Atlanta Hawks Season 2025-2026 Outlook: A Surprise Sleeper Team

In the off-season, the Hawks were involved in a three-team trade that would send Porziņģis and a second-round pick to the Hawks, Georges Niang and a second-round pick to the Celtics, and Terance Mann and the 22nd pick in the 2025 NBA draft used to select Drake Powell to the Nets. Niang, while he’s a good role player, doesn’t mean that Porziņģis isn’t a huge upgrade and a great trade.

An NBA champion with the Celtics since 2017-18, he’s been averaging at least 20+ PPG and at least 7+ RPG, becoming 1 of the most consistent and reliable PFs in the game. Earning 1,525 total points on DraftKings in 2024-25, Kristaps Porziņģis adds to an already stacked forward lineup. That includes 1st overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, who everyone’s predicting will take a big leap from.

Although thanks to Porziņģis coming to the team, it won’t be as big a leap as it should, but going from 942 to 1,081 total points is a leap, although one that won’t make a big difference on your fantasy rosters. One that might is Jalen Johnson; while he speaks in DraftKings points in 23-24, with 2,055 in NBA terms, Jalen continued his progress with the Hawks in the NBA. Earning career highs in everything last season.

He was boiling under being an All-Star last year, and if he continues progressing at the pace he’s at. He will be next year. In terms of fantasy, he’ll be progressing too and should be back to the 2,000+ points again in DFS, that is, if he’s a starter. Because not many teams in the league have this many talented forwards on the same team. So the rotation there is a great problem to have. But someone’s going to have to be the 6th man.

But whoever ends up as the 6th man there will have a great chance to win 6th Man of the Year, which is something to keep in mind as well.

The Atlanta Hawks’ Savvy Offseason Moves

Trading for Porziņģis isn’t all the Hawks did this off-season! As a matter of fact, they’ve been restless and making very smart moves to improve their roster. An even better move was the sign a trade between the Hawks and the Timberwolves, trading away a 2027 second-round draft pick (Cleveland’s own) and cash considerations. Which, for a player of Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s, is a bargain.

His contract isn’t, but again, he’s worth the value. A perfect pairing with Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, who’s already the best perimeter defender in the league, because Alexander-Walker is one of the best in the league. So, in terms of individual fantasy, he’s not going to earn a lot of points for himself. But on the over/under for the Hawks. You bet his elite D will help them win a few more close games than not.

Not to mention last season, he improved his 3-point shooting last year. Alexander-Walker buried a career-best 141 three-pointers this past season, 125 of which were catch-and-shoot triples, per NBA.com/Stats. He owned a .425 3FG% on catch-and-shoot three-pointers during the 2024-25 season, the 10th-best clip in the league (min. 275 3FGA).

Another Hawks addition was Luke Kennard, another savvy addition to their guard lineup, as he’s 1 of the best 3-point shooters in the league. He currently ranks second in NBA history in career three-point field goal percentage and first amongst active players. Basically, anytime he shoots, it’s a bucket. And no matter the era of the NBA, that’s always useful.

But more importantly, it makes the guard rotation very versatile! You want more defense put in Daniels and Alexander-Walker; you want more offense, have Young and Kennard shoot for days. DraftKings and BetMGM have the Hawks at 46.5 total, but I’d take an over of 54.5 wins for sure. Thanks a bunch for reading!