It is no secret the Atlanta Hawks heavily rely on Trae Young to orchestrate their halfcourt offense. He can blow by defenders, make the right reads off pick-and-rolls, and pass before defenses react. Teams often double-team the four-time All-Star on the perimeter, forcing his teammates to capitalize on a 4-on-3 situation. Last season, the Hawks’ offense came to a screeching halt when Young sat or opponents limited their transition opportunities.
Atlanta looks to change that this campaign, and the preseason results look good so far. Kristaps Porziņģis’ arrival and Jalen Johnson’s return provide big boosts to the Hawks’ halfcourt offense.
Hawks Show Versatile Offense In Preseason
Frontcourt Passing Adds Another Dimension
Johnson, Porziņģis, and Onyeka Okongwu form one of the best frontcourt trios in the NBA. Together, they bring a mix of athleticism, defensive versatility, shooting, and rim-protection that’s unmatched by most teams. However, their passing skills on the move, on the perimeter and/or out of the post give the Hawks more ways to run their motion offense. If defenses double-team Young, they all can make teams pay.
playing through your big man is the new meta in the NBA
the Hawks are guaranteed to have 48 minutes of above average playmaking in their frontcourt for the first time ever
opposing teams will get eviscerated committing 2 defenders to Trae pic.twitter.com/LfvPEOgB9T
— Hawks Film Room (@atlhawksfilm) October 12, 2025
In the play above, Memphis Grizzlies wing Jaylen Wells and center Jock Landale trap Young, preventing him from turning the corner. As a result, he gets the ball to Porziņģis, who starts moving before he catches the ball. The 7-foot-3 center takes one dribble before dumping a perfectly-weighted bounce pass to a cutting Dyson Daniels for an easy dunk. This assist was one of 31 dimes Atlanta totaled on 44 made field goals in their preseason win over the Grizzlies.
Minutes later, it was Johnson’s turn to punish Memphis for overplaying the Young. He found Porziņģis on an alley-oop, making a quick read on the short roll.
If you wanted to see one thing from the Hawks this preseason, this play is probably close to the mark. pic.twitter.com/OcKIGLIIji
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) October 12, 2025
The star center bounced back after a rough preseason debut, finishing with 13 points (4-7 FG), seven rebounds, and one block in 23 minutes. Johnson dropped 20 points, seven boards, two assists, and two steals in an impressive performance. He was aggressive straight from tip-off, attacking mismatches and getting the Hawks out on the break.
Multiple Ball-Handlers Contributing In Different Roles
Atlanta lacks a traditional backup point guard behind Young, with Keaton Wallace primarily playing that role for the Hawks in the preseason despite being on a two-way contract. In the regular season, expect Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard to form a committee of ball-handlers when the Hawks’ star heads to the bench. Each can run the offense in quick spurts but also bring value playing alongside Young.
Daniels brings great length, standing 6-foot-7, in the backcourt. His tenacious perimeter defense and switch ability provide a perfect backcourt partner for Young, who struggles defensively. However, the New Orleans Pelicans drafted him as a point guard. He’s also expressed confidence in his ability to orchestrate the offense (h/t Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks), despite not having the quickest burst or efficient perimeter shot. Daniels looks to develop further after taking home Most Improved Player last season.
In Atlanta’s first preseason contest against the Houston Rockets, Alexander-Walker replaced Young in the first quarter. The former Minnesota Timberwolves guard performed well, leading his new squad with 13 points. He’s among the best in the league in screen navigation and has shot over 38% from 3-point range in each of the last three seasons. If the Hawks need shooting but still require aggressive, point-of-attack defense, Alexander-Walker could replace Daniels in certain situations.
Though generally thought of as a 3-point specialist, Kennard expanded his game with the Memphis Grizzlies. He handled the ball more than ever in his career in pick-and-rolls, initiating offense. Last season, the Hawks lost valuable 3-point volume when Young headed to the bench. Kennard solves this issue, as he ranks third all-time in career 3-point percentage. He’ll see many open perimeter looks off Young’s playmaking and create for others when Young’s on the bench.
© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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