Hawks 2024-25 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions

The Atlanta Hawks could once again find themselves in NBA purgatory following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, but at least the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher points to a potentially brighter future.

By trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta didn't commit to a full rebuild in part because it can't. Thanks to acquiring Murray in the first place, the Hawks don't control their first-round draft capital for the next few years.

The organization does at least seem to be embracing a reset anchored around a nucleus of Trae Young and Jalen Johnson.

Because he's entering his seventh season, it's easy to forget Young is still only 25 — he'll turn 26 in September. Missing the playoffs for a second straight year wouldn't be the worst outcome if it means Risacher, Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Kobe Bufkin were afforded some time to develop and improve. Then, Atlanta would be on stronger footing for 2025-26 and beyond.

The backcourt tandem of Murray and Young simply wasn't working and needed to be broken up in some way. The upcoming season could reveal whether general manager Landry Fields can continue to make Young the centerpiece or if more drastic measures are required.

2024-25 Hawks Schedule Details

Season Opener: vs. Brooklyn Nets, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: +34000 (bet $100 to win $34,000), per FanDuel

Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on the team's official site.

Top Matchups

Toronto Raptors

Of the five teams that finished below the Hawks in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors are their strongest threat in the battle for a play-in berth. Toronto is building for the future but not quite to the extent the Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets are.

Scottie Barnes made his first All-Star team last year and cemented himself as a true cornerstone talent. RJ Barrett averaged 21.8 points and shot 55.3 percent from the field in his 32 games with the team after his midseason trade. Immanuel Quickley benefited from his slightly increased role as well, putting him 18.6 points and 6.8 assists per contest in Toronto.

The Raptors didn't make any major additions with Davion Mitchell, Ja'Kobe Walter and Garrett Temple the biggest names. They didn't suffer any major losses, either. Gary Trent Jr. was a solid option on the wing, but him settling for a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks wasn't a great endorsement of his on-court value.

Especially with how bad things are at the bottom of the East, Toronto is a play-in contender.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat finished 10 games better than Atlanta in 2023-24, so the Hawks probably aren't overtaking them in the standings. The gap between the two might at least shrink with Miami doing little else but getting one year older.

Caleb Martin overplayed his hand by declining the Heat's contract offer. His departure stings all the same.

Jimmy Butler is potentially in a contract year, which could be very good or very bad given how badly a financial standoff soured his relationship with the Minnesota Timberwolves and led him to request a trade.

A backcourt pairing of Terry Rozier and Tyler Herro doesn't inspire a lot of confidence defensively.

The Hawks are resigned to playing the role of spoiler this year and not much else. Bouncing Miami from the play-in tournament would be something worth celebrating.

Season Forecast

Beyond the absence of true star power beyond Young, the roster construction for Atlanta is a bit odd.

Bufkin is poised to be Young's backup after making just 17 appearances as a rookie. Daniels is a 31.2 percent three-point shooter through two years, so he doesn't help address what was an issue at times for the team. Then you get to the frontcourt, where Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu and Larry Nance Jr. are all centers who don't complement one another that well.

Another deal feels inevitable at some point because Capela and Nance are both in the last years of their contracts. If the Hawks are performing even worse than expected, then maybe they seriously consider cashing in on Bogdan Bogdanović's trade value as well.

Improving on 36 wins will be difficult for Atlanta because it took a step backward. Somewhere a little lower in the mid-30s is still a reasonable target.

Record Prediction: 35-47