The Atlanta Hawks offseason has received unprecedented praise, with analysts and fans alike agreeing that the team had one of the best offseasons in recent memory. An underrated aspect of their off-season was their emphasis on solving the biggest problem the team has faced this decade.
The Hawks have not historically surrounded Trae Young with shooting talent. Since making the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, Young has been surrounded by below-average shooting teams. This team weakness allows opponents to key in on stars Trae Young and Jalen Johnson, creating a feedback loop that left the team destined for mediocrity.
But it is a new day in Atlanta, as Onsi Saleh has made it a point to fix this problem by bringing in the league's best shooters to support Young. With these shooters, Trae Young finally has the spacing and flexibility to recapture the superstar form he showed early in his career.
Can anyone outshoot the Hawks?
Atlanta very well may have the best three-point shooting team in the league, a statement that would’ve been considered ridiculous just a season ago.
Kristaps Porzingis is the league's best floor-spacer at the center position. He shot the second-highest percentage on deep threes (25+ feet) of high-volume shooters from deep (>4 attempts per game). When paired with his lightning-quick release, he becomes the kind of deep threat that forces opponents to scheme around the towering sharpshooter. The spacing that he provides for the rest of the team is critical, and his tenure with the Boston Celtics proved how his presence can elevate his teammates' performances.
Luke Kennard is arguably the best catch-and-shoot threat in the NBA. Kennard is a throwback player, bringing a brand of movement-shooting basketball reminiscent of a Hawks fan favorite Kyle Korver. Over the past five seasons, Kennard has averaged over 45% from downtown and consistently performed on different teams using different offensive systems.
Of course, you cannot talk about the Hawks offense without talking about Young. His elite combination of ball handling and shooting ability makes him a threat from anywhere past half court. He demands the attention of defenses, firing from beyond the arc at will.
While Young had a statistical down year from the last season, this shouldn’t discourage Hawks fans. He has been one of the best shooters in the league on a consistent basis, particularly when you consider his difficult shot diet. With the best supporting cast of his career, expect Young to bounce back in an impressive season.
We haven't even discussed what Zaccharie Risacher, Caleb Houstan, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker bring to the table. Risacher took a major leap as a shooter after the All-Star break last season, projecting to be an elite spacing option in Atlanta for many years to come. Houstan and Alexander-Walker are both serious upgrades as shooters over their predecessors at the backup wing spot.
The Hawks have transformed their roster in many ways this offseason, but their revitalized shooting is arguably the most important. With this spacing, expect the Hawks to be serious contenders in the East.