Atlanta’s playoff lifeline is fraying: two of its five most important players will remain in street clothes through at least next week, forcing Quin Snyder to lean on a 33-year-old Dejounte Murray and a frontcourt that has been out-rebounded in six straight games.
The Timeline: Why “Another Week” Matters Now
Head athletic trainer Chelsea Dolkas confirmed both players will be re-evaluated “sometime next week,” meaning the earliest either could suit up is a Feb. 1 home date against Orlando. By then the Hawks will have played eight more games—five on the road—against teams with a combined .547 winning percentage.
- Porziņģis: left Achilles tendinitis, six straight DNPs, 17 games played all season.
- Risacher: bone contusion left knee, six straight DNPs, 11.2 PPG on 45/38/78 splits when active.
Cap Sheet vs. Training Table
Atlanta absorbed Porziņģis’ $29.8 million salary this offseason to anchor a defense that finished 27th in efficiency last year. With him on the floor the Hawks allow 112.8 points per 100 possessions—top-10 territory. Without him that number balloons to 120.1, equivalent to league-worst Detroit.
Risacher, still on his rookie scale ($12.3 M over four years), was supposed to be the 3-and-D wing the roster lacked. Instead, Snyder has been forced to start 31-year-old Garrison Mathews (31% from three in January) and give 19-year-old rookie Kobe Bufkin rotation minutes he isn’t ready for.
Roster Dominoes: Who Actually Benefits?
- Onyeka Okongwu – Averaging 14.4 rebounds per-36 in Porziņģis’ absence; trade value spikes if he keeps it up.
- Jalen Johnson – Usage rate jumps from 22.1 to 28.3 when both bigs sit; Atlanta is 4-9 in those games.
- Dejounte Murray – League-leading 40.1 minutes this month; fatigue is real—42% TS in fourth quarters during the losing streak.
Fan-Thread Flashpoints
Reddit’s r/AtlantaHawks lit up Monday night with two competing narratives: package the expiring Clint Capela ($22 M) and a 2027 first for a second star now, or bottom-out and keep a top-8 protected pick owed to San Antonio. The front office, sources say, is still gauging whether a play-in push is worth sacrificing long-term flexibility.
Historical Echo: Porziņģis’ Perpetual Pain
Since his All-Rookie 2015-16 season, Porziņģis has cracked 60 games once (66 in ’22-23). Achilles, knee, ankle, back—every part of the 7’3″ frame has betrayed him. Atlanta knew the risk when it absorbed his contract; the bet was 55-60 games of elite rim protection and floor-spacing would be enough. Forty-five games in, they’re at 17—and the East’s 10-seed is only a half-game clear of Brooklyn.
What’s Next: Trade Bell Tolls or Triage?
League executives canvassed by Yahoo Sports believe Atlanta is gauging Porziņģis’ market as a $30 M expiring chip. Moving him now would duck next year’s $30.8 M salary and open a full mid-level slot, but the Hawks would have to attach a first to dump an injured star—tantamount to waving a white flag on the Trae Young era.
The safer, likelier path: hold the fort, pray the re-evaluation brings good news, and let Murray’s iron-man act keep the play-in dream breathing. Either way, another lost week feels like another lost season in a franchise perpetually stuck between play-in purgatory and lottery promise.
For lightning-fast breakdowns on every Hawks twist and the rest of the NBA’s spinning wheel, lock in to onlytrustedinfo.com—the fastest route from breaking news to championship-grade analysis.
