The Atlanta Hawks didn't have an easy time getting into the postseason for the fourth straight year, but they managed to make the play-in tournament.

Getting star scorer Trae Young back from a finger injury gave the Hawks a boost heading into the playoffs. However, Young's 23-game absence also left Atlanta scrambling just to make the play-in. Jalen Johnson's late ankle injury certainly didn't help matters.

There has been no shortage of rumors suggesting that Atlanta could look to trade Young this offseason, but that's not the only situation head coach Quin Snyder and general manager Landry Fields will need to address in 2024.

Atlanta has plenty of work to do if it hopes to be a playoff threat and more than just a play-in team next year. Young, Johnson and Dejounte Murray give the Hawks a decent-enough core, but Atlanta never really felt like a squad prepared to threaten the likes of the Boston Celtics in the East.

Now that the Hawks' postseason is over, let's examine their salary cap outlook, top impending contract decisions and some potential top targets for 2024 free agency.

2024 Salary Cap

Much of Atlanta's 2024 offseason will hinge on the future of Young. The 25-year-old is under contract through 2027 but could be on the trade market this summer. According to NBA insider Marc Stein (h/t RealGM), the Hawks are likely to trade either Young or Murray in the coming months.

As things currently stand, Atlanta is set to have 12 players under contract entering the offseason. The list includes Young, Murray, Johnson, De'Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Clint Capela.

This leaves the Hawks facing a $46.4 million practical cap deficit and some tough decisions—like whether to trade Young and/or Murray. Atlanta isn't currently in a position to go star-chasing in free agency, though it is projected to be around $8 million below the luxury tax threshold.

The Hawks aren't approaching the second luxury tax apron, so they will have some options on the trade market. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams over the second apron are prohibited from aggregating contracts to trade for a single player, sending out cash in trades, using trade exceptions from previous years, or taking back more salary than it sends in a trade.

Atlanta will have options and should be an intriguing team to track throughout the summer.

Top Contract Decisions

Really, Atlanta's toughest decisions will involve the trade market. Most of the team's core is under contract for the foreseeable future, with Trent Forrest the only impending unrestricted free agent.

Capela—who was reportedly discussed in a potential draft-day trade with the Dallas Mavericks last summer—will be the only notable unrestricted free agent in 2025.

However, the Hawks do have one big looming decision, and it involves 2020 first-round pick Saddiq Bey. The 25-year-old is set to be a restricted free agent, and the 2023 trade acquisition has been valuable to the Hawks when healthy.

Unfortunately, Bey isn't healthy, having suffered a season-ending ACL tear in March. Given the injury, Atlanta probably won't be eager to extend a long-term offer to Bey, though it will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet.

Of course, big offers may not come, given Bey's uncertain outlook for next season.

The Hawks could also choose not to tender Bey as a restricted free agent. It would allow him to freely sign with another franchise, but it would provide a little cap flexibility.

Bey's qualifying offer would come in at roughly $6.5 million.

Additionally, the Hawks have a club option with Garrison Mathews, while Seth Lundy and Dylan Windler will be two-way restricted free agents.

Free Agents to Pursue

If the Hawks don't make any substantial moves on the trade market, they'll be fairly limited in free agency. However, Atlanta could still bolster its roster by adding some role players to pair with Young and/or Murray.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe would be a sensible target if OKC doesn't exercise his club option. Joe dealt with an ankle injury late in the season but was a huge three-point-shooting asset for the Thunder.

The Hawks could use some additional shooting help, though it's highly unlikely that Oklahoma City will allow Joe to get away.

Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. is another shooter the Hawks could potentially target. He's set to be an unrestricted free agent and is probably a more realistic option than Joe.

If Young and or Murray is dealt, however, Atlanta could afford to take some bigger swings on the open market. Regardless of who goes, the Hawks could use some additional playmaking ability, and Washington Wizards guard Tyus Jones could provide it.

Jones will be an unrestricted free agent, but having played on a $14 million salary this past season, he won't be open to a bargain-basement contract offer. The same could be said for Golden State Warriors shooter Klay Thompson, who isn't the player he once was but who will command attention in free agency.

Regardless of who the Hawks choose to target, they're unlikely to be major free agency players unless one of their stars is dealt first.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.