Hawks’ rapid rebuild around Trae Young comes full circle, so is he still Atlanta’s future?

Trae Young's future with the Atlanta Hawks was long clouded by persistent trade rumors due to concerns about his ball dominance and defensive limitations hindering championship contention, despite the team's past Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Following a yearlong roster overhaul, the Hawks have constructed a team specifically designed to complement the evolved version of Young.

Last season, then-GM Landry Fields initiated changes by trading Dejounte Murray for Dyson Daniels (this year's Most Improved Player) and extending Jalen Johnson on a favorable deal. Current GM Onsi Saleh continued the rebuild this offseason. At the opening of free agency, the Hawks reportedly agreed to a sign-and-trade for defensive wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Timberwolves) and agreed to sign sharpshooter Luke Kennard. These moves follow the recent acquisition of Kristaps Porziņģis, creating a reloaded rotation.

The projected opening night lineup features Young, Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher (last year's No. 1 pick), Johnson, and Porziņģis. The bench includes Onyeka Okongwu (who showed promise when starting last season), Alexander-Walker, Kennard, recent draft picks Asa Newell and Kobe Bufkin (backup PG), Mouhamed Gueye, and Vit Krejci.

Last season, the Hawks started strong (on pace for 44 wins) before Johnson's January shoulder injury derailed their progress. They finished 40-42 and lost in the Play-In Tournament to Miami, though young players showed development throughout the year. Facing a lack of shooting, coach Quin Snyder implemented an improvisational, cutting-heavy, transition-focused offense, resulting in the NBA's 14th-ranked offense in the first half despite DeAndre Hunter being the only above-average 3-point shooter.

The trade for Kristaps Porziņģis significantly alters the offensive potential, even before the recent signings. He is potentially the best player Young has ever played with when healthy, offering strong synergy. Porziņģis averaged ~20 PPG in Boston without being the second option and has a chance to return to the All-Star Game alongside Young. He is seen as key to pushing the Hawks back toward the conference finals.

Porziņģis addresses a critical weakness: last season's centers (Clint Capela, Okongwu) couldn't pull defenses out of the paint. Porziņģis and Young can run pick-and-rolls from deep, creating significant space for Atlanta's wings to cut or attack closeouts. Coming off a career-best shooting season (41.2% on 6.0 3PA), Porziņģis is adept at attacking closeouts and provides an offensive reprieve with his post game. While his postseason was hampered by illness, he returned to his usual high level after November ankle surgery. Okongwu remains a top backup, with Porziņģis on an expiring contract still allowing Okongwu a long-term path to start. Johnson's size allows for small-ball lineups, and Newell needs developmental minutes, enabling the Hawks to manage Porziņģis' workload.