Atlanta Hawks Look to Future After Playoff Exit and Disappointing Season

The Atlanta Hawks had their sights set on being a championship contender after a surprising run to the conference final two years ago. However, they fell back into the middle of the NBA, which is not a good spot. Atlanta’s season ended with a 128-120 defeat to the Celtics, which gave Boston a 4-2 victory in the opening-round playoff series. Now, the Hawks face some significant concerns, including whether or not John Collins will return after his worst season since he was a rookie, if Clint Capela fits into Atlanta’s long-term plans, and if Trae Young and Dejounte Murray will develop into the dynamic backcourt that the team envisioned. Quin Snyder, who took over as coach in late February, will have wide latitude and authority to remake the roster to fit his vision. The Hawks appear eager to follow Snyder’s lead. Young is confident that the Hawks can recapture the form they demonstrated during their magical playoff run in 2021, with Snyder firmly in control and heading toward his full first season.