Bobby Marks, ESPNJun 13, 2024, 07:05 AM ET
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The 2024 NBA offseason has started for all but two teams -- the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks -- and we have a much clearer picture of the big questions facing each franchise.
Which decisions on key players, trades and new contracts will matter most ahead of the NBA draft (June 26-27) and the free agency window (officially opening June 30 at 6 p.m. ET)?
We're breaking down for all 30 teams what to watch, what to learn from the draft, team needs, salary cap analysis, the impact of the collective bargaining agreement, the depth chart, dates to watch and likely free agents. ESPN draft expert Jeremy Woo examines what each team can do ahead of the draft.
Notes: Depth charts include expected roles for players who are under contract for the 2024-25 season. There's also an explainer for Bird rights at the end of this piece. The future draft assets rating from 1-10 takes into account first- and second-round picks each team possesses in the next seven years. For example, the Oklahoma City Thunder rate a 10, with 33 such picks, while the LA Clippers, with two, rate a 1.
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
Atlanta Hawks
Offseason priorities
The direction with the No. 1 overall pick: Keep, move back or package with a player.
Does the two-year body of work warrant trade discussions for Trae Young or Dejounte Murray?
The options to shed salary: Atlanta is a projected luxury tax and first-apron team.
The price point on a new contract for restricted free agent Saddiq Bey.
The Jalen Johnson rookie extension.
The 2024 draft
First round: No. 1 (own)
Second round: None
Draft notebook
This is a challenging year to select No. 1, with no consensus pick on who's the top player in the draft, and the Hawks have their work cut out for them after unexpectedly winning the draft lottery. Top options Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher and Donovan Clingan address a range of potential needs across the frontcourt, but each should help to shore up Atlanta's defense. If there's an opportunity to trade back and create value during this important offseason, Atlanta will have to consider it. The Hawks will need to think big picture with their roster to maximize the value and fit of whichever prospect they select No. 1. -- Jeremy Woo, ESPN draft analyst
Team needs
Rim-protector and defensive depth on the perimeter
Playmaker who can create shots for others
Shooting off the bench
Improved availability from the rotation forwards (De'Andre Hunter, Bey, Johnson)
Forward depth
Future draft assets rating: 3 out of 10
The Hawks will send their 2025 and 2027 picks to San Antonio as part of the trade that brought Murray to Atlanta in 2022. San Antonio also has the right to swap firsts in 2026. The first allowable year the Hawks can trade a first is 2029. Atlanta has six second-round picks available.
Cash: $7.0 million (to send) | $5.9 million (to receive)
Cap space breakdown: Including the first pick in the draft, Atlanta has $176 million in salary next season. Because of the $5 million in unlikely bonuses of Murray, Hunter and Clint Capela, Atlanta is over the first apron.
CBA impact: The Hawks will trigger the $178.6 million first apron in July if they take back more money in a trade, acquire a player in a sign-and-trade or use a preexisting trade exception. Atlanta has a $23.0 million, a $2.6 million and a $2.3 million trade exception. The $189.6 million second apron is triggered if the Hawks aggregate outgoing contracts or send cash in a trade.
Dates to watch
June 29: The deadline to exercise the $2.2 million team option of Garrison Mathews. The contract becomes guaranteed if the option is exercised; the $2.7 million contract of Bruno Fernando becomes guaranteed; the deadline to extend one-year qualifying offers for Bey, Vit Krejci and Seth Lundy.
Extension eligible: Young, Johnson and Capela (as of July 6); Mathews; Fernando (as of Oct. 2)
Free agent status
Saddiq Bey | Bird | Restricted free agent
Garrison Mathews | Bird | Team option
Wesley Matthews | Non-Bird | Unrestricted free agent
Trent Forrest | Early Bird | UFA
Vit Krejci | Non-Bird | RFA
Seth Lundy | Non-Bird | RFA
Dylan Windler | Non-Bird | UFA
