Atlanta Hawks Predicted Finish, Key Acquisitions & Fantasy Stars
September 22, 2022
Trae Young (Google Images)
In the first of 30 NBA previews prior to the start of the season, we will take a look at the Atlanta Hawks–a franchise still looking for their first NBA championship since moving from St. Louis in 1968. (The St. Louis Hawks did win the NBA World Championship Series a decade before moving to Atlanta in 1958). In these previews, we will take a look at the key acquisitions, fantasy stars and predicted finish.
Key Acquisition
The Hawks made a blockbuster deal with the San Antonio Spurs on June 30. Atlanta traded Danilo Gallinari, and four first round draft picks (2023, 2025, 2026 and 2027) to San Antonio for point guard Dejounte Murray of Seattle, Washington and Australian center Jock Landale, who hails from Malvern East. Â Gallinari was not a member of the Spurs for long, as he was waived by San Antonio nine days later and signed a contract with the Boston Celtics.
Murray was an All-Star for the first time in 2022. He averaged 21.1 points per game, 9.2 assists per game, and 8.3 rebounds per game. Murray also led the NBA with two steals per game (and 138 steals overall), and had a field goal percentage of .462, three-point percentage of .327, and a free throw percentage of .794.
Join Our Championships CompetitionFantasy Stars
Atlanta’s two top fantasy stars at the guard positions. Murray is seventh among point guards and fifth among shooting guards. The Hawks superstar in fantasy is point guard Trae Young of Lubbock, Texas, who is ranked first overall among all point guards in 2021-22.
In 2021-22, Young averaged 28.4 points per game, 9.7 assists per game, and 3.7 rebounds per game. He also had a field goal percentage of .460, three-point percentage of .382, and a free throw percentage of .904.
Projected Finish
Joel and I both predict the Atlanta Hawks will be in the middle of the pack in the Central Division. I have them finishing third behind the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat. Joel has the Hawks second in the Central behind only the Heat. As far as the conference goes, Joel has the Hawks in seventh place, and I have them 10th. We both have the Hawks in the NBA Play-in Tournament.
Join Our Championships CompetitionFill In The Form Below To Receive Our NBAÂ News Straight To Your Email For FREE!
November 4, 2025
Pacers deliver the biggest upset of the 2025-26 NBA season
What a difference a season makes Last season, the Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals and were the talk of the entire Association Now in 2025-26, the expectations are low as the franchise does not Read MoreNovember 4, 2025
Kawhi Leonard records his third career buzzer beater
Los Angeles Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard recorded his third career buzzer beater on Friday as the Clippers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 126-124 at the Intuit Dome This was the second Read MoreNovember 1, 2025
Austin Reaves delivers first buzzer beater of 2025-26 NBA season
When you think of the Los Angeles Lakers, the first two players who pop to mind are LeBron James and Luka Doncic However, with Doncic and James out with injuries, the Lakers have relied on their Read More
Tell Us What You Think Below