from a young guard who has dealt with injuries to begin his career.

Snyder will likely develop a preferred setup before too deep into the calendar.