2024 NBA Win Totals: Atlanta Hawks Get First Projected Win Total For 2024-2025 Season
![Apr 12, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Apr 12, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4084,h_2297,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_hawks/01j2weg4ex1fhp48gdms.jpg)
Unless Lauri Markkanen or Brandon Ingram get traded before the season, most of the big moves around the NBA offseason are likely done and teams are set with the rosters they are going to have for the upcoming 2024-2025 seaosn. The Atlanta Hawks made one of those moves by trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, E.J. Liddell, Cody Zeller, and two first round picks. The move signaled a roster reconstruction around Trae Young and they have done a nice job of adding defense and size around him with the additions of Daniels and No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher.
Will these additions and this roster translate to more wins? That is not what the oddsmakers at Caesars Sportsbook think right now in their first released win totals for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Atlanta is starting off with a 35.5 win total, which is 9th in the Eastern Conference, ahead of Brooklyn, Detroit, Washington, Chicago, Charlotte, and Toronto. Boston has the highest win total in the Eastern Conference and the NBA at 58.5.
I don't think that this is an unfair win total for the Hawks, but I would like them to go over it right now. I think that the way this roster is constructed, it can take advantage of Trae Young's strengths and more effectively cover up his weaknesses on defense. Daniels has the argument to be the best perimeter defender that Young has played with and if he is the starter alongside him, he can be the point-of-attack defender that the Hawks have needed alongside Young. Daniels has to find a way to be a consistent three-point shooter and contribute on offense, but having Young as a point guard should help in that regard.
What this upcoming Hawks season might be dependent on is the development and growth of the players around Young. Jalen Johnson might have won the Most Improved Player Award last season if he had stayed healthy and he looks like he could be a future All-Star. If Johnson can make the necessary leaps on both ends of the floor, the ceiling of the Hawks goes up considerably.
It isnot just Johnson though. While Risacher is not as hyped as other No. 1 picks in the past, he has the ability to help the Hawks sooner rather than later. Coming into the draft, he was lauded for his shooting ability, his size, and his defense. Risacher has struggled to shoot the ball so far in Summer League, but the other parts of his game have been as advertised. Atlanta does not need Risacher to be an All-Star in year one, but for them to go over this win total, he will need to provide scoring and versatility on the defensive end.
What are the Hawks going to do at the center position? Currently the Hawks have Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, Larry Nance, Bruno Fernando, and Cody Zeller. Atlanta is unlikely to carry all five players on the roster and need to decide what to do. Do they keep Capela and have him and Okongwu be the center tandem again? Do the Hawks move Capela and finally make Okongwu the starter, with Nance the likely backup? Whatever they decide to do, either Capela or Okongwu is likely going to be the starter this season?
Bogdan Bogdanovic is going to be one of the best players on the Hawks and there is not a lot I can say about him. He should have won 6th Man of the Year last season and will be one of the best players on the Hawks again this season.
Kobe Bufkin and De'Andre Hunter (if he is still on the team) are two other players who could swing the season for the Hawks. Bufkin might be relied upon as the backup point guard on the team, but he has struggled staying healthy and this would be a big role for him. Hunter was good when he came off the bench last season and I am interested to see if Quin Snyder does that this season.
It is a low win total to start the season for the Hawks, but there is a path for them to exceed that total. It will depend a lot on the young players they have and how they can fit around Trae Young.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.