The Hawks are eager to solidify their sports amongst the Eastern Conference powerhouses after a disappointing 2021 campaign, where they squeaked into the annual play-in tournament with a mediocre 43-39 record. After making a deep playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals and losing to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks, Hawks fans were expecting more out of their young team. In response, General Manager Landry Fields and Atlanta’s front office retooled, making notable additions to the roster, and now the Hawks look destined for success.  

The most notable of the moves made by Atlanta was bringing in NBA All-Star Dejounte Murray, a “Do-It-All” guard from San Antonio. Murray, coming at the expense of three first-round picks and fan favorite Danillo Gallinari, is looking to bring some much-needed defensive versatility to an undersized Atlanta backcourt. The 26-year old ball handler has played his whole career with the Spurs, but is ready for an opportunity to taste the postseason for the first time since 2019. “We finally got what we needed. The pairing of him and Trae Young is perfect,” said senior Sam Cantrell. “The defense is strong, we will have to see how their offensive games blend.” 

In addition to adding Murray, the Hawks made a series of smaller, underrated moves to add depth to the roster. Atlanta brought in two of the three Holiday brothers, Aaron and Justin, alongside Tyrese Martin and college legend Frank Kaminsky. In the draft the Hawks drafted AJ Griffin, a somewhat raw 19-year-old prospect out of Duke. “This offseason was a rollercoaster,” said junior Aidan Smith. “There were some, dare I say it, great moves, but also some head-scratchers.” 

A loaded Eastern Conference poses a challenge for the Hawks, but going into the season, the team looks like a capable team that could land anywhere from a four to a six seed come playoff time. The starting five of Young, Murray, John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, and Clint Capela are looking to do some damage and will fly under the radar of some NBA fans and executives. Head Coach Nate McMillan, in his second year at the helm, has high hopes for his young team and is looking to change the narrative on Atlanta’s sports. “I think Trae’s the key to success, especially if he plays at an MVP-caliber level,” said sophomore Mac Wickland. “He has the power to turn this team into a contender.”  

This year, the Hawks are poised to make a run deep into the playoffs, but the regular season could prove to be a valuable test for a team looking to build on-court chemistry. Training camp will be the first look at the new look Atlanta squad, but with the team’s maturity and experience, they are sure to bond quickly. The team looks to match the excitement and expectations of their loyal fanbase as they prepare to soar to new heights this season.