Kristaps Porzingis is shaping up to be a major offseason acquisition for the Atlanta Hawks, demonstrating his potential to transform the team’s outlook for the upcoming <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA season. Currently playing for Latvia in this year’s EuroBasket, Porzingis showcased a mixture of scoring, playmaking, and defensive prowess during a recent friendly game against Lithuania.
While the Hawks anticipate he may miss some time due to past injuries, Porzingis’s ability to stretch the floor with his shooting range and offer a strong defensive presence in the paint distinguishes him from any previous Hawks big man. Many consider him the most talented partner Trae Young has ever had in Atlanta.
In the contest against Lithuania, Porzingis contributed significantly with 22 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds over 26 minutes, helping Latvia maintain a +12 scoring margin during his time on the floor. His full skill set was on display, underlining the role he could play this season.
“In today’s loss to Lithuania, Kristaps Porzingis finished with 22 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Latvia was +12 in his 26 minutes. https://t.co/3gtt3wfdFH” —Kevin Chouinard, NBA Analyst
Evaluating Porzingis’s Fit and Health as Hawks’ Key Piece
Porzingis’s recent overseas performance has sparked excitement and justified optimism. He looks healthier than ever and his versatile skill set complements the Hawks’ requirements around star guard Trae Young. Over the 2024-25 NBA season, Porzingis averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game, while setting a career-best 41.2% shooting from beyond the three-point line.
This shooting percentage ranked 25th among all NBA players last season and was second only to Karl-Anthony Towns among seven-footers. His ability to score from deep is exceptional for a player of his size, tying a career-high by sinking eight three-pointers in two separate games during the season. Notably, Porzingis is the only seven-footer in NBA history to have four games with at least eight threes made.
Throughout his nine-year NBA career and over 500 games started, Porzingis has maintained averages of 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game. His consistent defensive presence is reflected by a 1.81 blocks-per-game average, placing him sixth among all active NBA players. He is one of only eight players in league history to average at least 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across at least 500 games, alongside Anthony Davis as one of two active members of this elite group.
How Porzingis Ranks Among Offseason Moves and Hawks’ Strategic Depth
CBS Sports analyst Brad Botkin recently ranked Porzingis as the fourth-best non-star acquisition of the offseason, citing his potential to elevate the Hawks if he can stay healthy. Atlanta’s roster construction this summer centered on surrounding Trae Young with complementary pieces like Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu, who now provide a unique frontcourt duo capable of sharing floor time effectively, unlike previous rotations involving Clint Capela.
The combination of Young’s driving ability and Porzingis’s outside shooting creates significant matchup problems for opponents. The spacing puts defensive units in a bind, especially with athletic wings like Jalen Johnson ready to attack the rim. This offensive synergy, paired with Porzingis’s defensive strength, could prove overwhelming.
On defense, Porzingis impressed last season by holding opponents to a 42% shooting rate when he was the primary defender, outperforming even Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Davis in that category. The Hawks’ lineup featuring Young, Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Porzingis could become an elite defensive unit. Porzingis’s presence ties this group together, offering rim protection and versatile defensive coverage that teams will struggle to counter.
With their wing defenders improved and a rim protector in Porzingis, the Hawks have built the kind of roster capable of contending in the Eastern Conference. If this group, led by Young and Porzingis, stays healthy, Atlanta could pose a substantial threat in the playoff race.
Outlook for the Hawks’ Upcoming Season with Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis’s arrival marks a pivotal moment for the Atlanta Hawks as they seek to capitalize on their young core and deepen their roster. His shooting, defense, and overall versatility provide the team with a new dimension that could reshape the franchise’s trajectory.
While durability remains a question given his previous injuries, Porzingis’s current form overseas and strong track record suggest he can be a decisive contributor. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as the season unfolds to see how this dynamic duo of Porzingis and Trae Young performs on the NBA stage.
If Porzingis can deliver consistent performances similar to those shown in EuroBasket and last season, the Hawks may find themselves among the Eastern Conference’s leading contenders for the first time in years, fulfilling expectations that intensified with his offseason acquisition.