Atlanta's best five-man group dominated last season, and the preseason finale in Dallas looked like it. But the late-season slide and a thin front line keep the answer short of a lock.
The case for enough punch
Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists last season. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 20.8 a night and hit 39.9 percent from three. CJ McCollum added 18.7. That is three real scorers before Onyeka Okongwu's 15.2. The five of McCollum, Alexander-Walker, Okongwu, Johnson and Dyson Daniels outscored opponents by 20.3 points per hundred possessions over 391 minutes, with a 123.1 offensive rating. The preseason finale fit that picture: a 135-111 win at Dallas, with Alexander-Walker at 25 points and Johnson at 20 points and 14 rebounds. Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks noted the offense ran north of 130 through three quarters. It is preseason, but the shape is right.
The case against
The late-season numbers are the problem. Atlanta was losing by 11.8 a game over its last ten games of 2025-26, after sitting positive for the season. Daniels shot 18.8 percent from three, and Luguentz Dort scored 8.3 a game. The offense ranked 14th last season at a 115.0 rating, and New York ended the year in six games. McCollum is 35. Henri Veesaar, a rookie big, is out with a knee injury reported as a torn ACL. Okongwu was cleared from rest status and then listed day-to-day again with no explanation. Jock Landale, at 10.6 points in 68 games last season, is the main cover at center.
The verdict: yes, with a catch
Scoring is not the weak point. The best group already posted elite offensive numbers, and the stars are in their primes except McCollum. The weak point is availability up front. If Okongwu and the starting five stay together, Atlanta can beat New York, as it did twice last spring. If the front line frays, the slide that closed last season comes back. The payroll of $198.5 million sits under the $200.4 million tax line, so the Hawks have little room to fix a hole by spending. The answer arrives early. Atlanta opens Wednesday at Orlando, then plays Charlotte and Houston.
Are the Hawks over the luxury tax in 2026-27?
No. Atlanta's payroll is $198.5 million, over the cap but under the $200.4 million tax line.
Is Henri Veesaar playing this season for the Hawks?
No. He is out with a right knee injury reported as a torn ACL, with an estimated return of July 1, 2027.
