Why This 2024 Play-In Team Could Win The Eastern Conference In 2025

Forbes

17 hours ago

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 11: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates late in the fourth ... More quarter of the quarterfinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup at Madison Square Garden on December 11, 2024 in New York City. The Atlanta Hawks defeated the New York Knicks 108-100 to advance to the semifinal round. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo) Getty Images
While the Indiana Pacers were the most entertaining storyline of the 2025 playoffs, the Eastern Conference proved to be more competitive than most analysts had assumed it would be.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics seemingly entering the postseason on a tier above the rest of the field, it was difficult to assume the Easter Conference Finals would be anything other than chalk.
Instead, the Pacers and New York Knicks ended their Finals aspirations.
For Cleveland, their second-round exit in just five games left them questioning a roster that won 64 games in the regular season.
For Boston, who even if the season still ended at the hands of New York, would have likely brought back Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and other names now rumored in trade packages if it was not for the torn Achilles suffered by Jayson Tatum.
Even New York, who had as deep of a playoff run as they have had in the past 25 years , are still looking for a new head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau.
And, as the world saw in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the storybook run for the Pacers ended in a non-storybook finale, with Tyrese Haliburton's torn Achilles costing him all of next season.
Whether injury-based or self-inflicted, the top four seeds in this past year's playoffs may have drastic changes to their roster and results next year, opening the door for any team in the East.
For the Milwaukee Bucks, this could be even more reason to not trade Giannis Antetokounmpo.
For the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons, two young teams led by up-and-coming stars, it may be more reason to invest in their current roster and become a threat this year.
But up to this point of the offseason, no team has benefited more and improved their roster for next year than the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks have been trapped in .500 purgatory since 2021 when they fell in the Conference Finals to the Bucks. Since then, they have failed to win a playoff round, and have yet to reach the postseason since 2023.
Outside of their defensive woes, which would have plagued them if they had made another deep playoff run in this span, the Hawks have struggled to find a secondary scorer to assist Trae Young.
The attempts of John Collins, Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, or De'Andre Hunter were never enough to turn Atlanta into a 50-win team.
Even though Hunter may not deserve to be looped into this group, as he only experienced half a season receiving the second-most touches on the team, former General Manager Landry Fields saw Jalen Johnson as a better fit for this role than Hunter.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 18: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks makes the slam dunk and ... More fouled by Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 18, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Getty Images
After averaging a double-double in just year two as a starter, Johnson has already begun justifying his five-year, $150 million extension signed in October.
Alongside the addition of Johnson's efficient scoring was Dyson Daniels's unexpected debut with the Hawks. After two years in New Orleans, the 21-year-old jumped his per-game numbers in just about every category .
At 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.0 steals per game, Daniels won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award alongside his 1st Team All-NBA honor.
Trae Young had a season we have come to expect from the Oklahoma alum, averaging 24.2 points on 34% shooting and 11.6 assists a game.
However, these numbers were not enough to lead the team in Win Shares, as that honor went to none other than Onyeka Okongwu, who made the most of his career-high season total of games started and minutes per game.
Averaging 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and almost block and steal per game, Head Coach Quin Snyder seemed to begin the passing of the torch process from Clint Capela, who is set to become a free agent after the 2025-26 season.
Whether Capela will remain in Atlanta for his final season is yet to be decided, as their first offseason move included bringing in a big man making $30 million on an expiring contract.
In the pre-draft fire sale for the Celtics, the Hawks capitalized on their available cap space by bringing in Kristaps Porzingis on a three-team deal.
As it stands today , the Hawks still reside under the 1st and 2nd apron thresholds, so there is not a contractual need to trade Capela.
However, with him now falling to third on the center's depth chart, there may no longer be a role for the former first-round pick.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 15: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the ... More second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 15, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Boston Celtics defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-113.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo) Getty Images
Especially considering the brand of basketball Atlanta plays when at their best, which capitalizes on faster tempo at the potential expense of more defensive breakdowns.
With this young core developing in Atlanta, which this article has yet to mention both forwards Zaccharie Risacher (who started 73 games his rookie year), and their most recent draft selection Asa Newell will both be utilized in their high-paced offense.
While these moves may not even allow the Hawks to crack the top-15 in terms of defensive efficiency, the addition of these forwards to add rim protectors to Daniels and Johnson's perimeter abilities could show drastic improvements for the Hawks in 2025.
So, do not be surprised if the Hawks finish the offseason as one of the most active teams, especially in an Eastern Conference that will likely be without its typical playoff competition.