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[Atlanta Hawks]

Play-In Preview: Four keys to an Atlanta victory over Miami

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

What the Hawks need to do to keep their season alive.

The Atlanta Hawks are all set to host the Miami Heat tonight in a “do or die” Play-In game, with both teams fighting to keep their respective seasons alive.

These two Southeast Division rivals are familiar foes, and tonight marks the third time in the past four seasons that they’ve faced each other in the postseason. In 2022, they squared off in the first round of the Playoffs, with the Heat brushing aside the Hawks 4-1 en route to a Conference Finals appearance. In 2023, they met in the Play-In, with Atlanta beating Miami 116-105 in the ‘7/8 game’.

The winner of tonight’s contest claims the final spot Eastern Conference Playoffs and will go on to face the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in round one*. The loser, however, will be relegated to watching the remainder of the postseason from a tropical destination of their choice (I hear Cancún is nice this time of year).

*Game 1 of which would tip-off this Sunday at 7PM EST

Ahead of tonight’s pivotal matchup, here are four keys to victory for the Atlanta Hawks.

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Miami Heat Overview​

If you’re interested, I included a brief statistical overview on the Heat here. These are their season long ranks in a few key categories.

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#1) Play Fast!​

One of the biggest differences between these two sides is the speed at which each prefers to operate.

The Hawks like to play fast and pounce on early scoring opportunities in transition, ranking third in the league in pace and first in transition frequency* (17.5%) during the regular season. Meanwhile the Heat prefer to slow it down and play in the halfcourt, ranking 27th in the league in pace and 26th in transition frequency (13.5%)**.

*From cleaningtheglass, this is the percentage of their possessions that begin with a transition play.

**The Heat also ranked 27th in offensive rebounding percentage, exemplifying their commitment to transition defense.

For Atlanta, given their miserable offensive showing against Orlando on Tuesday* – a game that was played at the second-slowest pace the Hawks have played at this season – it would be a good idea to make an effort to push the pace and try to play faster against Miami tonight.

*The Hawks scored just 95 points, posted their fourth-lowest transition frequency of the season (9.2%) and scored just 0.86 ppp in the half-court.

This is, of course, easier said than done.

While Miami’s defense might not have been as stout as Orlando’s second-ranked defense this season, the Heat still finished the season as a top-ten defensive unit and – coached by Erik Spoelstra – are no slouches on the less glamorous end of the floor.

Per cleaningtheglass, they allow just 0.96 points per possession in the halfcourt* and do their best to keep their opponents out of transition, committing live-ball turnovers at the second-lowest rate in the league and prioritizing setting their defense over crashing the offensive glass, ranking 27th in offensive rebounding percentage.

*The ninth-best mark in the NBA this season, per CTG

That being said, when Miami’s opponents do manage to get out and run on them, they have proven to be vulnerable, as their transition defensive rating (129.7) was the fifth-worst in the league this season.

Atlanta has ranked sixth in offensive rating since the trade deadline, and their affinity to get out in transition has been a big part of their offensive play style all season. For them to be successful tonight, it’s going to be critical for them to get back to playing their brand of basketball, and try and hunt these early shot clock looks before the Miami defense gets set.

If their transition offense gets stifled like it did against the Magic, it’s going to be much tougher to win this game on Miami’s terms.

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#2) Keep the Turnovers at a Minimum​

Turnovers have been an issue for Atlanta in their last three regular season matchups against the Heat, and while I believe it’s important for the Hawks to push the pace in tonight’s contest, it’s important for them not to sacrifice their ball security in order to do so.

The Hawks ranked 22nd in turnover percentage during the regular season, committing a turnover on 14.9% of their offensive possessions, and in their last three games against Miami* they’ve committed a turnover on 17.7% of their offensive possessions.

*All of which took place after the All-Star break

While a three percentage-point increase from their season-long average might not seem all that significant, it’s certainly not ideal, and given that Miami finished in the bottom ten in offensive rating, I believe it’s important not to gift wrap them easy opportunities, keep them out of a rhythm and make them work for every basket they get.

When the Heat get hot against Atlanta, they’ve shown a tendency to stay hot – as evidenced by them shooting better than 50% from three in their last two meetings (both Miami wins). The Hawks can’t do them any favors by committing self-inflicted wounds.

The Heat have averaged just over 20 points off turnovers in their last three games against Atlanta, up from their season-long average of 16.4. If the Hawks can keep this number under 15, I think they’ll be in good shape.

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#3) Win the Young/Niang Minutes​

Since the Hawks acquired Georges Niang at the trade deadline, he and Trae Young have formed a formidable partnership on the offensive end. Young loves playing alongside high-volume three-point snipers, and Niang, who has shot a blistering 41.3% from the perimeter on over 10-attempts per 36 minutes as a member of the Hawks, clearly fits the bill.

Per cleaningtheglass, lineups with both Young and Niang have scored 127.5 points per 100 possessions this season – a mark which ranks in the 99th percentile (!) amongst all five-man units this season (min. 100 possessions). That being said, as a result of this duo’s defensive deficiencies*, these lineups’ also concede 124.1 points per 100 possessions – a mark which ranks in just the fourth percentile amongst all five-man lineups this season.

*Georges Niang ranks in the 4th percentile amongst all players in dunksandthrees’ D-EPM this season. Trae Young ranks in the 3rd percentile.

Given how many points these lineups both score and allow, in small sample sizes on a game-to-game basis, I sometimes think of the Young/Niang groups ‘boom or bust’ lineups. Though the offensive upside is tantalizing, the defensive downside is just as worrying – as Atlanta learned on Tuesday.

Against Orlando, Young and Niang shared the court for 17:40, and were outscored by 16 points in those minutes. On offense, they scored 1.05 points-per-possession, and on defense, they conceded 1.49 points-per-possession. Niang shot 5-for-11 from the floor, but went just 1-for-4 from the perimeter.

Obviously, these lineups weren’t the only reason that they lost the game. Every Hawks’ player apart from Mouhamed Gueye had a game to forget. However, teams ruthlessly hunting and exploiting mismatches is a staple of postseason basketball, and when Young and Niang are out on the floor, opposing teams have two juicy options to target when Atlanta are on defense. If they can’t make up for it on the offense end, the Hawks are in trouble.

As I mentioned above, these two are talented enough on offense to light up the scoreboard, and tonight, it’s going to be imperative for them to come through. A repeat of what we saw on Tuesday from the Young/Niang lineups could be the nail in the coffin for Atlanta.

One nugget from the lineup data that works in Atlanta’s favor is that lineups with Young, Niang and Okongwu have actually been decent defensively, posting a 114.5 defensive rating (55th percentile) in just over 500 possessions together while also posting a blistering 133.3 offensive rating in those minutes.

image from cleaningtheglass.com

I’d be shocked if Snyder doesn’t tap into this three-man lineup combo more often tonight.

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#4) Contain Miami’s Guards ​

This one is a bit of a ‘captain obvious’ statement after Tyler Herro dropped *checks notes* 38 points on 19 shots (including going a perfect 8-for-8 from the field in the first half) to propel Miami to victory against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, but with Jimmy Butler now hooping on the West coast, Herro is the head of the snake for the Miami Heat offense and for Atlanta, it’s going to be crucial to make his life as tough as possible in order to throw a wrench into Miami’s offensive gameplan.

Fortunately, the Hawks have the man for the job in DPOY contender and MIP front-runner, Dyson Daniels, and watching the battle between these two tonight is going to be absolute cinema.

While Herro is obviously the main man, another player to be wary of is Davion Mitchell, who has been playing like a new man ever since being acquired by Miami at this year’s trade deadline. In 31 games with the Heat this season, Mitchell is averaging 10.3 points and 5.3 assists on impressive 50/45/70 shooting splits, yet he seems to play with an extra spring in his step when going against the Hawks.

Over his last two games against the Hawks, Mitchell is averaging 18 points, six assists, 1.5 steals and a turnover in 36 minutes of playing time while shooting a ridiculous 13-for-20 from the floor, including 9-for-10 (!) from three!

Seeing as Atlanta were just torched by an undersized guard earlier this week, with Cole Anthony exploding for 26 points and six assists off the bench in their loss to Orlando, the Hawks would be foolish to underestimate Mitchell.

Outside of their guards, Miami don’t have a ton of offensive firepower. Bam Adebayo has been operating further away from the hoop this season and has struggled with his efficiency. Andrew Wiggins, who the Heat got in return for Butler, has dealt with injuries and still hasn’t completely found his groove in his new threads.

Atlanta has been slightly worse on defense since the trade deadline, ranking 20th in defensive rating over this span, so regardless of their opponent, they still need to work for everything they get on the less glamorous end of the floor.

Tonight, stopping Miami’s guards should be at the top of the priority list.

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No matter what way you look at it, the Atlanta Hawks have overachieved this season. They lost their second best player (Jalen Johnson) midway through the season. Their second-best ‘5’ (Clint Capela) hasn’t played since March 10th. They traded away a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in De’Andre Hunter, as well as a highly-valued veteran leader in Bogdan Bogdanovic, and have worked hard to incorporate the new additions since the trade deadline.

It hasn’t been perfect. It hasn’t always been pretty. But despite all of it, the Hawks topped their preseason over/under wins projection (36.5) and tonight, have a shot to secure a postseason berth on their home court in front of their fans.

For a young team, still building chemistry with another, games like tonight are what it’s all about. Win or lose.

This season has been one heck of a journey — let’s hope there are still a few more stops left on this ride.

All statistics used in this article are from cleaningtheglass, dunksandthrees, pbpstats, nba.com/stats, or bball-index.com.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...-analysis-trae-advanced-stats-video-breakdown

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks Reacts Survey: How confident are you in the direction of the Hawks?

Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images

Let’s hear from the voice of the fans.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Atlanta Hawks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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It’s been a busy couple of weeks following a transitional year on the court during the 2024-25 season. With the Trae Young-Dejounte Murray experiment firmly in the rearview window, the Hawks pivoted to a younger core, unearthing a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a Rookie of the Year candidate in the same offseason.

Although the Hawks finished 40-42 and missed the playoffs via a Play-In Tournament exit last week for the second consecutive year, there are better vibes emanating from the team and the fanbase than had existed for the a few years — in the view of this blogger’s anecdotal barometer anyway.

But earlier this week, the team made a wave of headlines in moving on from a principle architect of this iteration of the Hawks.

Landry Fields, who had been the general manager since the summer of 2022 and the de facto head of basketball operations and player personnel since December of 2022, was terminated from his position. In his place, Onsi Saleh was named the new head of day-to-day operations, but a search is still ongoing to fill the higher position of president of basketball operations.

So with that backdrop, we’d like to hear from you the answer to this question: how do you feel about the current direction of the Atlanta Hawks? Please mark your response in our survey below, and feel free to discuss in the comments!

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...y-direction-fans-news-trae-young-tony-ressler

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Why this season felt different

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Take a deep breath and please read this plea for optimism.

It’s a common trope to trot out the “where do the Hawks go from here?” or “the Hawks need to hit the reset button” headlines following another early season exit.

But these are definitively NOT the “same old Hawks”.

I’ll start off by acknowledging that any season that ends without a true berth in the playoffs has to feel disappointing given the presence of four-time All-Star Trae Young. Ostensibly, the Hawks have ‘gone for it’ ever since the extended 2020 offseason. And, of course, they then doubled down on that approach in targeting Dejounte Murray for a trade two offseasons later.

But soon after the disastrously shortsighted trade for the former San Antonio All-Star, the shortcuts in the process quickly became clear. Those corners cuts were obscured by an unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but even that team iteration increasingly looks like it was a flashy mansion built on a cracked foundation.

Now, after taking a step back and bringing internal development to the foreground, the Hawks have begun to realize a more sustainable direction for the long term.

In short, this season feels different. A true foundation has been laid, and the build back can (but in no certain terms will) yield longer lasting results. Let’s go through a few reasons why:

Dyson Daniels is the perimeter stopper every team needs...but especially this team​

In 2020, the Hawks made a small roster move that isn’t talked about much these days. Hidden among the bigger name signings of Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, and Rajon Rondo, Atlanta signed former high lottery pick Kris Dunn to a two-year deal.

Dunn, at the time, was coming off a disappointing rookie contract where he was traded just one year after the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted him fifth overall in 2016. While injuries meant that Dunn eventually only suited up for four regular games for the Hawks — 45 minutes plus another 33 in the postseason — the message the Hawks were sending was clear: Trae Young is a target on defense, and we need to take steps to protect him.

Now in 2025, Dunn has blossomed in the role the same Hawks envisioned, just on the Clippers next to James Harden.

That rationale begins to explain why the team felt Murray would fill a similar defensive role — a guard with length who could, in theory, keep Young out of bad situations. But his defensive performance the two years he was here was a far cry from his 2017-18 All-Defensive Team nod.

DARKO Shiny App
DARKO D-EPM for Dejounte Murray

Last summer, out went Murray to New Orleans and in came — among other players and draft assets — former lottery pick Dyson Daniels from New Orleans.

I shouldn’t have to recount the incredible impact Daniels made alongside Young in the backcourt. His gaps in the steals and deflections leaderboard speak for themselves.

In short, with Daniels and others on board, the Hawks finished above the bottom 10 in defensive rating for the first time since 2016-17. And while I’m not quite as far on the “defense wins championships” bandwagon as some, most elite teams blend high performance on both sides of the ball to achieve success.

There is still work to do to get the team from the 19th ranked defensive rating they were in 2024-25 into the top 10 going forward, but it’s a relief the Hawks are finally rediscovering the importance of the balance.

The Hawks now have a modern frontcourt​

The Hawks were dealt a good bit of fortune in winning the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery with 3% odds with their final self-possessed first-round pick until 2028.

In a class with arguably no good choices for a true franchise cornerstone, the Hawks opted for a French wing/forward who made up for a lack of primary-level ball handling with off ball movement, smarts, hustle, and a high shooting release. While it was a very unconventional first overall pick at the time, Zaccharie Risacher has displayed a ton of modernity in his play style.

In the ‘pace and space’ era of NBA basketball, en vogue are players who both contribute to the spacing by being a true shooting threat but also ones who exploit that space with cuts, screening and rolling, and rim running in transition. There was always going to be an adaptation period for Risacher in his move from JL Bourg in the top level French league — LNB Élite — to the NBA, but once he found his footing, the vision became clearer and clearer.

From November 27 to the end of the season, Risacher shot 39% from three on 4.6 attempts per game and 48% from the field, firmly putting to rest his early shooting efficiency woes. But even more important was his ability to contribute in a variety of areas, whether it be defending at the point of attack, helping and digging on defense, or pressuring opposing defenses off the ball with his movement.

A lot of these contributions are hard to capture in a box score, but it was all too evident when breaking down the tape. The effect it has on a team — the selfless dirty work without much of the glory — should not be taken for granted.

Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu sadly were unable to blossom as a starting pair on the court, but each of their leaps have been noteworthy and might portend a beautiful partnership going forward.

Johnson and Okongwu were named to the same starting lineup just three times this past season, as Okongwu’s elevation to the starting unit almost perfectly (or imperfectly) coincided with Johnson tearing a labrum muscle in his right shoulder.

But Johnson ended the season averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, something that only four others player did this season (two MVP-level players in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic as well as Alperen Sengun and Domantas Sabonis).

Basketball-Reference/Stathead
19, 10, and 5

And Okongwu, especially upon being named the starting center, flashed serious passing and shooting chops rare for a big man. He found cutters like Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher with his passing, got up the most threes of his career, and remained very efficient from the field despite the changing shot diet.

Basketball-Reference/Stathead
2.5 assists/36, 2.5 threes attempted/36, 60%+ TS%

All three players are north of 6’8”, all three players are 24 years of age or younger, and all three players are under team control for at least three more seasons. Coach Quin Snyder can mix and match them on defense, and their versatility on both ends can add diversity to the ways Atlanta can attack opponents.

The league has tended towards skilled forwards and bigs in recent days, and the Hawks now have the makings of one of the more skilled young frontcourts in the league.

Young, hungry, and with a clear timeline in mind​

After trading the 32-year-old Bogdan Bogdanovic, the only Hawks left older than 26 (Trae Young’s age) are Clint Capela, Georges Niang, Larry Nance Jr., Garrison Mathews, Terance Mann, and Caris LeVert. Four of those players are free agents after the year, and a fifth (Niang) has just one year left on his contract worth $8.2 million.

The worst place in this league you can be is as an aging roster without true championship aspirations, and so the Hawks smartly pivoted towards youth last summer.

In what was purportedly a retooling year focused on development, the Hawks still won 40 games, four more than the previous season and only one fewer than in 2022-23.

Additionally, the constant rumors surrounding high profile players lessened following the Murray trade, and the team has consistently targeted high character locker room presences with their transactions since.

These intangibles do matters, especially with one big question surrounding the face of the franchise. I detailed earlier that Trae Young is now extension-eligible this summer, and that bit of business looms rather large at this point in time.

Atlanta needs to show its star player that this is somewhere he wants to be for the long haul.

But for those closely monitoring this matter with consternation, you can exhale a bit.

Recently, per both Chris Haynes and Jake L. Fischer, two prominent national NBA insiders, Trae Young is firmly on board with the direction of the Hawks.

NBA Insider @JakeLFischer giving more details on Landry Fields' departure, new search for an executive and Trae Young. #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/T6LFeuBuRs

— Hawks Lead (@HawksLead) April 23, 2025​

Yes, the sudden firing of general manager Landry Fields throws a wrench in what looked like a solid 12 months or more from the front office, and we’ll surely learn more about the new direction from the operations side of things in the days to come.

But this has been a successful season for the Hawks, a franchise that all too often struggles with short term thinking — and one that is frequently in the national spotlight for many reasons other than contending for a trophy.

It’s going to take continued patience and player development to move the Hawks from the middle class to the upper class in the NBA, but I pray that this time they do not skip steps.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...dyson-daniels-zaccharie-risacher-nba-analysis

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks Reacts Survey Results: confident or not in franchise’s direction?

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Well, a pretty definitive survey answer emerged.

These are the results to the Hawks Reacts survey posted earlier this week.

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The past 12 months have brought a lot of moving parts for the Atlanta Hawks. The roster has been reshaped by a number of trades and draft picks, and the front office changed top-level leadership at an unexpected timeframe.

Despite seemingly having a major hand in retooling the roster around Trae Young with young, promising players, general manager Landry Fields was not retained as the top day-to-day operations voice going forward.

With so much still up in the air, it was a good time to stop and take the pulse of the fanbase at large to see how they feel about recent developments.

A clear view emerged as to how confident or not confident you, the fans, were towards the direction of the team you follow so closely:

Survey results

Brought to you by FanDuel.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ts-confident-franchises-direction-quin-snyder

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player review: Terance Mann

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

We begin to review the roster with a midseason acquisition.

The 2024-25 NBA season for Terance Mann marked a pivotal moment in his career, highlighted by a midseason trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Atlanta Hawks. Mann, known for his hard work, team-first mentality, and willingness to embrace whatever role asked of him, quickly became a culture fit for a Hawks team looking to solidify its identity. Though the transition was not without challenges, Mann’s professionalism and versatility provided the Hawks with a much-needed veteran presence amidst roster instability.

Transition and Initial Impact

When the Hawks traded for Terance Mann, the move was widely recognized as sensible from a culture standpoint. Mann’s track record with the Clippers as a player who embraced tough assignments, accepted his role without complaint, and consistently worked to improve made him an ideal addition to a Hawks team that continues to cultivate a hard working, team-oriented environment. Upon his arrival, Mann immediately demonstrated the kind of professional habits that head coach Quin Snyder and the Hawks front office value.

However, the transition was not seamless. Due to a series of injuries to the Hawks’ frontline players, Mann was asked to play up a position, sliding from his natural small forward spot to power forward. Despite being undersized for the role, Mann handled the assignment with characteristic toughness. Defensively, he competed against bigger players and provided the Hawks with positional flexibility during a period when options were limited.

Offensive Adjustment

Offensively, the adjustment for Mann was significant. In Los Angeles, he played predominantly off the ball in a spot-up role, operating around ball dominant players like Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Norman Powell. The Clippers’ offense emphasized isolation and individual shot creation over ball and player movement, meaning Mann was often a secondary or tertiary option, asked to space the floor and cut opportunistically.

In contrast, the Hawks’ offensive scheme under Snyder places a heavy premium on pace, spacing, and quick decision-making. Players are coached to play “on the catch”, making a decision to pass, shoot, or attack the paint within 0.5 seconds of receiving the ball. This “.5 basketball” concept demanded a different mindset and skill set from Mann, who initially struggled with the speed of decision-making required. At times, he hesitated upon catching the ball, disrupting the offensive flow and making the Hawks’ halfcourt execution less efficient.

Still, Mann showed some improvement, even if inconsistently so, as the season wore on. He worked to speed up his reads and simplify his offensive approach. Given a full offseason to internalize the Hawks’ principles, there is hope that Mann can become a more seamless offensive fit next season.

Defensive Role and Limitations

On the defensive end, Mann remained a solid contributor, but it became clear that he is no longer the on-ball/point-of-attack defender he was earlier in his career. His lateral quickness has declined slightly, making it harder for him to contain elite perimeter scorers one-on-one. Nevertheless, Mann remains a savvy team defender, providing effective help, executing rotations crisply, and maintaining good communication.

This reality has roster-building implications for the Hawks. Mann can still be a valuable part of a defensive unit, particularly as a second or third option defensively against wings. However, the Hawks will need to ensure that their perimeter defense features multiple high-level point-of-attack defender alongside Mann to manage tougher matchups. Recognizing this will be key to optimizing the team’s defensive schemes heading into the 2025-26 season.

Durability and Availability

One of the most valuable aspects of Terance Mann’s season was his durability. Known throughout his career for being consistently healthy and available, Mann upheld that reputation in Atlanta. After the trade was finalized, he played in every single game for the Hawks, providing stability at a time when injuries had disrupted much of the rotation. This dependability, often overlooked when evaluating players, became a crucial asset for a team that struggled to field a consistent lineup for large stretches of the season.

Performance Metrics and On/Off Impact

Statistically, Mann’s contributions were solid but unspectacular. His per game averages with the Hawks hovered around 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting a respectable 54% from the field and 38% from three-point range while posting a true shooting percentage (TS%) of 62.9. These numbers reflected his role as a complementary player rather than a primary or secondary scoring option.

Looking deeper, his net rating provided a more nuanced picture. When Mann shared the floor with multiple starters, his net rating closely aligned with the Hawks’ overall team net rating, indicating that he was able to blend effectively when surrounded by Atlanta’s core players.

However, when paired with younger, less experienced bench players, his net rating dipped noticeably. This suggested that while Mann can complement established talent, he is not the type of player who can elevate second units on his own, further emphasizing the importance of optimizing his role.

Contract and Future Outlook

One complicating factor regarding Mann’s future is his contract. His deal, while not egregiously expensive, is hefty enough to make moving him in a trade somewhat challenging without attaching additional assets. Observers around the league have questioned the Hawks’ decision to give up draft capital to acquire him, particularly given the team’s broader needs.

However, Mann’s professionalism, versatility, and durability still hold real value. With a full offseason to adapt to the Hawks’ systems and an opportunity to focus on refining his quick decision skills, there’s reason to believe he can be a more impactful contributor next season.

Like many players who primarily play on second units, Mann’s success will hinge on careful role optimization — pairing him with complementary skill sets and putting him in situations where his strengths (cutting, spot-up shooting, help defense) are maximized while minimizing his weaknesses.

Conclusion

Terance Mann’s 2024-25 season with the Atlanta Hawks was a mixed bag but ultimately reaffirmed his value as a reliable, professional rotation player. While the offensive adjustment was steep and the defensive role evolution clear, his work ethic, adaptability, and availability provided important ballast for a Hawks team navigating adversity.

Going forward, the Hawks must be strategic in how they deploy Mann to extract maximum value, but if utilized correctly, he can remain a valuable piece of their rotation as they continue to build around their young core.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...er-review-terance-mann-breakdown-analysis-nba

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Rumor Roundup: Who will be next president of basketball operations?

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Some interesting names have been floated for the top Hawks operative.

The Hawks had, by most accounts, a successful season under lowered expectations.

Despite trading away their second-best player in the offseason, they managed four more wins in 2024-25 than in 2023-24, and in the process they have found a better fitting collection of young talent to supplement Trae Young — who was named to his fourth All-Star Game this past February.

So, it came as a surprise when the Hawks dismissed general manager Landry Fields and promoted Onsi Saleh to the same position earlier this offseason. Along with that news came a statement that the organization was looking to fill the open position of president of basketball operations above Saleh. Firm Sportsology Group is currently heading that search.

The signs point towards the Hawks trying to push for a higher level of contention after a season of seemingly taking their foot off the pedal a bit — to use a metaphor of course. With that aim comes the desire to hire a big name to fill the open president spot.

But who could the main targets be? Well, some of the NBA’s most prominent reporters and insiders are weighing in.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype brought this report just yesterday about some rumored names being considered:

Following Atlanta’s decision to fire Landry Fields, promote Onsi Saleh as general manager, and conduct a search for a President of Basketball Operations, several candidates have emerged for the job, with Trae Young extension talks and other roster decisions looming this offseason.

Bob Myers and Tim Connelly are atop Atlanta’s wish list, league sources told HoopsHype. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves hope to sign Connelly to an extension this offseason. Myers is enjoying his role at ESPN, and many around the league believe it would take a significant salary and, more importantly, the perfect fit for him to return as an executive.

In addition, other candidates for Atlanta’s president position include Orlando Magic Senior Advisor of Basketball Operations John Hammond and NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and others potentially, league sources told HoopsHype.

The Stein Line also reported Philadelphia 76ers general manager Elton Brand as a candidate for Atlanta.

While those are some candidates who could join the Hawks, there’s more intel on another front office member expected to leave the organization.

In addition to Fields’ departure with one more season remaining on his contract, according to league sources who spoke with HoopsHype, former Hawks Vice President of Basketball Operations Grant Liffman departed from the organization as Chris Haynes first reported, and Hawks executive advisor Chris Emens is not expected to remain with Atlanta, league sources told HoopsHype.

The ‘biggest fish’ on the list looks to be Bob Myers. He is currently working as a television NBA analyst, but his history as the general manager who played a large part in building and overseeing the four-time champion Golden State Warriors in his past life is quite the résumé.

John Hammond is best known as the general manager in charge of the Milwaukee Bucks during the late 2000s and 2010s. You may remember this as a time when he, among other things, had a major voice in drafting and developing two-time MVP Giannis Antetokuonmpo. Hammond has since been in the upper ranks of the Orlando Magic organization dating back to 2017.

Brand and Abdur-Rahim are both former Hawks players, with Brand the current Philadelphia 76ers general manager. Brand spent the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons in Atlanta as a player. Shareef Abdur-Rahim — a Hawk from 2001 to 2004 — was an executive in the Sacramento Kings’ organization after his playing career, but he has worn the title of president of the NBA G League since 2018.

What exactly is the main objective of principal governor Tony Ressler during this whole process? Well, John Hollinger of the Athletic peeled back the curtains on the inner workings of the front office and ownership shortly after the Landry Fields firing:

If it never totally felt like the Hawks were coming or going the last few years, perhaps there’s a reason: Though Fields was theoretically in charge, the number of competing organizational voices was cacophonous.

Per league sources, owner Tony Ressler’s son Nick has had significant input, and while his day-to-day involvement appeared to lessen this season, I’m told he’s still in the room on any important decision. Coach Quin Snyder, lured from a Costa Rican beach vacation to take over in early 2023, still has significant say (and the salary to prove it). The front office has other voices — such as Saleh, assistant GM Kyle Korver, adviser and former Cavs GM Chris Grant and agent-turned-adviser Chris Emens. And in addition to those I already named, seven other people in basketball operations have VP titles.

Ressler also sometimes ventures outside the ops office for advice, including leaning on minority owner Grant Hill. Most plugged-in people think Ressler’s first choice to fill the job would be Hill, and that Hill would already have the job if he wanted it. Alas, it appears he’d rather run USA Basketball and call NCAA Tournament games than get his foot stuck in this quicksand.

Instead, the Hawks are using a search firm, one that will be threading a difficult needle: Finding somebody with enough gravitas to install as team president, yet willing to take on what promises to be a very challenging job. Is Bob Myers, Masai Ujiri or Tim Connelly taking this gig? Probably not, even if Ressler opens his checkbook wider than the Grand Canyon. But is a retread or relatively unproven exec a rung lower (one rumored candidate is Sixers exec Elton Brand) sellable as a team president?

Marc Stein and Jake L. Fischer back in their April 23 post to Stein’s substack, the Stein Line shared more details about the recent moves:

Atlanta’s change of direction this week was greeted with no shortage of surprise within the Hawks’ own walls this week, league sources say, even though there were a few murmurs about Fields’ status last week among attendees of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament held every April for NBA Draft hopefuls.

Among the early post-Fields rumbles in Atlanta:

The Hawks are looking to pair their eventual hire with the recently promoted Onsi Saleh. The Hawks have already elevated the well-regarded cap strategist to GM after hiring him away from the Warriors, who had hired Saleh away from the Spurs. Saleh has also worked closely with scouting and pro personnel departments in his past roles.

Atlanta is using the search firm Sportsology to run the process. The firm has consulted for numerous NBA franchises in recent years, including Sacramento and Dallas.

League sources tell The Stein Line that Hawks owner Tony Ressler has indicated that he is willing to pay the going rate for a top-tier and experienced lead decision-maker to manage the Hawks’ hopes for gradually taking their promising young core to legitimate Eastern Conference contention.

Myers’ name has been mentioned as a potential target in Atlanta, too, and he has already worked closely with Saleh when both were with the Warriors...though it is hard in the extreme to picture the former Golden State shot-caller moving that far away from the West Coast.

As we reported on Twitter on Monday, Sixers GM Elton Brand is another name to monitor here. Brand spent time with the Hawks as a player and weighed front office interest from Atlanta before his current rise through Philadelphia’s front office ranks. He also holds Duke ties to Hawks head coach Quin Snyder and minority owner Grant Hill and still has a home in Atlanta.

Who else could the Hawks pursue in terms of established executives if they can’t get into the Myers mix?

As long as Tim Connelly holds an opt-out in his deal with the Timberwolves, he’ll be linked to other jobs, whether that be the Hawks or his old friends in Denver.

Who do you think should be the next president of basketball operations in Atlanta? Feel free to discuss below.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...president-basketball-operations-atlanta-hawks

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Dyson Daniels wins Most Improved Player award

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

A major accomplishment.

After a major breakout season, Dyson Daniels has won the Most Improved Player Award.

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels is the recipient of the George Mikan Trophy as the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Improved Player. pic.twitter.com/Toq8U9WPIl

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 30, 2025​

Daniels came off the bench for the majority of his first two seasons in New Orleans after being drafted eighth overall in 2022 — averaging just 20 minutes per game and recording 27 starts in 120 appearances in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

This season, Daniels averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.0 steals per game — the highest steals per game figure since Nate McMillan in 1993-94. His 231 total steals were also the most since Gary Payton swiped 233 balls back in 1995-96.

Daniels started 76 games for the Hawks this season while also upping his shooting percentages to career highs — 49% from the field and 34% from three-point range.

Daniels finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last week, and a first team All-Defensive Team spot seems almost assured at this point. Congratulations to the young man for this achievement!

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ed-player-award-atlanta-hawks-nba-latest-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player review: Larry Nance Jr.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The vet made an impact despite infrequent minutes.

Larry Nance Jr.’s 2024–25 season with the Atlanta Hawks showcased his adaptability, leadership, and basketball intelligence. Acquired in a significant trade that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, Nance, along with Dyson Daniels, became a pivotal part of the Hawks’ roster transformation.

Veteran Leadership and Cultural Fit

At 32, Nance brought a wealth of experience and professionalism to a young Hawks team. His willingness to embrace various roles, whether starting, coming off the bench, or mentoring from the sidelines, exemplified the selfless, team-first culture Atlanta aimed to cultivate.

Even during stretches when he was out of the rotation, Nance remained a vocal leader, guiding younger teammates and maintaining a positive locker room presence. His contributions were recognized when he received the Jason Collier Memorial Award, honoring his commitment to the team both on and off the court.

Offensive Contributions and Floor Spacing

One of Nance’s most notable contributions was his ability to stretch the floor from the center position, a skill set the Hawks had lacked in recent years. Shooting an impressive 44.7% from beyond the arc, he provided much-needed spacing, pulling opposing big men away from the paint and opening driving lanes for guards like Trae Young and Dyson Daniels. This shooting prowess was particularly effective when Nance shared the floor with forwards Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher, creating a dynamic offensive trio that challenged defenses.

High Basketball IQ and Offensive Synergy

Nance’s basketball intelligence was evident in his seamless integration into the Hawks’ offense, which emphasized quick decision-making and ball movement. His ability to read the floor, make timely passes, and set effective screens facilitated the team’s “0.5-second” decision-making philosophy. This approach mirrored the offensive style of fellow big man Onyeka Okongwu, allowing for a cohesive frontcourt rotation that maintained offensive fluidity regardless of personnel changes.

Defensive Reliability Amid Mobility Challenges

Defensively, Nance provided a stable presence, leveraging his experience and positioning to compensate for any decline in lateral quickness. While he faced challenges guarding more agile opponents, his understanding of team defensive schemes and ability to communicate effectively helped anchor the Hawks’ defense during his minutes on the court. His professionalism ensured that he remained a dependable defensive contributor.

Rebounding and Physicality

In the rebounding department, Nance averaged 4.3 rebounds per game over 24 appearances, with a notable 3.3 coming on the defensive end. While these numbers reflected a slight dip from earlier in his career, his commitment to boxing out and securing crucial boards remained evident. His physicality and effort in the paint continued to be assets, particularly in matchups requiring toughness and physicality.

Impactful Partnerships and Offensive Rating

Statistical analyses highlighted Nance’s positive impact when sharing the floor with Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher. The trio’s combined offensive rating surpassed the team’s average, indicating a synergistic effect that enhanced overall performance. Their complementary skill sets — Nance’s spacing, Johnson’s slashing, and Risacher’s shooting — created a versatile and potent offensive unit that challenged opposing defenses.

Free Agency and Future Considerations

As Nance enters unrestricted free agency, the Hawks hold his Bird Rights, granting them the ability to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. Given his contributions both on and off the court, retaining Nance could be instrumental in maintaining the team’s cultural and strategic continuity. His veteran presence, coupled with his adaptable skill set, positions him as a valuable asset for a team aiming to develop its young core while remaining competitive.

In conclusion, Larry Nance Jr.’s 2024–25 season with the Atlanta Hawks underscored his role as a consummate professional. Through leadership, adaptability, and basketball acumen, he provided stability and guidance during a transitional period for the franchise. Whether through floor spacing, defensive reliability, or mentorship, Nance’s impact was multifaceted, making a compelling case for his continued presence in Atlanta’s future plans.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ks-player-review-larry-nance-analysis-opinion

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2024-25 Atlanta Hawks Player Reviews

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

All player reviews in one place.

This is the hub for Peachtree Hoops’ player reviews for the 2024-25 Atlanta Hawks.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...r-reviews-nba-analysis-breakdown-quotes-notes

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player review: Clint Capela

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Is this farewell to the long time starting center?

Father Time is undefeated, and he might be winning the battle over the Swiss international center that Hawks fans know well.

Clint Capela began the season as the starting center, but by the end of the season, he was but a spectator like the rest of us.

Capela has been stamped as the starting center for 4.5 years since the beginning of the 2020-21 season, but injuries and declining performance saw Capela pushed to a bench role for the first time since his second year in the NBA.

This season, he logged the fewest minutes per game also since his sophomore season. On 21.4 minutes per contest, Capela averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game.

But for the second consecutive year, his finishing near the rim was shockingly poor, and he finished with his worst true shooting percentage (TS%) — again — since his second season at just 56.4%.

The shame of it all is that he began the season playing like his usual self. He was as strong a rim protector and rebounder as he’s ever been since 2021 for the first couple of months of the season. But from the moment I wrote this, I put a curse on Capela’s physical capability to hold up for the remainder of the season.

My bad.

The numbers paint a picture of a precipitous plummet. His defended field goal percentage differential (a decent proxy for rim protection) ticked up a point from October-December to January forward. More starkly, his plus/minus per 100 possessions went from a solid +2.8 to a ghastly -14.1 across the same time split.

That’s no typo. The Hawks were outscored by about 14 points per possession when Clint Capela was on the floor in the year 2025 of our Lord.

And so, on January 20, Quin Snyder penned in Onyeka Okongwu into the starting lineup for the first time and ‘Double O’ never looked back.

“I think that I am a starter, but also I think that I’m a player that can play a role,” Capela had to say about what the switch means for his career going forward.

Capela will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so his time in Atlanta may have come to a close. With that backdrop, he reflected on his time in Atlanta thus far.

“It was my fifth year here,” said Capela. “First year was good and then it started being a little bit harder. Different coaches, different philosophies. Some things change. Maybe it’s going to work for the better or not. And you learn from it.”

Of course, there were injury issues that plagued him this season, even if age and career workload largely contributed to the backslide. Clint Capela missed nine games in February bridging the All-Star Weekend break with back spasms.

After working his way back into the rotation, he hurt his finger at some point in March. Later, we got word that he suffered a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand.

An @emoryhealthcare injury update:

Following an MRI at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex on Mar. 17, center Clint Capela has been diagnosed with a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand. Capela will undergo rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in… pic.twitter.com/oh8qY3uj6w

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 21, 2025​

About that finger injury, Capela gave the public an update, saying, “my finger feels much better. I’m happy to be able to do stuff on the court. I’m probably like two weeks away from being back at 100%.”

“I’m always saying that injuries are a part of the season too,” he continued. “It’s part of a career. All you can do is just go through it. As much time as you’re on the court and train as hard as you can, your going to spend as much time in the weight room and rehab. Do the best you can. It’s hard. But it’s the reality of it.”

Now, as a 30-year-old free agent with a rapidly declining offensive touch, declining defensive range, and a litany of injuries in his past, Clint Capela may have to settle for a reduced role going forward — whether here or elsewhere in the NBA.

Despite these issues, he still pulled down over 14 rebounds per 36 minutes this season — his 14.4 rebounds per 36 minutes would have ranked in the top five if he qualified for minutes — and he remains a smart and hardworking defender.

I find it hard to believe he can’t at least be a solid backup center for almost any team in this weak free agent center class. But it increasingly seems like that will be somewhere other than Atlanta for next season and beyond.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...player-review-clint-capela-nba-analysis-recap

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player review: Onyeka Okongwu

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Okongwu was finally given the reins as starting center midway through the season and did not look back.

Onyeka Okongwu began this season in essentially the same position as he has for the majority of his career up to this point: a center with potential coming off the bench backing up Clint Capela. Beginning the first year of a very team friendly four-year, $64 million deal, Okongwu could be forgiven for wondering if he was every going to get his chance become the Hawks’ mainstay starter at center.

During the 2023-24 season, Okongwu began to see more and more opportunities closing games of Clint Capela, but the opportunity to start at center did not come for Okongwu to begin the 2024-25 season. Okongwu was asked on Atlanta Hawks media day what his mentality was between starting and coming off the bench, acknowledging that irrespective of his starting role that he would see playing time.

“I have the same approach,” said Okongwu on media day. “I know regardless I’m going to get minutes on the court, my job is to go out there and produce.”

It didn’t take long for Okongwu to set a new career mark (previously 22 points heading into this season), bringing that production by scoring 28 points on 11-of-12 shooting against the Brooklyn Nets on October 23rd — the Hawks’ opening game of the season. This was even more impressive given that Okongwu had been working his way back from lingering injury and restrictions during the preseason but hit the ground running on what would turn into his most successful season yet.

Okongwu looked to build upon the potential he began to show in the 2023-24 season where he began to showcase the occasional three-point attempt, and heading into the 2024-25 season this was a greater point of emphasis.

“Being more confident out there and shooting more,” said Okongwu on media day when asked what he had worked on over the 2024 summer. “Last year was about shooting the ball but now I’m comfortable shooting out there it’s just about being more comfortable and shooting better.”

“Get them up, just get my reps in,” elaborated Okongwu. “Working on my form, working on perfecting my shooting and muscle memory.”

Initially, the returns on Okongwu’s outside shooting weren’t brilliant, averaging just 18.5% on 1.8 attempts per game in the month of November. As the season progressed, so too did Okongwu’s three-point shooting. A reduction in volume — as well as a reduction in game-time due to a knee injury — saw Okongwu shoot 42% on an average of one attempt per game before this naturally regressed to a consistent 33% on 1.7 attempts between January and February.

Post All-Star break, however, there was a real uptick in Okongwu’s three-point percentages, 38% from three on 2.7 attempts per game in 26 games after the break. Prior to the break, through 48 games, Okongwu averaged 27% on 1.6 attempts.

Okongwu’s ability to spread the floor not only opens up opportunities for himself but his teammates too, with Trae Young detailing what exactly it opened up for his game and the Hawks’ offense.

“Whenever you have a big who can space and shoot threes, it always make it easier for a guard, especially for someone like me who likes getting into the paint and get into creases,” said Young when asked about Okongwu’s shooting after a loss against the Spurs. “Most of the time I’m trying to draw someone else’s man. If I’m able to get downhill and my man is chasing after me and the big is in front of me, I know my big is there ready to shoot. It’s a pro any time your big can shoot threes.”

The shooting post All-Star break is extremely encouraging from Okongwu, and the hope will be that he can hit the ground running, picking up where he left off not just in attempts per game but percentage, too.

It’s impossible to discuss Okongwu’s season without discussing him finally being inserted into the starting lineup while Clint Capela was healthy, marking a clear change in direction from the Hawks at the starting center spot. Okongwu finally got the nod as the starting center on MLK Day against the New York Knicks, scoring 14 points in a road loss. Ironically, the Hawks would lose the first five games in which Okongwu started, but the Hawks continued to have faith that they made the right decision.

Speaking after the season, Clint Capela was happy for one of his longest-tenured teammates in Okongwu.

“Onyeka is probably of my oldest teammates along with Trae, he’s been here for a long time,” said Capela during the Hawks’ exit interviews. “I’m very happy for him he got the opportunity to show and see how he could help the team.”

From Okongwu’s perspective, he believes he has all the elements required but combining it all together remains the challenge.

“I feel overall I’ve always had the tools, but since I became a starter it’s just putting it all together,” said Okongwu during the Hawks’ exit interviews.

Okongwu continued to demonstrate his many abilities, including his improving passing abilities. In a game against the Chicago Bulls just prior to the lineup change — a game without Trae Young and Jalen Johnson — Okongwu’s passing was key in facilitating the Hawks in an unlikely victory against the Chicago Bulls.

Plays like this, finding a cutting Daeqwon Plowden for a dunk:

On the cut, Okongwu finds Dyson Daniels for the assist:

After the game, Snyder praised Okongwu’s ability to find his teammates in a game where the Hawks lacked playmaking.

“I’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the way Onyeka played,” said Snyder. “His ability, I don’t know how many backdoor passes he threw but being able to play through him — particularly without Trae and Jalen, two of our primary ball handlers — that was really big for us too.”

Snyder would again reference Okongwu’s improvements in playmaking later in the season after a late March victory against the Golden State Warriors.

“He’s got really good instincts,” said Snyder of Okongwu’s playmaking. “Guys trust him, we trust him even more. He’s been really effective rolling in those situations where he’s on the perimeter — whether he’s spacing the corner or he’s got the ball at the top of the floor and he’s passing and spacing — those are things that he’s learning to do more and more, and getting more and more comfortable. It’s something he’s worked on, and right now we’re seeing it translate.”

Okongwu would post two career-high 30-point games — one against the Spurs and one against the Magic — both of which Okongwu drained, at the time, career-highs in three-pointers made, with Snyder praising his ability inside and outside.

“O is always physical, but his instincts are getting better and better,” said Snyder of Okongwu after a loss against the Spurs. “Even inside, he’s got a great feel around the rim even with Wembanyama down there and shot fake, he’s got such a good touch. I was glad with the threes, to see him be that aggressive. It’s one thing to take open ones, it’s another to take them when they’re not as open, and he was really definitive in that.”

Okongwu’s efforts were rewarded in a victory against the Pacers in March, with Okongwu’s efforts on the second chance points and points in the paint instrumental down the stretch in a close game.

“O is super versatile, he does it on both ends of the floor,” said Caris LeVert of Okongwu after the win. “He’s super strong in there, you saw late game he got huge rebounds. He’s got great touch. I was on him before the game that he doesn’t have a left hand, but he’s got both hands around the rim. He’s showing the three-point touch as well and he’s talking more defensively, that’s what we need from him out there on that end of the floor. He’s been great for us.”

Overall, it was a career season for Okongwu, averaging 13.9 points per game on 56.2% shooting from the field on nine attempts, 32% on two attempts from three, 75.9% from the free throw line 2.9 free throw attempts, 8.9 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in just under 28 minutes per game in 74 games played, 40 of them as a starter.

Okongwu additionally tried to embrace a leadership role, now one of the most tenured players on the roster alongside Trae Young and Clint Capela.

“Being a leader,” said Okongwu on what he added this season. “Talking to the young dudes — Zach, Mo, Dyson — just trying to help them out on the court when possible.”

When casting an eye back to media day, Okongwu was asked about his goals for the season. This was his response:

“Overall it’s just to be better than my last (season),” said Okongwu on media day on his goals for the year. “Each season I just want to improve on something: efficiency, shooting, something. I just want to see progress on my game.”

Mission accomplished and then some, I would say. It’s been the breakthrough season Okongwu had been searching for. Perhaps not apparently evident in his season-average production (though a glance at Okongwu’s post All-Star break numbers may hint at what’s to come), but he finally broke into the starting lineup and isn’t looking back.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...view-onyeka-okongwu-nba-analysis-quotes-video

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player review: Caris LeVert

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

He played a big role since coming over from Cleveland.

After finding some stability over the past few seasons, Caris LeVert once again found himself on a new team at the trade deadline, the Atlanta Hawks.

LeVert was a key piece off the bench for the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers this season, but with them looking for an upgrade on the bench and the Hawks wanting to shed salary, they agreed to send LeVert and Georges Niang to the Hawks, and De’Andre Hunter to the Cavaliers.

It was important that the Hawks got somebody who could replace the scoring of Hunter off the bench, or similar to what he was doing, and that’s what LeVert brought. Throughout his career, LeVert has been known as a solid scorer in any situation that he’s in. He can create his own shot from anywhere, and also has some defensive tools that are valuable to a team.

That’s what LeVert brought to the Hawks for 26 games, as he averaged 14.9 points and shot 48.2 percent from the field. LeVert was the type of player the Hawks wanted coming off the bench, and when he was on the floor with Trae Young, he was able to relieve the scoring pressure off of him.

For years, Young has had to create for others in order for the Hawks to be successful on offense, but that changed this season with how the team was constructed. Bringing in a player like LeVert made things even simpler on offense, as he wasn’t the only one on the floor who could be a shot creator while also being efficient.

“In Cleveland, I was more of a 3-and-D, catch-and-shoot kind of guy, and then here I was playing with the ball a lot more,” LeVert said during end of season interviews.

LeVert helped the Hawks win a few games down the stretch of the season, and it’s because of what he was able to do on both sides of the ball.

The Hawks will have to make a decision this offseason as LeVert is a free agent. It would be ideal to re-sign him, especially with the market probably not being there for a player like him when free agency opens. Unless the Hawks plan on making a trade for someone, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring LeVert back.

During the season, LeVert spoke highly of the Hawks and how he wouldn’t mind returning to the team.

“I love this situation that I’m in right now,” LeVert said via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “I love this team. The staff has welcomed me with open arms. I didn’t really know Quin (Snyder) previously before coming here. Obviously, I’ve admired his style from afar for a long time. Antonio (Lang), Ekpe Udoh, and Ron Nored on the staff I’ve had relationships with, so I feel pretty comfortable here.”

If there is a mutual interest between LeVert and the Hawks during the offseason, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him back on the team next season.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025/5/8/24425882/atlanta-hawks-player-review-caris-levert-nba-quotes

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Latest on President search: Danny Ferry? Really?

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

In which a particularly divisive (and familiar) name appears.

As the draft lottery and the larger NBA draft cycle of 2025 loom large, the Hawks still have yet to resolve their biggest question at the top of the organization.

After letting go of general manager Landry Fields — simultaneously naming Onsi Saleh to the same position — the Hawks announced they were beginning a search to fill a president position that would step in above Saleh to head the day-by-day operations of the franchise.

In addition to Landry Fields, executives Grant Liffmann, Chris Emens, and a handful of others either reportedly or officially won’t be returning to the front office. This has created some openings down the food chain that also need filling.

It was reported earlier that names like Bob Myers, Tim Connelly, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, John Hammond, and Elton Brand could interview for the position. Now, reportedly, many of those interviews have happened, and some new names have emerged for the open position (as well as those who removed themselves from consideration).

Just yesterday, Marc Stein and Jake L. Fischer posted an update to Stein’s substack, the Stein Line, about the continued search for a President of Basketball Operations, as well as the types of resumes the Hawks would like to fill out the front office.

League sources say that Hawks owner Tony Ressler has pursued former Warriors executive Bob Myers for the post but without success ... like his Suns counterpart Mat Ishbia.

Myers, 50, has made it clear to interested teams that he plans to be selective in the extreme when it comes to deciding whether to return to front officing after winning four championships with the Warriors. Myers, remember, holds a lucrative consulting gig with the NFL’s Washington Commanders in addition to his TV work with ESPN and, in those roles, can live in Los Angeles where his family wants to be.

[...]

Back to the Hawks: League sources say Ressler, seemingly inspired by Myers’ success in Golden State and likewise by what Leon Rose and Rob Pelinka are doing with the Knicks and Lakers, has shown a significant interest in pursuing established agents to take over Atlanta’s front office and team up with cap strategist Onsi Saleh, whom the Hawks recently promoted to general manager.

Danny Ferry has formally interviewed for Atlanta’s president of basketball operations vacancy, league sources tell The Stein Line.

Ferry’s re-emergence as a candidate for the lead front office post in Atlanta comes a decade after his removal from the same post. In June 2014, Ferry read aloud from a report filed by an unidentified scout on a team conference call that included racially insensitive comments about former NBA All-Star Luol Deng and stepped down a year later.

Ferry returned to the NBA as a special advisor in New Orleans entering the 2016-17 season and finished the 2018-19 season as the Pelicans’ interim GM after the dismissal of Dell Demps. He has been with San Antonio since December 2020 in a consultant role in his third front office stint with the Spurs.

Calvin Booth and Monte McNair, dismissed from their GM roles last month by Denver and Sacramento, respectively, are also among the interviewees to date for the Hawks’ job. The Stein Line reported earlier this week that Philadelphia’s Elton Brand has removed himself from consideration after likewise landing an interview.

Atlanta and Denver are the league’s two teams with a current opening for a lead decision-maker.

Would you accept a return for the maligned Danny Ferry to the top personnel position in the organization? Please let me know in the comments.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...dent-basketball-operations-search-danny-ferry

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft Lottery: Breaking down key scenarios

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

How many draft picks will the Hawks have after today?

The Hawks have a lot of reason to keep an eye on the NBA Draft Lottery drawing happening later today.

As a result of three separate trades, Atlanta will be without their own first-round pick, but they do have a pick lower in the first round and are very likely to pick up a lottery pick after the results of the draw today.

Still, very likely is not the same as guaranteed. Last May, the Hawks landed the first overall pick with merely a 3% chance at doing just that.

The Hawks functionally can’t strike it rich and win the first overall pick, but some luck will still be required to maximize their draft capital in advance of the 2025 NBA Draft happening in late June.

The Sacramento Kings pick​

Atlanta sent Kevin Huerter to Sacramento in a trade that brought back Mo Harkless, Justin Holiday, and a protected first-round pick back in 2022. Huerter was set to begin a four-year, $65 million deal heading into the 2022-23 season, but with the Hawks acquiring guard Dejounte Murray the same offseason, the financial implications of keeping both guards gave reason to find Huerter a new destination.

That protected first-rounder Sacramento sent in return was top-14 protected last season, but the Kings narrowly missed out on the playoffs and therefore deferred its conveyance. This season, the protection dropped to top 12 (importantly post-lottery). Luckily, the Kings again missed the playoffs but finished tied for the 13th worst record in the league — incidentally with the same 40-42 record as the Hawks.

After a tiebreak procedure, the Kings now have a 92.9% chance at finishing 13th and a 3.3% chance at 14th after the lottery draw — scenarios with a combined 96.2% chance at Atlanta receiving a low lottery pick.

In the slim chance that the Kings win one of the four lottery draws (a 3.8% possibility), the protection on the pick would then drop to top 10 in 2026 and would turn into two second-rounders that very season if the Kings land a top-10 pick after the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

Their own pick​

Regardless of what happens with the lottery draw, the Hawks will convey their pick to San Antonio as a condition of the original Dejounte Murray trade. The Hawks lost the tiebreak procedure with the Kings, so they’ll either give the Spurs the 14th overall pick (96.6% odds) or a top-4 pick (3.4%) — including a 0.7% chance at the designated Cooper Flagg pick, first overall.

The Los Angeles Lakers pick​

Fortunately, the Hawks picked up the Lakers’ pick unprotected first-round pick last offseason, giving them a guaranteed first-round pick. The New Orleans Pelicans owned the pick in their return for trading Anthony Davis to Los Angeles in 2019, but they turned around and sent it as part of the trade package for Dejounte Murray — a return that included 2025’s Most Improved Player, Dyson Daniels.

Unfortunately, the Lakers played their way into the playoffs and as a result sent over the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Today’s lottery will have no effect over that pick.

The second round​

Atlanta doesn’t own their second-round pick. Instead, the Oklahoma City Thunder will make that pick (either 44th or 45th overall) for themselves. This pick was sent in compensation for signing-and-trading for Danilo Gallinari back in 2020.

But, as we saw last year, the Hawks can always get creative and pick up a late draft pick should they fall in love with an available player, for example.

The lottery results will be broadcast at 7 PM EDT on ESPN tonight, although the draw will have physically happened by that point.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...king-down-scenarios-atlanta-hawks-latest-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks now officially own Kings’ 13th overall pick

Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images

Thank you, lottery gods.

The Hawks had to sweat out a slim chance of ruin during tonight’s 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, but in the end they managed the best possible outcome.

The main takeaway tonight: Atlanta came away with the 13th overall pick along with the 22nd overall pick to use in the 2025 NBA Draft, a draft rapidly upcoming in late June.

Atlanta came into tonight with no way to win the number one overall pick — almost assuredly the Cooper Flagg pick — but they had major stakes involved nonetheless. As a result of the Kevin Huerter trade to Sacramento three offseasons ago, the Kings owed the Hawks a top-12 protected first-round pick.

Atlanta’s own pick, 14th overall, will head to San Antonio as a result of the Dejounte Murray trade three offseasons ago as well. So, had the Kings struck the lottery with roughly 3.8% odds, the Hawks would have been left with no lottery pick despite missing the playoffs.

But with an approximately 14-in-15 chance, the Hawks finally landed their prized 13th overall pick from Sacramento.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...-sacramento-kings-picks-prospects-latest-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft Lottery: start time, TV, streaming, radio, thread

David Banks-Imagn Images

The Hawks need to avoid bad luck to net a lottery pick.

The Atlanta Hawks look to secure Sacramento’s first-round pick with greater than 96% odds in tonight’s 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen​

Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL

Start Time: 7:00 EST PM

TV: ESPN

Radio: ESPN Radio

Streaming: Watch ESPN, ESPN+

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...-lottery-start-time-tv-streaming-radio-thread

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player review: Dyson Daniels

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Acquired in the Dejounte Murray trade, Daniels made a massive contribution in his first year in Atlanta, winning Most Improved Player in his first season

Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 Atlanta Hawks, a Play-In defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, it was seemed apparent that the Trae Young/Dejounte Murray partnership had not had the impact the Hawks had hoped for, and was going to be terminated in the summer; whether it was Young that was traded or Murray, it wasn’t going to be run back.

In the end, the Hawks found a trade partner in the New Orleans Pelicans, who acquired Dejounte Murray. While the haul was never going to be on the same level as the Hawks had given up for Murray back in 2022, the return has aged a lot better than could have been expected, and Dyson Daniels is the reason why this is now a landslide victory trade for the Atlanta Hawks.

Daniels arrived from New Orleans with a defensive reputation, and it did not take long for his immense defensive potential to be felt throughout the organization. In a preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Daniels did a very impressive defensive job guarding Tyrese Maxey, and it did not go unnoticed.

“I see one of the best defenders in the league,” said Young of Daniels after the game. “Every time he’s on the ball he’s pressuring the ball. It helps our defense, it kills time off the clock. That’s what teams try to do versus us, they try and pick me up fullcourt and get the ball out of my hands and trying to use clock before we get across halfcourt. We’ve got one of those guys now and he’s going to help us a lot throughout the season. We’ll get wins because of the impact that he has on the defensive end.”

“Dyson is so effective on the ball, he takes so much pride in it,” added Quin Snyder following the same game.

Each and every night, Daniels brought the defensiveness competitiveness the Hawks have sorely needed in a backcourt position. Daniels represented the Hawks’ best on-ball defender and would often take the opposing teams’ best offensive player. One such example was Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, with Daniels helping limit Edwards to a 7-of-20 shooting performance, helped by plays such as this where Daniels is able to stay in front of his man and use his elite length to contest the shot:

“Anthony Edwards is a great player and Dyson is always wanting and willing to take a challenge,” said Quin Snyder after the game.

In a game against the Sacramento Kings in November, Daniels’ activity helps disrupt De’Aaron Fox to seal victory:

“He’s been so helpful, he’s such a smart player,” said Trae Young of Daniels. “He knows when to be aggressive and when guys come over to help, he knows how to get them the ball too. He’s a very smart player; he’s helped us a lot.”

Daniels was fantastic to watch defensively on-ball, but it’s impossible to mention Daniels’ defensive contributions without discussing the steals, all of those steals.

A league leading three steals per game, and a whopping 229 steals in total for the season — the next highest number behind Daniels was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 131 steals — an astronomical difference separating Dyson Daniels from the rest of the league.

Every game, Daniels was a menace defensively and it was a joy to watch him procure steal after steal, racking up a historic season, the most steals in a season since Gary Payton’s 231 steals in 1996-1997. Daniels’ exploits earned him the nickname ‘The Great Barrier Thief.’

I mean, in this spot, you could place all 229 of his steals but here’s just a few highlights of Daniels’ many steals across the season.

In the lane, Daniels just rips the ball away from Mark Williams for a steal:

In an overtime game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Daniels gets a critical steal, and despite being blocked by LeBron James, the Hawks get a crucial possession nevertheless:

This steal from Daniels on the road against Memphis at the end of the game set up Caris LeVert to score a buzzer-beating winner:

“That’s what I do,” said Daniels of his steals after a November game against the Detroit Pistons. “Active hands, getting deflections, try and make it tough for the ball handler bringing it up. Some nights I’m going to get a lot of them, some nights it’s going to be a little quieter. Tonight it was a good night for me on the defensive end but that last play stings a little bit.”

Daniels’ incredible season procuring steals resulted in multiple six-steal games, two seven-steal games, and an incredible eight-steals game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in late December. It was a very fitting performance for Daniels, who had received the award for the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for November.

“I didn’t even know it was an award, to be honest,” admitted Daniels at the time. “But now I know it’s an award, I’ll go for it every month for sure ... it means a lot (to win it). I put in a lot of effort on that end of the floor so to get a bit of recognition for it is always special.”

Daniels would go on to win the award again for the month of March, and would be a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. In the end, Daniels finished runner-up to Evan Mobley for Defensive Player of the Year, beating out Draymond Green to second place with 25 first place first votes.

Defensively, Daniels was a joy to watch and his impact was immense. However, it wasn’t the only side of his game that the Hawks saw a huge amount of growth as his offense improved throughout the year.

Daniels showed improvement in shooting the three-pointer, increasing his percentage to 34% on three attempts per game (up from 31% on two attempts). Daniels made a huge improvement in his overall efficiency in his jump shot, increasing from 38% on all jump shots in 2023-24 to 42% in 2024-25. Daniels’ offense off the dribble was arguably where the biggest improvement came.

Off of an offensive rebound and kick-back, Daniels’ quick burst carries him to the rim for the basket:

Daniels combined his ability to get downhill off the dribble with one of his greatest strengths offensively: his floater.

Last season in New Orleans — obviously in a lesser offensive role — Daniels attempted 45 floaters and converted 23 of these attempts for 51.1%. In Atlanta, Daniels’ percentage decreased slightly but mostly because of enormous increase of volume as he shot 47.6% on 185 attempted floaters.

On this play here, Daniels drives into the lane, gathers himself, and hits the floater with the defense back-pedaling:

Coming off the screen on this possession, again, Daniels gets the defense back-pedaling and Daniels is very comfortable getting into his floater:

In a tight fourth quarter game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Daniels gets downhill on the drive and hits another floater:

He also grew more confident in his spin moves, using one here off the drive to get into his floater:

Daniels’ off-ball movement also really opened up offensive opportunities for himself.

Here, he makes a quick movement off the ball into the lane and quickly gets into his turnaround shot:

This play against Indiana was beautiful as he frees himself up to receive the ball and finishes at the rim:

A nice find from Onyeka Okongwu on this play finds a cutting Daniels for the finish at the rim:

Daniels reported early in the season that he hoped he alleviate some of the offensive burden for Trae Young.

“I’m trying to be more aggressive out there, trying to help Trae a little more, he’s doing a lot of the work there,” said Daniels in early November. “Trying to play off him a little bit, get to my floater and get downhill and finish at the rim. Last game was a shocker with the field goal percentage, so this game I was trying to be more aggressive and get to the rim, couple of threes went down tonight. Definitely trying to be more aggressive on that end, and I’m going to keep doing it.”

To that degree, Daniels certainly stepped up, and it wasn’t uncommon for Daniels to be the Hawks’ second leading scorer in games.

“Dyson is a hell of a player,” said Trae Young early in the season. “I’m probably going to be over-complimenting him all year! Just playing alongside him so far has been fun. He’s going to make my job a lot easier, on both ends. Not just defensively, offensively he cuts, he’s smart, I can get him the ball and if there’s not something there he’s coming right back to another action. He’s a smart player, a young player that’s still trying to establish himself, but I feel like here in Atlanta he’s going to do that and put himself on the map even more.”

Daniels not only put himself on the map defensively, and while he came up short in winning Defensive Player of the Year, he did win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, and a look at the splits between last season and this season reflects how much he has grown in Atlanta.

A huge increase in efficiency and production almost everywhere across the board, and you can see why Daniels made such a compelling case for multiple awards this season having finally been given the opportunity.

“My first two years in New Orleans I felt I couldn’t do anything there and feel myself, kind of took a backseat role,” said Daniels to TNT after winning the award. “I came into this third year wanting to put my foot down and go out there and show what I can do. I think it’s just a small step in the right direction this year, and I feel like I’ve got a lot more in me.”

“I really believe I could believe this award twice because I know I’ve got so much more left in me to show in this league and so much more improvement,” added Daniels. “It’s going to be about taking that next step next year and setting new goals. I want to be a championship player. I set the bar high to go out there and execute that now.”

Daniels’ season came to an end as the Hawks were unable to advance through the NBA Play-In Tournament, during which Trae Young, who was ejected after he had had enough of the disrespect he felt the officials weren’t giving to teammates like Dyson Daniels.

“...Sometimes I take my frustration out on the refs not just for me but for my teammates,” said Young following the Hawks’ Play-In loss against Orlando. “I see Dyson Daniels going. He may not be household name yet but he deserves the same respect as some of these other guys...”

Despite the Hawks’ disappointing end to the 2024-25 season, Dyson Daniels’ season was an overwhelming success. Now, a summer of work lies ahead for the Aussie, who has seemingly a lot on his list to improve upon over the summer.

“On the offensive end I showed what I could do and glimpses of what I can be,” said Daniels during the Atlanta Hawks’ exit interviews. “Obviously made a huge jump from my second year in New Orleans coming here getting a bigger role, better opportunity and playing alongside Trae who is really good at finding me and makes my job a lot easier. It’s a small step in the direction I want to go, there’s so much more development in me and so much more I can do and better at. I’m excited to where I can get to and it starts this summer working on my game, building my bag a bit to become a better scorer, work on my handle, working on my finishing, maybe adding in pull-up mid-range, stepback, whatever it may be. I’m excited to see where I can get to and I know I’m going to put in the work and get the best out of myself.”

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025/5/14/24429190/2024-25-atlanta-hawks-player-review-dyson-daniels

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 Atlanta Dream coaching staff preview

Atlanta Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko talks with newly-signed free agent Brittney Griner | Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Can implementing Florida Gulf Coast’s offensive system propel the Dream to a winning record in 2025?

Editor’s note: This is the first post from new Peachtree Hoops contributor Collin Jones. We’re excited to have him on the staff and help with our coverage of the Atlanta Dream.

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After three seasons at the helm of the Atlanta Dream, Tanisha Wright was let go at the conclusion of the 2024 season despite the Dream making the WNBA playoffs as the eight-seed.

The Dream made a splash in the early offseason hiring Karl Smesko from the college ranks, signaling a desire to shift philosophies and implement a high-efficiency offensive system emphasizing three-point shooting. The new coaching staff, with four former coaches from Florida Gulf Coast University, will look to harness the potential of a talented roster with young returning stars Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada, along with free agent veteran additions Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.

Karl Smesko​

Coach Smesko was announced as the new head coach for the Atlanta Dream on November 12th, 2024. According to the Atlanta Dream press release upon his hiring, Karl Smesko joined the Dream from Florida Gulf Coast University with the eighth-most wins among active head coaches in NCAA Division I women’s basketball. Smesko has been lauded throughout his career for his high-performing offenses with an emphasis on efficient shooting and three-point attempts.

Smesko’s 2023-2024 women’s Florida Gulf Coast team was second in the nation in three-point attempts with 30.1 attempts per game. Four of his players averaged at least 4.7 three-point attempts per game. To put that in perspective, the 2024 Atlanta Dream had just two players (Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray) average at least 3.0 three-point attempts per game.

There have been questions about whether or not Smesko would fully attempt to implement a similar system at the WNBA-level, particularly after signing bigs Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to join the Dream. In their two preseason games, however, Atlanta shot 24-for-75 (32%) from three-point range, with at least 35 three-point attempts in each game.

How much of a philosophy change is that from former coach Tanisha Wright’s 2024 results?

Last year, Atlanta’s season high in three-point attempts was 31 against the Phoenix Mercury, a team also known for a recent shift to emphasizing three-point shooting after hiring head coach Nate Tibbetts from the Orlando Magic in 2024. The New York Liberty led the league with 29 three-point attempts per game. While it is a small sample, Atlanta’s preseason average of 37.5 three-point attempts would surpass the Liberty’s 2024 average easily. I expect Atlanta to challenge WNBA historical records for team three-point attempts in the 2025 season.

Winsidr’s Michael Waterloo described Atlanta’s emphasis on three-point shooting at a recent preseason practice:

With the hiring of Karl Smesko, whose “Above The Line” share-and-stretch offensive scheme has a focus on three-point shots and drives to the rim for easy layups, all the players are getting extra shots up.

Everyone will be shooting threes for the Atlanta Dream this year.

Literally, everyone.

“I’m very excited for this year,” guard Allisha Gray said with a smile on her face on the first day of practice. “We’re going to shoot a lot of threes.”

Here’s what Atlanta’s shot chart looked like in their second preseason game against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever:

ESPN.com

Although the final numbers weren’t particularly pretty (34% field goal percentage overall), Atlanta’s commitment to Coach Smesko’s system was clear as the Dream were spacing the floor, increasing their pace of play compared to last season, and avoiding midrange shots.

Florida Gulf Coast Connections​

After the NCAA basketball season concluded, the Atlanta Dream announced three more hires from Smesko’s former employer to join Atlanta’s coaching staff:

• Assistant coach Chelsea Lyles took over for Smesko as head coach at Florida Gulf Coast upon Coach Smesko’s departure. Under Lyles, FGCU fell from second in the nation in three-point shots attempted to… 18th. The philosophy of emphasizing threes carried over to the Lyles regime as the team went 30-3 with an undefeated season in the Atlantic Sun Conference before falling to 3-seeded Oklahoma in the first round of the March Madness tournament.
• While Camryn Brown did not play for Smesko in college, she spent the past three years at Florida Gulf Coast as an assistant coach. The hirings of both Lyles and Brown as assistant coaches were announced in a press release on March 31st, 2025.
• The most recent FGCU-connected addition to the Dream came on April 24th, 2025, with Sheahen Dowling named to the role of “Special Assistant to the Head Coach.” She brings experience from Florida Gulf Coast as a player under Coach Smesko and then a member of his coaching staff.

The Best of the Rest​

While several members of the coaching staff are FGCU Eagles, there were two non-FGCU coaches hired for the 2025 season. In January, Brandi Poole and LaToya Sanders were announced as assistant coaches.

Poole joins Atlanta from the Connecticut Sun, where she coached free agent signing Brionna Jones. She also served as a coach for multiple college programs including Texas Tech, Indiana, Bowling Green, and West Virginia. Sanders joins Atlanta from the Washington Mystics, where she coached free agent signing Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. Sanders has experience overseas, which could be a factor for future Dream signings, as she played internationally in Turkey after a collegiate career at the University of North Carolina.

While I was not able to find any interviews from Sanders since joining the Dream, Poole was recently interviewed in a podcast interview with The Next, providing valuable insight into Atlanta’s vision for the 2025 season. Poole called for three-point shooting from both Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner (who have both averaged 0.1 three-pointers per game throughout their careers) and emphasized the importance of pushing All-Star Rhyne Howard’s field goal percentage above 40% (her career average is 37%). Poole also noted how All-Star, 2024 Kia Skills Challenge winner, and 2024 Starry 3-Point Contest winner Allisha Gray’s efficiency will be vital in the new system and praised Griner’s veteran leadership, even as she transitions to a new market.

How do you think Atlanta’s roster will implement the three-point shooting philosophy emphasized by the former Florida Gulf Coast University crew? What would you like to see implemented by the new coaching staff? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...-staff-preview-wnba-karl-smesko-news-analysis

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player review: Vít Krejčí

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Once he overcame some injuries, his shooting and passing became a real asset for the team.

Over the past few seasons, the Atlanta Hawks' developmental staff has received a lot of praise for what they’ve been able to do for players throughout the course of 82 games. One of the players who benefited this year was Vít Krejčí, who some would say is the ultimate role player.

After just playing in 22 games last season, Krejčí stepped on the court for the Hawks in 57 games this season and averaged 7.2 points per game. He played a key part off the bench, and as the injuries piled up, he filled in as a starter at times.

Krejčí started the season with a right adductor strain that caused him to miss a few weeks. Once he returned, he didn’t see the floor immediately, as Kobe Bufkin was the backup guard for some time. With Bufkin showing some signs of growth in his role, it was hard to see if Krejčí would get minutes unless another injury popped up.

Well, with Bufkin going down with a shoulder injury, Krejčí found himself back in the lineup, and he showed that he could man the backup guard duties with the Hawks not having a true option at the position. Krejčí has always been a pass-first guard, but as the season progressed, he became more aggressive, shooting the 3-ball and getting to the rim.

It was obvious that Krejčí was finding a rhythm in his role, and his play made it feel as if the Hawks didn’t need a true point guard to relieve the pressure off Trae Young when he goes to the bench. The best thing about Krejčí and his skillset was that he could play on the floor with Young and be a secondary ball-handler, which is why Quin Snyder was comfortable inserting him into the starting lineup at times.

With the Hawks playing well and just getting a few new players from the trade deadline, Krejčí once again suffered an injury, this time to his back, and had to miss a few weeks. Once he came back, he had to find a rhythm again while also learning to play with the new guys. It didn’t take long for him to get back on track, and the final stretch of the season was probably his best of the year.

In the last ten games of the season, Krejčí shot 64.7 percent from the 3-point line, and it was obvious that he had real growth throughout the year. At the end of the season, he spoke about how the staff helped him and other players develop during the season.

“I think just from where we started and the development we had, a lot of guys got a lot better throughout the year,” Krejčí said. “You can see it on the paper, and you can see it on the court.“

It was a good season for Krejčí, and it’ll be interesting to see what his role with look like next season for the team.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...-player-review-vit-krejci-analysis-quotes-nba

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Previewing the Atlanta Dream’s 2025 season opener

Free agent addition Brionna Jones and the Atlanta Dream face off against the Washington Mystics in their season opener after defeating the Mystics in their first preseason game of 2025 | Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

Can the Atlanta Dream repeat their preseason success against the Washington Mystics with a new head coach and their high-profile free agent additions?

The Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics finished back-to-back in the 2024 standings, with Atlanta sneaking into the 2024 playoffs with a 15-25 record. Atlanta finished just one game ahead of Washington’s 14-26 record after Atlanta beat Washington in overtime in the 38th game of the 40-game season. Both teams underwent coaching changes in the offseason, although Washington seems set up as a more traditional rebuild while Atlanta has pushed its chips in for the 2025 season.

Opponent Preview​

The Mystics are led by first-year head WNBA coach Sydney Johnson who played for the Princeton men’s basketball team in the mid-1990s. Johnson has primarily coached men’s college basketball in his career, spending time on the staff for the men’s teams at Georgetown, Princeton (head coach from 2007-2011), Fairfield (head coach from 2011-2019), and Air Force (assistant head coach). He spent the 2024 season as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky after several years working with USA basketball.

Washington had three of the first six draft picks in the 2025 draft, adding guard Sonia Citron from Notre Dame, forward Kiki Iriafen from USC, and Australian guard Georgia Amoore from Kentucky. Although Amoore had an ACL injury in preseason, Citron and Iriafen are both expected to contribute to a lineup returning 2nd-year player Aaliyah Edwards from the University of Connecticut and veterans including Shakira Austin, Brittney Sykes, and Stefanie Dolson. Unfortunately for the Mystics, Amoore, Edwards, and Austin have all been declared out for the opening games with the Atlanta Dream.

Eight of the WNBA’s thirteen teams will make the playoffs. The Atlanta Dream has the seventh-best championship odds according to odds from DraftKings Sportsbook in early May. The Mystics had the 11th-best odds, only ahead of the chaotic Connecticut Sun and the expansion Golden State Valkyries.

What to Look For with the Atlanta Dream in 2025​

There are several prominent additions to the Atlanta Dream on the player side and coaching staff. New head coach Karl Smesko enters the WNBA after 26 seasons coaching collegiately. He leaves with the thirrd-highest winning percentage among active DI women’s basketball coaches behind just Geno Auriemma and Kim Mulkey.

Smesko is known for an offense prioritizing efficient shots, emphasizing three-point shooting. Atlanta finished towards the bottom of the league in pace and three-point shooting last season, but could be among the league leaders in three-pointers taken, based on their preseason performance. Smesko brought in a collection of new coaching staff members to support him in his debut season with a wide array of professional and collegiate coaching experience.

When it comes to player additions to the Atlanta Dream, the team made some of the biggest splashes in the offseason, especially in the frontcourt. Brittney Griner opted to leave the only team she has ever played for in the Phoenix Mercury to join the Atlanta Dream as a free agent. The broadcasting crew in Atlanta’s preseason game mentioned that Griner gave credit to fellow Unrivaled players Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray for recruiting her to the team.

After announcing Griner’s signing, Atlanta surprised the WNBA by also signing free agent Brionna Jones from the Connecticut Sun. The two players were considered the best available bigs on the free-agent market and it remains to be seen how their playing time will be staggered. In both preseason games, both ‘BG’ and ‘BJ’ were in the starting lineup, but they could be used in a rotation to give Atlanta a reliable threat in the paint.

In the backcourt, Atlanta added Shatori Walker-Kimbrough from the Washington Mystics. Walker-Kimbrough started Atlanta’s second preseason game after starting point guard Jordin Canada’s injury in the first minute of preseason action. Atlanta also utilized rookie Te-Hina Paopao at the guard position throughout the preseason. Paopao surprisingly fell to Atlanta at the 18th pick in the second round of the WNBA draft and may fit well into Smesko’s offense with the outside shooting she developed and demonstrated while playing for Dawn Staley at South Carolina.

Returning players for Atlanta include All-Stars Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada. Naz Hillmon and Nia Coffey are expected to be heavily involved in Atlanta’s rotation. We will see how quickly the new Dream players Griner, Jones, Walker-Kimbrough, and Paopao can gel alongside the strong community of these five returning players.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ystics-atlanta-dream-2025-season-wnba-preview