Examining Hawks' Salary Cap, Decisions for 2025 NBA Free Agency After Heat Loss

After bowing out during the play-in tournament last year, the Atlanta Hawks found their way back into the postseason in 2025. It was another play-in bid for Atlanta, however, and the play-in tournament started with a 120-95 loss to the Orlando Magic.

The Hawks ultimately couldn't advance beyond the tournament for a second consecutive season, suffering a 123-114 defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat in overtime during their next play-in matchup.

It's likely that general manager Landry Fields will look to make a few changes this offseason.

Changes may not involve coach Quin Snyder, who has at least led the Hawks to the play-in tournament in each of his first two seasons. It may, however, involve shaking up a roster that hasn't been quite good enough with Trae Young as its centerpiece.

To be fair, injuries played a role this season—Jalen Johnson suffered a season-ending Labrum tear in January—and Atlanta moved off of Bogdan Bogdanović and De'Andre Hunter ahead of the trade deadline. Unless the Hawks can significantly upgrade their roster this offseason, though, it'll be hard to envision them as Eastern Conference contenders in the fall.

Now that Atlanta's 2024-25 campaign has officially ended, let's take a look at their looming salary cap situation, biggest pending contract decisions and potential free-agent targets.

The good news—aside from the fact that a healthy Johnson should be available next season—is that Atlanta enters the offseason with some financial flexibility. Key contributors like Young, Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels are set to be under contract, and the Hawks aren't even sniffing luxury tax restrictions.

Atlanta is projected to be $49 million below the first tax apron and $60.9 million below the second apron. This means that Fields can likely afford to make a free-agent splash without facing the restrictions of being a second-level taxpayer.

Trades could be on the table for the Hawks too—Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus listed Nicolas Claxton, Daniel Gafford and Robert Williams III as potential targets back in March.

That's assuming, though, that Fields believes his team can make a big jump next season. The long-term approach could involve retaining the roster core, continuing to develop Johnson and building through the draft. Atlanta is set to have two first-round picks in the 2025 draft.

The Hawks could ultimately use a chunk of their available cap space to retain unrestricted free agents Clint Capela, Caris LeVert and Larry Nace Jr. Atlanta also has a club option with Dominick Barlow and restricted free agents in two-way players Jacob Toppin and Keaton Wallace.

Of course, Atlanta's biggest offseason decision will likely involve Young. The 26-year-old will be extension-eligible this offseason and will have a player option for the 2026-27 season. Young has made it clear that he'll wait until the offseason to even begin discussing a new deal.

"I’m just focusing on this team, building these young guys, and giving them confidence. At the end of the year, everything else will be discussed," Young said in March, per Jackson Caudell of SI.com.

The Hawks will have to figure out if they're willing to offer Young a max extension, propose another deal at a lower number, allow him to play out his contract, or entertain trade ideas.

The Hawks may be more interested in keeping their team together and adding in the draft than making a splash signing in a relatively underwhelming market. Keeping the proverbial band together, though, could be difficult.

Capela, for example, is expected to depart in free agency, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

If Atlanta's current roster remains intact, the team could still afford to add some interior defense, shooting and center depth in free agency. Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner could be an ideal target for the Hawks, given his combination of size, defense and range shooting.

Adding Turner would likely require moving Okongwu to more of a bench role but would help give the Hawks an elite center rotation.

Minnesota Timberwolves center/power forward Naz Reid could also bring some much-needed size to Atlanta's frontcourt. Expect Minnesota to make a strong push to retain Reid, but the 25-year-old does have a player option for the 2025-26 season.

Marvin Bagley III and Mo Bamba could be more budget-friendly targets at center, while Dennis Schröder and Malik Beasley could be considered to help boost the team's shooting.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.