With NBA training camps just days away, the offseason is nearing its end, but that doesn’t mean all 30 teams have everything figured out.
While every team has a general idea of what the season may hold, many still have crucial issues to resolve as camp begins.
These range from sorting out roles in the rotation to addressing bigger franchise concerns and financial decisions. After months of speculation, we’re finally approaching a point where some of these questions will be answered.
The Atlanta Hawks, for instance, face significant challenges, including a major question: Is Trae Young the right long-term centerpiece? While they may not tackle this existential issue right away, head coach Quin Snyder will need to address a problem that has plagued the team for years—defense.
In five of the last seven seasons, the Hawks have ranked in the bottom five in defensive rating. The last time they finished above league average in defensive efficiency was 2016-17, under a completely different coaching staff and roster.
Rookie Zaccharie Risacher has the potential to contribute on defense with his length and intelligence, but is he ready to make an immediate impact? Can Clint Capela or Onyeka Okongwu lock down the paint and dominate the boards? Will last year’s breakout star, Jalen Johnson, continue to improve defensively?
Trae Young remains a defensive liability, and the Hawks will need to compensate for him by scrambling, switching, and relying heavily on the other four players on the floor.
The question is, can Snyder get this group to perform at a passable defensive level after they allowed a franchise-worst 119.4 points per 100 possessions in 2023-24? If not, another season with 30-something wins may follow, forcing the Hawks to confront those larger existential questions about their future.
