Atlanta reshapes around Trae Young by adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard, aiming to boost scoring, playmaking and floor spacing. Young remains the engine, and a tested Jalen Johnson pairing is on the horizon as Atlanta searches for a balanced, high-upside path in a wide-open East.

The Hawks project a more versatile, space-friendly offense with Porzingis and Kennard on the floor, while NAW provides creation and shooting. In a weaker conference, Atlanta eyes a top-four seed by 2026 if health and cohesion follow the plan, turning potential into a franchise-ready peak for Young and company.

LaMelo Ball and Paolo Banchero headline a cohort of younger, injury-prone stars poised for a mega 2025-26 breakout as the veterans around them manage minutes and deal with back-to-backs. Ball’s upside sits in the top-five stratosphere if health cooperates and his supporting cast improves. Jalen Johnson and Jaden Ivey carry similar injury-bounce potential, while Tyrese Maxey, Brandon Miller and Jalen Suggs each enter seasons where a larger role could push them into elite fantasy tiers. Anfernee Simons surfaces as an honorable mention with new usage in Boston after a franchise shake-up.

Injuries reshaped the landscape last season, and the article leans into youth and opportunity over veterans who may be limited by rest or minutes. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, and Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson are all positioned to absorb and spark in more dynamic lineups. The narrative also nods to Desmond Bane and Franz Wagner in passing as benchmarks for breakout trajectories among rising stars. The overarching thread: players who navigated injuries should rebound in a busy 2025-26 season if they stay on the floor and find optimized roles on teams that have upgraded surrounding talent.