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Atlanta Hawks 2025-26 projected starting lineup: Trae Young has brilliant new roster by his side

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 3:00 PM ET

The Atlanta Hawks have put together quite a strong roster heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.

With the 2025-26 NBA season on the horizon, the Atlanta Hawks made a decision to build a contending roster after years of mediocrity.

The Hawks traded for Kristaps Porzingis, landing an upgrade at the center spot to replace the departing Clint Capela.

But in another big move, the Hawks completed a sign-and-trade for Nickeil Alexander-Walker. This gives Trae Young a solid backcourt partner.

The Hawks have made these signings to convince Trae Young to stay. But what does their roster look like in terms of the rotation?

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2025-26 Atlanta Hawks projected starting lineup

With the Atlanta Hawks signing several different players, they will have to tinker with a new rotation heading into the season.

The Hawks’ projected starting lineup and depth chart look like this:

Starting Lineup	Second Unit
Trae Young	Kobe Bufkin
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	Luke Kennard
Dyson Daniels	Jalen Johnson
Zaccharie Risacher	Asa Newell
Kristaps Porzingis	Mouhamed Gueye

Expect Vit Krejci and Nikola Djurisic to also feature in the rotation for them, while two-way stars like Edi Ndiaye and Jacob Toppin battle it out for minutes.

Should Jalen Johnson and Asa Newell impress head coach Quinn Snyder, they could make their way into the Hawks’ starting lineup as well.

Trae Young could finally compete for an NBA championship

The Atlanta Hawks have done a brilliant job building their roster this summer. And in a way, their timing couldn’t have been any better.

With the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics out of championship contention next season due to injuries, the Hawks are in a strong position to take their place atop the Eastern Conference.

For Trae Young, the hope is that this roster can compete for an NBA championship. But it isn’t just Young’s competitive spirit that wants this to be the case.

If Young wants his big contract, the Hawks need to show their competitive mettle. As things stand, the Hawks will monitor Young and this roster before offering any contract extension.

Expect the Hawks to be one of the brightest teams in the Eastern Conference and even make a deep run in the playoffs.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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