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Atlanta Hawks or Orlando Magic, ex-star gives verdict on who now has the better team after free agency

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 7:15 PM ET

Both the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic made massive moves already this summer to bolster their lineups in a weak Eastern Conference, but a panel of players gives a clear verdict on which team is better.

In the 2025 NBA playoffs, Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton all tore their Achilles and will miss all of next season. As a result, the Eastern Conference is both weak and wide open.

The Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic decided to go all-in on taking advantage of their weaker competition.

The Magic added Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones already this offseason, in addition to drafting Jase Richardson. The Hawks, meanwhile, brought in Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard while drafting Georgia standout Asa Newell.

While both teams made progress, one former Magic player thinks there is a new contender in the East.

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Atlanta Hawks clearly won the offseason

The Hawks, like the Magic, already had an All-Star centerpiece in place. Throughout his career, the Hawks have tried to add talent around Trae Young, although Dejounte Murray did not quite live up to the hype.

While the Magic boast Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, they are still limited on offense, even with Bane in town. The Hawks, meanwhile, have shooters galore and one of the best facilitators in the league.

“I think on paper, July 1, the Hawks jumped where Orlando is gonna be,” proclaimed Channing Frye. “I think so. If everyone comes back healthy, the Hawks are a better team than Orlando.”

The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to once again be solid, although Frye believes that the new-look Hawks can be in the running alongside–if not ahead of–the Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons.

“Cleveland, Knicks, [then] who?” he listed. “Okongwu, Porzingis, Dyson Daniels, Trae Young, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Risacher, the number one pick, he was nice at the end of the year.”

The Hawks haven’t even made the Finals since 1961, when they played in St. Louis, but they are expected to be in the mix next season, if not leading the way.

Hawks can’t rely solely on additions, must develop internally

While Porzingis is one of the best floor-spacers in the league, Newell is one of the best athletes in the draft class, and Alexander-Walker and Kennard make for a fantastic, deep wing rotation, the Hawks still need their best players to continue to be solid.

Young is a legitimate All-Star and has averaged double-digit assists in each of the last three seasons, although surrounding him with Porzingis and other additions does not make a contender.

The Hawks will need Jalen Johnson to return in force from his shoulder injury, as he has broken out in the last two seasons as a key player. On top of that, top pick Zaccharie Risacher started his NBA career shooting only 27.9% from deep after his first 36 games, and then finished with a blistering 42.1% in his final 35 games of the season.

While Porzingis is a star, Kennard and Alexander-Walker are complementary players. Atlanta’s core needs to be defined by the players they have long been building with, although they should be able to avoid the play-in tournament next season.

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

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