The Hawks cut Cameron Corhen and Kobe Johnson over the weekend and head to Orlando on Wednesday for the opener. The best lineup from last season was a monster, but the team's finish last year is the number that needs fixing.
Roster set, opener Wednesday
Corhen and Kobe Johnson were waived Saturday's news cycle, and Locked On Hawks' Brad Rowland reported that Atlanta is now legal for the regular season with 15 standard contracts and three two-way deals. Henri Veesaar remains out with a knee injury, with a listed return of July 1, 2027. Mouhamed Gueye is day-to-day with a left foot issue and has a listed return of Wednesday. The opener is at the Magic on October 21, then Charlotte on the 23rd and Houston on the 24th and 26th.
The lineup that can carry them
Last season the group of CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu, Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels played 391 minutes at a plus-20.3 net, scoring 123.1 and allowing 102.8. That is the closing five Quin Snyder should trust. Preseason lineups point the same way: Rowland noted nine rotation players with multiple assists against Dallas, with Kingston Flemings handing out six in 19 minutes.
The slide to fix
Atlanta finished last season at plus-1.1 a game, then dropped to minus-11.8 over its last ten. Payroll is $198.5 million, $1.9 million under the tax line, so there is little room to patch anything by trade. The open question is Okongwu, cleared from rest status Friday and listed day-to-day again with no explanation. If the defense anchor is healthy, the margin should climb back.
When do the Hawks open the 2026-27 season?
Atlanta opens at the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, October 21. They follow with games at Charlotte on October 23 and against Houston on October 24.
Who is injured for the Hawks right now?
Henri Veesaar is out with a knee injury and has a listed return of July 1, 2027. Mouhamed Gueye is day-to-day with a left foot issue.