Atlanta Hawks starting lineup: Locks, fringe, and potential break-ins

Potential break-ins for the starting lineup: Kris Dunn, Rajon Rondo, Tony Snell, Onyeka Okongwu

Suppose the Hawks decide to put an even more considerable emphasis on improving the team’s defense than they already have. In that case, we could see head coach Lloyd Pierce take an unconventional route and use a starting lineup featuring two point guards.

Pierce can start Kris Dunn alongside Young in the backcourt if he wants to. According to NBA.com, Dunn’s 103.6 defensive rating ranked higher than anyone who averaged at least 20 minutes per game with the Hawks last season. His presence in the lineup would dramatically improve the defense and allow the Hawks to hide Young (116.1 defensive rating) on that side of the ball.

Pierce can also deploy Rajon Rondo in a two-point guard lineup. While Rondo isn’t the defender and playmaker he once was, he posted a 107.3 defensive rating last season that was also better than everyone who averaged 20-plus minutes per game for the Hawks last season. His basketball I.Q. is second to none (not even LeBron James), and he has dramatically improved his perimeter shooting as well (39.3 percent on catch-and-shoot threes last season).

One of the best floor generals of this generation, he can also act as an extension of the coach, helping guys get into the proper position and doing the little things to help this team win that don’t show up in the box score.

The Atlanta Hawks acquired Tony Snell via trade from the Detroit Pistons. Snell is a longshot at making the starting lineup, but his elite shooting from downtown makes him a viable option. Last season Snell shot 37.7 percent from 3-point land in catch-and-shoot situations and 40.7 percent overall from behind the arc.

Though the starting lineup already boasts two-players that are 6’9” or taller, 2020 sixth overall pick Onyeka Okongwu could also possibly force his way into the starting lineup. In college, Okongwu showed off his versatility on offense but even more so on defense, where he makes his bread and butter.

Okongwu can slot in at the four and move Collins over to the three without hurting the floor spacing. He could also impress the coaching staff enough during the preseason that he replaces Capela in the starting lineup. Another longshot but not outside of the realm of possibility.

There’s a lot to figure out between now and December 23rd when the Atlanta Hawks begin their season in a road matchup against the Chicago Bulls. It’s not often a team finds itself with the dilemma of having “too many” options, but this is the problem for the Hawks, and it’s a good problem to have for a team with playoff aspirations.

With a condensed schedule and possible injuries, it will be all hands on deck, and it’s almost certain the starting lineup will change as time goes on and Pierce figures out who works best together.

Predicting the starting lineup:

PG: Trae Young

SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic

SF: Cam Reddish

PF: John Collins

C: Clint Capela