Atlanta Hawks 2024-25 Season Preview, Betting Odds

The Trae Young-Dejounte Murray dynamic had clearly peaked, so the Atlanta Hawks are moving forward with Young still at the forefront but now alongside an unproven 19-year-old Frenchman selected first overall in this summer's draft. 

In this 2024-25 NBA season preview, here's a look at all betting odds pertaining to the Hawks as they look to avoid the play-in tournament for a fourth-straight season. 

Atlanta Hawks' 2024 Offseason Acquisitions

Atlanta Hawks' 2024 Offseason Departures

Atlanta Hawks' 2025 NBA Championship, Eastern Conference, Southeast Division Betting Odds

Odds as of October 16, 2024 at FanDuel

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. An offseason trade which sent Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for depth pieces like Larry Nance Jr. and Dyson Daniels along with a pair of first rounders signified the Hawks were ready to try something different without hitting detonate and blowing up the roster entirely. 

Young remains locked in over the next three seasons at over $43 million per year, maxing out in 2026-27 at just under $49 million. It would be a difficult deal to move at this stage, but it's something the front office may consider if this upcoming campaign falls by the wayside early. 

Best Bet: None

Patience is a virtue when it comes to these new-look Hawks, because while they may be deeper on paper, there's going to need to be a ton of internal improvement to compensate for losing a former All-Star who just put up career numbers in Murray. Increased roles for Jalen Johnson and Bogdan Bogdanovic should aid on that front. 

The Orlando Magic and Miami Heat finished at least 10 games ahead of Atlanta in the standings this past season, so barring an unforeseen collapse from both sides, a Southeast Division title doesn't seem to be in the cards for the Hawks. Now Atlanta may ultimately prove to be better off without Murray, and rookie Zaccharie Risacher could be greater than advertised, but this is one of those circumstances where wagering on the Hawks without being more in the know is far too risky a proposition. 

A .500 record is perhaps the best-case scenario, and if that's indeed the end result, Atlanta will achieve zero forward momentum and remain exactly where its been as a play-in mainstay.

Atlanta Hawks' 2024-25 NBA Win Total, Make Playoffs Odds

Odds as of October 16, 2024 at FanDuel

The Hawks' winning percentages have been on a steady decline since 2021, with last season's 36-46 record marking just the fourth time in that last decade the team failed to finish at .500 or better. 

Best Bet: UNDER 36.5 Wins, -112

Based on that aforementioned trend, the safer play would be to take Atlanta achieving 36 or fewer victories. A lot has to fall in their favor, and even though the Hawks are better equipped defensively after finishing fourth from the bottom, the team's 12th-ranked offense may prove difficult to replicate. 

This will be a reoccurring theme amongst non-contenders, but when also taking into consideration the projections of how formidable next summer's draft class may end up being, serving as a middle-of-the-pack team offers zero value in comparison to bottoming out. That's not to suggest the Hawks will walk said path, but if there was ever a season to do so, it's this one.

Atlanta Hawks' 2024 NBA Cup Odds

Odds as of October 16, 2024 at FanDuel

The Hawks finished with the fourth-best record in East Group A during the inaugural in-season tournament at 1-3, but now shares East Group C with the reigning champion Boston Celtics and conference semifinalists in the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Atlanta Hawks' 2024-25 NBA Awards Odds

Odds as of October 16, 2024 at FanDuel

Best Bet: Zaccharie Risacher For NBA Rookie Of The Year, +700

We've witnessed the first overall pick take home Rookie of the Year honors two consecutive seasons, with Paolo Banchero winning in 2023 and then Victor Wembanyama in 2024. It's the first time since 2015-16 (Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns) that a singular numerical pick has won the hardware back-to-back years, and the No. 1 selection has been Rookie of the Year more often than any other number, which bodes well for Risacher. 

As things stand, four different players have 10-to-1 odds or better in this race, so the competition is fierce. Truth be told, Risacher wasn't a slam dunk of a pick unlike previous years when the first pick was universally known, so many prospects could have found themselves in this position.

Risacher should slot into the starting lineup rather seamlessly and be given opportunities to work through whichever growing pains may arise. He's such an unknown and could shock everyone with how far along he may already be with his skillset, so getting in on the ground floor early should pay dividends. 

2024-25 NBA Team Previews, Betting Odds