While the Atlanta Hawks have a strong foundation in place, they may not have every box checked just yet.
The Atlanta Hawks seem to have a bright future.
They've got young talent, have been praised for their 2026 offseason and are even generating some sleeper buzz as a team that could make a push toward the top of the Eastern Conference standings this season.
ESPN's analysts also seem to think the Hawks are in a solid position moving forward. In a recent exercise ranking teams based on their outlooks over the next three seasons, Atlanta came in at No. 9.
But ESPN's Zach Kram also added this:
"After whiffing on Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick in 2024, the Hawks still need to find a top-10 player if they want to contend for a title -- or they need Jalen Johnson to make another leap to reach that rarefied air," he wrote.
Every team wishes it could have a top 10 player, but getting one is easier said than done.
The Hawks, however, may have a chance at ending up with one in Johnson. Still only 24 years old, the former No. 20 overall pick is getting better every season, and for the first time in his career, he can now enter a season knowing that he is Atlanta's centerpiece.
Last season was a big one for the rising star. He posted a handful of career-highs, averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game. The breakout campaign resulted in an All-Star nod and All-NBA Third Team selection, with the latter indicating that he was a top 15 player in the league last season.
Making another jump will have to be the next step if Johnson hopes to become the type of cornerstone that can be the best player on a championship team. One NBA executive told Hawks Roundtable earlier this offseason that Johnson has "so much untapped potential" and could be a consistent jumper away from becoming a superstar.
Improving as a shooter may indeed be the quickest way for the forward to get there. And the good news is that there have been some encouraging signs. Over his first two seasons in the NBA, he was barely a factor from beyond the arc, shooting just 28.2 percent from deep on low volume. But over his last three seasons, he has shot 34.5 percent from 3-point range on increased volume.
He is also an improved free-throw shooter who made 78.8 percent of his shots from the stripe last season. His consistency in that regard keeps getting better, which could be an encouraging sign when it comes to his overall shooting.
While the Hawks should stay ready to strike if a chance comes up to trade for an established superstar in the NBA, Johnson could become that guy for them.
