Former executive suggests Atlanta Hawks turn to Jalen Johnson

The Atlanta Hawks have made several significant moves to reorganize their roster this offseason.

In addition to selecting Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and trading Dejounte Murray, they also let surprise starter Saddiq Bey become an unrestricted free agent rather than extending him a qualifying offer.

As speculation turns to Trae Young’s future — which will only intensify in light of his latest cryptic message — a former NBA executive suggests the Hawks are “focusing” on Jalen Johnson.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks shared a chart illustrating the Hawks’ finances with this as the caption.

“The Hawks have until Oct. 21 to extend Johnson,” Marks wrote in his offseason preview for the Hawks. “Overall, Johnson has increased his scoring average from 5.6 last season to 16.1 this season. That’s the second-highest increase among players who have played at least 50 games over both seasons, behind Cam Thomas.

“Since (general manager Landry) Fields joined the front office in October 2020, Atlanta has signed a player to a rookie contract extension in each of the last three offseasons (Young, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter and (Onyeka) Okongwu).

Johnson’s jump from 28.8 percent from three-point range in 2022-23 to 35.5 percent last season is significant. But it belies his performance, such as his 38.3 percent three-point shooting percentage over his last 10 appearances.

Even projections regarding Johnson’s contract situation include Young.

“The Hawks have some big budget decisions to make, including moving a high-paid point guard like Trae Young,” Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus wrote in March. “With that in mind, Johnson could be competing for $25 million to $30 million per year.”

That would surpass former No. 4 pick De’Andre Hunter in annual value. Hunter is entering the second year of a four-year, $90 million contract and has been mired in trade rumors.

The transfer of Hunter and fellow trade candidate Clint Capela could ease the burden on Johnson’s deal.

It seems clear that the former 20th overall pick (2020) will get an extension. He and Risacher are the only Hawks players considered safe, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer on June 28.

Last season, the Hawks were below .500 with and without Johnson. But they were 27-29 with him on the team and 9-17 without him.

The Murray trade should also help Johnson, who has been effective with the ball in his hands.

Atlanta boasted of having net efficiency differential of minus 8.4 with Johnson on the floor with Murray and Young last season, according to Cleaning The Glass. They also had a better rating with Johnson and Young (plus-3.7) than when Murray was associated with the rising star (plus-1.4).

It’s one of many possible reasons why the Hawks decided to trade Murray just two years after acquiring him.

Johnson was on track to be a contender for Most Improved Player last season before injuries struck.

With better health and Murray out of the picture — and the Hawks needing someone to step up due to the trade — the former Duke Blue Devil could be ready to parlay that early promise into an even bigger campaign in 2024-25.