Soaring Down South

Last year, the Hawks had a problem creating additional opportunities for themselves - they weren't getting active on the offensive boards. In fact, Atlanta ranked in the bottom ten teams in the league at such a metric, dropping significantly from the year prior where they found themselves in the top ten.

Asa Newell wasn't a guarantee to play ahead of any game last season - his rookie campaign - but in the limited minutes he received, he delivered. His inconsistent role never allowed him to get fully accustomed to NBA-level intensity, leaving the margin for error slim and ability work through any struggles minimal. Entering his second NBA season, again, his spot in the nightly rotation is uncertain, although his familiarity with the system could give him and advantage over his peers.

The preseason is almost over, meaning the 2026-27 NBA regular season is right around the corner. It's entirely unclear what role Zuby Ejiofor - Atlanta's late first-round selection in the 2026 NBA Draft - will carry during his rookie season. For now, though, he's gradually earning more and more trust from the coaching staff. Every preseason matchup has given him a differing look on the end he shines the most. Being a rookie, he's yet to become familiar with many of his frontcourt opponents.

Aaron Wiggins has begun the 2026 NBA preseason with red-hot touch and confidence from range. Shooting a blistering 46.2% from range over Atlanta's first three contests this October, Wiggins has already begun to exhibit the perfect yin-yang to the Hawks' starting pair of slashers, Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson. With Johnson's often less-than-ideal shooting from range and Daniels' perennial struggles in the same area, Wiggins' shooting becomes more imperative than ever before in his career.

The Atlanta Hawks made several moves this summer to improve their depth for the 2026-27 NBA campaign. Perhaps their most nationally covered transaction came when they traded Zaccharie Risacher in a three-team deal to bring in Luguentz Dort. However, Atlanta acquired another former Oklahoma City Thunder guard before this move: Aaron Wiggins. Wiggins has impressed through the Hawks' first three preseason contests. His offensive versatility allows him to play both on and off the ball.

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the more interesting teams heading into next season. They made the playoffs – and made a little bit of noise in the first round – but now they have to improve even more. CJ McCollum is back, and they also added guys like Lu Dort and rookie Kingston Flemings. But perhaps the most important addition the Hawks made this summer was Aaron Wiggins.

Lu Dort made his preseason debut for the Atlanta Hawks against the Indiana Pacers, and his defensive assignment immediately stood out. Rather than having Jalen Johnson defend Pascal Siakam, Atlanta turned to Dort to handle the matchup. That decision offered an early glimpse of how Dort's arrival could benefit Atlanta's franchise centerpiece. His defensive versatility isn't just about making the Hawks tougher; it could help Johnson become an even more effective offensive weapon.

After traveling to Indiana and defeating the Pacers, the Atlanta Hawks are 2-1 in preseason action, set to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder next. Nobody will be able to say they weren't battle-tested in the preseason. Before their meeting with the Pacers, they took on the Spurs in San Antonio, coming away with another impressive victory over a contender. Their next opponent is in that contender tier, as well.

One of the greatest slow-burn success stories in recent NBA history is that of Jalen Johnson - Atlanta's breakout star forward. He earned All-NBA honors after an incredible 2025-26 season, and is looking to replicate that impact in the next one. Once a niche high-impact starter for a team with no real postseason aspirations, Johnson has blossomed into a force that those around the league can no longer ignore.

Before the Atlanta Hawks faced the Indiana Pacers in their third preseason game, Head Coach Quin Snyder offered an interesting assessment of Dort's defensive capabilities. According to Brad Rowland of the Locked On Hawks podcast, Snyder said, "It's hard to say what position he is because he can guard almost every position. There are some centers you can put him on." Those comments highlight something that makes Dort particularly valuable.