The Atlanta Hawks have one of the NBA's deepest rosters, but their projected 2026-27 starting lineup features a clear five with competition on the wing.
The Atlanta Hawks will be one of the deepest teams in the NBA in 2026-27. Who should we expect to see on the floor on opening night?
Here, we'll make our prediction. Spoiler: There will be no shock value in this article. There doesn't need to be:
The following is quite likely to be the Hawks' starting lineup in their 2026-27 season opener.
Hawks Likely to Run Obvious Starting Lineup
PG: CJ McCollum
SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SF: Dyson Daniels
PF: Jalen Johnson
C: Onyeka Onkongwu
Realistically, what else would the Hawks do?
In time, they'll hope Kingston Flemings is ready to take McCollum's place, but that won't happen in 2026-27. The rookie will be learning the ropes. An aging McCollum could suffer some decline, but it won't be enough to find himself usurped by a rookie.
The 4 and 5 spots are solidified. Johnson is the Hawks' best player, and Onkongwu is comfortably their best big man. The former isn't going anywhere, and the latter isn't moving unless a large trade occurs.
If there's any controversy, it will come at the 2 and 3 spots. The Hawks acquired Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins this summer. The former is certainly a starting-caliber player, and even the latter could make that case.
Could either threaten Daniels' place?
Hawks Have a Surplus of Wings
It's something to keep an eye on.
Daniels is likely the best player of the three. He's a perennial All-Defense candidate. That said, Dort is no slouch on that end of the floor himself, and he's a much more competent shooter. He hit 34.4% of his threes last year, which is mediocre, but much better than Daniels' woeful 18.8% mark.
Wiggins is the worst defender of the trio, but he's still solid on that end. Moreover, he's the most consistent shooter of the group, at 38.0% from deep for his career.
That matters when you're slotting players next to Jalen Johnson. He's a shaky shooter in his own right.
Should Wiggins — or Dort — get the job?
Hawks Can Tinker Throughout the Season
For the time being, it should be Daniels' to lose.
He's earned that. Daniels impacts the game in a number of ways that Dort and Wiggins can't. The Hawks should use the beginning of the season to see whether they can put their five best players on the floor at once.
That said, they should be open-minded to the possibility that Dort or Wiggins is the best fit for Johnson at the 3. They need to keep a close eye on lineup data and make decisions accordingly. Daniels can have his spot on opening night, but his grip on it should be tenuous:
The Hawks are deep with players who have a claim to his spot.
