The Atlanta Hawks enter the 2026-27 NBA season with a retooled roster and a 3-1 preseason record, capped by a 113-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 12. They close their exhibition slate against the Dallas Mavericks on October 16 before the regular season tips off. After a 46-36 finish and a first-round playoff exit last year, the front office made significant moves to bolster depth and defense, aiming for a higher playoff seed.
The Hawks were active in reshaping their supporting cast. They drafted point guard Kingston Flemings eighth overall and added frontcourt depth with Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar. In trades, they acquired defensive-minded wings Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins from Oklahoma City, plus veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith.
Key departures include trading Zaccharie Risacher to Dallas and losing Jonathan Kuminga in free agency. The team also extended veteran guard CJ McCollum on a one-year deal and re-signed center Jock Landale. These moves give head coach Quin Snyder versatile options, especially on defense. Pairing Dort with Dyson Daniels gives Atlanta two elite perimeter defenders to disrupt opponents.
All eyes are on forward Jalen Johnson after his breakout 2025-26 campaign where he averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. Analyst Steve Jones points to Johnson's developing half-court game as the next step. Building confidence in his mid-range and pull-up three-point shooting is essential. If he becomes a consistent scoring threat from all levels, defenses will be forced to adjust, creating opportunities for his teammates.
However, his fantasy value presents a curious case. Dan Titus notes that Johnson's per-game ranking dropped significantly when sharing the court with CJ McCollum last season. This statistical dynamic is something to monitor in real games, as balancing their offensive roles will be important for the Hawks' efficiency.
The Hawks' clear strength is their newfound depth. The additions of Dort, Wiggins, and Finney-Smith mean an injury or two shouldn't derail the rotation. The frontcourt looks solid with Onyeka Okongwu, Johnson, and the new backups. This depth should help them rack up regular-season wins, and their preseason form suggests they're gelling, with close victories over Indiana and San Antonio.
But a major question lingers about their playoff ceiling. Analyst Kevin O'Connor highlighted a worrying trend: the team's primary options struggled in isolation last season. McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Johnson all finished below the 50th percentile in points per iso. Generating easy baskets in a slowed-down playoff setting remains a challenge they must solve.
The Hawks open the regular season on the road against the Orlando Magic on October 21, followed by a game in Charlotte and their home opener versus Houston.
The best-case scenario, as outlined in the preview, is a top-three seed in the East. This requires their defense to create chaos and fuel transition offense, coupled with internal growth from Johnson and others. Their preseason results, including that 113-110 win over OKC, show they can execute in tight games. The pieces are there for a fun, competitive season in Atlanta.
