The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: Are the Hawks ready to challenge the Eastern Conference?
Date: September 24, 2025
Host: Dave DuFour
Guest: Lauren Williams (Atlanta Journal Constitution Hawks beat writer)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dave DuFour sits down with Lauren Williams to break down a pivotal offseason for the Atlanta Hawks and preview their prospects for the 2025–26 NBA season. The conversation covers executive changes, key roster upgrades, the evolving legacy of Trae Young, contract decisions facing the franchise, and expectations for new and emerging young players. The discussion provides a candid assessment of whether the retooled Hawks are ready to truly challenge in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Front Office Overhaul & Roster Moves (02:41–04:12)

• Most Impactful Change: Lauren points to the front-office shakeup—promoting Anci Soleil to GM—as setting the stage for a major shift.
• Smart Acquisitions: Hawks acquire Kristaps Porzingis (“for pennies on the dollar”), Nikhil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard. These moves add critical depth and experience while keeping future flexibility.
• Lauren Williams:

  “The promotion of Anci Soleil is probably just like the biggest move that the Hawks did this offseason.” (03:44)

2. All-In on Trae Young—One More Look? (04:12–06:31)

• The re-engineered roster is seen as the "most Trey Young team" yet, offering perimeter defense, shooting, and finishing—a perfect evaluative environment for Trae.
• Both Dave and Lauren agree: this is a defining year for Young in Atlanta.
• Lauren Williams:

  “If this doesn’t work ... then it’s maybe time to figure out what’s next.” (04:51) “Trey Young is entering his eighth year... the common denominator would be Trey, if you’re moving so many different pieces around him... now it’s time for him to actually go out and make it work.” (05:36)

3. Contract Decisions: Dyson Daniels & Flexibility (06:31–12:07)

• Dyson Daniels is due for an extension after a breakout year, but his uncertain offensive upside complicates pricing.
• The Hawks moved on from Kobe Bufkin largely for financial flexibility.
• Non-traditional Backup Point Guard: Depth will be managed “by committee”—mentions Jalen Johnson, Alexander-Walker, Kennard, and rookie Zachary Reese Sachet as options.
• Measured Approach: The Hawks want to avoid overpaying early, as past mistakes have shown.
• Lauren Williams:

  “If they can get [Dyson Daniels] in that $16 million range... that would be a pretty solid deal for him. You don’t want to overextend yourself... just because you don’t know what he is offensively.” (07:25) “The Hawks have had a history of going out and overpaying guys too fast, too soon.” (10:30)

4. Roster Construction—Uncertainty and Opportunity (12:07–12:55)

• The Hawks could either gel and make a run (“win 50 games, Conference Finals”) or face issues due to numerous pending contract decisions (Porzingis, Trae Young, Daniels).

5. Player Development: Zachary Reese Sachet (14:56–18:51)

• The “forgotten” #1 overall pick wasn’t the main storyline but is highlighted as a versatile, unselfish big wing who is an ideal glue piece for the Hawks.
• Lauren Williams:

  “He continues to be a consistent shooter—we saw that come alive toward the end of the season... And then also he’s playing off of KP now, who does have the ability to make younger guys around him better.” (15:53)

• KP’s (Porzingis) gravity should open up the floor for shooters and cutters (Sachet and Daniels), easing pressure and catalyzing offense.

6. Big Man Rotation: Versatility and Durability Concerns (19:28–22:33)

• With Porzingis likely to miss some games, Onyeka Okongwu is probably the nominal starter, but new signee N’Faly Dante provides a more traditional look, and the Hawks have a trio of diverse skill-sets.
• Mogay (another big man) offers further flexibility, and rookie Asa Newell is seen as a promising learner who may contribute down the line.
• Lauren Williams:

  “All three of those guys [Porzingis, Okongwu, Dante] are so different in how they play... It’s certainly going to make training camp interesting.” (19:54)

7. The True Swing Factor: Non-Trae Minutes (22:33–24:05)

• Historically, the Hawks crater offensively when Trae Young sits; this season, those minutes (led by Daniels, Alexander-Walker, Kennard) may determine the team’s ceiling.
• Lauren Williams:

  “If they can at least sustain production enough in a way that there isn’t as steep a drop-off as they had in seasons past? I think that’s sort of the swing thing.” (23:05)

• If the Hawks’ bench can “keep it close” during Trae’s rest, the team could be “very, very scary.”

8. Realistic Expectations & Eastern Conference Landscape (24:05–26:12)

• Lauren projects the Hawks to finish 5th in the East, with the ceiling being a return to the Conference Finals, especially given the “wide open” nature of the conference.
• She identifies a likely dogfight for 4th-5th seeds with Detroit and ongoing curiosity about the Milwaukee Bucks’ changes.
• Lauren Williams:

  “I have them getting to, at best, the conference finals... Realistically I have them finishing...around 5th just because it’s so hard for me to predict what Detroit is going to look like.” (24:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Stakes for Trae Young:
  Dave DuFour:

  “This feels like... a year where you get to really evaluate what Trey is capable of, because you have your perimeter defense out the wazoo, you have floor spacers from the big position... If, to me, if this doesn’t work, then it’s maybe time to figure out what’s next.” (04:12–04:51)

• On Daniels’ Value:
  Lauren Williams:

  “He does have a lot of improvement to be had... But he can command a lot. He could command a whole lot. Maybe you do wait until restricted free agency with a guy like this.” (09:52–10:27)

• On the Potential of Zachary Reese Sachet:
  Dave DuFour:

  “They have this six, eight wing that can do a little bit of everything developing in the background. And that’s probably even good for him that he’s not, you know, front and center.” (18:25)

• Team Depth & Identity:
  Lauren Williams:

  “I definitely think the bar is raised for Zach to really take another step forward, and especially on the defensive end... But I think, you know, him continuing to play with pace, continuing to find ways to make plays on the offensive end, I think that’s what this team wants him to do.” (17:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |------------------------------------------------------|------------------| | Front office changes & offseason impact | 02:41–04:12 | | Assessing Trae Young’s critical year | 04:12–06:31 | | Dyson Daniels, Kobe Buffkin, contract dilemmas | 06:31–12:07 | | The Porzingis fit, depth, and team ceiling/floor | 12:07–14:56 | | Zachary Reese Sachet’s next step | 14:56–18:51 | | Big man rotation, roster depth | 19:28–22:33 | | Swing factor: Non-Trae minutes & second units | 22:33–24:05 | | Conference expectations, likely playoff finish | 24:05–26:12 |

Conclusion: Are the Hawks Ready?

The Atlanta Hawks head into the 2025–26 season as a deeper, more versatile squad with a pivotal year looming for Trae Young and several contract decisions that could reshape the franchise. With improved roster balance and a wider path in the competitive (yet unsettled) Eastern Conference, the Hawks seem poised to test their ceiling. The consensus: a strong, top-5 finish and possible return to the Conference Finals—if their new pieces click, the non-Trae minutes improve, and fortune smiles.

Lauren Williams’s final advice:

“Support local journalism.” (26:29)

For more Hawks analysis, follow Lauren Williams at the Atlanta Journal Constitution and keep listening to The Athletic NBA Daily.