Former NBA exec asks lingering question after Hawks media day

The Atlanta Hawks answered a lot of questions on media day.

With Day 1 of training camp in the books, though, there are still lingering questions about this current group. Former Brooklyn Nets executive Bobby Marks, now an analyst for ESPN, considers one question something “to watch for” for the Hawks as they continue camp.

“Who starts next to Trae Young?” Marks wrote on September 30. “Atlanta made it a priority to split up the Young and Dejounte Murray backcourt this offseason, picking up two first-round picks from New Orleans and a package of players including Dyson Daniels, who started 16 games last season and gives Atlanta more of a defensive presence.

“The other option is for Atlanta to start Bogdan Bogdanovic, who started 33 games and finished fifth in voting for NBA Sixth Man of the Year last season.”

Bogdanovic and Daniels both had strong runs in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

With three-time All-Star Trae Young one of two apparent locks for the starting lineup – fourth-year forward Jalen Johnson is the other – Daniels makes more sense. Slotting him in there also fits the Hawks’ plan of attack for the offseason.

“We wanted to make sure that we had guys that, if you’re watching them play, what do they do when the ball’s not in their hands? [It’s] something very important for us: Making sure that there’s still movement. And that’s on both sides of the ball,” Hawks general manager Landry Fields told reporters on media day.

“Defensively, I think we needed a upgrade a little bit as well, and that was something that we wanted to go into the offseason looking to address.”

Hawks' starting lineup decision could be clear

For all that he brings, including steals, Bogdanovic is not a strong defensive partner for Young.

Daniels in a lineup with Johnson, De’Andre Hunter or Zaccharie Risacher on the other wing, and Clint Capela or Onyeka Okongwu at center fits that idea. It also leaves Bogdanovic available to come off the bench and, perhaps with more energy to close games.

The veteran said long ago that he is more concerned with finishing games. And Hawks head coach Quin Snyder expressed similar sentiments about the team’s starting lineup.

“Probably more important than starting is finishing the game,” Snyder told reporters on September 30. “We're fortunate that we have some players where we're talking about this, right? Because that means we have some guys that are really good basketball players. And at various times, they've all shown that. And I think consistency of level of play is what we're looking for. Guys are different in in their impact on the game they're different as far as combinations.

“We have to be selfless as a group with respect to those things. Because there's going to be times when it's unclear who's starting, playing, finishing, and those decisions are imperfect. You do the best job you can with those things in mind with respect to what allows you the best opportunity to win a game.”

In many ways, the answer to Marks’ question seems clear: Daniels.

Daniels brings length and activity on defense. He set a goal for First Team All-Defense this season. But he could also give way to Bogdanovic’s offensive prowess late in games. And the duo could rotate in tight contests in offense-for-defense strategies.

The true swing pieces could be Risacher – another candidate to start at shooting guard – and Hunter at forward and Capela or Okongwu at the pivot spot.