Atlanta Hawks 2024 offseason guide: draft picks, trade targets, rumors & more

With the 2024 season officially in the books, it’s time to recap the season and prepare for a potentially eventful offseason.

Be sure to bookmark and check back often for updates throughout the summer!

This season didn’t turn out the way the Hawks hoped, ending with another trip to the Play-In Tournament, only this time they fell short and exited the postseason after just one round. And the winds of change are blowing because of it, setting the stage for a blockbuster summer.

Can the Hawks address their myriad issues – defense, durability, and defense (yes, twice) – in one offseason?

Those were the same things they needed to address coming into this year.

Questions the Hawks had to answer this season

1. Can Trae Young and Dejounte Murray co-exist in the same backcourt?

2. Can this team as constructed defend well enough to support an explosive, albeit predictable, offense?

On the surface, the answer to both of these questions after this past season is an emphatic “no.” But a deeper dig reveals that all was not lost for the dynamic duo and that there is some direct correlation between those two questions.

The Hawks had a minus-6.3 net efficiency differential with Young and Murray shared the floor, per Cleaning The Glass.

More on that in a bit, though.

Hawks 2023-24 season record, stat leaders, strengths, weaknesses

PPG Leaders PTS

• Trae Young - 25.7
• Dejounte Murray - 22.5
• Bogdan Bogdanovic - 16.9

Dejounte Murray 22.5

Bogdan Bogdanovic 16.9

RPG Leaders REBS

• Clint Capela - 10.6
• Jalen Johnson - 8.7
• Onyeka Okongwu - 6.8

APG Leaders ASTS

• Trae Young - 10.8
• Dejounte Murray - 6.4
• Jalen Johnson - 3.6

BPG Leaders BLKS

• Clint Capela - 1.5
• Onyeka Okongwu - 1.1
• Jalen Johnson - 0.8

SPG Leaders STLS

• Dejounte Murray - 1.4
• Trae Young - 1.3
• Bogdan Bogdanovic - 1.2
• Jalen Johnson - 1.2

Biggest Statistical Strengths

• 5th in PPG
• 6th in 3PM
• 6th in RPG
• 6th in Pace

Biggest Statistical Weaknesses

• 25th in Opp. APG
• 27th in Def. Rating
• 28th in Opp. PPG
• 28th in Opp. 3P%

The Hawks bought into Snyder’s ideology of a three-point-heavy offense. But they ranked just 17th in efficiency, far from good enough to offset their porous defense. As the above metrics indicate, the Hawks were not good on the perimeter and struggled with cutters all season.

However, they weren’t much better on the interior, ranking 27th in opponent field goal percentage from less than five feet out at 65.9%.

Injuries to the frontcourt played a part, to be sure.

The Hawks are also a small team that doesn’t stop the ball penetration well, compounding the issue. Add in an array of threes that may or may not find their mark and it explains how the Hawks faced the eighth-most transition possessions per game.

They allowed a league-worst 1.22 points per possession and ranked third allowing 24.4 PPG in those situations.

This issue cannot be pinned down to one person or singular aspect.

Should the Hawks and Trae Young part ways this offseason?

The debate about Murray and/or Young as the focal point really underscores the state of things with the latter. While he has said he wants to stay, rumors of the Hawks entertaining the idea of moving him increased this season and figure to pick back up this summer.

Even the possibility that they trade Murray doesn’t eliminate Young’s potential exit, based on previous rumors.

The Hawks made a blockbuster draft day trade for Young in 2018.

Fans have long been able to hang their hats on the player they gave up – Luka Doncic – achieving the same level of postseason success. That doesn’t appear to be enough anymore, with calls for Young’s ouster swelling with each loss this season.

Young’s insistence that he wants to win isn’t new. It just seems to be taking more of a front seat to sentiments about doing so in Atlanta that have typically accompanied it.

Both guards are under contract for the next three seasons at least.

The Hawks aren’t under any imminent deadlines to do anything with their star backcourt, and the players remain locked in with their head coach. After back-to-back offseasons with significant changes, perhaps the Hawks could use some continuity.

That doesn’t mean they will get it though. They have both acknowledged the impatient nature of the NBA as a business.

Key offseason dates for the Atlanta Hawks

The offseason will feature plenty of notable dates for the Hawks, including the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. But things will pick up long before then.

April 21, 6:30 PM ET:

• NBA season awards finalists announced (TNT)

April 27, 11:59 PM ET:

• NBA early entry eligibility deadline

May 12:

• NBA Draft Lottery

May 13-19:

• NBA Combine

June 16, 5 PM ET:

• NBA Draft early entry entrant withdrawal deadline

June 26-27:

• NBA Draft

June 29:

• Last day teams can exercise contract options or extend qualifying offers.

June 30, 6 PM ET:

• Free agent negotiations can begin with outside players.

July (dates TBD):

• NBA Summer Leagues:

July 1 (12:01 a.m. ET):

• Free agency moratorium
• First-round picks can be signed
• Minimum contracts (2 years or less) can be signed
• Teams can extend offer sheets, and restricted free agents can sign offer sheets
• Third-year and fourth-year rookie options can be exercised
• Two-way contracts can be signed and converted.

July 2-7:

• FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments

The Hawks will be represented at the Olympics, with Bogdan Bogdanovic representing Serbia after a stellar showing in the FIBA World Cup. But Bruno Fernando will also try to help Angola reach the Olympics in this tournament.

Angola will face Spain on July 2 and Lebanon on July 4. If they survive those two matchups, they will participate in the semi-finals on July 6. 

The finals are on July 8.

July 6, 12 ET: 

• Teams can officially sign free agents
• trades can be made official
• offer sheet time period begins.

July 12-22:

• NBA 2K Vegas Summer League

The Hawks could use this time to work 2022 first-round pick AJ Griffin back into form, though he could make just a cameo in preparation for the season. Seth Lundy, Mo Gueye, and Miles Norris could all be names to watch during the event.

Incoming rookies should otherwise have the run of things.

July 27-August 4:

• 2024 Paris Summer Olympics Group Stage (Peacock)

Here is the full list of 12 nations, broken into three groups, that will square off for the right to medal:

Serbia will face Team USA on July 28 at 11:15 AM ET for their first Olympic matchup. They will then move on to the winner of the OQT, meaning the teammates could face off in the group-play round. Serbia wraps group play versus South Sudan on August 3.

August 6-10:

• Knockout round

The quarterfinals are on August 6th. Game 1 is at 5 AM ET, Game 2 at 8:30 AM ET, Game 3 at noon ET, and Game 4 at 3:30 PM ET. The semifinals are on August 8th at 11:30 AM ET and 3 PM ET. Finally, the bronze medal game starts at 5 a.m. ET and the gold medal game at 3:30 p.m. ET on August 10.

August 17 (estimate):

• NBA schedule announced

August 30 (estimate):

• NBA preseason schedule announced

NOTE: Both schedule release dates are based on past years and are subject to change once official.

Late September or Early October (TBA):

• Media day

September 30 (estimated date):

• NBA media days begin

October 1:

• NBA training camps begin

October 21:

• Last day of the offseason
• Rosters set for opening day (5 PM ET)
• Last day free agents can be sign-and-traded
• Last day to convert an Exhibit 10 contract to a two-way

Early October (TBA):

• 2024-25 preseason begins

October 22:

• 2024-25 regular season begins

The Hawks roster: Free agents, locks & question marks

Unrestricted free agents:

• Trent Forrest
• Wesley Matthews

Restricted free agents:

• Saddiq Bey
• Vit Krejci
• Seth Lundy
• Dylan Windler

Locks:

• Jalen Johnson 

Likely to return:

• Kobe Bufkin
• Onyeka Okongwu
• AJ Griffin
• Bruno Fernando
• Garrison Mathews
• Mouhamed Gueye
• Seth Lundy
• Vit Krejci

Unclear:

• Dejounte Murray
• Trae Young
• De’Andre Hunter
• Bogdan Bogdanovic
• Saddiq Bey
• Clint Capela

Likely to be playing elsewhere:

• Wesley Matthews
• Trent Forrest
• Dylan Windler

2024 draft prospects to keep an eye on

The Hawks currently project to end up with the No. 10 overall pick, though they have the ninth-best chances to land No. 1.

Here are some names of 2024 draft prospects to keep an eye on that have either been linked to the Hawks in mocks or rumors.

Ja’Kobe Walter - G - Baylor - 6-foot-5

“Though Clemson beat Baylor, Walter showed why he’ll stay high on draft boards with his 39 points through the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament,” The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor wrote in his mock for the Hawks at No. 11. “Walter gets the nod here for the Hawks because of his shooting prowess and emerging on-ball abilities, which give him value in a backcourt alongside Trae Young and the upside to take on a more prominent role down the line.

Cody Willliams - F - Colorado - 6-foot-8

“Taking a long view with this selection and playing for upside over fit makes sense,” ESPN’s Jeremy Woo wrote on April 17, mocking him to Atlanta at No. 10. “Williams had an uneven freshman season but flashed upside as a big playmaker in his best moments, making him an interesting lottery candidate. His frame and defensive upside make him one of the draft's more interesting development bets if he can refine his handling and shooting.”

Reed Sheppard - G - Kentucky - 6-foot-3

“If we're to assume that the Hawks part with Trae Young or Dejounte Murray, Sheppard would nicely slide in as a strong defensive role player (Alex Caruso?) early in his career,” Fox Sports’Jason McIntyre wrote on April 18.

Matas Buzeliz - PF - G League Ignite - 6-foot-11

“Mixed feelings swirl around Matas Buzelis,” Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote on April 9, picking for the Hawks at No. 10. “He impressed with flashes of scoring versatility fueled by open-floor drives, shotmaking, athletic finishing and defensive playmaking. The 14.1 points and highlights have also been clouded by 26.1 percent three-point shooting.”

Dalton Knecht - G/F - Tennessee - 6-foot-6

Tankathon.com projects the Hawks to land Dalton Knecht with the No. 10 pick. O’Connor compares him to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Max Strus. Wasserman offers former NBAer Wally Szczerbiak as a pro comp. 

Hawks complete draft picks from 2024 through 2030

2024

• 1st round

2025

• 1st round (top-12 protected via SAC)
• 2nd round (via MIN)

2026

• 1st round (SAS has swap rights)

• 2nd round (protected via MEM)

2027

• 2nd round (via LAC)

2028

• 1st round
• 2nd round (via HOU)

2029

• 1st round

2030

• 1st round
• 2nd round

2031

• 1st round
• 2nd round

Hawks offseason rumors to monitor

Will Hawks break up star backcourt?

The popular opinion on this continues to be that one or both of Murray and Young could be traded this offseason. Both players seemed to want to run it back after a tumultuous first two seasons together.

There appeared to be movement on a deal to send Murray to the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the trade deadline in February.

That fell through – perhaps with Young as the Lakers’ ultimate price – leaving the door open.

Other teams linked to Murray include the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, and his former team, the San Antonio Spurs. He has insisted he isn’t worried about the trade rumors. He has admitted the non-basketball items around the Hawks have been more than he initially anticipated.

Young has not pushed for a trade publicly.

However, his sentiments about wanting to remain in Atlanta have increasingly come with the caveat of wanting to win. He has pushed against the idea that that can’t happen with the Hawks in Atlanta.

Who else could be traded?

The “like to return” and “unclear” groups from above could very well be one and the same, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.

If the Hawks are willing to break up their star backcourt, anything should be on the table.

Each of Bogdanovic, Capela, and Hunter came up in trade rumors. The Hawks are also rumored to have turned down a deal that could have netted Pascal Siakam over Bufkin, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2023 draft.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see any of those players on the move ahead of the Hawks stars, who pushed to team up just two offseasons ago and could still have the back of the head coach.

Could another coaching change be coming?

This one is simple. After signing a multi-year contract at the tail end of the 2022-23 season, Snyder is likely a lock for at least another season unless he decides to walk away. That seems equally as unlikely at this point.

Two coaching changes in the last four seasons would also seem to suggest the Hawks could stand to let one voice see the next iteration through.

Atlanta Hawks offseason financial outlook

“Because of their finances, the Hawks will only have the veterans minimum exception available to use in free agency,” ESPN’s Bobby Marks wrote. They have a large $23 million trade exception that expires July 7.”

Marks, a former executive with the Brooklyn Nets, also points to several key financial decisions the Hawks have to consider.

He expects Bey to get the one-year qualifying offer worth $8.4 million. 

That will make him a restricted free agent while Marks also notes Fernando and Mathews’ non-guaranteed deals (July 29) afford the Hawks some “flexibility.” Johnson is also an extension candidate in Marks’ book coming off an injury-truncated breakout season.

But Marks’ note on Young may be the most important. Young is eligible to sign a three-year, $157 million contract extension up until the October 21 deadline.

Atlanta Hawks trade targets

Since the Hawks will be limited in free agency and are already mired in trade rumors, that’s where we’ll focus our efforts to identify potential targets. The problem is, they need two of the premium items on the trade market: perimeter defense and rim protection.

Still, several players are going into or approaching the final year of their contracts and could make for fine trade targets.

The Hawks have ample ways to cobble suitable packages financially.

Brandon Ingram - 20.8 PPG/5.7 APG/5.1 RPG

Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans are in the playoffs, so this could be a pie-in-the-sky target. But it’s one the Hawks would be wise to explore if they break up their backcourt this offseason.

Paul George - 22.6 PPG/5.2 RPG/3.5 APG

Paul George could be a more realistic target than Ingram, and he would make a fine one. There are injury and age concerns, though, which make him far from an ideal one. Still, his two-way versatility is exactly what the Hawks need.

If he opts out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, though, the Hawks would have tremendous work to do to land him.

Lauri Markkanen - 23.2 PPG/8.2 RPG/2.0 APG

Lauri Markkanen would be an ideal target, adding size and skill to a Hawks frontcourt that offers slightly more of the latter than the former. The Utah Jazz have an interest in re-signing him as he heads into the final year of his contract. 

The reigning Most Improved Player of the year, the 7-footer makes up for his lack of rim protection with surprising versatility.

Derrick White - 15.2 PPG/5.2 APG/4.2 RPG

Nothing suggests the Boston Celtics are interested in moving on from Derrick White. The 2022-23 All-Defensive selection is coming off another stellar season, and still has another year on his contract.

However, the Celtics signed Jrue Holiday to an extension, have Jaylen Brown’s supermax kicking in next season, and still have to pay Jayson Tatum which could squeeze White out.

Mikal Bridges - 19.6 PPG/4.5 RPG/3.6 APG

The Brooklyn Nets could be more amenable to moving on from Bridges after he took a step back as the primary option this season. Still one of the best two-way and complementary players around, though, he won’t be cheap if they can pry him loose at all.

For Atlanta, the trick could be cobbling up enough draft capital to make trading their best player worth the Nets’ while.

Kyle Kuzma - 22.2 PPG/6.6 RPG/4.2 APG

Coming off a career year, the price to acquire Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards won’t be easy. There could be a bidding war as well as the Wizards’ potential interest in trying to include him in their plans going forward.

The versatile forward is also under contract for three more seasons, which both adds to his appeal and lessens the need for Washington to move him.