For years, the Atlanta Hawks have searched for a franchise cornerstone. The Dejounte Murray Era failed. For years, the team cycled through rosters built around Trae Young with little recent success. Now, Atlanta stands at a promising crossroad, with forward Jalen Johnson emerging as the light at the end of the tunnel. Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists while shooting 49% from the field last year. His performance earned him his first All-Star and All-NBA nods. It also offered the Hawks a strong reason to consider building the team around him. Additionally, at 6-foot-8, he offers versatility as a forward, efficient shooting around the rim, and two-way impact as a strong rebounder and defender. Heading into the offseason, the biggest question is whether Atlanta is prepared to embrace a future led by Johnson. Jalen Johnson is still very young, given where his production is at. Johnson is still 24, a rarity given that most players reaching 22-10-8 averages with his playmaking and defensive versatility are in their mid-to-late 20s. Johnson signed a five-year, $150 million rookie-scale extension in October 2024. The deal began in the 2025-26 season. It runs through the 2029-30 season. Mirin Fader, a senior writer for The Athletic, spoke about Johnson’s climb in productivity, which led to the eventual contract extension, noting how he was “one of just six players in NBA history to average at least 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one 3-pointer per game in a season before turning 23.” Fader continued that after the Hawks gave him his hefty extension, “[Johnson] was still often the first to arrive to shoot before games, even at night on non-game days on the road.” The contract gives the Hawks full control of Johnson through the end of the 2029-30 season. By then, Johnson will still be 28. Also, the Hawks could extend him again in 2028-29. Perhaps to your average fan, this contract may seem a little exaggerated for a player who just started to explode a few years ago. However, the league is increasingly being dominated by versatile forwards who can handle the ball, facilitate offense, and defend multiple positions. Players like Nikola Jokić, Jayson Tatum, and Giannis Antetokounmpo show that offensive creation isn’t limited to guards alone. Johnson fits that two-way, creative archetype better than anyone on Atlanta’s current roster. Having a forward like Jalen Johnson making $30 million a year is quite a luxury for the Atlanta Hawks. In fact, it’s pretty excellent for the franchise, as comparable stars with a similar play style often make around $40 million or more. Young forwards and big wings with All-Star capabilities who signed around the same time or slightly earlier include: Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors): five-year, $224 million deal averaging $44.8 million per season Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers): five-year, $269 million deal averaging $53.8 million per season Johnson’s contract and age allow the Hawks to add and develop young talent such as Zaccharie Risacher, as well as future draft selections, without immediate pressure to make a big move or trade. The franchise possesses time to experiment with different supporting players, like shooting wings, defensive guards, rim-protecting bigs, all while Johnson continues to get comfortable with his game. Post-Trae Young trade, Johnson has already shown he can thrive in the NBA.