Hawks 'wildest' potential 2024-25 lineup could maximize non-Trae Young minutes

With Trae Young on the floor, the Atlanta Hawks should once again field a top-10 offense in the NBA. The questions after that for the Hawks are manyfold. Defensively, building a consistent playoff contender around Young has proven challenging. 

However, the Hawks have also had issues with their offense when Young inevitably comes off the floor.

Despite his many talents, he needs adequate rest to perform at the peak of his abilities. 

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale offered his suggestion for the "wildest" potential grouping that can check two of those boxes.

The lineup includes incumbent Hawks Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Vit Krejci along with 2024 trade acquisition Dyson Daniels and rookie No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher.

“Trae Young isn't here, but that's because we're trying to figure out the minutes without him on this side of the Dejounte Murray trade,” Favale wrote on September 11. “Sign me up for a lineup in which the 6'7" Daniels is its shortest member. He also profiles as the primary playmaker, though part of the appeal for this group is its bandwidth to experiment on-ball with Johnson, Krejčí and Risacher.

“Granted, the offense overall could be choppy. You need to trust in the spacing from Krejčí, Risacher and Johnson to optimize the usage of Daniels and Okongwu. That's risky. But this quintet has the defensive size and talent to switch everything—or just guard however they want.”

Analyst suggests Hawks use big lineup when Trae Young sits

Johnson took a star turn in 2023-24, but he had his campaign interrupted by injuries. He has already showcased his point-forward skill set, particularly in transition. 

He has to improve in several key areas: durability, perimeter defense, and half-court playmaking. Still, Johnson is the Hawks’ next-best chance at a star after three-time All-Star Trae Young.

Okongwu has reached the level of super-sub.

He has proven himself as one of the top backup big men when healthy, which is a significant caveat for the former No. 6 overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.

But Okongwu finds himself behind starter Clint Capela, who was notably not a part of this list despite being the anchor of the Hawks’ defense in his tenure. Okongwu’s ability to guard bigs on the perimeter could be key, though Capela is underrated in that aspect when he is healthy.

Krejci proved to be a valuable piece off the bench. 

The 6-foot-8 Krejci provided some tertiary playmaking with career-highs of 2.3 assists per game and a 41.2% clip from beyond the arc.

Daniels – one of the key parts in the Hawks’ return for Murray – and Risacher are the unknowns. Both players profile as proper fits around Trae Young, though Daniels will need to prove that his improved efficiency from the Olympics can translate to the NBA.

Risacher’s role entering the season is unclear. 

Risacher could very well start at shooting guard with no clear-cut answer there entering the 2024-25 season. 

He could also start at small forward or play behind long-time starter De’Andre Hunter, who has been the Hawks' best perimeter defender and was also notably left out of this switchy group. Both Capela and Hunter have been mired in trade speculation for months. 

Perhaps seeing Favale’s suggested lineup in action would help the Hawks let go.