NBA TV takes a closer look Atlanta’s active offseason and where it could land in the fluid Eastern Conference.
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Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending topics around the league.
> Which teams are the biggest winners of free agency?
Steve Aschburner
Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. The biggest headlines of the offseason have come from trades — Kevin Durant to Houston, Desmond Bane to Orlando, Kristaps Porziņģis to Atlanta, Norman Powell to Miami — and, frankly, the horse-choking financial numbers of numerous players’ contract extensions, from OKC’s Big Three to Phoenix’s Devin Booker.
Free-agent acquisitions have been more surgical than splashy, but Myles Turner’s move from Indiana to Milwaukee certainly popped in the East. Out West, Dorian Finney-Smith’s and Clint Capela’s signings help the Rockets immensely in stalking the defending champion Thunder. Meanwhile, Denver won in the bargain-bin category by adding Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the cast around Nikola Jokić.
Brian Martin
Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks. After its offense stalled in a first round playoff exit, Houston acquired a proven scorer in Kevin Durant while retaining much of its young core and key veterans. Dorian Finney-Smith adds a 3-and-D wing, while Clint Capela bolsters the frontline.
Acquiring Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 1st-round pick allowed the Nuggets to add another shooter in Tim Hardaway Jr. and bring back Bruce Brown from their 2023 title team as they try to maximize Nikola Jokić’s prime.
Adding Kristaps Porziņģis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker gives Atlanta a stretch five and an excellent 3-and-D wing right now. Atlanta’s Draft-day trade with New Orleans — acquiring a 2026 unprotected first-round pick to drop 10 spots — will help its future
Shaun Powell
Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets. Atlanta stamped itself as a playoff contender, and Denver confirmed its place as a championship contender. That’s the whole purpose of the Draft/free agency/trades: to go next level or at least enhance your current status. Both teams were under new management and hit the ground running.
The Hawks added Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard while surrendering very little and keeping its nucleus intact. That’s a good mix of young players and veterans, with Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels.
The Nuggets swapped Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr., and welcomed back Bruce Brown on a cheap deal. Porter had reached the end of the line in Denver while Johnson, who averages roughly the same amount of points, helps improve Denver defensively, along with Brown
John Schuhmann
Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets. The additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard and Kristaps Porziņģis, along with the return of Jalen Johnson, give the Hawks a strong top eight. It’s a group that complements Trae Young on both ends of the floor, and the Hawks should be one of the most improved teams in the league, whether or not Zaccharie Risacher makes a leap in Year 2.
The Nuggets’ bench has ranked in the bottom 10 in each of the last four seasons, but gets an upgrade with the additions of Bruce Brown and Jonas Valančiūnas, with the latter critical in improving the team’s performance when Nikola Jokić rests. Both Brown and Cam Johnson should also help Denver get back to being a better-than-average defensive team after ranking in the bottom 10 in defense for the first time in seven years.